Take the hand-cranked ferry over the river to Xunantunich, which sits atop a hill overlooking the Mopan River and the Cayo District. The area was a major ceremonial site built on a natural limestone ridge during the Classic Period. It is composed of six (6) major plazas, with more than 25 Maya temples and palaces.
“El Castillo” (the Castle), the largest pyramid at 130 feet above the plaza, has carved friezes on the east and west sides. The frieze on the east has been preserved and covered with a fiberglass replica of the central mask that represents the sun god. It’s flanked by the moon and Venus.
On a clear day, you can see across into nearby Guatemala and near Caracol in the Pine Ridge Mountain Reserve. It’s quite a sight to behold.
