Caracol is the largest known Maya Ruin in Belize
The largest Maya city ever excavated in Belize, Caracol is a huge site that features majestic temples that modern visitors can climb to enjoy a spectacular view of the surrounding Chiquibul forest reserve. Still an active archeological site, Caracol has revealed many of its treasures but much work is needed to uncover all of its secrets.
After exploring the impressive ruins of Caracol, enjoy a refreshing dip in the receiving pools of the Big Rock Falls waterfall or Rio on Pools in the nearby Mountain Pine Ridge. Thanks to an investment from the Belizean government, the roads leading to Caracol are in good condition and the drive to the site gives visitors a chance to marvel at the spectacular beauty of the flora and fauna in the Chiquibul Rainforest.
About Caracol Maya Ruins
The original name for the city is unknown but today the ruins are known as Caracol from a Spanish term meaning "snail shell", the nickname given because of the huge amounts of snail shells left behind by the original inhabitants. Although well worth the trip, Caracol is not located close to any of modern Belize's inhabited areas but the good news is that most of the trip to the site is on paved roads.
At its height, the Maya city-state of Caracol encompassed more than 65 square miles (168 square kilometers) and was home to more than 100,000 people, far larger than any city today in Belize. Be sure not to miss the buildings in the area of the main court, which were built during the Early Classic period to make details observations of the stars.
Since it was rediscovered in the 1920s, archeologists have unearthed the earliest known carved stelae in Belize, some of them more than 2,400 years old. The most famous discovery was the Sky Palace, an enormous pyramid that is still the tallest man-made structure in Belize.
Recent discoveries of glyphs in Caracol describe a triumphant military victory over the famous city-state of Tikal, suggesting that Caracol was the superpower of its day.
Here are 10 incredible photos of Caracol Maya Ruins:
Photo by Wikipedia
Photo by Douglas W. Reynolds on Panoramio.com
Photo by Douglas W. Reynolds on Panoramio.com
Photo by Douglas W. Reynolds on Panoramio.com
Photo by Douglas W. Reynolds on Panoramio.com
Photo by Douglas W. Reynolds on Panoramio.com
Photo by Douglas W. Reynolds on Panoramio.com
Photo by Douglas W. Reynolds on Panoramio.com
Photo by Douglas W. Reynolds on Panoramio.com
Cahal Pech Guests who visited Caracol Maya Ruins are saying:
"When we were staying at the Cahal Pech resort, we signed up for a tour of Caracol. They told us it was the largest Maya city ever unearthed, and I believe it! Our kids had a lot of fun climbing up and down all of the temples and pyramids, and I was thrilled to see them learn a little bit about history too. Finished off the tour with a swim at the waterfall. Definitely glad we brought along a camera and plenty of sunscreen. When we got back to the resort, the kids fell asleep in five seconds, both of them with huge grins on their faces. Wonderful day for the whole family!"
-McNeil family of Little Rock, Arkansas
"My wife and I honeymooned at Cahal Pech in 2015, and I signed us up for the guided tour of the Maya ruins of Caracol. My wife Jenny was a little hesitant at first, but the gorgeous sight of seeing this mysterious ancient city smack dab in the middle of the jungle really took her breath away. We only saw a fraction of all the stuff that's there, but the big pyramid called the Sky Palace is really impressive. So amazing that it's still the tallest building in the country even today. We had a great time taking silly selfies and climbing up to the top of the big pyramid to take amazing shots of the landscape."
-James Poore, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
"I had spent a week in Guatemala visiting all the sites there, including Tikal, when I came to Belize last year and stayed at the Cahal Pech Village Resort. The staff there told me about Caracol, another Maya ruined city. I took the tour and learned from my guide that Caracol had once fought and defeated Tikal, and I believe it. The site is simply enormous, and I can see how the city could hold 100,000 people. If it were inhabited today, it'd be bigger than any city in modern Belize. I was also very impressed by how so much of the original architecture is still there intact in all of its majesty. Definitely worth checking out."
-Wen Lazar, Greenwich, Connecticut
Please contact us at info@cahalpech.com for more information on Caracol Belize.
