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Altun Ha means "Water of the Rock" and is located 31 miles north of Belize City off the Old Northern Highway. Altun Ha was a major ceremonial center during the Mayan Classic Period, as well as a vital trading center. The ten pound Jade Head, which represents the Sun God, Kinich Ahau, was found here. More... |
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Cahal Pech means "place of the ticks". Even though it is a small site, it is an important part of Belizean archaeology. It consists of several plazas and two ballcourts. Several stelae were found at the site. Recent restorations have made Cahal Pech even more impressive, and a visitors center is available for tourists. More... |
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Located in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve in the Cayo District, Caracol is Belize's largest, most important Mayan site, and covers some twenty-five square miles. Rediscoverd in 1937, further research indicates that the city of Caracol had dominated Tikal during much of its existence.
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Cerros means "hills", and is the country's only Mayan site overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Cerros was a Pre-Classic site, occupied from approximately 350BC to AD250. Cerros is on a peninsula jutting out on the southern shore of Corozal Bay. The site is small, but it has some interesting temples and plazas. More... |
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Cuello is a small site west of Orange Walk town in Yo Creek Village. Dating back to about 1000BC (dates are still under debate among archaeologists), Cuello could very well be the oldest Maya settlement in Belize. The site is located on the property of the Cuello Rum Distillery, the producers of local rum. More... |
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La Milpa Archaeological Reserve is the third largest site in the country, after Caracol and Lamanai. Even though the site has not been excavated, archaeologists have identified twenty-four plazas and about eighty-five major structures. More... |
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Lamanai, or “submerged crocodile” is one of Belize's largest ceremonial centers. It is located on the banks of the 30 mile long New River Lagoon in North Central Belize. The area also features a visitor's center, the remnants of two 16th century Spanish churches and a colonial sugar mill.
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Lubaantun, “Place of the Fallen Stones” in Yucatec Maya, is located about one mile from the San Pedro Columbia village in the Toledo District. A Late Classic site, Lubaantun was a major center of religious, ceremonial, political and commercial activity during the eighth and ninth centuries AD (AD730 – 860). More... |
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Meaning 'Big Hat', this site has a different view of Mayan architecture and contains three main plazas with a structure rising as high as 40 ft. The Maya built low structures that run along the plaza floor over 200 ft. They also built ceremonial temples using dry masonry.
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Even though Santa Rita dates back to 1800BC, it was still populated by the Mayas in the 16th century, when the Spanish arrived. Present day Corozal was probably built on top of the city after its destruction in earlier days. Santa Rita was an important coastal trading center, but very little of it remains today. More... |
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One of Cayo’s largest attractions and the most impressive Maya site in the country. The ruin used to be a major Mayan ceremonial site which collapsed in the 10th century. It is best known for one of its towering pyramids – El Castillo.
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Did you know? |
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La Milpa Archaeological site is the third largest in the country. |
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