Everyone is getting ready for this year's La Ruta Maya. It starts on Thurday, March 3rd, under the Hawkesworth Bridge. Note that National Heroes and Benefactors Day doesn't coincide with the race this year, but falls on March 9th.
La Ruta Maya -- One of the World's Toughest and Most Historic River Races
In the misty early morning light of March 3, 2016, dozens of athletes will gather with their canoes at the Hawkesworth Suspension Bridge on the banks of the Macal River in San Ignacio, Belize. More than 80 canoes are expected to participate in this year's annual La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge, oared by enthusiasts from around the world. Their objective? To be the first to reach the Belcan Bridge in Belize City, more than 180 miles downriver. The journey takes four days.
La Ruta Maya is the biggest annual sporting event in Belize. Thousands of spectators line the banks of the Belize River to cheer on their favorite teams. The race has its origins in the 1995 Save Our Rivers Programme, a canoe race intended to promote cleaning up debris in and on the banks of the Old Belize River. This event has evolved to become the annual La Ruta Maya Challenge, a four-day event that follows an ancient Mayan route from San Ignacio to Belize City and is ranked 40th on Peak Races' 100 Toughest Races in the World. Anyone can participate.
Teams are rated, from men's professional to mixed youth, for this race that is an opportunity for the diverse population of this country to come together for a four-day weekend on the river. Many follow the race onshore, chasing their favorite teams from Cayo to the Caribbean Sea. Each day, after paddling for hours, the canoe teams come ashore, where they are met by fans at checkpoints in charmingly named local villages, including Banana Bank, Double Head Cabbage, and Burrell Boom.
Belize is an entire country that feels like a small town. Never is this more evident than during La Ruta Maya. The scenes at end-of-day village checkpoints are like big family reunions. Campsites are pitched, Belikin beer tents are set-up, local specialties are prepared over open fires, and children run and play, in the river and on its banks.
The starting point, San Ignacio, is in Belize's Cayo District, the fastest-growing region in the country. This is the country's eco-adventure hub, with all the elements of a fun and sustainable lifestyle--plenty of fertile land, fresh water, sunshine, and wildlife, all supporting a friendly community of fun-loving Belizeans and expats. You still have time to make plans to join them all for their big annual river party.
The Ruta Maya River Challenge, held annually in March, brings together 90-100 teams of professional and amateur paddlers from all over the world. It is the longest race of its kind in Central America consisting of 170 miles of paddling on the Belize River over the course of 4 days. The paddlers are challenged by currents, rapids, low areas that require them to physically carry their canoes for short distances and stronger winds as they approach the Caribbean Sea.
The start of the race sees hundreds of locals and visitors trooping to the banks of the Macal River to watch the canoes pass and to cheer on their favourite teams. All teams consist of three members who must be aboard the canoe at the start of the race and no substitutes are allowed once the race has commenced.
The race of a life time: La Ruta Maya Challenge Ready, set, paddle! The 18th Annual La Ruta Maya River Challenge, undoubtedly the most grueling canoe race in Belize, is less than a month away. Scheduled to take place from Friday, March 4th to Monday, March 7th, this test of stamina, endurance and strength will take racers through a 180-mile route along the Macal River in the Cayo District to the Belize River in the Belize District. Excited yet?
In true Belizean style, the La Ruta Maya River Challenge is not only a weekend-long race, but also a weekend-long festive celebration of National Heroes and Benefactors Day, which falls on Wednesday, January 9th but is being observed on Monday. The race takes both participants and spectators through some of the most outstanding sceneries in the country. Of course cheering on those brave paddlers requires some incentives - how about beer, cocktails, classic Belizean eats and even live music? Yup, you are sure to find a party at the several stations of the race or pretty much at any point along the race route you choose.
Over the years the race grown to see up to and over 120 unique canoes in competitions with notable mentions like BATSUB and the Belize Bank, Pine Lumber and Coop Sheet Metal teams all vying for that coveted first place. Winning isn't everything, however, as anyone who has paddled from start to finish will proudly say "I survived La Ruta Maya River Challenge!" and proud they should be!
So as has been done since 1998, on the 18th anniversary of La Ruta Maya, 60 teams lined up under the Hawkesworth in hopes to paddle their way ahead to the finish line in Belize City on Monday, carrying with them all the excitement and long awaited fun. So to all the teams, good luck, and have a safe, fun filled weekend!
