CARACOL

The Mayan archaeological site of Caracol is without doubt the country's most famous, largest and most majestic. Discovered in 1937 by a lumberjack named Rosa Mai, who was scouring the region for mahogany wood, he immediately alerted the authorities, who the following year sent two archaeologists, A. H. Anderson and H. B. Jex, to explore the site. They made some very important discoveries, followed by others during the many explorations that took place throughout the ^20th century and continue to this day, so vast and rich is the site.

Today, we can say that Caracol was first occupied in 1200 BC, and reached its peak in 650 AD, when it covered just under 200 km² and was home to a population of over 140,000. This compares with the 400,000 inhabitants of Belize today. In addition to its size, the site has also become famous for its history. The kingdom of Caracol won major victories over neighbouring territories: the victory over Tikal in 562 A.D. and the conquest of Naranjo, in present-day Guatemala, in 631 A.D. Like the whole of classical Mayan civilization, the site went into decline in the ^10th century, when the last occupants of Caracol left for other lands.

Visit. As only a tiny part of the site has been excavated and restored, the beauty of the place lies perhaps above all in its dense, tropical environment. The site lies at an altitude of 500 m in the heart of the Chiquibul forest, and from the top of its structures you can enjoy a spectacular view of the jungle as far as the eye can see: sitting along the Mayan squares, it's not uncommon to come across exotic fauna that adds to the charm of the visit, including numerous birds. Without a doubt, this is one of the country's most exotic excursions. The part of the site we visit today - the heart of the city in its heyday - is a series of squares surrounding a central acropolis and two ball courts. In addition to the main pyramid, which can be climbed, there are numerous engraved stelae in one part of the site. Many, if not all, of the country's agencies offer tours of Caracaol, but it's perfectly possible to get there on your own if you have an all-terrain vehicle. In this case, don't forget to bring everything you'll need, as there are no stores or restaurants on site.