Orange Walk Town, Orange Walk district capital
Orange Walk is a town in northern Belize known as Sugar City because of its major sugarcane industry and the strong smell it produces. The town sits on the New River with a central market, shops, cafes, and the Banquitas House of Culture that displays local history and artifacts.
Orange Walk takes its name from orange groves that once lined the New River banks, which served as a trading route for the Maya. The town later became a sugar production center, an industry that continues to shape its character today.
Orange Walk reflects a mestizo culture with Spanish and Maya roots visible in its buildings and traditional food. The town is home to diverse groups including mestizos, Maya, Mennonites, Chinese, and Creoles who speak Spanish, English, and Creole together.
The town is easy to reach by rental car or buses that connect to other parts of Belize. It serves as a convenient base for visiting nearby Maya sites like Lamanai, which is accessible by boat along the New River.
The town is famous for its tacos, so authentic that people travel from across Belize just to taste them. Cuello's Distillery also produces a distinctive anise-flavored rum here that is made nowhere else.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
