Visiting Xunantunich Maya Ruins In Belize: Know Earlier than You Go

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No journey to Belize can be full with out visiting a Mayan spoil (or two), and one of the well-known of all is Xunantunich, additionally spelled Xunan Tunich.

Nestled close to the Guatemala border in Western Belize, Xunantunich (pronounced Shoo-nan-too-nitch) is without doubt one of the most accessible and engaging Mayan ruins within the nation, and is known for having well-preserved stucco pyramids.

We toured Xunantunich with the unimaginable Marvelous Marvin, our information by way of Hidden Valley Wilderness Lodge, the place we stayed as company for 3 nights.

They provide off-site excursions, and since we embrace native academic experiences, we enthusiastically mentioned sure to this tour (hosted). 

Marvin was marvelous at giving us a deep dive into Mayan cosmology, historic drugs, and philosophical perception that also has us reflecting.

On this information, we share what we discovered from our expertise, what makes Xunantunich particular — and why you must add it to your Belize itinerary.

A short historical past of Xunantunich

Xunantunich is positioned in Western Belize, close to the border of Guatemala.

This area is named the ceremonial centre of Mayan civilization, and is near among the most well-known Maya websites – Tikal in Guatemala, being certainly one of them, is simply 2 hours away.

Xunantunich in Maya language means “Stone Woman” or “Maiden of the Rock”, referencing a ghostly feminine determine with fiery purple eyes who appeared to a neighborhood hunter within the late 1800s, beckoning him to comply with her right into a cavern, however who disappeared earlier than they may accomplish that.

The location was found within the mid-Nineties by a surgeon who moved from England, however methodical excavations didn’t occur till the late Forties by Sir J. Eric S. Thompson.

In 1959 and 1960, archaeologist Euan MacKie carried out extra excavations, which took a number of months, and he’s accountable for discovering that most of the buildings have been broken by an earthquake when it was nonetheless occupied, which may have been one of many causes of their abandonment.

It’s estimated to have been deserted for greater than 1,000 years earlier than it was rediscovered, a lot of its historical past is unknown and topic to educated guesses.

I’ll share extra of the historical past we discovered concerning the particular person landmarks beneath.

Fascinating info about Xunantunich

• The location dates again to 600 – 300BC BC and was deserted round 1000 AD.  Its heyday was from AD 700 to 900.
• As Marvin was cautious to level out, Xunantunich was ‘rediscovered’ within the late nineteenth century by Europeans, and main excavations befell in 1959-60.
• “Maya” means “I don’t perceive” within the Yucatec Mayan language — reportedly what was mentioned to Spanish explorers when requested who they have been.
• No gold was discovered right here as a result of the Maya didn’t worth it. In actual fact, they known as gold the solar’s poop! Jade was their sacred stone.
• The advanced was constructed 3 times over, every new technology elevating it larger to succeed in the gods.
• A lot of its treasures have been looted by former chewing gum makers who misplaced their jobs and wanted to outlive.

Is Xunantunich value visiting?

We didn’t encounter the Maya Mountain on our go to, however found a web site wealthy with over 3,000 years of historical past, religious symbolism, and architectural feats that also impress at present.

If you happen to’re touring with youngsters, it’s positively value visiting Xunantunich; it’s a incredible method for them to be taught firsthand about this historic tradition, which they’ll sometimes research at school.

At Xunantunich, you’ll uncover:

• One of the essential Mayan ceremonial facilities in Western Belize
• El Castillo, a 130-foot-tall pyramid well-known for its panoramic jungle views
• 6 plazas and 32 constructions within the core space measuring about 300 sq. kilometers. It’s massive sufficient to deal with an estimated 20,000 folks in its prime!
• Intricate friezes, shrines, and astrological carvings
• Deep cultural perception into Mayan beliefs, numbers, gods, and every day life – though this will likely be greatest discovered with a information.

And better of all, Xunantunich is a manageable half-day journey that feels immersive with out being overwhelming.

Because it was additionally fairly sizzling, we have been all so grateful, it was a small archaeological advanced to discover.

The right way to get to Xunantunich

Xunantunich is positioned within the Cayo District of West Belize, simply exterior the city of San José Succotz and Benque Viejo del Carmen. 

These are a brief drive from the border of Guatemala and the vacationer hub San Ignacio (30 minutes) within the Maya Mountains.

Arriving on the archeological ruins requires a little bit of journey – taking a hand-cranked ferry throughout the Mopan River.

Don’t fear, there was an attendant who cranked! You’ll have to alight from the car and stroll onto the ferry whereas your driver takes the automobile.

If you’re not on a guided tour and need a information, there are a number of sitting on the entrance to the ferry.

If you happen to arrive in Xunantunich by public transport (buses from Belmopan, Flores, and San Ignacio can drop you right here), when you cross the river, you’ll have to stroll to the archeological web site. It’s a couple of mile stroll.

