After a long week of workaway volunteering in Chetumal for Pause Hostel, we’re back on the road ready to hit our first central american country: Belize. Luckily enough, the two border towns of Chetumal (Mexico) and Corozal (Belize) are very well connected between each other and for a small 5USD we manage to get a taxi to drop us off at the Belizean border (the other option was to wait a couple of hours for a chicken bus to get full…). Leaving Mexico is a rip off!!! When we flew in from Havana, apparently our plane ticket did not include a departure tax and hence we had to pay 25USD each! Budget bump! At least, just crossed the border we meet a super friendly couple of Belizean peeps that tell us to jump on the back of their pick-up and you know what that mean? Free ride to Corozal!
Corozal Bus Station
The moment we arrive in Corozal, we know the atmosphere we were used to in Mexico has completely changed; people are more friendly here, more helpful and willing to have a chat no matter what. What a great country to be in! On the spot, we decide not to stay in Corozal but to move onto the next closest town, Orange Walk where a hostel has agreed in exchanging the photography of Max for a lowest rate. Quickly exchange some pesos in belizean dollars and there we go at the bus station. And what a bus station! Everything unexpectedly organised and although the hand-written bus times seems to have been through a lot…they work great.
Around two hours later we’ve reached our destination. Just a couple of blocks away, we arrive at Ricky’s Hostel (still the best place we’ve stayed all throughout Belize) a friendly, nice hostel owned by Ricky’s a.k.a. the kindest person on Earth. Honestly, after a bit of chit-chatting it seems like we’ve been friends with Ricky’s for a long while! Needless to say that the hostels itself is as great as you could ever go; beautiful garden (including the sweetest newborn puppies), kitchen, spotless bathrooms and simply perfect rooms.
Puppies!!!
Chill area at Rickys Hostel
Great Room at Rickys Hostel
Immediately, he also suggest us that we’re still in time to do one of the two things (lot to do uh!) you could do in town: visit the Cuello Distillery. The rum Cuello (later we got to know to be famous anywhere in the country) is produced and exported from Orange Walk ONLY and to explore the place you don’t even need to pay! In fact, after having a relaxed stroll around town to see the place we end up in the town office of Cuello (just above the company liquor shop) and ask for having a visit to the factory. No entrance fee, just leave your names and sign to agree you’re not going to use information about the production to make money with third parties. Easy uh? In town, also make sure not to miss the House of Culture and if you want to have an awesome lunch/dinner super cheap go have a bite at Camie’s Resturant.
Orange Walk main plaza
Here is Camie, the owner!
House of Culture from outside…
…and inside!
Back at the hostel, Ricky decides to drive us (and two bikes of the hostel) in front of the entrance if the distillery to avoid us getting lost. What a kind soul! As we enjoy the ride through an infinite field of sugar canes, suddenly a big finca/factory with “Cuello” printed on it appears at the horizon. We thank Ricky and moments later we’re finally standing inside the main establishment of the biggest rum producer in Belize.
Cuello’s Distillery from outside
With the smell of Rum engulfing us, we get presented to the old guy “running-the-place” which starts explaining the story of the brand from the beginning of the times. After 20min of him sitting in his office chair and us listening standing we wonder whether the tour actually involves walking; at least his stories about the etymology of the word “Green Coats” (Gringos) and how they still have mayan ruins in their backyard, keep us interested. Finally, he explains us that due to a government hygiene program they’re not allowed to let people go close to the production but… since we’ve come so far to visit them, he will allow us a super-quick tour of the place.
Rum production at Cuello’s
The “tour” is quite short and actually quite funny since we’re the one and only visitor of the place, feels like being a quality control committee! But the good part has still yet to come, once the tour is over Ignacio politely ask us if we happen to like rum… damn yes! Smiling he starts showing off the top picks of his production to which we start wondering if he’s trying to sell us something. Well, guess what… out of the blue he takes out two 1L bottle of Cuello rum (normal & coconut) and even a small bottle of dark one “Take them, these are a small obsequio for you”!!!
Have you ever crossed back into town passing the police control riding a bicycle with one hand and the other holding a litre of rum? It’s a great experience hahaha, especially the late short but funny rum tasting with Ricky. Such a great time! Orange Walk is great so far and the main attractions is still yet to come!
Marta’s happiness after the obsequio!
Sidenote, at Cuello’s there’s also the possibility to visit small mayan ruins on request, we simply didn’t do it cause tomorrow early morning we have our Lamanai Tour (check the post here) already booked.
PLANNING A TRIP TO BELIZE? CHECK MORE POSTS BELOW!
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