Caracol: A Hidden Maya City In Belize's Rainforest

Caracol is a large ancient Maya archaeological site located in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve in the Cayo District of Belize. It is situated in the foothills of the Maya Mountains, around 25 miles south of the town of San Ignacio and 47 miles southeast of the Guatemalan Mayan city of Tikal. The site covers an area of nearly 25,000 acres and is one of the most pristine and well-kept Maya sites in Belize.

Caracol was once home to 150,000 people, making it the largest Maya Centre in Belize. The central core of Caracol consists of three plaza groups surrounding a central acropolis and two ball courts, along with a number of smaller structures. The largest temple at Caracol is Caana or Sky Place, a massive pyramid that rises over 140 feet above the jungle floor and is the tallest manmade structure in Belize.

Caracol's original Maya name has been identified as Oxhuitza or Uxwitza (Place of Three Hills), and it was one of the great city-states during the Classic Period (c. 200-900 AD). The site was strategically located on trade routes between the Maya Southern Lowlands and the Caribbean, and over 37 miles of sacbeob (white stone roads) have been discovered within and leading out of Caracol.

The ancient city was first reported in 1938 by a native logger named Rosa Mai and was later visited by archaeologists in 1939 and 1956-58. The site has been under ongoing investigation and excavation by the Caracol Archaeological Project since 1985.

Caracol's history and exploration

Caracol is a large ancient Maya archaeological site located in the Cayo District of Belize. It is situated in the foothills of the Maya Mountains, within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve in western Belize, near the border with Guatemala. The site was discovered in 1937 by a native logger named Rosa Mai, who came across its remains while searching for mahogany trees.

Caracol's settlement history dates back to the Early Pre-Classic (1000-800 BC), with monumental structures commencing in the Late Pre-Classic (300 BC-200 AD). The site was strategically situated on trade routes between the Maya Southern Lowlands and the Caribbean.

The original Mayan name for Caracol is thought to be Oxhuitza, or "Place of Three Hills". However, the site's modern name, "Caracol", is Spanish for "snail" or "shell", in reference to the winding access road that leads to the site.

In 331 AD, a dynasty was established by Te' K'ab Chaak, possibly under the influence of Teotihuacan. The city flourished during the middle Classic period (c. 6th century CE), replacing Tikal as the major regional power around 562 CE. Caracol was initially a client state of Tikal, but later joined forces with its rival, Calakmul.

Caracol's central core consists of three plaza groups surrounding a central acropolis and two ball courts, along with smaller structures. The largest building at Caracol is "Caana", or "Sky Place", a massive pyramid that rises over 140 feet above the jungle floor.

Excavations at Caracol have uncovered pyramids, royal tombs, dwellings, monuments, and a ball court, as well as artefacts such as ceramics, murals, altars, and carvings. The site is notable not only for its size but also for its advanced agricultural system and elaborate city planning.

The Caracol Archaeological Project, directed by Arlen and Diane Chase of the University of Nevada, has been ongoing since 1985, with annual clearing and excavation of the site.

Caracol's structures

Caracol is a large ancient Maya archaeological site located in the Cayo District of Belize. It is recognised as one of the most important regional political centres of the Maya Lowlands during the Classic Period. The site covers approximately 200 square kilometres, with a central core consisting of three plaza groups surrounding a central acropolis and two ball courts, along with a number of smaller structures.

Caracol's central structures are organised into groups, with Group A located on the western portion of the core area. Group A includes several structures surrounding a small plaza, with two forming an E Complex. The E Complex consists of two main structures, Structures A2 and A6. A pyramidal structure, Structure A2 is located on the west side of the plaza. It has a central stairway flanked by two smaller stairways, with two stelae, Stela 22 and 23, and Altar 17 at the summit. Across from Structure A2 on the east side of the plaza is a three-structure complex, Structure A6. This complex runs north-south with a central structure that is slightly larger than the adjoining structures.

Structure A3 forms the north side of Plaza A. This is a five-tiered pyramid with a central stairway. The summit contains the remains of a temple structure with three entrances into a single chamber and an additional chamber located at the rear. Large masks adorn the lower stairway. A circular altar is located in the centre of the plaza. Structure A1 is a partially excavated pyramid on the south side of the plaza, with Stelae 1, 13-16, and Altars 1 and 7 associated with this structure.

At the south end of the core area is Group D, a dozen or so structures built upon earlier platforms from the Late Pre-Classic. The main complex here is the South Acropolis, a residential and funerary complex. Group B is found at the north end of the central core area, with the largest complexes, a second ball court, and a plaza. Caana, or Sky Place, is an impressive pyramidal complex on the north side of the plaza. It is the tallest structure at the site and in all of Belize, rising to a height of 140 feet. At the top of this truncated pyramid is a courtyard that houses three temples, set up in a standard triadic fashion. The central and most important structure, Structure 19, has a broad central stairway that rises to the summit terrace. A two-chamber structure is located on the terrace, with two shrines flanking the courtyard level of the stairway.

The south side of the plaza is anchored by Structure B5, a pyramidal structure with flanking platforms and a central plaza-facing stairway. Stuccoed earth monsters flank the central stairway. The platforms each have their own stairway that leads to chambers at the rear of a terrace. Ballcourt B, Structures B8 and B9, is situated on the southwest corner of the plaza. On the east side of the plaza is the North Acropolis, built upon a huge, raised platform with origins in the Pre-Classic.

