Xunantunich is my favourite Maya site in Belize. And it’s not because it is one of the most popular archeological sites or because it is very near to my hometown of San Ignacio.
It’s because it brings me great memories: memories of peaceful Sunday hikes, memories of spending time with good friends there, and memories of how peaceful it is to be on top of El Castillo during early mornings or late afternoons.
When I was in Belize in January 2017, it was obligatory for me to go there. It is free to visit for Belizeans on Sundays so of course, I did the trip on a lazy Sunday afternoon.
Xunantunich is located in San Jose Succotz, one of the villages that neighbour Guatemala and is a 15-minute drive from San Ignacio.
The site is not big and it took me a little over an hour to leisurely see it all. It can be done without a tour guide but hiring a guide is recommended if you want to hear in-depth facts about its fascinating history.
Xunantunich Photo Essay
A hand-cranked ferry takes you across to Xunantunich
The entrance of Xunantunich. Here you can see the Visitor Center on the right
These kids were playing tag, and soon after they started playing soccer with a plastic bottle used as a ball
The view of El Castillo from a far end plaza
A large group of local Mennonites were visiting on that day
There were also a few regular tourists
The steps to El Castillo
Inside El Castillo – Mayan arches are so cool
Reaching the top of El Castillo – The top has four pillars
Front view from on top of El Castillo
The view of the back from El Castillo
El Castillo has a lot of cool views
Benque Viejo, the town that borders Guatemala can be seen from up top
Make sure to check out the East Frieze drawings – for protection its been covered with plaster mold
That’s it for a quick photo tour of Xunantunich. I hope you enjoyed it.
Leave a Reply