Discover the Ancient Mayan Ruins of Belize

Having many different attractions for the visitor, Belize's most exciting tour are those following the Mayans roads in the middle of tropical rain forests, jungle and swamps to discover the vestiges of Mayan temples. Nobody knows exactly how many ancient Maya sites there are in Belize, neither the government nor the archaeologist, but it is believed that the number is in the thousands, and there is always the possibility a new one under any heavy foliage area.

Just to mention a few, Belize Mayan Temple Vacation Packages include guided visits to ancient temples such as Tikal, Cahal Pech, Pacbitun, Lubaantun, Uxbenka, Caracol, Mayflower, Xunantunich, or El Pilar. In fact it is one of the greatest Mayan Cities but located in Guatemala, about 50 miles northwest of its border with Belize. It was named a national park with typical flora and fauna, consisting of over 3,000 buildings, pyramids and impressively tall temples towering the forest.

The ruins of Caracol are located in the Vaca Plateau of the Cayo District, in the middle of Chiquibul Rain Forest; Caracol. it provides one of the most scenic drives in Belize with a plethora of flora and fauna, but being one of the more inaccessible sites during the rainy season, even with the undergoing plans to improve the access.

Anyway, you can visit this site with one of many tours scheduled when the weather conditions are optimal, or by getting permission from the Forestry Department and the Department of Archaeology, both located in the city of Augustine, but it is worth the effect because Caracol is the largest known Maya center in Belize holding the largest pyramid, "Canaa" (Sky Place) rising 143 feet high, the tallest man-made structure in all of Belize.

The ruins of Xunantunich are accessible by public transportation after riding a ferry across the Mopan River. The Xunantunich is located approximately 8 miles west of San Ignacio town, at San Jose Succotz in the Cayo District, being a major ceremonial center during the Mayan Classic Period, composed of six major plazas, surrounded by more than 25 palaces and temples. In fact, the most prominent structure here is the pyramid known as "El Castillo" (The Castle), raising 130 feet high above the plaza, and considered the tallest man-made structure in Belize before the discovery of "Canaa" in Caracol.

El Pilar is another great tour featuring the largest nature and archaeological reserve shared by Belize and Guatemala, located in the Belize River area, southern part of the Cayo District, 12 miles northwest of San Ignacio, and hidden beneath a filter of bough, leaf, Vina and root. El Pillar encompasses more that a dozen large pyramids and 25 plazas near100 acres, it became an official national park in 1997.

Lubaantun, is located near San Pedro-Columbia in the Toledo District, and was built in the Late Classic period, consisting of the largest ceremonial center including 11 major structures, grouped around 5 main plazas. This is a unique place built entirely without the aid of mortar, but there is no public transportation to the ruins, so you must visit Lubaantun by taking a guided tour or making arrangements in Punta Gorda Town,.