Caracol - The Snail

Belize’s premier Maya site with a rich and exciting history as a rival power to Tikal, Caracol is deep in the heart of the Chiquibul Forest Reserve of the Maya Mountains in the Cayo district.

The main temple, Canaa, (“sky place”) offers incredible views of the surrounding jungle - at 143 feet high it is the tallest manmade structure in the country. The ancient architects created not only a spectacular structure but incorporated excellent acoustics so that priests and rulers using normal speaking voices could be clearly heard by the masses assembled in the plaza below. (Try this yourself on your visit!)

Covering an area of some 65 sq.miles, this site is impressive not only for its size but it’s immense agricultural field system and elaborate city planning.

Much work has gone into the restoration of the temples and the surrounding environment in order to give visitors a sense of the life of the ancient Maya.

Visitor Experience
Caracol is certainly worth the drive via an all-weather gravel road through the Mountain Pine Ridge.   Because of its remote location it is advisable to use a reputable travel and tour operator or tour guide for your adventure and to check in with the Forestry Department in Douglas de Silva Village before continuing on to Caracol.