Xunantunich + Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins + Blue Hole

This tour will take you to Xunantunich (meaning Maiden of the Rock) archeological site, which is rich in history and offers an introduction into the life of the Maya. Take a ride over the Mopan River on an old, hand-cranked ferry. Visit the onsite museum where you will have a chance to view artifacts and maps of the grounds. Your guide will escort you from temple to temple revealing the secrets of this ancient civilization. The view from the top of the highest temple, El Castillo, is breathtaking and well worth the climb. From the top you have a clear view of Western Belize, the old waterways, and Guatemala. Your next stop will be Cahal Pech (meaning Place of Ticks), the oldest-known Maya site in Western Belize. The palatial hilltop home was the royal acropolis-palace of an elite Mayan ruling family who lived there during the Classic period. Cahal Pech was settled around 1000 BC and abandoned by 800 AD. Most major construction of Cahal Pech dates back to the Classic period, but evidence of continuous habitation has been dated to as far back as 1200 BC. To complete your tour we end the day with a visit to the Inland Blue Hole, a cool and refreshing place for an afternoon swim. It was formed by the collapse of an underground limestone cave. In this case, the river running through the original cavern still flows through the cave system and forms a sapphire-colored pool at the bottom of the cenote.