El Caracol
El Caracol is a monument to the Mayan civilization located in the Cayo District of Belize. The ruins are 40 kilometers south of another famous Mayan city, Chunantunich, as well as San Ignacio. In ancient times, the city was called Oshuica.
History
El Caracol was discovered in 1937 by loggers, but excavations did not begin until 1950, and the complex has been studied thoroughly since 1985. Scientific studies have shown that El Caracol was one of the largest Maya cities. At the height of the empire, its population was about 200,000 people.
.Architecture
The ancient city has a radial-ring structure. The territory of the archaeological zone is huge – more than 30 square kilometers in the middle of the tropical jungle. The Kaan Temple (“Heavenly Palace”), to date the tallest building in Belize (140 feet or 46 meters), is a pyramid with 3 temples on top.
.
3000 platforms of dwellings, stone roads (sakbe), 23 altars, more than 200 burials, 23 stelae, on the stelae and houses – preserved hieroglyphic texts of the Maya, the last was inscribed in 859 AD…. So much evidence of the life, development and disappearance of an ancient civilization! It is hard to imagine that on these historic stones laid many centuries ago, the inhabitants of Caracol walked and saw the same landscapes that travelers marvel at today.
.Tourists
- El Caracol is open to visitors Monday through Sunday from 08:00 to 17:00. .
- The cost of such a visit will cost $10 for adults, while children are free.
- The best time to visit the ancient ruins in Belize is from June through December.
- This is one of the favorite tourist attractions in the country. Antiquity lovers say that one can even go to Belize just because of experiencing the remains of a fantastic civilization and visiting this unique archaeological site.
