Xunantunich and Cahal Pech

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.

Featured in:Archeology, Ruins, Cahal Pech Ruins, Xunantunich
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

Cahal Pech Ruins

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

Xunantunich

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.

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