SAN IGNACIO

Xunantunich is an Ancient Maya archaeological site in western Belize, about 130 km west of Belize City and is located near the Mopan River. It served as a Maya civic ceremonial center in the Late and Terminal Classic periods to the Belize Valley region. At this time, when the region was at its peak, nearly 200,000 people lived in Belize.

Caracol is the name given to a large ancient Maya archaeological site, located in what is now the Cayo District of Belize. It is situated 40 kilometers south of Xunantunich, and 15 kilometers away from the Macal River. It rests on the Vaca Plateau at an elevation of 500 meters above sea-level, in the foothills of the Maya Mountains. It is now known that the site was one of the most important regional political centers of the Maya Lowlands during the Classic Period.

The site consists of seven plazas and over 30 structures including temples, residential buildings, ball courts, an altar, and a sweat-house, all situated on just 2 acres. A royal burial chamber was found in one of the structures. Included in the find were shell & bone ornaments, pottery vessels, obsidian blades, and jade objects, the most impressive being a jade & shell mosaic mask.