La Ruta Maya 2026, A Race Within A Race

This year's La Ruta Maya may have been the most anticipated in years - but that wasn't so much because of the competition between the paddlers, but because of the huge national controversy preceding the event.

And between Friday and Monday, it all played out - the rivalries, the resentments, and, yes, the race on the river.

At the end of 4 days and 170 miles paddled, the 29th La Ruta Maya Belize River Challenge ended in competition and controversy - but also with a patriotic flourish.

We were the for all of it - but we start at the official finish line - where Jaleeza Roberts was stationed: