You won’t need a machete and bush hat to reach these archeological sites, just a sense of adventure
The country of Belize was once part of the great Mayan homeland. Green jungles hide stonework and relics of once grand cities. More than 100 known Mayan sites are scattered from coastal lowlands to highland plateaus, but fewer than a dozen are easily accessible, and have been sufficiently reclaimed from enveloping undergrowth and debris to provide a semblance of their former selves. No trip to Belize would be complete without a visit to at least one of these sites, either with an organized tour or by rental car. Here are six of the country’s best.
Coastal Day Trips
If you are staying out on the cays or taking shore leave in Belize City, several of the country’s most popular Mayan sites are within day-trip range. The easiest to reach, and therefore most popular, is Altun Ha. The excavated portions of this site are relatively modest in scope, but contain all the requisite elements: temples, tombs, carvings and pyramids that can be climbed. Several tour companies serve the site, and it’s an easy 45-minute drive by rental car. For a unique setting and fewer tour groups, you can opt for the city of Lamanai, which overlooks the New River Lagoon, and is surrounded by a lush rainforest. Highlights include a ball court and the second largest pre-classic Mayan structure in Central America. And then there’s the arrival. To save a circuitous road trip, a number of tour operators deliver visitors by boat, adding a river cruise to the day’s adventure, with the chance of sighting crocodiles along the way.
Just a few miles from the town of San Ignacio, the 120-foot high El Castillo pyramid at Xunantunich rises from the jungle. The site can be reached by car, and the views justify the climb to the top. Photo: iStock
A third option for coastal-based travelers with a full day to devote to visiting ruins is a drive on the Western Highway to the town of San Ignacio. Here, the remains of one of the oldest-known Maya cities in the country overlooks the Macal River Valley. The site, known as Cahal Pech, is a collection of some 30 stone structures rising to heights of 75 feet, along with a small museum displaying some of the artifacts unearthed by archeologists. A seven-mile drive west of San Ignacio brings you to the district’s other easily accessed site: Xunantunich. The adventure begins with a trip across the Mopan River on a small, hand-operated ferry boat, after which you can walk among carved stella and climb the 120-foot-tall El Castillo pyramid for panoramic views that extend to the Guatemalan border.
Inland Expeditions
Some of Belize’s most significant Mayan cities are located in the western highlands in areas that are a bit too remote for a comfortable one-day excursion from the coast. The best way to visit these sites is by basing at a hotel or jungle lodge near the town of San Ignacio. From here, a favorite adventure is an all-day outing to the sprawling city of Caracol, which is located in the heart of the Mayan Mountains. The trip begins with a 2?- hour drive on rough backroads through the Mountain Pine Forest Reserve and the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, with ample opportunities to spot wildlife. The city itself is massive, and only a fraction of it has yet been reclaimed from the jungle; archeological work is ongoing. Among the most noteworthy structures unearthed so far are the Canna Sky Palace pyramid, which at 136 feet is the tallest Mayan building in Belize.
The view from atop Caracol’s main pyramid. Excavation at the site is ongoing, and only a small portion of the city has been reclaimed from the surrounding jungle. Photo: Alan Tobey/iStock
The other must-do excursion from San Ignacio takes you across the Guatemalan border to one of the most important cities of the Mayan Empire. The ancient city of Tikal covers more than 6 square miles, and includes some of the most dramatic pyramids and best-restored structures in Central America. Organized tours from San Ignacio are the best option, as most rental car contracts exclude travel into Guatemala. If you have an extra half day to spare, and want a slightly wilder take on ruins tours, a 12-mile drive to the north brings you to El Pilar, a large but only partially excavated city that could serve as a set for an Indiana Jones movie. Here, visitors walk shaded trails to discover 4,000-year-old stonework emerging from the surrounding greenery.