We noticed just a few walkers as we drove in, which we have been grateful for, as a few of them had noticed a toucan excessive up within the tree. It was so excessive up we may barely see its coloured invoice, so I’m unsure if we are able to test that off the bucket listing or not.

Xunantunich is a couple of 2.5-hour drive by way of automobile (80 mi/125km) from Belize Metropolis. When you have a rental automobile, you possibly can drive there your self! Test DiscoverCars.com for leases – it’s what we personally use and at all times discover one of the best value.

What you’ll see at Xunantunich

As we walked up the small, steep hill into the core advanced, Marvin identified that the Maya civilization on this space radiated a number of kilometers out from the advanced, which encompassed settlements.

Truly, the lesser folks, who weren’t deemed essential sufficient to enter the religious grounds.

He identified the “guard towers” that will halt unwelcome guests!

On our go to, we had our elevated aura on as we have been allowed passage to the plazas above!

El Castillo

Xunantunich is most well-known for El Castillo, the principle construction of the positioning – the fortress – which stands over 130 toes tall and is the second-highest artifical construction in Belize (Canaa at Caracol is the primary).

El Castillo was actually a big multi-complex constructing that served as a dwelling, shrine, and administrative hub for the elite rulers of the middle. 

Every technology constructed on high of the final, reaching ever nearer to the heavens – the aim at all times being to get nearer to God.

Marvin guided us up and across the construction, mentioning hidden carvings, tiny bedrooms, bats taking residence within the roof, friezes, carvings, and the attractive views over to Guatemala from the highest, the place used for stargazing, talking, and sacrificial occasions.

How did the folks to this point beneath hear what the rulers have been saying?

Effectively, the Maya have been extremely sensible.

Town was constructed for the sound to mirror and bounce off the constructions, permitting these in energy to venture their voice simply and people beneath to listen to.

The japanese and western summits of El Castillo have massive stucco friezes with carved components that symbolize astronomical symbols, the solar god, the moon, and Venus.

Marvin was glorious in telling the tales of the intricate and pale carvings of essential Mayan gods, like:

• Chaac – the rain god, with a wide-open mouth to welcome the Solar God
• IxChel (Kinich Ahau) – the moon goddess and deity of medication and knowledge
• Bacab – the god mentioned to carry up the universe

Many of those carvings are replicas constructed to protect the delicate originals, however the impression is highly effective simply the identical.

Among the stairs are fairly slender with a drop-off shut by.  I don’t need to scare you, and I do know you’ll be positive, however I need to put together you in case you will have a worry of heights, and you might be climbing with small youngsters.

Simply go gradual and regular. And put on sturdy sneakers!

The ceremonial Pok-ta-pok ball court docket 

I used to be really fascinated by this entire pok-ta-pok recreation. I like video games and sports activities, however I might have been sitting this one out and feigning harm. 

The game was considered a cross between basketball and soccer and performed with the hips and a 9-lb rubber ball.

The ball can be shot by way of the ring sideways fairly than by way of the highest.

The court docket was the place disputes have been settled with high-stakes video games that included sacrificing the winners to the Gods.

The Tomb

In 2016, archaeologists uncovered the primary royal tomb at Xunantunich—one of many largest ever present in Belize.

Inside have been the stays of a younger man (20–30 years previous), together with jaguar and deer bones, jade beads, obsidian blades, and dozens of ceramic vessels.

Close by, two carved panels—initially from the ceremonial staircase at Caracol—have been found.

These panels inform the story of the highly effective Snake Dynasty, together with the origins of its rule, the relocation of its capital, the loss of life of Lord Okay’an II’s mom, and even reference a beforehand unknown ruler of Calakmul.

Marvin defined the pale hieroglyphs on the panel utilizing a printed model that depicts what’s considered the total, unfaded model.

It was a fairly thrilling discover within the archaeological world and proof that the Maya story is certainly nonetheless unfolding and evolving!

Plazas and Palaces

There are six plazas and over two dozen constructions on the positioning. You’ll see:

• The palace advanced with 13 rooms—representing the 13 ranges of heaven
• Shrines aligned with the winter and summer time solstices and designed for essential lessons
• A construction often called “the blind,” considered constructed to overlook the previous
• Customer middle and artifacts in Xunantunich, Belize

A Glimpse into Mayan Life and Beliefs

Marvin painted a vivid image of the Maya: peaceable, clever, deeply religious.

They have been the primary civilization to know the idea of zero, they used astrology to align their temples, they usually relied on native vegetation for drugs.

And sure, that iconic purple lipstick coloration? It got here from crushed beetles.

The temples have been organized with sacred geometry and prime numbers—symbols of energy, connection to the gods, and divine order.

