Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Parking Area (250 yds) & Ferry (1 mile)
Visitor
Centre
XUNANTUNICH
Picnic/Rest
Area
Group C
A-15
A-5
El Castillo
A-4
A-3
Stela
Museum
A-16
A-14
Plaza
A-1
Plaza
A-2
A-6
A-12
A-11
A-9
Palace
A-7
A-20
A-17
A-8
A-13
A-19
Ball Court
A-10
Ball Court
A-18
B-1
A-21
B-2
Group B
B -5
0
metres
100
B-7
B-3
0
yards
100
B-6
4
towers in remote splendour above the barely inhabited west bank of the Mopan
River, across from the village of San José Succotz. Visitors cross the river via
a free, hand-winched cable ferry that sets off from alongside the highway; the
ferry usually carries vehicles, but at times during the rainy season it may be
restricted to pedestrians only, or service may be stopped altogether, thus
precluding all access to Xunantunich. Licensed guides often tout for customers
at the ferry, typically charging around US$30 per group for a visit of
perhaps three hours. Alberto Panti is recommended ( T 601 9821, E elida_panti
@yahoo.com).
The steep 1.5-mile hike or drive up from the ferry ends just short of the site itself,
which is generally less crowded in the afternoon. A new visitor centre and museum was
being constructed here at the time of research, following a 2012 visit from Britain's
Prince Harry, but it's safe to assume it will include or surpass the excellent displays that
were already in place.
Set on an artificially flattened hill, Xunantunich incorporates five plazas, although the
remaining structures are grouped around just three. The entrance road leads first to
Plaza A-2, while to the left, Plaza A-1 is dominated by El Castillo ( structure A-6), the
tallest building at 120ft high and a prominent symbol for Belize. Constructed in
successive layers, each burying its predecessors, it was visible from sites such as Cahal
Pech. It's ringed by a stucco frieze decorated with abstract carvings, human faces, jaguar
heads and a king performing authority rituals; the original now lies concealed beneath
a meticulous modern replica. The climb up El Castillo is a challenge, but the views
from the top are superb, with the forest stretching out all around and the rest of the
city clearly laid out.
To your right as you enter the site, Plaza A-3 is almost completely enclosed by an
acropolis-like collection of buildings, known as the Palace . Artefacts found here suggest
that this was the place where the ruler met important o cials. Human sacrificial
remains found in a lower room may be connected with ceremonies conducted while
the structure was being deliberately filled in during the Late Classic era, well before the
entire site was finally abandoned around 1000 AD.
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