 Sarteneja | ||
| Sarteneja | ||
| District | Corozal District | |
|---|---|---|
| Residents | 2.000 | |
other value for residents on Wikidata: 1500   | ||
| no tourist info on Wikidata: | ||
| location | ||
| ||
Sarteneja is a city in Corozal District in Belize. This small fishing village has a population of 2000 inhabitants and lives mainly from fishing and eco-tourism.
background
This at the mouth of the bay too Chetumal lying quiet place lives mainly from fishing. Here you can enjoy nature away from the tourist crowds. Mayan settlements probably existed here as early as the first millennium. Numerous structures testify to this. The fact is that the original Mayan name for the city of Tza was Ten-A-Ha. This means Water from the rock and goes back to the many wells that can be found here many times. Until the 18th century there was a Mayan settlement here, but it was abandoned. In the middle of the 19th century, refugees from the Caste Wars settled here again. Tza Ten-A-Ha quickly became Sarteneja. In 1956 the former village was completely destroyed. Only the church was spared. The earlier light huts were easy prey for the storm. The reconstruction of the village now took place in fortified buildings. There has been running water and electricity here since the 1970s. Sarteneja has also had a telephone connection since 1990.
getting there
By plane
Sarteneja recently also had a small airport, or rather a landing strip. Tropic Air lands on request[1] on the route Corozal / San Pedro (Belize) on this.
In the street
By car: From Orange Walk above San Estevan and Little Belize a road leads directly to Sarteneja. It is also possible from Corozal to arrive. To do this, you go to first Copper Bank, where one crosses the New River by means of a hand-operated ferry. From here you take a hand-operated ferry across a small lagoon tributary towards the small village of Chunox. There you turn left straight towards Sarteneja.
By bus: From Orange Walk there is a bus from Monday to Saturday at 11:30 a.m. to Sarteneja Belize City there is a bus (Sarteneja Bus Line) from Monday to Saturday at 4:00 p.m. to Sarteneja.
By boat
The Thunderbolt water taxi leaves daily Corozal and San Pedro (Belize).
mobility
The center is clearly laid out and can be explored on foot. To explore the area there is the possibility of getting bicycles at Fernando's Seaside Guesthouse [2] to borrow. (see overnight stays)
Tourist Attractions
Sarteneja is above all a small, quiet fishing village in a paradisiacal setting. Here the rainforest, lagoons and the Caribbean offer the framework for nature observation and historical discoveries. But there is a lot to discover in this small village:
- La Inmaculada. The oldest building from 1946 and the only one that survived the hurricane.
- North Front Street. Here by the sea you can experience the best sunsets, meet fishermen and boat builders or just go for a walk and enjoy the Caribbean. With a bit of luck, you can see a manatee from here.
- Mayan ruins. These ruins, which have not been carefully examined archaeologically, and which have not been excavated, are numerous. One of the probably three cities in the vicinity is located on the outskirts and shows three 15 m high pyramids. According to the villagers, this is a pre-classical city. There is a water point nearby, which is also said to go back to the pre-classic or classic. The other two cities are said to be significantly smaller and further in the rainforest. Anyone interested in a visit should ask in the museum.
- Guardians of History Nature and Culture Museum. This small museum in the middle of the village is unparalleled. Everyone here in town has given something and so a motley collection about the history of Sarteneja has come together. In a small room there are somewhat provisionally put together, smaller Maya finds, anchors and saws, but also dead poisonous snakes. The highlight of the museum, however, is a Belize map from 1911 on which a large island can still be seen off Sarteneja, which has since been swept away by hurricanes.Open: Mon - Sat 8.30 a.m. - 12 p.m. 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
- cave. This can be found in the bush near the airport. The small entrance, which can almost be overlooked, gives access to two chambers. While you have to duck a lot in the first, the second is much more spacious and houses a small bat colony.
The surrounding area offers numerous sights in the immediate vicinity. Here Sarteneja is the ideal place to explore them. These can also be organized and booked directly from the hotels. The main goals include:
- Shipstern Nature Reserve. With bird breeding areas, crocodile breeding and a butterfly farm, this reserve attracts every nature lover.
- Bacalar Chico Marine. Whether over water or under water, this national park offers not only the natural wonder but also some Mayan ruins.
activities
- Nature observation - Manatees can often be seen in the Sarteneja lagoons. In addition, of course, the rainforest and mangrove forests provide the ideal environment for almost every species of animal in Belize. If that's not enough, there is still something for you Bacalar Chico Marine and the Shipstern Nature Reserve right on the doorstep.
- Discover - Several Mayan trade routes met here. So it is not surprising that numerous small Mayan ruins can be found here. The ruin Cerros is certainly the best known.
- Diving - Whether with a bottle or with a snorkel. The diving paradise Belize is also reflected here. Numerous destinations on the doorstep or in the immediate vicinity make every diver's heart beat faster.
- Swimming - A little out of town at the height of the Shipstern nature reserve a path leads towards the coast to the best bathing beach in the region.
- boat trip - Whether by boat to the Caribbean and the Bacalar Chico Marine or in the lagoons and that Shipstern Nature Reserve, there is definitely a lot to see and discover. Or you just enjoy the ride ...
- hike - Especially that Shipstern Nature Reserve has some small hiking routes in the rainforest.
- fishing - Of course it stands to reason that in a fishing village, the possibilities for this are very good.
shop
There is a supermarket on the third street parallel to North Front Street. Some kiosks complete the offer. You can buy handmade souvenirs in the museum.
kitchen
There is a restaurant in these guest houses serving local cuisine:
- Fernando's Seaside Guesthouse, At the end of North Street. Tel.: (0)11-501-423-2085, Email: [email protected].
- Krisami`s Bayview Lodge, In the west of the place. Tel.: (0)11-501-423-2283, Email: [email protected]. Price: Double US $ 60.00.
nightlife
There is the Noa-Noa Bar on North Front Street. People like to meet here in the evening to have a cool Belikin while playing a round of billiards.
accommodation
There are only a few accommodations here:
- Fernando`s Seaside Guesthouse, At the end of North Street. Tel.: (0)11-501-423-2085, Email: [email protected].
- Krisami`s Bayview Lodge, In the west of the village. Tel.: (0)11-501-423-2283, Email: [email protected]. Price: Double US $ 60.00.
- Candelie's Sunset Cabañas and Bahia Verde Dinette, At the end of North Street. Tel.: (0)11-501-423-2005.
- Oasis Guesthouse, Near North Street. Tel.: (0)11-501-403-2121.
