The temples are easily climbed and are not as tall as lamanai and xunantunich. Discoveries found amongst the ruins also indicate that this was a city of great importance amongst the early maya. This site was not very far from the coast of belize and it boasts the largest jade piece of art ever found in the ancient maya world the jade head in the image of kinich ahau, the maya sun god. Altun ha is a modern name in the maya language, coined by translating the name of the nearby village of rockstone pond. Lamanai is in the jungle and much of the site is not excavated. Altun hamayan for rockstone pondis situated amid one of the richest wildlife areas in belize, so if youre eager to spot critters in addition to spectacular ruins, come for the bats, foxes, whitetail deer, tapir, armadillos and ancient buildings. A one hour drive on a shore excursion on our carnival cruise in april 2014 by the western caribbean. The maya ruins of lamanai once belonged to a sizable mayan city in the orange walk district of belize. I recommend going on your own, without a tour group, and find a local tour guide to take you privately throughout the ruins.
Guide to lamanai ruins tour from san pedro and tanisha tours belize belize adventure tour company offering private lamanai ruins tour from san pedro. Altun ha maya ruins tours of altun ha maya site in belize. We visit the mayan ruin of altun ha and tour the ancient city of lamanai, returning by boat along new river lagoon on our year. Altun ha mayan ruins belize tours jungle adventure. Altun ha is probably belizes best known mayan site, if only because its main temple features on the label of the national beer, belikin. Plaza a the archaeological site of altun ha was discovered in the 1950s. Altun ha is located in rockstone pond village in belize, central america. A mere 40minute drive separates altun ha from people coming into belize city by air or sea, which makes these belize mayan ruins the perfect destination for everyones belize bucket list. Top 5 mayan sites to explore in belize this summer island. We offer you the option to create your own packages. Altun ha tour belize altun ha tour altun ha, rockstone water, was a small but wealthy ceremonial center during the classic maya period.
A twenty minute drive to lucky strike village, where altun ha belize mayan ruin is located, uncovers the temple of the sun god. Altun ha rock stone pond 2020 all you need to know. Part of the pyramid is carved into the shape of a jaguars head using a bit of imagination i could see what they meant. The best maya ruins in belize top maya sites in belize. Altun ha mayan ruin is in the resorts backyard 10 miles south of belize boutique resort and spa. Altun ha, site of the ruins of an ancient mayan city, covers about 3 square miles 8 square kilometers of belizean countryside. We took a tour through the museum then explored the ruins. Belize mayan ruins visit altun ha, lamanai and xunantunich. Altun ha temple has recently in 20142015 gone through some major upgrades including now a wheelchair accessible restroom, a visitor center amongst other. Belize mayan ruins tours a plus belize adventures tours. Other important maya sites in belize include altun ha and lamanai. Xunantunich looked like the coolest ruins but its sort of far away as well and doesnt look like you get to see as much jungle. Altun ha, lamanai, xunantunich mayan ruins take a walk back into time with one of belizes most historic and educational yet stimulating and fun belize inland adventures.
Whether youre exploring lamanai, altunha, or the belize. The scenery along the way is unique as we go over a river that has its origin in guatemala, pass thru a savanna, see some farmland and lush forest. Altun ha is worth a visit if you come to belize, and probably the easiest of the mayan ruins to reach given its proximity to belize city. Start this mayan ruins tour with either a short flight, or cool boat ride to belize city. The jungle masters are knowledgeable and fond of these archaeological sites.
How to see the maya ruins of belize with chronic illness, disability and pain. Altun ha rock stone pond 2020 all you need to know before. Lamanai mayan ruins in belize tales of a backpacker. These days, altun ha is better suited for tourists taking a day trip from their cruise terminal in belize city than it is for living quarters. The altun ha mayan ruins are a mustdo day trip from. Lamanai is more money than altun ha but you get what you pay for its well worth it and if price is an issue with a bit of searching you can find a company. Altun ha, site of the ruins of an ancient mayan city, covers about 3 square. During this drive, the guide elaborates about belize in general. Enjoy a mountain bike ride through the jungle, a visit to the ancient mayan ruins of altun ha and scenic sightseeing of belize city. Well, lamanai is a bit more adventurous to get to and much bigger site. Join us on this fantastic trip to the ancient mayan city of altun ha. Altun ha mayan ruins belize belize cruise excursions. Lamanai vs altun ha ambergris caye belize message board. The altun ha mayan ruins are a beautiful example of the mayan architectural accomplishments from well over 2000 years ago in belize.
For that reason, its usually the busiest of belizes mayan ruins. Altun ha was a major ceremonial center during the classic period 250900a. Altun ha is a city of over 500 mounds with approximately 15 has been excavated. This is an ancient mayan city with a name that is very similar to a very popular name in the book of mormon, laman. One of the most easily accessible mayan ruins from. There are over 500 buildings or mounds within the site. Join a private or group tour to learn how the citys 10,000 inhabitants lived. Lamanai is my personal favorite both for history and setting, but as lan sluder says its a little harder to access and gettingstaying there isnt terribly cheap. You will walk among the ruins of beautiful temples and altars. Altun ha features two large central plazas surrounded by midsized pyramids. Altun ha rock stone pond all you need to know before. I always recommended altun ha to people that didnt want to travel a lot in either direction.
