Xunantunich (Maya for “Maiden of the Rock”) sits atop a hill overlooking theMopan River and the Cayo District

 

 

 

Xunantunich was a major ceremonial site built on a natural limestone ridge during the Classic Period. The site is composed of six major plazas with more than 25 Maya temples and palaces.

 

 

 

“El Castillo” (the Castle), the largest pyramid at 130 feet above the plaza, has carved friezes on the east and west sides. The frieze on the east has been preserved and covered with a fiberglass replica of the central mask representing the sun god flanked by the moon and Venus.
From this vantage point, one gains a panoramic view of the Cayo District, nearby Guatemala and the Mountain Pine Ridge Area.

 

 

Xunantunich is 8 miles west of San Ignacio Town, directly across from the village of San Jose Succotz. It is also easily accessible by public transportation, up to the hand-cranked ferry over the river. Vehicles are ferried over for the 1-mile drive/hike to the parking lot.
An impressive visitor center with refreshments and souvenirs is located on site.