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Mayan Temple Tour: Explore Ancient Plazas
4.7
13 Ratings
Xunantunich
Embark on a journey into the ancient Mayan civilization with a tour of the Xunantunich Mayan site from Belize City. Explore the remarkable stucco frieze, climb the tallest temple, and marvel at the picturesque landscape of western Belize.
Embark on a journey into the ancient Mayan civilization with a tour of the Xunantunich Mayan site from Belize City. Explore the remarkable stucco frieze, climb the tallest temple, and marvel at the picturesque landscape of western Belize.
Duration:
6 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Xunantunich - The guided tour starts at the Museum, where detailed information about this site is provided, along with a display of Mayan artifacts discovered during excavation. The tour then proceeds to the plazas and temples. As more information is shared, visitors will explore the various temples and stroll through the plazas. For those with…
- Xunantunich - The guided tour starts at the Museum, where detailed information about this site is provided, along with a display of Mayan artifacts discovered during excavation. The tour then proceeds to the plazas and temples. As more information is shared, visitors will explore the various temples and stroll through the plazas. For those with the energy, climbing the temples is permitted, including El Castillo, the tallest temple at Xunantunich and the second tallest excavated in Belize, reaching 137 feet from the plaza floor. On the way to the top, a large stucco frieze featuring hieroglyphic writing and symbols can be seen on both the east and west sides of the temple. The guide will also present these incredible inscriptions during the ascent.
What's Included
- Local guide
- Bottled water
- Driver/guide
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Local guide
- Bottled water
- Driver/guide
- Lunch
- In-vehicle air conditioning
What's Not Included
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
- Gratuities
- Entrance Fees
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
- Gratuities
- Entrance Fees
Additional Information
Explore ancient plazas where Mayan rituals and ceremonies were once held. As you ascend El Castillo, the tallest temple on the site, guests will have the opportunity to admire the stunning stucco frieze, featuring fascinating hieroglyphic writings and symbols that depict Mayan religious beliefs, etched on both the east and west sides of this magnificent…
Explore ancient plazas where Mayan rituals and ceremonies were once held. As you ascend El Castillo, the tallest temple on the site, guests will have the opportunity to admire the stunning stucco frieze, featuring fascinating hieroglyphic writings and symbols that depict Mayan religious beliefs, etched on both the east and west sides of this magnificent temple. Upon reaching the top, be captivated by the breathtaking beauty of the mountainous landscape of western Belize. This tour departs from Belize City and takes you across the country, heading west for approximately 1 1/2 hours until you arrive just about a mile from the Belize/Guatemala border, near the town of Benque Viejo. Here, you will cross the Mopan River using a hand-crank ferry, as has been traditionally done. This full-day excursion includes lunch and offers a chance to experience the countryside. Capture stunning photos of ancient carvings, jungle landscapes, and wildlife.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
- Dress code is formal
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- A maximum of 15 people per booking
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Location
Xunantunich
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(13 Ratings)
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Melissa_f
Jan 18, 2025
Our guide was so friendly... - Our tour guide, Albert, was so friendly and very informative throughout the whole trip. We learned so much during the drive, it made the time fly by! The ruins were beautiful, perfect sunny day. The market where we stopped for lunch was local and authentic and the food was very good!
Review provided by Viator
Reginald_j
Jan 17, 2025
Greatest experience you will have - I learned somethings I didn't know about got to touch and climb to the top of the pyramids took plenty of pics
Review provided by Viator
Barry_a
May 29, 2024
Loved the trip to San Ignacio - The drive to San Ignaco. Went through several villages on the way to San Ignacio. Hill country. Mark was my guide. Very knowledgeable.
The hand cranked ferry across the river was a hoot.
The temple site was the largest i have seen while in Belize. 130 ft high.
Ate lunch at a nice hilltop resort with a great view of San Ignacio Chal Pech resort.
I quickly downed 2 bottles of Belikin strout. Excellent beer.
Mark bought some water. There is a short uphill hike to the ruin so be prepared for the heat and humifity.
The trip takes 2.5 hrs including the ferry and a short drive to the site.
