Belize is a country that most people think of as nothing more than a rainforest. However, hidden in this small country located next to Mexico and Guatemala are a variety of places that cover the history and culture associated with Central America. People interested in the Mayan civilization can easily spend their entire vacation doing nothing more than exploring history.
So if history is your thing, these Mayan ruins across the country come in the form of different temples and towns. The most famous of these and the most visited is Caracol, which is located in the Mayan mountains. It is a ruined town that at its peak had a population of approximately 120,000 people. Its oldest history dates back 3,000 years, but the ruins you see today are not as old as these, only 2,500 years old. Perhaps it is best to visit Caracol after having studied them on your own or with tours from official companies and their highly informed guides. One problem with this, however, is the lack of ability to explore the ruins at your own pace, and of course it’s also cheaper to do it yourself. There is also only one road to Caracol and it is really only paved towards the end, so a four-wheel drive rental may be advisable.
While visiting Caracol, you may be interested in other Mayan sites within the same area. The closest ones are called Chaa Creek, Xunantunich and Cahal Pech but they are not on the same scale as Caracol. However, they are still worth a visit, either on their own or as part of a full official guided tour.
All of these sites are situated in an area called the Cayo District, but there are ruins in other districts of Belize. Some of these ruins are Altun Ha, El Pilar, Cerros, Lamani, Nim Li Punit, Lubaantun, Uxbenka and San Estevan. Some of these sites can be found closer to the Caribbean coast, while others are closer to the Guatemalan border in denser rainforest. To explore them all, it may be best to make your base in Belize City, which is the largest city in the country, though not the capital. Staying here can be very cheap with suitable hotels, guesthouses and backpacker hostels. Prices are cheaper than many other places, but like anywhere else, do some research first, as there are some more expensive accommodations out there.
One good thing about Belize being such a small country is that all of these historic sites are relatively close to each other. The only problem is that Belize is covered in rainforest, which makes it difficult to get to the different places, especially during the rainy season. So it’s a good idea to check the time of year you want to go and have a guide for your trip. Visiting the historic ruins of Belize is not the kind of trip for those seeking luxury, but for those who love a sense of adventure.