Caracol 1.6.2017

It's Belize's largest Maya site.  We spent few hours driving beyond the Mountain Pine Ridge to the site and wandering through this ancient city that once rivaled Tikal in political influence.  Standing in the central area of temples, palaces and craft workshops and markets, one could feel the power and glory of ancient Caracol.

Once among the most powerful cities in the entire Maya world, this ancient city now lies enshrouded by thick jungle near the Guatemalan border, a 52-mile drive (much of this very rough) drive from San Ignacio that takes anywhere from 3-4 hours.

Sitting high on the Vaca Plateau, 1650 ft above the sea level, it's populated that Caracol may have stretched over 70 sq. miles at its peak (~ AD 650).  At its height, the city's population may have approached 150,000, more than twice as many people as Belize City has today.

Though they had no natural water source, the people of Caracol dug artificial reservoirs to catch rainwater and grew food on extensive agricultural terraces.  Its central area was a bustling place of temples, palaces, busy thoroughfares, craft workshops and markets.

A system of trails meanders through Caracol, but Plaza A and B the most excavated.  The highlight is Caana which rises from Plaza B.  At 141 ft, Caana (which means Sky Palace) is still the tallest building in Belize.  Caana underwent many construction phases until its completion in about AD 800.  It supports four palace compounds and three temples.  High steps narrowing up to the top probably led to the royal family's compound.  Climb to the top pf Caana to feast upon one of he most significant views in all of Belize.  On the way down, we missed the hidden tombs around the back on the left side.

South of Plaza B, the Central Acropolis was an elite residential group with palaces and shrines.  To its west, Plaza A contained many stelae, some of which are still in place.

Temple of the Wooden Lintel is one of the oldest buildings at Caracol.  Further south is one of Caracol's many aguadas (reservoirs), and beyond that the South Acropolis, a Classic Period elite residential complex where there were two tombs.

A colossal Maya city, once the pivotal power during the Classic Maya era, whose crowning architectural achievement is its huge Caana.  In addition to being the country's pre-eminent archaeological site, Caracol also teems with jungle wildlife.

Model of the site, displayed at the museum at the entrance

Caana (Sky Palace)

Altar 21 (opposite to Caana)

 

Compound built on Caana

Chambers

At summit of Caana

At the back, not sure whether it is the "hidden tomb"

Many excavated chambers

Ceiling of the chamber

Plaza B

Central Acropolis

Crowded bird nests on the trees

Stelae

Structure A-6 (Temple of the Wooden Lintel)

We climbed onto Structure A-2, overseeing Plaza A

 Dried fruit

Reservoir

Back to the parking lot