Belize shares a rich Maya heritage with its neighboring countries of Guatemala, Mexico, and Honduras, and is considered to have been the heart of Maya civilization during the classic period. Although Belize's Maya occupation began as early as 1500 BC, it was during the Classic period of 250 AD to 900 AD that the population is thought to have exceeded one million people. Archaeological remains of the ancient Maya include pottery, skeletons, stelae, and tall palaces, temples, and ceremonial centers.

It is estimated that there are thousands of Maya Ruins in Belize. Only a few of these have been found and even fewer have been excavated by scientists. All of the following sites are available for public viewing.

Popular Archaeological sites in Belize are:

• Corozal District: Cerros and Santa Rita
• Orange Walk District: Lamanai and Nobmul
• Belize District: Altun Ha and Yarborough Cemetary
• Stann Creek District: Mayflower
• Cayo District: Xunantunich, El Pilar, Cahal Pech, Pacbitun, and Caracol
• Toledo District: Nim Li Punit, Ukhenba and Lubaantun.

Click here for a Virtual Tour of these Archaeological sites.

Caves

Cave systems like Che Chem Ha Cave and Barton Creek Cave in the Cayo District provide evidence of ancient Maya rituals. Artifacts include pots used to store food and skeletal remains of people offered as sacrifices to the gods.

Click here to learn more about caving in Belize.

Belize Museum

The Belize Museum houses Mayan artifacts gathered from around the country for public viewing.

All well known and excavated sites are accessible to visitors whether traveling independently or on a guided tour.

For the Independent Traveler:

Public transportation vehicles like buses can take you to cutoff points along major highways or towns. You may, however, need to hike for several miles, so it is normally best to hire a knowledgeable tour guide or tour operator to take you directly to the sites.

If you choose to rent a car, travel in a sturdy four-wheel drive vehicle and follow a map to find the sites. Examples include Altun Ha on the Old Northern Highway and Xunantunich near San Jose Succotz Village in Cayo and even the more remote sites like Caracol, Lamanai and Lubaantun. At each of these sites or in the villages near them, you are able to hire a tour guide.

Certain sites, for example Cuello, require permission to access. This is because it is located on private property. Contact the Cuello brothers at 011-501-322-2183. No fee is charged.

Tour Operators

There are various local and international organizations that specialize in arranging archaeological itineraries that cover the country of Belize, often times, including archaeological attractions in neighboring countries. For information, please visit our section on educational travel and if you wish to receive information directly from providers of archaeological travel programs, please fill in our contact form.

The fee for entering Maya Sites is minimal approximately $5 US per person, payable upon arrival at the site. Fees vary depending on the site.

Permission to carry out research on archaeological sites must be obtained from the Institute of Archaeology.

Institute of Archaeology Belmopan, Belize Telephone: 011-501-822-3302 Fax: 011-501-822-3307 Website: www.nichbelize.org

All ancient monuments (100+ years old) and antiques (man made items 150+ years old) are the property of the state. Possession, removal, or destruction of these is illegal. Buying or selling them is also illegal.

1. The Institute of Archaeology is committed to developing Mayan archaeological locations in Belize for easier access to the casual tourist.



2. Tour guides and tour operators must participate in a training program in courses like Maya History and field studies in order to be certified to carry out tours to these sites.



3. For a little added information, good books on Maya history are:



• Warlords and Maize Men: A guide to the Maya Sites of Belize
• Belizean Bullets published by the Institute of Archaeology in Belize


4. For an educational tour, use the services of a licensed tour guide.



5. Find out about the accessibility of the site/s you wish to visit before you make the trip - especially if you choose to use public transportation.



6. Carry along snacks, water, and supplies for these trips - especially for sites in remote areas.

If you have additional questions or wish to receive information directly from providers of archaeological travel programs, please fill in our contact form.

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