This blog is live and will be updated over the course of the competition with the latest photos and statistics.
Fabulous Images of La Ruta Maya.. Images from this morning's race at the start and at the construction of the new bridge area.
Click photos for more pictures!
A Maya River Route Becomes A Race
Get set! Race of the year (Every Year) - Picture credit: Victor Moreno
There is a river that starts its life in the mountains of Belize from a spring. That spring decided a million years ago that it will find a way through the mountains of a land that later hosted Paleoindians, Archaic people, Proto Maya, Maya people and todays contemporary Belizeans. It ripped its way; it climbed; it pushed; it tore through all barriers it found in its path - cleared all things to the granitic floor that it decided to make its bed.
This river, called the Macal River, is one of two that meet two and a half miles north of San Ignacio and Santa Elena towns (twin towns), and start the longest river in the country called the Belize River. It must be highlighted that the country of Belize may have gotten its name from the name the original Yucatec maya called that river: "Baltiz", which means "muddy water".
Every year for over 10 years there is a race that happens on this river. Its called the "La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge". Its amazing! Do not miss it next year. It all happens on the weekend of the ninth of March every year and you too can be a part of it!
Photo credit - Shaun Ramclam
This race is a commemoration not only of the original "highway" the contemporary people of the area used to travel to and from the economic capital city, Belize City, but also the route and the "causeway" the ancient Maya traveled. They traded and they raided on these rivers. March ninth weekend is a time of family and adventure in Belize. It is also a time of river history and friendships. Its a time of 'stretching out' from hectic days, weeks and months. It is also a weekend of water. Everywhere you go around the country of Belize there will be water activities. None, however like the Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge.
We believe you should be here!
Racing teams lining up! Picture credit: Victor Moreno
Ruta Maya 2016, Koop Sheet Metal Dominates First Leg of Annual Race
Ruta Maya Day 1
The 19th running of the Belikin La RUta Maya Challenge got underway this morning from San Ignacio, Cayo District. Here is a snapshot of the 180-mile race down the Belize River.
Channel 7 will have live coverage when the race enters Belize City for the finish on Monday morning at around 11:00.
The 18th La Ruta Maya 2016 - San Ignacio
The 18th La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge kicked off today in San Ignacio, under the historic Hawkesworth Bridge, the oldest suspension bridge in Belize, Central America. What started off as a marketing campaign ended up being one of the biggest sporting events in Belize & Central America, and brought about environmental awareness.
Humorous article about training for La Ruta Maya. Cayo spots are all over the article, from Log Cab-Inns to Bamboo Bar. Written by Wayo's Reef Runners.
""What do all of these things have in common?
Auto repair, meat pies, Guinness, canoe accidents, metal shops, street meat, markets, new friends, jalapeno margaritas, multiple injuries, breakfast burritos, Patrick Warrior, cookies, pizza, Belikin, roulette, penny slots and paddling��.
All of these (and much, much more!) were part of our 3 day 'training' weekend in Cayo to prepare for La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge!
La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge Launch 2016!
The La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge Canoe Race launched today March 4th, 2016 from under the historic Hawkesworth bridge in San Ignacio, Cayo.
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye represented at La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge - ITravel Belize spotted the two teams paddling hard at the beginning of the race. All the best to: Dee Regis, Brittney O'Daniel, Greg Lamb & Lisa Rusinek-Cyrier, Ronnie Cyrier, Wayo Vasquez.
Second leg of La Ruta Maya canoe race
At around 7:00 yesterday morning from beneath Cayo's Hawkesworth Bridge, 61 teams of paddlers set off on the annual La Ruta Maya canoe race, en route to Banana Bank through the Macal River.
Although the number of teams is a little less than last year's turnout, it was still a spectacular scene as canoes took off from the starting line on their 49 mile journey, which Koop Sheet Metal's team completed first, earning it the lead coming into this morning's journey to Double Head Cabbage.
This morning, the teams once again set off on the second leg of the race which will finish sometime before noon on Monday in Belize City with stops being made along the way.
It was close but the winner is...Team Koop Sheet Metal! Koop Sheet Metal with the lowest cumulative time is the over all winner of Ruta Maya.
La Ruta Maya River Challenge comes to an end. Belize City celebrates
The scene downtown Belize City as La Ruta Maya River Challenge comes to and end. Four gruesome days of paddling downstream from mainland Cayo to coastal Belize.
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