The Xunantunich Mayan ceremonial center stands out due to its spectacular location high on a hill above the Mopán River. The view from the ruins over the entire upper valley of the Belize River up to Guatemala is fabulous.
Equally exciting is the design of the 1,000-year old cult center: A total of over 25 temples and palaces are grouped around six main squares. The most eye-catching building is on the southern edge of the excavation - the nearly 130-foot high pyramid of El Castillo. This castle is famous for its stucco frieze, which used to run around the entire building and has been carefully restored by archaeologists. A small museum providing information about this work is worth a visit. 3-D models also show you how the Mayan town used to look. Displays explain the development of Mayan civilization and how Xunantunich is, according to archaeologists, an integral part of this system.
