Xunantunich
Departure: anytime between
8:00 am and 2:30 pm - Drive time: 20 minutes
See the Photo
Gallery for more or watch the Xunantunich Slideshow
Xunantunich: "shoo-nahn-too-nitch"
or "shah-nahn-tuhn-itch", depending
on your accent. Even if you can't pronounce
it, the 'X-ruin' is a great introduction
to the temples of the Maya. There is a nice
museum, temples to climb with a fantastic
view of the area, and some reconstruction
work where you can see what it may have
looked like during the time of the Maya.
It's all a ruin should be with the added
convenience of being 20 minutes away. You
also get to ride over to it on a hand-cranked
ferry and there are stands set up where
you can buy slate carvings and other local
crafts.
Interested in this
tour? See our rates,
or include this tour in one of our packages.
Xunantunich: lords of war and fertility
One mile north of Benque Viejo, across
the green crystalline waters of the Mopan
River, is the largest ceremonial center
in the Belize River Valley. The ruins of
Xunantunich are located on a natural limestone
ridge approximately eight miles west of
San Ignacio at San Jose Succotz Village
in the Cayo District. The hilltop location
provides a breathtaking panoramic view of
the surrounding country.
Spanning time from the early Protoclassic
to the Terminal Classic Periods, Xunantunich
consists of three ceremonial plazas
enclosed by house mounds, pyramids,
and palaces, the largest decorated
with friezes and masks of Classic
style. Xunantunich is the longest
established archaeological site in
Belize.
The most prominent structure located
(at the south end of the site is the
pyramid "El Castillo" (The
Castle) which rises 130 feet above
the plaza. "El Castillo",
which has been partially excavated
and explored, was the tallest manmade
structure in all of Belize until the
discovery of "Canaa" at
Caracol. The most notable feature
on "El Castillo" is a remarkable
stucco frieze on the east side of
the A-6 structure. Three carved stelae
found at the site are on display in
the plaza. The name is Maya for "stone
lady" and is derived from local
legend.
Xunantunich is essentially a Classic Period
ceremonial centre. Restricted in space,
it occupies only 300 sq. metres (325 sq.
yards) with elite, middle- and working-class
residential structures stretching a few
kilometres into the surroundings.
This is one of the most popular sites in
Belize. Recent improvements have included
the visitor's centre, new bathrooms, new
picnic areas, new trails, and a new way
to embark and disembark the main temple
of El Castillo. The recent developments
at Xunantunich are designed to improve and
enhance the carrying capacity, without compromising
the integrity of the structures or the wildlife-rich
forest surrounding the site.
One historical attribute not likely to
be replaced anytime soon is the mechanical
ferry, used for years to take people to
and from the site.
Interested
in this tour? See our rates,
or include this tour in one of our packages.
See the Photo
Gallery for more or watch the Xunantunich Slideshow
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