La Ruta Maya River Challenge
2024 will mark the 26th anniversary of one of Belize’s most exciting sports competitions. First held in 1998 as a corporate sponsorship event, La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge has blossomed into an exciting international race featuring teams from around Belize and the world as they compete in the grueling four-day canoeing challenge.
This year, more than 100 teams will set off from the Hawksworth Bridge in San Ignacio town for the first leg of the journey. Cheered on by thousands of excited fans, the canoeists are racing to promote awareness of the environment, ecology, and beauty of Belize as they seek to be the first to cross the finish line in Belize City on the fourth and final day of the event.
Competing teams will be awarded based on eight different racing divisions:
- All Male
- All Female
- Mixed Gender
- Masters
- Intramural
- Dory
- Pleasure Craft
- Family Adventure Racers
Teams will set out early in the morning on the first day from San Ignacio Town in western Belize for the race’s first leg, a trip approximately 46 miles long. On day two, teams will begin at Banana Bank for the difficult second leg, a grueling 60-mile course that ends at Double Head Cabbage Village. On the third day, racers will navigate 36 miles of treacherous currents to arrive at Henderson Bank in Burrel Boom. On the fourth and final day, teams will push themselves to the limit to finish the 28-mile-long last leg to be the first to arrive in downtown Belize City.
This year, the La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge will begin on March 8th and conclude on March 11th.
On behalf of Chabil Mar and its Staff, we wish all the 2024 participating teams the best of luck.
