Mayan Temples: Belize's Ancient Wonders

Belize is home to some of the most impressive Mayan temples in the world. With over 600 Mayan sites, it has the highest concentration of temples in any country. The temples are scattered throughout the country, hidden deep within jungles, on top of steep hills, and within historic caves.

One of the most important Mayan ruins in Belize is Caracol, tucked inside the Chiquibul Forest. The city was once home to more than 140,000 people and is larger than modern-day Belize City. The Canna (Sky Palace) is Caracol's biggest draw, ascending 143 feet into the clouds and housing four distinct palaces and three temples.

Another notable site is Lamanai, which was inhabited for over 3,000 years. Tourists can explore a range of beautifully preserved Mayan ceremonial buildings, including the High Temple, the Jaguar Temple, and the Mask Temple.

Xunantunich, located near San Ignacio, is another impressive Mayan site. To get there, visitors must cross the Mopan River via a hand-cranked ferry. The site features the second-largest structure in Belize, El Castillo, which rises over 40 meters above the ground.

Cahal Pech, located in San Ignacio, is surrounded by thick jungle foliage and offers a quiet retreat. The site was first settled around 1200-1000 BC and features several ruins that can be climbed or explored.

Altun Ha, located near Belize City, is one of the country's most visited sites. It was a major ceremonial centre during the Classic Period and is home to the largest Maya-carved jade object ever discovered, the Jade Head.

These are just a few examples of the many Mayan temples and ruins that can be found in Belize, each offering a glimpse into the mysterious and advanced Maya civilisation.

Xunantunich

One of the site's best-known structures is the pyramid "El Castillo", the second tallest structure in Belize at some 130 feet (40 m) tall. El Castillo is the "axis mundi" of the site, or the intersection of the two cardinal lines. The pyramid has stucco or "friezes" located on the final stage, depicting the birth of a god associated with the royal family, gods of creation, and the tree of life.

The site can be reached by taking a free hand-cranked cable ferry from San José Succotz over the Mopan River. Visitors then climb up to the limestone ridge that serves as the foundation for the city.

Caracol

The settlement history of Caracol dates back to at least the Early Pre-Classic period (1000-800 BC), with monumental structures from the Late Pre-Classic (300 BC-200 AD). There is sufficient glyphic information retrieved from the site to produce a history of its rulers and associations with other sites. A dynasty was established by Te' K'ab Chaak in 331 AD, and there have been 15 kings identified, 11 of whom have been named.

The largest building at Caracol is Caana, or Sky Place. This massive pyramid rises over 140 feet above the jungle floor and is the tallest man-made structure in Belize. Caana contains four palaces and three temples. The palace rooms were originally coated with white stucco and decorated with red paint. More than 100 tombs have been found on the site, along with a rich array of hieroglyphic inscriptions.

Lamanai

The main ceremonial structures at Lamanai have been restored, but most of the site is unrestored, with trails leading over rainforest-covered pyramids. The site has three main structural groups set around individual plazas, with smaller groups and residential units spreading out in all directions from the civic/ceremonial core. The three temples that have been uncovered so far are the Jaguar Temple, the Mask Temple, and the High Temple.

The Jaguar Temple, built around 200 BC, features two massive limestone heads carved into either side, which may represent one of the early Mayan leaders. Beneath the temple, archaeologists discovered a burial chamber containing a male and female occupant, along with several jade statues.

The Mask Temple (or Temple of the Masks) features a pair of stunning, well-preserved stucco masks about 13 feet (4m) in height, featuring human/deity faces crowned with crocodile headdresses. The masks were completed around 400 CE, and the pyramid itself rises to a height of about 56 feet (17m).

The High Temple is the tallest structure at the site, rising to a height of 108 feet (33m). It would have been the tallest building in Mesoamerica and provided incredible views of the surrounding canopy. Visitors can climb to the summit, but it is quite steep.

Cahal Pech

The primary excavation of Cahal Pech began in 1988, and restoration was completed in 2000 under the leadership of Dr Jaime Awe, Director of the National Institute of Archaeology (NICH), Belize. The site features eight interconnected plazas containing pyramids, temples, stelae, ball courts, and elite residences. The tallest temple is about 25 metres in height.

The site also features a visitor centre and museum, with a model of the site, paintings depicting Cahal Pech in its heyday, and an interpretive film.

Altun Ha

The site has yielded significant archaeological finds, including the largest jade artefact known from the Maya area—a 4.42-kilogram (nearly 11-pound) jade head depicting the Sun God, Kinich Ahau. This artefact is typically kept in the Belize Central Bank but is occasionally displayed at the national museum. Other notable discoveries include a royal tomb containing over 300 jade objects and the remains of a rare codex (bark-covered book).

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