Caracol, situated deep within the Belize Chiquibul Forest Reserve, is its largest Mayan city and features temples and a massive ball court – once an important trading center!
Barton Creek Cave in Belize is one of its most stunning archaeological sites, drawing visitors from across Belize for ritual ceremonies or simply enjoying its serene surroundings. Mayan people considered caves a gateway into another realm; therefore, they often held ceremonies there.
Caracol
Caracol is Belize’s largest Mayan archaeological site and should not be missed. At its height, Caracol covered an area larger than modern Belize City and supported over 100,000 people thanks to a robust agricultural field system and urban planning practices. At the center of it all lies “Caana,” an iconic pyramid that rises 141 feet into the air to house four palaces and three temples as well as two ball courts, numerous residential structures, two ball courts for sport playing activities such as ball hockey or volleyball as well as numerous residential structures stelae commemorating Caracol’s Kings and Queens!
Stelae are some of the oldest structures in Belize and some of its most stunning works of architecture, and while they don’t contain any glyphs they provide a stunning window into Mayan culture and beliefs. Stela 10 in particular stands out; depicting an old Caracol ruler and featuring an interesting jaguarian figure emerging from a serpent’s mouth may signify either an important transition period at Caracol or perhaps an event such as Ucanal where there was ceremonial scattering taking place.
Caracol, situated in Belize’s western region, makes for an easy day trip from Belmopan and can be reached either by car or bus. A guide is highly recommended to make the most out of this incredible site.
Caracol was discovered for the first time by mahogany logger Rosa Mai in 1938 while exploring the Chiquibul forest reserve. Subsequent investigations were carried out by A.H Anderson the next year and Linton Satterthwaite between 1956-58 before an excavation by Arlen Chase was begun in 1985.
Caracol offers visitors a good introduction to its various offerings through a visitor center located on-site. There are photos and diagrams of various structures as well as artifacts recovered during archaeological digs – including a ceremonial altar that has been uncovered from beneath its ground surface.
Caracol was an important power during the Classic period; however, by around the ninth century it appears to have lost its dominance in Peten due to a combination of factors; among these may have been Tikal’s rise and the collapse of Mayan civilization in this area.
Altun Ha
Altun Ha, one of Belize’s best preserved Mayan cities, provides visitors with an eyeful of grandeur from this once powerful civilization and gives an idea of life during its height in Yucatan.
Altun Ha’s ruins comprise two main plazas and 13 large temples dating back to 250 BCE; these structures may have been in use until AD 1000. Many of the temples here are well preserved, providing visitors with an opportunity to learn more about ancient Mayan culture.
Altun Ha is home to not only temples, pyramids and palaces but also an abundance of archaeological remains and artifacts – most notable is a jade carving depicting the Mayan sun god Kinich Ahau from Kinich Ahau that serves as national treasure of Belize; indeed its likeness can even be found watermarked onto all currency.
Altun Ha was estimated to have an estimated population of 10,000 during its height. The city served as a crucial trading center, trading with cities from across China and beyond. Furthermore, Altun Ha became well known for its powerful ceremonial structures dedicated to honoring both kings and dead.
Today, descendants of Mayan cultures remain an integral part of Belizean society and culture. There are three primary groups of Mayans living in Belize – Yucatan Mayans reside in Orange Walk and Corozal districts while Mopan Maya are present in Toledo District while Kekchi Maya hail from Guatemala’s eastern jungles. Relatives of these Maya have kept their language, food and traditions alive here in Belize.
Altun Ha ruins are situated only 30 miles from Belize City and are open daily to the public. Due to poor road conditions on their final stretch to Belize City, reaching them can be challenging without transportation; most visitors opt for hiring a private guide and car as this provides more comfortable access.
Xunantunich
Benque Viejo near Guatemala borders is home to one of Belize’s most breathtaking Mayan sites: Xunantunich or Maiden of the Rock. Taking its name from two Mayan terms — “Xunan” for noble lady and Tuunich for “sculpting stone,” this breathtaking monument also attracts local hunters with haunting tales about an eerie ghostly woman that appeared, but quickly vanished into a cave before they could follow her!
El Castillo was once one of the largest cities in Mayan history, boasting up to 10,000 people at its peak population. El Castillo stands as an eye-catcher when entering its plaza; its sheer size grabs your attention as soon as you step inside its entranceway. El Castillo served as a shrine, dwelling, and meeting place for elite rulers of this ancient Mayan city.
El Castillo is a massive structure comprised of seven-tiers and a central platform, accessible via four sets of stairs leading up to it. You will be treated to spectacular views as you climb to its summit – where a large and impressive temple hosts rituals and ceremonies on top. At Xunantich you’ll also find other structures including its sixth-century palace (home of the ruling class), a ballcourt complex for violent games between Mayans (with losing players often facing death penalties) as well as several other structures including its sixth-century palace (home of the ruling class), ballcourt complex where Mayans played vicious games that resulted in fatal consequences;
Complex boasts a comprehensive visitor center that will introduce and explain its history, archaeological work, models, photos, maps, and timeline of the development of this complex site. You can hire a guide here to explore all its temples, palaces, and pyramids fully.
Once you’ve explored these beautiful ruins, there’s plenty to do in their surrounding area. Hiking, cave tubing, and ziplining are popular activities to partake in when visiting Xunantich; for an authentic Belize jungle adventure, you could even combine a visit here with Caracol or Rio on the Pools as well!
Nim Li Punit
Nim Li Punit, one of the lesser-known Mayan sites, stands out for its abundance of carved monuments known as stelae; each tells its own unique story. Additionally, this location hosts other ruins including an ancient ball court and royal tombs.
Nim Li Punit’s most striking aspect may be its stelae, yet there’s so much more to explore here than just that. Sandstone structures set across artificially leveled hilltops use an innovative construction method not typically seen at other Mayan sites.
At Nim Li Punit, the stelae are decorated with hieroglyphics and pictograms to provide visitors with a comprehensive understanding of ancient civilization. Additionally, visitors may gain more information from inscriptions left by the inhabitants who lived at these sites.
Nim Li Punit’s ruins have been carefully maintained over time, yet their grounds still evoke a feeling of wilderness with green moss covering stones and dense trees towering overhead. This makes the ruins an exquisite destination to visit; you could easily lose yourself for hours in their tranquility.
At this ruins site, the Plaza of the Stelae is the main draw, featuring 26 stelae that are believed to have been constructed between A.D. 720 and 790 and include dates that reflect this timeframe. One particularly famous stela, Stela 14, has an incorrect date which was left intact when first put up.
Nim Li Punit and other ancient Mayan cities provide an extraordinary glimpse of history; once home to tens of thousands, but for unknown reasons this civilization mysteriously vanished at some point and eventually fell back into jungle cover. This makes Nim Li Punit an engaging way to explore history.
