Xunantunich and Cahal Pech
This half-day tour takes you to two of the most famous Maya sites in Belize, Xunantunich and Cahal Pech. After your day of historical sightseeing, you’ll have gotten a fascinating look at Maya culture and architecture. Besides the Maya sites, you’ll also get to admire jungle wildlife along the way.
- Duration:
- 5 hrs
- Available Days:
- Every day
- Schedule:
- 7:30 AM
- Hotel Transport Included
- Mobile Ticket Included
- Offered in English, Spanish
Right outside of the town of San Ignacio, you’ll find the ruins of Cahal Pech. This site dates all the way back to 1200 BC, making it one of the oldest Maya sites in Belize. Besides temples, you can also see ball courts and stelae – stone slabs covered in enlightening engravings.
Travel about 30 minutes to reach Xunantunich, a Maya ruin located near the foot of the Maya Mountains. At Xunantunich, you’ll see the large, central temple of El Castillo. It’s covered in intricate hieroglyphs and is believed to have served as a shrine as well as an administrative center. Your guide will be able to describe what the site looked like at the height of its influence, filling in the details to complete your journey back in time.
Attractions Visited
Less than a 10-minute drive or a 25-minute uphill walk from the town of San Ignacio, the 2-acre Mayan ruin site called Cahal Pech makes for pleasant morning or afternoon trip.
Read more:Cahal Pech Ruins
Home to the second largest Mayan pyramid in Belize, Xunantunich is one of the most impressive Mayan sites in Belize. The site is composed of three major ceremonial plazas surrounded by numerous temples, palaces, and house mounds. Xunantunich is located 8 miles (13 km) southwest of San Ignacio on the Western Highway.
Read more:Xunantunich
What to Bring
Comfortable shoes (i.e., hiking shoes, sneakers, keens, etc.), comfortable clothing, sunglasses, sunscreen, bug spray, water, camera, and binoculars.
What's included
Tour guide, transportation, water, entrance fees & tax
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
Take this tour to see the site that the Maya called “Stone Woman.” You’ll reach Xunantunich via a ferry ride down the Mopan River, followed by a short hike through the jungle. Xunantunich spreads out over a couple of miles, but the central site is fairly compact.
Take this tour to see one of the largest Maya ruins in the world inside the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. It begins with an early morning drive from Chaa Creek—you’ll travel 2 hours to reach this site.
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.
