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Nicole's
Travelogues and Budget Travel Tips..
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XUNANTUNICH, BELIZE
The Maya ceremonial center of Xunantunich is perched on a hill over-looking the Mopan River. Xunantunich, meaning "stone woman" in Mayan, has a commanding view of the entire upper Belize River valley. It is pronounced "zshoo-NAN-too-NEECH." It was the first site in Belize to be opened to the public, when the road and a ferry were built in 1954. The largest pyramid, El Castillo, rises a towering 130 feet above the main plaza. Climb up to the top and you get a panoramic view over the jungle canopy of the Macal, Mopan and Belize River valleys, as well as a vast area of the Guatemalan Peten District, which is only a few miles away. El Castillo is known for the frieze or band of stucco decoration which at one time extended around the entire temple. The carved elements are signs. The mask with the "big ears" and ear ornaments represent the sun god. Next to that is the sign for the moon, and then a border of signs which represent Venus and the different Mayan days. There is also an unidentified headless man who was deliberately beheaded by the Maya for some reason.
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HOW TO GET THERE You can drive or take the bus west from San Ignacio to the village of San Jose Succotz. In San Jose Succotz, there is a small, hand-cranked cable ferry that will take you and your car across the Mopan River. Once across the river, it's less than a mile farther (up a steep road) to the entrance. The ferry service is free of charge, and it operates daily from 7:30 am to 4 pm, with a break for lunch. The entrance fee is BZ$ 5 for Belizeans and $10 for visitors.
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Restricted in space probably due to being placed on the hilltop, the center of Xunantunich occupies an area less than a square kilometer. The center is composed of six major plazas surrounded by more than 25 temples and palaces. 