Cahal Pech & Xunantunich

Cahal Pech, this interesting urban center is the closest Mayan Temple to modern day San Ignacio Town with only a few steps from the nearest home. Now a protected park, this was once part of a large cattle ranch. Appropriately named Cahal Pech derived from Yucatec and Mopan Mayan languages, meaning the “Place of Ticks”. This interesting city is built up like a Fort with an entrance to the northeast corner allowing access to the main plaza. Our own Belizean Archaeologist Dr. Jaime Awe carried out excavations uncovering interesting digs. Cahal Pech offers a unique opportunity for you to see how the elite of Maya society lived in their elaborate dwellings, with passage ways connecting the entire city from one plaza to the other plaza. Overlooking the majestic Macal River the Mayas from Cahal Pech were able to see anyone approaching from a top the city. Burial tombs have been found with numerous artefacts which include ceramic pottery, jade, shell beads and human skeletal remains. Xunantunich is located in the picturesque Village of San Jose Succotz a modern day Yucatec Mayan Village. To access the site you will cross on a hand crank ferry across the Mopan River. This is one of the last ferries of it’s kind in all of Belize. One mile uphill takes you to the parking from where it’s a short hike up to the main plaza. Xunantunich is a phallic symbol meaning “Stone Woman or Maiden of the Rock” and was discover in 1894 by British Medical Doctor Thomas Gann. This spectacular site offers breath taking views of the Rainforest Canopy and nearby Guatemala as the border is only a few kilometers away. Magnificent friezes have been uncovered on both the East and West sides depicting Venus, the Sun God, Earth Monsters, Deities, Celestial bodies and other interesting features. It is believed that at one time the frieze wrapped around the four sides of the El Castillo, which has roof combs at the highest point. El Castillo is the second tallest structure in Belize measuring more than 130 feet above the main plaza. Visit this site and explore the ancient Mayan way of life as you learn the rich diversity of it’s culture, way of life, and climb these awesome pyramids traveling back in time more than a thousand years ago. Indulge in the amazing history and be in awe of the Mayas advancements, predictions, accurate calendar systems developed using no modern technology or metal tools.