Corozal Town

About this place

Corozal is the northernmost town in Belize, on Chetumal Bay, about 135 km north of Belize City and 14 km from the Mexican border. It is a quiet little town with turquoise water, a seafront and a colourful clock tower, usually visited for a short rest and to reach the Cerros site across the bay. It was a private estate before becoming a town in the 1840s, when refugees from the Caste War of Yucatán settled here in 1848. It was built over an ancient Maya city, sometimes known as Santa Rita. Hurricane Janet badly damaged it in 1955, and much of it was rebuilt afterwards. The central park has a blue and yellow clock tower decorated with murals, along with a play area and trees. A green seafront runs along the bay, where people pose with letters spelling the town's name, and sunset gives the best views. The beach has palms, benches and calm clear water, and the streets hold timber houses and low coloured buildings at an easy pace. A road links it to Orange Walk, 48 km south, and hired boats run to Cerros, 7 km over the water. Many people cross to Mexico from here, so bring your passport and departure tax if you do. Bring repellent near the water, ask before swimming and respect residents' privacy. The end of the day is the best time for a walk along the bay.