Most pictures show the temple side with the large carvings, north side.
When you walk in you view the eastern side. You can walk up stairs to view the carvings. Be sure to walk to the right side of the temple or you can easily miss them.
Lots of fires in Belize, Honduras, and Guatamala. Very smokey. Only saw the sun and blue sky 4 if 13 days i was in Belize.
Review provided by Viator
672cecillep
Dec 23, 2023
A Great Experience - Our family had a wonderful time. Albert was very knowledgeable and entertaining. Be aware that there is an uphill hike to get to the ruins. It’s quite a workout. We learned a lot about Xunantunich, Belize, and the culture. We had pupusas and burritos for lunch at a local market. Overall, a great day.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andrew_f
Jul 4, 2023
Amazing! Thank you Dean and Junior! - Dean, our driver, was very knowledgeable about the surrounding countryside, Belizean history and geography. He was excellent!!
Our tour guide at Xunantunich, Juniour, was an absolute treasure. He had been involved in archeological digs before and his knowledge of the site and surrounding areas was amazing. He took the time to explain everything to us, including the surrounding plant and wildlife. Junior absolutely made the trip a one of a kind experience.
If you are able to request Dean and Junior as your transportation and guide you won't regret it.
The site itself is beautiful and will take your breath away. When you visit the ruins please take care of them for our future generations.
Review provided by Viator
Cynthia_a
May 27, 2022
Great Time! - Mark was our tour guide and made our trip wonderful. Very informed and pleasant. Will definitely be back well worth the money. We always use Viator because we know we will have an awesome time.
Review provided by Viator
Reedmangreg
May 18, 2021
Trip with Albert to Xunantunich - This is one of two tours with did with A Plus Adventure Belize; in this case it was 100% Albert, who as other mentioned here already is a super nice guy and a great wealth of knowledge!
Albert picked us up from our resort and we did about 2.5h drive each way from Belize City to Xunantunich in his SUV. The drive isn't anything exciting until you reach Belmopan, after that the mountains and green hills add along with the curvature of the road to the visual experience. I reviewed Xunantunich separately here on TripAdivsor but would add here that Albert does combine this tour with another attraction in this area, if you are interested, and had we had more days in Belize City and didn't do this tour on our last full day on the mainland we would definitely add the cave tubbing or something else as it is quite a long drive and Xunantunich isn't as big/vast grounds as say Lamanai that we visited with A Plus the other day - what I am trying to say if you drove all the way from Belize City make the most out of it.
The tour includes all type of entrance and barge fees and a lunch - you can do it before or after the tour of Xuna - Albert was extremely flexible with it and even with the time of pick up at our resort in the morning, a please to work with.
An added treat to the experience was Albert Jr., Albert's young boy, whom joined us on this tour which we found a lovely idea; such a cool thing I bet for the son to be able to see and experience first hand what an amazing tour guide his father is - we loved it,. Once we returned to Belize City we all went for ice cream upon our request and we all enjoyed some outstanding cold treats! (I already have set up the page for it; Zero Degrees, separately).
Highly recommended company and a good tour - again I highly recommend adding one more object (check their website or simply speak to Albert) to combine Xuna with - you will simply enjoy it even more!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Candacebrown1
Oct 28, 2019
Best trip ever - Albert is absolutely amazing. We had such a great time and he was so knowledgeable. I highly recommend using him for any tour.
Review provided by Viator
Fish2522
Feb 15, 2020
A Plus Adventure Belize - Mayan Ruins - We booked a private tour with Albert and he was excellent. The drive to the site was a bit long but it was well worth the trip when we got to walk the grounds and climb the temples. Albert was very informative and accommodating making sure we had plenty of time to see everything and still get back to the cruise ship. He stopped at a local restaurant on the way back and we had a delicious meal the locals normally eat at lunch. I would recommend Albert and A Plus if you are interested in Mayan ruins.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robert_b
Apr 25, 2025
Poor - Place for lunch had black mold on ceilings. Rundown stop along the side of the road. Viator people must of had a relative who worked there.
Review provided by Viator
