Belize Jungle
XUNANTUNICH (Maiden of the Rock) Located in the extreme western part of Belize in the Cayo District across the Mopan River from the village of San Jose Succotz. The highest temple at the site “EI Castillo” is visible for miles around. It is one of the largest and most impressive ceremonial centers in the Belize River Valley. Much restoration has recently given Xunantunich a new look with major ceremonial center located on a natural limestone ridge, providing a panoramic view of the Cayo District. View from the top is breathtaking and includes western Belize and a section of Guatemala.
CARACOL (The Snail) Located in the southwestern part of the Cayo District in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, several hours' drive from the turn-off along the Western Highway to the Mountain Pine Ridge area, it is the largest Mayan site in Belize and the entire ancient Mayan world. The tallest man-made structure in ancient or modern Belize (Caa-na "Sky Palace") can be found here. Archeologist has discovered cryptic glyphs at the site describing some sort of military victory over mighty Tikal (in Guatemala).
The enormous core area covers 15 square miles. Between AD. 650 and 700, around 36,000 structures were occupied by an estimated population of 200,000, nearly the same as the population of the entire country of Belize today. The city was linked together by more than 20 miles of sacbeob (white roads) that radiated outward from its epicenter like the spokes of a wheel. Many hieroglyphic texts have been found at the site on stelae, altars, ball court markers, capstones and walls.
LAMANAI (Submerged Crocodile) Located in the east-central part of the Orange Walk District this site was continuously occupied from 1500 B.C. - AD until 1675. It is one of Belize's largest Mayan ceremonial centers, historically important and visually appealing. The site displays all major phases of architecture from the Preclassic to the Postclassic Period. Nearby are remains of two Spanish churches and a sugar mill. Howler monkeys and many species of tropical birds live within this vast archaeological reserve of 1.5 square miles. An excellent site museum displays much pottery, flints, etc Lamanai can be reached by road during the dry season but the preferred trip is by boat along the enchanting New River Lagoon.
ALTUN HA (Water of the Rock) Located in the north-central part of the Belize District on the old Northern highway, 31 miles from Belize City. Temple of the Masonry Altars is the tallest, best-preserved structure at the site and the place where one of the largest carved jades in the Maya world was found. Altun Ha was an important trading center between Belize Caribbean coastline and the interior. The site features two main plazas with some thirteen temples in a pleasant park-like atmosphere; it was a major ceremonial center during the Classic Period. Many tombs was discovered here during extensive excavations and restorations from 1964-1978. Burial goods included hundreds of jades and green obsidian blades, some traceable directly to Teotihuacan in central Mexico. An unusual feature at Altun Ha is the absence of carved stelae.
NIM LI PUNIT (Big Rock) Located off the Southern Highway 24 miles from Punta Gorda in the Toledo District,. Nim Li Punit is famous for its stelae. More than 25 have been found including the tallest in Belize and 2nd tallest in the Maya world. The site is a Mayan ceremonial center lying in the foothills of the Maya Mountains. Several of the most impressive stelae have been moved from the site and are now on display in the attractive site museum. Narrow and well-preserved, 31-foot-long stela 14 has carving that depicts a Maya ruler with a panel of glyphs above and below. Nearby stela 15 is also richly carved. It dates to A.D. 721, the earliest date known from the site.
Many more Mayan ruins awaits you in Belize plus the Mecca of all Mayan sites “Tikal” just across the border in Guatemala and easily accessible from Belize.
Belize Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (ATM): Trek along the ancient jungle and river trails of the ancient Mayans to their underground passageways then enter cave caverns that dates back over 2000 years during the classic era. On this tour the mysteries and secrets of the ancient Maya underworld will be revealed, learn how they used these enchanted cave cavers as ceremonial centers. You will see Burial Chambers with human remains, ceremonial vessels and other cultural artifacts left behind by the ancients.
The most famous of the human remains is known as “The Crystal Maiden”, the skeleton of a teenage girl, probably a sacrifice victim, whose bones which have been completely covered by the natural processes of the cave, leaving them with a sparkling appearance. There are several such skeletons in the main chamber.
The ATM cave was discovered in 1989 and is one of Belize’s best preserved, archeological Mayan ceremonial sites. To this day, the cave has not been looted and nearly all of the cultural artifacts have remained in place as they were originally found in 1989.
To reach the cave, requires a 45 minute nature hike into the jungle including three stream crossings and passes through the 6,700 acre Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. The entrance to the cave is shaped like an hour glass and is flooded with water. Travelers need to be prepared to get wet, and remain relatively wet to damp during their time in the cave. Warning: To do this tour you must be in relatively good physical shape, can swim and do not suffer from claustrophobia.
The Barton Creek is a large river cave possibly over 4.5 miles long. The cave consists of giant passages covered with numerous large speleothems over a navigable river making it the most popular in Belize for river canoeing or kayaking
Rio Frio Cave in Mountain Pine Ridge is also very popular and very accessible.This is more like a huge two-ended cavern with a shallow river running through it, beautiful and mystical nevertheless. Other caves in the Mountain Pine Ridge area include Blancaneaux Cave and Skeleton Head Cave.You can visit Rio Frio cave on your own, but all others in the area require an experienced guide.
Just off the Hummingbird Highway, near the village of Pomona, is a system known generically as the Mayflower caves. There are two entranceways and a labyrinth of passageways only partially explored. Minutes away from Dangriga, and not far from Mayflower Bocawina National Park (Archaeological Reserve), these caves are accessed through guided tours only.
Interesting caves are found down south in the Toledo District as well where the Hokeb Ha cave (Blue Creek Cave) is a popular jungle trek tour combined with the Southern Mayan ruins of Nim Li Punit and Lubantun. A refreshing stream runs through the cave with Stalactite and Crystal like formation inside the cave.
The largest cave systems in Belize are located in the far southwestern Chiquibul wilderness, beyond Mountain Pine Ridge and past Caracol. Some of this system has been explored and reported recently in National Geographic - over 25 miles of underground passages that run from Belize to Guatemala! You must have government permission to enter these caves and led by an experienced guide.
