liquids on flights Continue south along the Southern Highway to Mile 42 and turn left (east) to Monkey River Town. (The

dropped. The government subsidized a rice-growing industry for awhile, but when the subsidies fell, so did the population. Then Hurricane Hattie hit in 1961 and devastated the village. The people rebuilt and in 2001 Hurricane Iris again demolished the place. The monkeys of the area died from yellow fever and some local hunters resorted to killing crocodiles, selling their hides for a profit. As a result of all this hard luck, many businesses moved to a different port and the town, in 1981, was demoted to village status.

The Watering Hole Bar and Tropical Inn, in the center of town (no phone), has pool tables to help wile away the hours. Although these are popular bars with the locals, they don t rock late except on Saturday night.

Continue south along the Southern Highway to Mile 42 and turn left (east) to Monkey River Town. (The road signs may not correspond with this guide as they measure the distance from Belize City, while I measure the distance from Belmopan.) MONKEY RIVER TOWN Monkey River Town is an isolated Garifuna community with a population of about 270 people. It offers just two places to stay, two bars to visit after the sun goes down, two places to eat and two ways to get there. This really is a two-can town.

In 1997 Luis Garcia wanted to revive the racing spirit so he started a small race called the Up and Down. The race went down the Mopan River to Branch Mouth and then up the Macal to San Ignacio, finishing at the Hawkesworth Bridge. It became liquids on flights so popular that it was eventually made into the now world famous Ruta Maya from San Ignacio down to Belize City.