Caracol Maya Temple
This tour will take you to two different nature reserves in the Maya Mountain region of western Belize. You'll get to see Maya ruins and some of the incredible natural formations that characterize this part of the country. Keep in mind that there is some hiking and climbing involved in this tour, so participants should be at least moderately fit and have no physical limitations.
- Duration:
- 9 hrs
- Available Days:
- Every day
- Schedule:
- 7:30 AM, 8:30 AM
- Hotel Transport Included
- Mobile Ticket Included
- Offered in English, Spanish
Chiquibul Forest Reserve covers some of the eastern slopes of the Maya Mountains. This reserve is a habitat for endangered scarlet macaws and howler monkeys. Listen for their distinctive calls as you hike toward the Maya ruin of Caracol.
Caracol is one of the largest Maya cities in all of Belize. This site’s temples and plazas are quite intact, making it easy to imagine what this once-powerful city looked like during its heyday. Caracol also boasts a temple called Canaa. The name Canaa means "Sky Place" in the Maya language, and Canaa’s summit is the highest point in all of Belize. You can climb the face of Canaa to get a good look at the Cayo landscape. With some luck you’ll spot a few of Belize’s magnificent tropical birds as you ascend the temple. The tour stops for a picnic lunch on the scenic grounds of Caracol.
The journey continues to the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, which was established to protect Belize’s native pine tree forest. This forest has densely forested mountains. At the foot of the mountains you'll get to see some of the rivers and limestone caves that scatter the landscape.
Río Frío rushes through a network of caves, including Río Frío Cave. This cave has an enormous mouth, and you can stand on the dry edge of the cave to see some natural formations of stalagmites and stalactites. The tour will also visit the nearby Río On Pools –a cluster of pools formed by flat, smooth rocks. Go for a splash here and you’ll feel rejuvenated during your return journey.
Attraction Visited
When you visit the Caracol ruins, you’ll get to see over 30 structures built by the Mayans, including the tower of Caana, the tallest structure in all of Belize. To reach Caracol, you’ll visit the Chiquibul Forest Reserve in western Belize, at the foothills of the Maya mountains.
Read more:Caracol Ruins
What to Bring
Comfortable hiking shoes, a bathing suit, a change of clothes, a towel, bug spray, and sunscreen.
What's included
Transportation, guided tour, picnic lunch (with a soft drink), and park entrance fees.
Transportation
Many of our tours and activities offer transportation pick up & drop off options from several locations and destinations. Options vary by tour, see “BOOKING REQUEST” for full details.
Similar things to do
Caracol Mayan Temples was discovered in 1938 by loggers, located deep within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve now it is the most extensive Maya site in Belize and one of the biggest in the Maya World.
Take this tour to see one of the oldest Maya sites in Belize. It has ruins that you can climb and is only 30 minutes from Chaa Creek.
Tikal is a highly doable day-trip from San Ignacio, and this all-day excursion ensures that you don’t miss out on seeing one of the most spectacular ruins left behind by the Maya. This is an all-day tour, and includes a stop for lunch. Join your guide for an exciting trek to the jungle, which with any luck will include sightings of some incredible wildlife – keep an eye out for the famous resplendent quetzals and their tremendous tail feathers. Sightings of monkeys and birds will continue once you arrive, and you’ll get to watch jungle animals skitter up and down the stony faces of the many temples.
