Belize City's Ancient Secrets: Unveiling The Mayan Ruins Nearby

Belize is home to a large number of Mayan ruins, with over 600 sites across the country. The distance between these ruins and Belize City varies. Some of the closest Mayan ruins to Belize City are Altun Ha, which is around 31 miles north of the city, and Lamanai, which is around 56 miles north-west. These sites are easily accessible and popular among tourists.

Other Mayan ruins in Belize include the largest site in the country, Caracol, which is located in western Belize near the border with Guatemala. Xunantunich is another notable site, situated across the river from the village of San Jose Succotz and accessible by ferry. Cahal Pech, located near San Ignacio in the Belize River Valley, is also a fascinating Maya site to explore.

The Mayan ruins in Belize offer a glimpse into the ancient world, with sacred temples, pyramids, and other structures that showcase the advanced civilisation of the Maya people.

Caracol, the biggest Mayan site in Belize

Caracol was first reported in 1938 by a native logger named Rosa Mai and was initially surveyed by archaeologists in 1952-53. However, large-scale clearing and excavation of the site did not begin until 1985, led by archaeologists Arlen and Diane Chase of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. The site is believed to have been inhabited as early as 1200 BC, with the first monumental structures dating back to the Late Pre-Classic period (300 BC-200 AD).

The central core of Caracol consists of three plaza groups surrounding a central acropolis and two ball courts, along with smaller structures. The site has over 37 miles of sacbeob (white stone roads) and features more than 50 carved stelae, altars, and ballcourt markers, many with readable glyphic information. The largest temple at Caracol is called "Caana" or "Sky Place," which rises over 140 feet above the jungle floor and is the tallest man-made structure in Belize. Caana is believed to have been used as a ceremonial centre and offers incredible views of the surrounding area.

Caracol was a significant player in the geopolitics of the Maya civilisation and was involved in several wars with neighbouring polities, including Tikal, Naranjo, and Ucanal. At its peak, Caracol was estimated to have a population of almost 100,000 people, with some sources stating this figure could have been as high as 150,000. The city's influence extended beyond present-day Belize, with a dominant place in Maya history.

Today, Caracol is a popular tourist destination, with many of its structures excavated and stabilised for visitors to climb. The site can be accessed via a road trip from Belize City or the capital, Belmopan, and it offers a glimpse into the Classic Period, often considered the peak of Maya civilisation.

Altun Ha, the closest Mayan ruins to Belize City

Altun Ha is the name given to the ruins of an ancient Maya city in Belize, situated in the Belize District. The site's name means "Rockstone Water" in Yucatec Mayan, and is a Yucatec Mayan approximation of the name of the nearby village of Rockstone Pond. The site was inhabited from around 900 BC to AD 1000, with the Classic Period from 200 to 900 AD being the most significant.

Altun Ha is considered one of the best-restored ruins in Belize, with two main plazas and 13 large structures, including the Temple of Masonry Altars, which stands at 16 metres (52 feet) tall. The site is also home to the largest jade artefact in the Mayan world, the Altun Ha Jade Head, which was discovered in 1968 and is now kept in the Belize Central Bank vault.

The ancient city was once a small but rich ceremonial centre, with a population of up to 10,000 people. The Mayans who lived here were skilled engineers, as evidenced by their sophisticated water reservoir, which provided the settlement with water. The site is also known for its connection to the central Mexican city of Teotihuacan, as evidenced by archaeological finds.

Altun Ha is situated amid one of the richest wildlife areas in Belize, with over 200 species of birds, as well as bats, foxes, white-tail deer, tapir, and armadillos. The site is accessible for tourism, with an entrance fee of US$5.00, and is a one-hour drive from Belize City.

Xunantunich, a Classic Period ceremonial centre

Xunantunich, pronounced "shoo-nan-too-neech", is a stunning ruin of a Mayan city in western Belize, about 70 miles (110 km) west of Belize City. It is one of the best-preserved Mayan archaeological sites in the country, dating back to around 600 AD. The site was first discovered by Alfred Maloney in 1881, who named it Mount Maloney. However, it was Dr Thomas Gann who explored the site in 1894, followed by Teobart Mahler, an explorer and photographer from Harvard University, in 1905.

Xunantunich translates to "Stone Woman" or "Maiden of the Rock" in the Maya language. The name comes from a 200-year-old local legend about the ghost of a beautiful Mayan maiden with fire-red eyes. It is said that she appeared to local hunters, dressed in white, beckoning them to follow her into a cavern. The site was also believed to be inhabited by the ghost of a woman, usually depicted as being dressed entirely in white with glowing red eyes.

Xunantunich served as a Maya civic ceremonial centre during the Late and Terminal Classic periods. The core of the city covers about one square mile (2.6 km2) and consists of six plazas surrounded by over 26 temples and palaces. One of its most notable structures is the pyramid "El Castillo", which is the second tallest structure in Belize, standing at 130 feet (40 m) tall. "El Castillo" is adorned with intricate stucco friezes depicting astronomical symbols, the tree of life, and gods of creation.

Xunantunich was once a prosperous city state, home to 200,000 people—equivalent to two-thirds of Belize's current population. The city was deserted by about 1000 AD, slightly later than many of its Maya contemporaries. Today, visitors can explore the extensive excavations of this Mayan site, climb several temples, and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding rainforest and nearby settlements.

Lamanai, the longest continually occupied site in Mesoamerica

The site was once a prominent centre of the Maya civilisation, with a population of over 35,000 at its peak. Lamanai's trading influence extended over the borders of present-day Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Belize. The site features several notable structures, including the Jaguar Temple, the High Temple, and the Mask Temple, which is adorned with two impressive carved limestone masks of an ancient Maya king, each over 13 feet tall.

Lamanai is accessible by boat from Orange Walk Town along the New River or by dirt road through the Mennonite area of Shipyard. The site offers a small museum, tourist facilities, and shops. The journey to Lamanai is part of the experience, with opportunities to see wildlife such as iguanas, lily trotters, snail kites, and crocodiles along the way.

The Lamanai Archaeological Reserve was established in the 1990s by the Belizean government, and it includes trails, a site museum, and a visitor centre. The reserve is surrounded by a forested area with native flora and fauna, including jaguars, spider monkeys, howler monkeys, bats, and crocodiles. However, the cultural and natural landscape of Lamanai is currently threatened by deforestation due to expanding agricultural lands.

Cahal Pech, the oldest-known ruins in the Belize River Valley

Belize is home to the largest number of ancient Mayan ruins in Central America, with over 600 sites to explore. One of the most fascinating sites is Cahal Pech, the oldest-known ruins in the Belize River Valley.

Cahal Pech is located near the town of San Ignacio in the Cayo District of Belize. The site is perched on a hilltop above the banks of the Macal River, offering panoramic views of the surrounding area. The name, Cahal Pech, means "Place of Ticks" in the Yucatec Maya language, as the surrounding area was once used as pastureland. However, this site was once a palatial home to an elite Mayan ruling family during the Classic period.

Cahal Pech is believed to have been settled around 1200 BCE, with major construction dating to the Classic period. The site showcases the complex residential architecture of the ancient Mayans, with a collection of 34 structures, including pyramids, residential buildings, ball courts, an altar, and a sweat house. The site also features seven impressive courtyards and two ball courts, all interconnected via a series of plazas.

One of the temples at Cahal Pech offers a breathtaking view of the Belize River Valley. The site also houses a small museum with artefacts from various ongoing excavations. Visitors can learn about the origins of Cahal Pech at the visitor centre before exploring the ruins themselves.

Cahal Pech is easily accessible from the nearby town of San Ignacio and makes for a fascinating day trip for those interested in exploring the ancient world of the Mayans.

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