Exploring Belize's Mayan Ruins: A Comprehensive Guide

Belize is home to a number of significant Maya archaeological sites, ancient cities, ruins and sacred cave complexes. The Maya civilisation flourished from 2000 BC to around 900 AD, and during the Classic Period from 250 to 900 AD, they built impressive ruins, created beautiful art from stone and jade, and made discoveries in maths and astronomy. The population of what is now Belize may have reached one million during the height of the Maya civilisation – four times what it is today.

There are several ways to tour the Mayan ruins in Belize. You can opt for a guided tour, which typically includes transportation, a knowledgeable guide, and sometimes lunch. Some tours combine visits to multiple sites, such as the Altun Ha Mayan Ruins & Zipline Tour, or include other activities like cave tubing, ziplining, snorkelling, and wildlife spotting.

- Altun Ha

- Lamanai

- Xunantunich

- Caracol

- Tikal

Getting to Lamanai

The easiest way to get to Lamanai is by taking a tour. There are full-day tours available from Belize City, which take care of all the logistics. These tours include transportation in a comfortable, air-conditioned van for an hour's drive north to the Orange Walk District. The drive will take you across rivers and vast expanses of land, providing a true Belizean country tour.

Once you arrive at the Tower Hill Bridge, you will board a boat for a spectacular upriver boat ride. This journey is as exciting as the destination, as the virgin banks of the river are full of local flora and fauna. The boat ride offers an excellent opportunity for wildlife spotting, with over 100 varieties of tropical birds and the occasional freshwater crocodile.

If you prefer to travel independently, you can take a 26-mile boat ride up the New River Lagoon, departing from Orange Walk Town. Ask around in the town for boat operators and their schedules. This independent option usually costs over $50 per person, but it is worth noting that you can also do the boat ride as part of a tour.

If weather conditions are unfavourable for a boat ride, you can take a bus or drive to the site. This route will take you through Mennonite villages, giving you a glimpse into the unique lifestyle of these communities.

Another option is to stay at the Lamanai Outpost Lodge, which is just a 3-minute boat ride from the ruins. The lodge is situated in a remote location, surrounded by broadleaf forests, pine savannahs, farmlands, and wetlands. It can be accessed by car, boat, aircraft, or helicopter.

Altun Ha and Cave Tubing

Belize is home to the ancient Mayan ruins of Altun Ha, which you can explore on a guided tour, along with cave tubing on the Branch River. Here is some information about the Altun Ha and Cave Tubing tour.

This tour combines a visit to the 3,000-year-old Altun Ha archaeological site with cave tubing. It is ideal for travellers short on time but eager for adventure. The tour includes admission tickets, transfers, and hotel pickup and drop-off, ensuring a stress-free experience.

Altun Ha

At Altun Ha, you will explore the ancient Mayan settlement, including two plazas that once served as the centre of commerce for 10,000 Mayan residents trading jade and obsidian. A guide will provide insights into the 3,000-year-old relics, enhancing your understanding of Mayan history and culture.

Cave Tubing

The tour also includes tubing in the Branch Rivera Caves. After a 30-minute hike to the cave entrance, you will float through an underground network of rivers. This activity is suitable for all fitness levels and offers a unique perspective of the cave system.

Practical Information

The tour typically lasts for around 6 hours. It includes round-trip transportation from Belize City hotels, the airport, or the cruise port. It is recommended to wear appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes. The price of the tour starts at $111.96, but it varies depending on group size.

Xunantunich and Inland Blue Hole

Xunantunich, meaning 'Maiden of the Rock' in the Yucatec Maya language, is one of the best-known Maya ruins in Belize. The site includes 25 palaces and temples, a ball court, the pyramid of El Castillo, and many ancient homes. El Castillo is one of the tallest Maya pyramids and offers breathtaking views of the Cayo District of Belize and neighbouring Guatemala. Archaeologists also discovered an enormous royal tomb at Xunantunich in 2016, believed to be that of a king who ruled the powerful Snake Dynasty.

The Inland Blue Hole is a natural pool of blue water surrounded by caves, located in the St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park. The pool is about 20 feet deep and 300 feet in diameter, and the surrounding 575-acre park is a nesting and refuge site for hundreds of bird species and wildlife, including jaguars and ocelots. Visitors can take a dip in the pool, go bird-watching, or explore the vast network of caves.

Caracol

The original name for the city is unknown, but the ruins are now known as Caracol, from the Spanish word for 'snail shell', due to the large number of snail shells left behind by the original inhabitants. Caracol's settlement history dates back to at least the Early Pre-Classic period (1000-800 BC), with monumental structures from the Late Pre-Classic period (300 BC-200 AD).

Tikal National Park

The park contains the ancient Mayan city of Tikal and the surrounding tropical forests, savannas, and wetlands. The ceremonial centre of the city features superb temples and palaces, and public squares accessed by ramps. Remains of dwellings are scattered throughout the surrounding countryside. The central part of the ancient city alone covers about 16 square kilometres and contains 3,000 buildings.

Archaeologists estimate that the Maya settled in the area around 900 BC. Over the centuries, Tikal grew into an important ceremonial, cultural, and commercial centre. Most of the city’s massive temples were constructed during the eighth century AD when Tikal became the most fantastic city in the Maya world, with a population of perhaps 100,000. Like Maya complexes on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, Tikal fell into decline at the end of the ninth century and was virtually abandoned. The causes of the Maya empire’s collapse remain a mystery, but wars, famine, overpopulation, and resource depletion have all been blamed.

Frequently asked questions