Belikin La Ruta Maya is here again and on March 6th we were in San Ignacio for Culture Night. It is easy to get lost in the sponsorships, parties and the gloss of the race that we can sometimes forget the reason we started this great race. NICHE helped to remind us with a wonderful compilation at the San Ignacio welcome centre highlighting the culture, history and purpose behind the race. We were treated to Marimba players from Benque and a comprehensive historical power point of the race that took us all the way back to 70,000 B.C. In addition, NICH reminded us of the importance of keeping our rivers clean and how Belize was built along this majestic river.

Of course, we had great Belikin Beer to accompany what was a night filled with great live music and a beautiful Cayo crowd who enjoyed wonderful atmosphere of the San Ignacio welcome centre.

At the crack of dawn the next morning, canoes were already in the water and race enthusiasts gathered at the Hawksworth Bridge for another exciting start to the 2014 Belikin La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge. Support was great as thousands lined the river banks on a hazy, cool Friday Morning. Tamales and excitement was in the air as the horn sounded and the canoes bolted down the river to the roar of the crowds.

At the first major check point, the melting pot, it was a tight battle between Belize Bank and Westrac but by the time they got to the Iguana Creek bridge Belize Bank had wrestled control of the race and led by two minutes. At the finish line it was all Belize Bank with close to four minutes on the pack. Speaking of Banana Bank, we can’t sign off on day one without mentioning how much fun that stop was as Belikin, great food from pork to sheep and smiling faces were on hand for everyone to enjoy. See you tomorrow for day two of the Belikin La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge.