Some 80 miles on paved highway, east of Belize City, among the northern foothills of the Maya Mountain Range, is one of the fabled Kingdoms of the ancient Maya, called XUNANTUNICH (Shoo-nan-too-niche), meaning “Maiden of the Rock”. Only a short 8 miles from San Ignacio brings us to the southern banks of the Mopan River; cross over by hand operated ferry, and move to XUNANTUNICH, a mile uphill, with lush tropical rainforest on either side of the road and at the site.

Take a guided tour across grassy plazas, marvel at the perfect architecture of El Castillo, one of the three largest Maya Temples of Belize, and the largest structure on this site, standing 130 feet above plaza level, with its reconstructed East and West friezes representing Gods of the Maya and several inner chambers; move through other temples and courtyards where once Kings, Queens and their elite carried out special ceremonies honoring a pantheon of gods of a fantastic cosmological religion which reigned supreme in Mesoamerica for several thousand years. There is an excellent display center at the site, and you will have a chance to climb the “stairway to heaven” on El Castillo, from the top of which you will be able to see as far away as the “Melchor de Mencos” border town of nearby Guatemala, as well as a Benque Viejo del Carmen and San Jose Succotz, a town and village of Western Belize. Truly, the top of the world of the Maya! Lunch will be served at a Belizean restaurant back on the highway, along with some more shopping; then move leisurely back in your tour van to Belize City for your tour of the old capital.