Caracol Maya Site Roundtrip

This tour takes you through two different types of ecosystems, pine forest and into sub-tropical rain Forest. Drive time to Caracol is two hours and a half from San Ignacio Town, driving through two Mayan communities, Cristo Rey and San Antonio Villages.

Caracol archaeological site is the largest Maya Site in Belize, located in the Cayo District just south of San Ignacio Town. It sits on the edge of the Maya Mountains in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, on a high plateau about 500 meters above sea level. The site itself displays a classic rain forest and jungle vegetation which is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.

On the way back, we enjoy stops at the Rio Frio Cave a 65ft tall arch cave entrance discovered in the 1920’s. It displays natural limestone formation. After we visit Rio Frio, we are looking forward to a more relaxing swim at Rio On Pools. It is made of several cascading water pools within the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. Here you can enjoy a 5ft tall waterfall for an all-natural shoulder and back massage. The water is always cool and refreshing.

The site was was first discovered in 1937 by Rosa Mai, a native logger while searching for Mahogany and hardwood Trees. It was then excavated in the early 1950’s by A.H. Anderson. Caracol included all levels of Maya society from poor farmers to powerful elites, and has the largest Maya man made structure “Ca’nna” meaning ‘Sky Palace’. It rises about 43 meters above the B Group Plaza.