The ancient Maya civilization was one of the most advanced societies ever created. The ancient Maya built colossal pyramids in the middle of the jungle, created the world’s most advanced calendar, and recorded detailed astronomical observations that accurately predicted eclipses and other events. And while the ancient Maya civilization began somewhere in Mexico, it was in Belize that they achieved their greatest accomplishments.
Archeologists estimate that there are more than 600 ancient Maya sites located in Belize, but the vast majority of these have never been excavated. Only a handful of sites are open to the public. These magnificent displays of architecture and engineering continue to dazzle modern visitors. Indeed, all of the tallest buildings in modern-day Belize are ancient Maya structures.
Some of the most popular ancient Maya sites are:
Actun Tunichil Muknal
Actun Tunichil Muknal or ATM is not a city or a grand pyramid but a large underground cave system that was once used by ancient Maya priests to conduct their most solemn rituals. ATM is where over a dozen people were sacrificed to the rain god Chaac. One young woman’s remains have fused with the minerals in the cave, earning her the nickname of “The Crystal Maiden.”
Cahal Pech
Smaller than many other ancient ruins, Cahal Pech was built as an exclusive residence for ancient Maya nobles and elite families. It is located on a prominent cliff overlooking the Macal River just across from the modern-day town of San Ignacio.
Lubaantun
Lubaantun has some of the most impressive architecture of any ancient Maya site. Many of its enormous structures were built entirely with stone blocks that were precisely cut and laid down without any mortar. Thousands of intricate, miniature ceramic artifacts have been found at the site, many of which are works of art.
Nim Li Punit
Its modern Mayan name translates to “Big Hat” because the largest stela at the site shows an ancient king wearing an elaborate headdress or “big hat.” Today, visitors can explore three large plazas and several step pyramids, including one measuring some 40 feet (12 meters) high.
Uxbenka
Uxbenka is a small site only recently opened to the public. While it lacks any massive structures, its modest collection of carved stelae offers an unadulterated glimpse of what this ritual site looked like thousands of years ago.
Xunantunich
Despite having been excavated since 1892, a team in 2016 unearthed the largest Maya royal tomb ever discovered underneath the main temple in Xunantunich. The site is home to an enormous stone structure called El Castillo (The Castle) and is believed to be haunted by a woman dressed entirely in white with red, glowing eyes.
If you’d like to learn more about the ancient Maya culture, be sure to stay at Laru Beya Beach Resort in Placencia, Belize. Laru Beya is a luxury resort that regularly organizes tours of ancient Maya sites, including Nim Li Punit, Lubaantun, Uxbenka, Xunantunich, Cahal Pech, and Tikal (located just over the border in Guatemala).
