Located west of San Ignacio, Belize, near the Guatemalan border, the ruins of Xunantunich (Maya for “Maiden of the Rock”) are one of the area’s most popular attractions. The site is only accessible via a ride on an ultra-rare hand-cranked ferry, which transports tourists across the Mopan River. After an arduous climb up a steep road and a short walk beyond the entrance gate, major structures of the ancient city become visible. The one to the south stands well above the rest.
Shown towering above me at the beginning of the video above, El Castillo (“the castle” in Spanish) is Xunantunich’s most famous temple. It’s not just the size that makes it so impressive; El Castillo has multiple platforms that offer panoramic views of the surrounding jungle and a plaster frieze that wraps its way around the building. The frieze illustrates creation myths of the ancient Maya and the culture’s worship of ancestors.
The remainder of my video shows the lesser temples of Plaza A-1, which is one of four plazas at the site. For more information on touring the ruins, check out “How to Take a Self-Guided Tour of Xunantunich.” It’s part of my travel guides section on the San Ignacio area.
Related Content
– Click to view my high-resolution photo collection from Xunantunich.
– Click to view my high-resolution photo collection from nearby San Ignacio, Belize.
– Click to read my feature article “Tikal: The Day the King Died” about how Mesoamerica’s most mysterious metropolis altered the course of Maya civilization on one fateful day.