Xunantunich Mayan Temple

Xunantunich Mayan Temple

This site has one of the most interesting collection temples of any Maya ruins in Belize. There’s the 130-foot tall El Castillo temple, which is one of the tallest buildings in the country. Visitors can climb to the top of it stepped facade to check out the incredible surrounding landscape.

Featured in:Archeology, Guided Tours, Ruins, Xunantunich
Duration:
3 hrs
Available Days:
Every day
Schedule:
8:00 AM, 1:00 PM
Hotel Transport Included
Mobile Ticket Included
Offered in English, Spanish

It’s an adventure to get there, one that takes youon a hand-cranked ferry down the Belize River. When you arrive at the bank near the site, it takes just a short walk to reach the ruin. Your guide can tell you what little is known about the history of the site, which dates back to 12,000 BC. When you climb the stairs that make up the sides of El Castillo, you’ll get a closer look at the elaborate carvings of gigantic hieroglyphs, which relate to the Maya’s complex astrological beliefs.

The grounds of the ruin are vibrantly green and nicely maintained. Howler monkeys and toucans live in the trees that surround the site – bring binoculars if you’d like to do some bird watching. There’s also a museum on site, where you can learn more about excavations. All together, your tour of Xunantunich will take around two to three hours.

Attraction Visited

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 for bird watching.

What's included

Tour guide, transportation, water, and 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.

Traveler Comments

Excellent guide, loved that tour was in the morning before crowds

- ASHLEY S, NOV 2019

Good guide, attention to detail and good information. We really enjoyed the visit.

- TONY S, MAY 2019
This site has one of the most interesting collection temples of any Maya ruins in Belize.Xunantunich Mayan Temple5
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