The staircases are deliberately steep to gradual you down as you ascend to make choices to the gods.

However their desperation to please the gods led to some troubling practices—human sacrifice, environmental destruction, and finally, hunger and migration.

As a result of if you begin sacrificing your personal folks—particularly the neatest and strongest—and depleting the land to win divine favor, your inhabitants is sure to dwindle.

I like journey experiences that make me assume, and this one has stayed with me.

I’ve mirrored so much on what people have finished all through historical past within the title of connecting with God. Why would any larger energy be happy by loss of life and destruction?

Need to really feel near God? Go exterior. Hug a tree. Watch a dawn. Apply kindness. You’ll discover your connection—no sacrifice wanted (besides perhaps your ego). Case closed.

As Marvin defined, the Maya didn’t “collapse”—they advanced and moved on, their traditions nonetheless alive in Belize at present.

Evident by the scrumptious Maya meals we skilled on our Belize journey, launching it into my high 5 favourite cuisines on this planet.

Classes from our go to

• Don’t underestimate a half-day journey. We got here away with extra information and reflection than we anticipated.
• A information can shift every little thing. Marvin was a strolling encyclopedia—and hilarious. “Folks assume I’m on medication,” he laughed. “No, I’m simply Maya dwelling.”
• Take heed to the forest. From timber that make you itch to ones that supply pure glue or therapeutic oils, the jungle across the ruins is as a lot part of the story because the stones. Hopefully, you will have a information like Marvin who can share these hidden secrets and techniques with you.
• People do essentially the most silly issues of their quests to get nearer to, and perceive God, and really feel safety in what comes subsequent within the afterlife.

Suggestions for visiting Xunantunich

• Get there early. Morning visits are cooler and supply higher wildlife sightings, particularly colourful birds and toucans.
• Put on sturdy sneakers. You’ll be climbing steep, slender staircases – though not lots of them. Go gradual and be with the Gods.
• Deliver water and sunscreen. It will get sizzling rapidly.
• Don’t rush. Give your self time to climb El Castillo and discover the encircling plazas.
• Get a information or be a part of a tour ….

Guided vs. Self-Guided Excursions

Whilst you can go to Xunantunich by yourself, we extremely advocate going with an authorized information.

Ours, Marvin, was extremely educated, passionate, and filled with tales that introduced the positioning to life.

A passionate and devoted information, Marvin research the Maya tradition profusely and retains updated with all the newest discoveries on Xunantunich.

He had insider information that others didn’t – and have been telling previous, outdated tales!

With out Marvin, we by no means would have noticed the hidden carving of the Solar God Kinich Ahau—cross-eyed, mendacity on its facet, and remodeling right into a jaguar.

Or understood the sacred symbolism etched into the friezes on the high of El Castillo.

Or grasped the depth of Mayan beliefs, like their ball recreation, the place winners have been honored with sacrifice and granted everlasting life within the heavens, whereas losers and their households have been condemned to the underworld.

These seemingly small particulars carry huge cultural weight and are straightforward to overlook with no information.

Are you able to think about signing up for a recreation the place the best-case state of affairs is loss of life?

Why select a guided tour

• Licensed guides in Belize are government-licensed and educated in historical past, botany, CPR, and first help.
• You gained’t have to fret about determining entrance tickets, maps, the way to discover the positioning, or what to focus your time on. There actually weren’t any placards round, so I really feel you’ll be a bunch of stone pyramids, clueless as to what all of it meant to the Maya tradition.
• For us, as our information was from our lodging, Hidden Valley Wilderness Lodge, we additionally didn’t have to fret about transportation to the archeological web site. Marvin drove us and regaled us with tales and historical past alongside the best way!
• You’ll be taught the actual tales behind what you’re seeing—like why the Mayans constructed constructions in layers or how they understood zero lengthy earlier than Europeans did.
• Guides like Marvin share fascinating makes use of of native vegetation (like fever grass for coughs or autograph vegetation the place you possibly can actually write your title within the leaf).

Be part of a guided tour beforehand right here. Throughout peak season (summer time and January/February), excursions will promote out, so remember to reserve your time. (don’t overlook to tip!).

A number of of the Get Your Information excursions additionally embrace different close by points of interest, making it much more engaging to see extra of the native space.

The decision: Would we advocate Xunantunich?

Undoubtedly, we might advocate you go to Xunantunich.

Xunantunich is without doubt one of the greatest Mayan ruins in Belize for vacationers who need a significant expertise with no huge trek.

It’s straightforward to get to, wealthy in historical past, and filled with perception. Whether or not you’re into historic civilizations, cultural journey, or simply love a superb jungle temple journey, put Xunantunich in your Belize journey itinerary.

And for those who’re fortunate sufficient to tour with Marvelous Marvin, put together to chuckle, be taught, and perhaps query every little thing you thought you knew about human historical past.