Caracol

The Tallest Building in Belize Today

The ancient Maya Ruin of Caracol is located on the western edge of the Maya mountains, within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. Caracol sits on a high plateau, some 500 meters above sea level. The site was discovered in 1938 by Rosa Mai, a logger looking for Mahogany.

The main temple, "Caana", is still Belize's tallest man-made structure, standing at 42 meters (139 feet). The Classic Period site is noted for the rare use of giant date glyphs on circular stone altars. In their design of Caana, the Caracol architects incorporated symbolism that reflects ancient Mayan cosmology.

There is much to see and learn at Caracol, an area of the home to rare ocelated turkey as well as the even rarer Keel-billed Toucan and Mot-Mot.