Caracol's rulers

Caracol, Belize, was officially founded in 331 AD by Te' K'ab Chaak, also known as the Tree Branch Rain God. Te' K'ab Chaak is the dynastic progenitor of Caracol, but there is little information about him.

The first king with detailed records is Yajaw Te' K'inich II, also known as Lord Water, who ascended the throne in 553 AD. He is the son of K'an I and is named after his grandfather. Lord Water's monuments include Stelae 1, 4, 14, and Altars 1, 6, and 24. His first monument, Stela 14, records the K'atun ending in 554 AD. Lord Water's accession took place under the auspices of the Tikal Lord Wak Chan K'awiil. In 562 AD, he enacted the first known star war against Tikal and Lord Wak Chan K'awiil.

Lord Water passed on his throne to his eldest son, Knot Ajaw, in 599 AD. Knot Ajaw erected Stelae 5, 6, and 7, and dedicated Altars 11 and 15. He was the half-brother of K'an II, who succeeded him in 618 AD.

K'an II is described as the most successful Caracol ruler. He reigned for 40 years, from 618 to 658 AD, and expanded the causeway system. He was born as Sak Witzil Baah, or White First Hill, and took his grandfather's name at his accession. He was always stressing his legitimacy by referencing his mother, who may have been Batz' Ek'. K'an II never referenced the rule of his brother, Knot Ajaw, in any of his monuments. He also developed diplomatic contacts with the Snake polity and coordinated the war with Naranjo. K'an II's monuments include Stelae 3, 22, Altars 2, 7, 17, 19, and 21, and potentially the Hieroglyphic Stairway and Panel 1 from Naranjo.

K'an II was succeeded by K'ahk' Ujol K'inich II, also known as Smoking Skull II, in 658 AD. However, there is no evidence that he is K'an II's son. K'ahk' Ujol K'inich II's only monument appears at La Rejolla, and he may have fled there after Naranjo's war of Independence in 680 AD.

The last known lord of Caracol is Ruler XIII, who erected Stela 10, a carved all-glyphic monument that may commemorate the half-K'atun in 859 AD.

Caracol's population and agriculture

Caracol is a large ancient Maya archaeological site located in the Cayo District of Belize. It is situated in the foothills of the Maya Mountains, within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, and covers an area of nearly 25,000 acres. At its peak, Caracol was home to 100,000 people, with some estimates placing the number at 150,000. This population was supported by an extensive agricultural field system and elaborate city planning.

Caracol's central core consists of three plaza groups surrounding a central acropolis and two ball courts, along with numerous smaller structures. The site is characterised by its high population density and the integration of its structures with the surrounding terrace system. The Caracol area was occupied as early as 1200 BC, with the epicentral area being occupied from 650 BC until around AD 950.

Caracol's agricultural fields were an important feature of the site, allowing it to support a large population. The fields were part of a larger system of terraces that surrounded the site's structures. This system of terraces and fields contributed to the high population density of Caracol, enabling it to become one of the largest Maya cities.

The investigation and excavation of Caracol have provided valuable insights into the agricultural practices, city planning, and population of this ancient Maya site.

Visiting Caracol

Caracol is an ancient Mayan archaeological site located in the foothills of the Maya Mountains in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve in western Belize, near the border with Guatemala. It is Belize's largest Mayan site, covering nearly 25,000 acres, and is one of the most pristine and well-kept Mayan sites in the country.

Getting There

Caracol is extremely remote and requires a long drive through dense forest to reach. It takes around two hours of off-road driving from the San Ignacio region, which is about 45 miles away. The roads are a mixture of dirt and paved, and a 4x4 vehicle is required to access them. At certain times of the year, the roads wash out or get submerged, so a rugged vehicle is necessary.

When to Go

It is possible to travel to Caracol year-round, but the rainy season can make the jungle and rainforest roads muddy and difficult to traverse.

What to Expect

Caracol is an active archaeological site with ongoing excavations, so there is much to learn and uncover about this ancient Mayan city. The site is believed to have existed from around 1200 BC to around 950 AD, when the Mayan civilisation began to collapse. In its heyday, Caracol is thought to have had a radius of about 10 km, a population of over 100,000 people, and a network of more than 20 miles of roads.

The central core of Caracol consists of three plaza groups surrounding a central acropolis and two ball courts, along with smaller structures. The largest temple at Caracol is "Caana" or "Sky Place", which rises over 140 feet above the jungle floor and is the tallest man-made structure in Belize. Caana contains four palaces and three temples, and visitors are allowed to climb it. There are also two ancient ball courts (used for a game/punishment for captured prisoners) and over 100 tombs that have been found on the site, as well as a rich array of hieroglyphic inscriptions.

Guided Tour or DIY?

It is possible to visit Caracol without a tour guide, but it is highly recommended to find one as the road to Caracol is long, unpaved, and undeveloped, and there are few signs explaining what you are seeing. A knowledgeable guide can provide insight into the environment, anthropology, and archaeology of the Mayan civilisation, enhancing your understanding of the area's ancient history. Additionally, it is unlikely that you will be able to hire a guide once you arrive at Caracol, so arrangements should be made in advance in San Ignacio.

What to Bring

• Cash for tips/entrance fees
• Sturdy, grippy shoes and/or water shoes for swimming
• Lightweight, long pants and a long-sleeve shirt to protect against bugs and the sun
• Water

Frequently asked questions