| Monkey River Town | ||
 | ||
| State | Belize | |
|---|---|---|
| Inhabitants | 200 (2000) | |
Position
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Monkey River Town is a Creole fishing village on the coast of Southern Belize in Toledo district
To know
The 200 inhabitants of Monkey River Town are mainly Creoles unlike what happens to the other centers of this stretch of coast which are inhabited by ethnic people Garifuna. It is located south of Placencia, on the estuary of the river of the same name and accessible only by boat. The center is not reached by electricity lines and the few houses in the village are equipped with generators. There are no telephones, much less bank branches. Tourists who frequent the resort are generally fishing enthusiasts but there are some adventurous ones, attracted by the possibility of making sea excursions with local boats.
The Puntanegra lagoon a little further south is known for its abundance of fish.
Background
Monkey River Town experienced some development in the late 19th century when a banana trading company was established there. A few decades later the company abruptly stopped its activities and the center was abandoned. We had to wait until 1980 for it to be populated again, this time by some families of Creole fishermen. A few years later the first tourists appeared, mostly fishing enthusiasts, also attracted by the possibility of making excursions to the southern Cayes by renting local boats for a few dollars.
On October 9, 2001, Hurricane Iris destroyed the few houses in the village and uprooted the many banana plants in the surrounding area. The large community of howler monkeys that populated the area (hence the name of the river and the village) was decimated as demonstrated by a census later conducted by the University of Calgary (Alberta, Canada).
How to orient yourself
Monkey River Town: full screen map.How to get
Monkey River Town is accessible by boat from the beach town of Placencia, a few miles north.
Alternatively, you can take the Southern Highway and take a track before the village of Bella Vista that after about 24 km stops on the bank of the Monkey River. In general, the boatmen who pass on the river give a lift to anyone who stands on the river bank and signals them to stop.
How to get around
Monkey River Town is so small that you can walk around it, but even if you wanted to, you couldn't do it otherwise. There are, in fact, neither cars nor the shadow of bicycles. However, each family has a boat.
What see
Events and parties
What to do
Shopping
How to have fun
Where to eat
Where stay
High prices
- Sunset Inn. This term "pompous" refers to a wooden construction with 8 rooms for tourists. Electricity is provided by autonomous generators and therefore there is the possibility to take a shower with hot water. There is also a restaurant.
- Enna's Guest House. A guesthouse that provides 24-hour electricity.
This is the best that Monkey River Town can offer, otherwise it is necessary to be hosted by other families but the "comfort" will be of a completely different level.
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
- The possibilities for excursions to the southern Cayes are many but it depends on the availability or not of fishermen. However, some, sensing the tourism business, have organized themselves and offer group tours. Among the most interesting excursions is the one at "Snake Cayes", a group of 4 islets in the southernmost stretch of coast and less than an hour by boat from the village.
