It is officially the biggest event that is scheduled to happen since the COVID-19 lockdown, and with only six more days to go for the official kickoff of the 2022 Belikin La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge, Belizeans from all walks of life are bubbling with excitement to once more get a chance to experience life as it was before the pandemic.
But while that will come with some restrictions to ensure the safety of spectators, sponsors, and participants, an event as big as this one is something that simply cannot be ignored, nor miss hence the reason why we have come up with five reasons why you cannot miss the chance of being a part of this exciting 4-day event.
Witness the Excitement:
The race gives you the opportunity to witness the excitement, firsthand, as spectators, paddlers, and families, sporting colorful banners, whistles, and matching T-shirts troops down to the banks of the Macal River to mark the staring of the race at 7:00 a.m on March 4th, 2022. A quick walk down to the foot of the Hawkesworth Bridge in San Ignacio Town, in the cool morning air, might just be the best option for you to get pumped for whatever the day might throw at you.
Keeping Healthy
If you are concerned about your health, organizers of the race have assured us that they do not anticipate the event being a superspreader, since it is an outdoor activity, with enough space for everyone to socialize. In fact, they say that they will be on the ground encouraging the enforcement of mask-wearing, sanitization, and social distancing among fans. Additionally only fully vaccinated paddlers have been allowed to register for the race.
Meet New Friends;
Attracting between 50 to 90 teams every year, the Ruta Maya Race has been known to attract international teams from across the world who journey to Belize to test their skills among the local talent. With all that traffic passing through there is no telling who you can come across in the audience. Whether or not you are lucky to bump into anyone, locals, who line up on the river bank are only too eager to chat you up. In no time they will be spilling the tea, telling you about their favorite teams, or even giving you a comprehensive history of the race and its origin. Whatever might be the case there surely is an adventure in being part of the action.
Sample Local Food and Drinks;
Did somebody ask about food and drinks? Well, we can only advise you to prepare yourself for a food and drink fete, as a host of traditional, mouthwatering Belizean dishes, local drinks, and cold beers will be on sale at every stop that the race makes during its journey downstream.
Visit Villages Along the Route;
Whether you have wanted to visit some of the villages in Belize, to experience them in their natural wonder then following the race will give you that opportunity to not only appreciate their individual beauty but to interact with locals, their culture, and their way of life.
Stay With Us
On the third day, the race will make a stop in Burrel Boom Village, and if you are looking for the perfect luxury resort to unwind in then Black Orchid Resort, in Burrell Boom Village is the place for you. The best news is that being that we are situated on the banks of the Belize River, our resort will offer you an unmatched view of the race. We offer a wide assortment of rooms, luxury suites, and villas that are complemented by our gourmet restaurant, on-site bar, gift shop, swimming pool, and friendly staff.
Cheer on the Black Orchid Spriters:
Our staff will be out on the waters cheering on our team the Black Orchid Spriters, who will be battling against top teams to secure the first place trophy for the male category. While we do not intend to boast, we have high anticipation for our team since during a try-out race last week they came in 4th place overall, with only a minute to spear between the first place winner. We anticipate this year’s competition to be fierce and like everyone else, we have started our countdown.
Want to know more about the race? Send us an email or contact our staff at 610-0912.