Following the collapse of the maya empire, these impressive displays of architecture were swallowed up by the jungle, lost for centuries until rediscovered at the end of the 19th century. Caribe can contact our tour office to book any of above belize mayan ruin tours. It is known that its history stretches a long way back, to 250bc, and that it had a population of around 10,000 people. Tips for visiting altun ha maya ruins in belize mayan ruins in belize. Some of the belize mayan ruin tours we offer are as follow. Lamanai is the most jungle like, and x has the tallest, most intricate temple. Escape the bustle of belize and head out to altun ha, the fantastically preserved ruins of an ancient mayan city, with this tour from belize city. These archaeological sites feature impressive structures of sacred mayan temples, courtyards, ceremonial halls and ball courts that were once very active.
Xunantunich or altun ha belize lonely planet forum. Belize ruins altun ha or lamanai cruise excursion fodors travel. To the ancient maya, jade was the most precious mineral, valued far more than gold. The central area has more than 500 historic structures, mostly built during the maya classic era ad 200 to 900. For anyone who has toured any or all of the 3 mayan ruins sites offered by carnivalwhich do you recommend and why. Lamanai is a mesoamerican archaeological site, and was once a major city of the maya. The three most visited mayan ruins in belize are altun ha, lamanai, and. Altun ha is the second city of maya ruins which we visited in belize. While close to belize city, the road to altun ha includes a 10mile drive on a gravel and dirt road that is full of potholes.
I have researched all of them, and understand that altun ha is the smallest, but closest. After exploring the ruins, you have the opportunity to purchase locally made handicrafts and art from the vendors located near the site entrance. Altun ha is one of the most famous mayan centers founded around 900 bc, perhaps a few centuries earlier. Our bus was late coming back from lamanai due to the traffic and the cruise line held the ship for us whew. Xunantunich, lamanai or altun ha cruisemates cruise. Its also the easiest to visit, with lots of tours running from belize city, san pedro, and more. We decided to act as our own tour guides to altun ha. Only a fraction of altun ha has been excavated and relatively little is known about the city, which once covered 25 square miles and had an estimated population of 10,000 people. Take an adventure back in time and explore the mayan ruins of altun ha and get a glimpse of the local wildlife in half a day on this belize cultural tour of river wallace and altun ha. Altun ha maya ruins in belize book tour of altun ha maya. Belize adventure tour to altun ha mayan ruins leaves the resort at 2. Altun ha maya ruins is one of the most popular maya sites to visit in belize. Little is known about the history of altun ha and little of this massive ancient city has been excavated. If this is your first trip to a mayan site i would do lamanai.
Caracol, xunantunich, lamanai, cahal pech, nim li punit, altun ha, and tikal nearby in guatemala plus others. Gorgeous weather, bright green grasses, and lots of dancing made it. Belize altun ha mayan ruins and jungle mountain bike. This ruin was one of the great trading centers of the ancient mayas. Chau hiix is 15 km east of lamanai, and is accessible by waterways travel. Belize tours in central america offer cave excursions, mayan ruins, beach getaways and more. Did a private tour out to the mayan ruins of altun ha because my wife has mobility issues and wouldnt be able to. Since it was still occupied by the maya when the spanish arrived, lamanai is. Altun ha is a small site in the belize district that was a classic period site ad300 ad900. Discover the mysteries and rituals of the mayan civilization during a guided tour of altun ha, the ruins of a ceremonial and trading site. It lies between lamanai and altun ha, another site further to the east.
After meeting the guest, we drive on a northerly direction for about 1 hour. Book a tour of this maya site with black orchid resort. Altun ha maya ruins discover belize with belize exotic. Altun ha mayan ruins caribbean caye, belize anywhere. It was here that the largest carved jade object, a jade head, was found. Altun ha maya ruins of belize impressions hd youtube.
Lamanai is not like those staged places this is right on the jungle on the river as for mozzies a good deet based repellant such as off will do the trick. People who want to know more about the ancient mayan culture, their beliefs, and traditions visit this ceremonial location yearround. Since everyone in belize speaks english, this is easy enough and a good way to save some money for other things, but if youd rather not do that, guided. Altun ha is just 34 miles to the north of belize city, and because of its close proximity to the sea is thought to have been an important trading center for the. It is positioned on western lagoon near its outlet into spanish creek. Belize lamanai tours, tour the lamanai maya archaeological site, travel along the new river from orange walk town, belize, and see the flora and fauna of northern belize like the crocodile, howler monkey and the black orchid. Lamanai is more money than altun ha but you get what you pay for its well worth it and if price is an issue with a bit of searching you can find a company that offer 20% off the advertised rates for lamanai useing the same companys. Altun ha mayan ruins is located in the belize district on the philip goldson highway. Altun ha or xunantunich belize ruins tours with grand caribe. Walk in the footsteps of mayan royalty at belizes magnificent altun ha ruins on this day trip from san ignacio. The jaguar temple at lamanai mayan ruins in belize. Altun ha is the nearest excavated maya temple to belize city and is probably the most visited by belizean school. Your adventure continues as we then travel deeper north for forty five minutes towards one of the finest and majestic ruins known as altun ha water of the rock.
An amazing halfday tailored for cultural connoisseurs, this tour takes guests through the aweinspiring maya ruins of altun ha and lamanai via helicopter and airboat, sweeping through rainforest canopies and river lagoons for the ultimate belizean experience. Find some of the most exciting belize mayan ruin tours at the lowest rates. Walk up the ancient stepsthis site dates back to 400 adand explore the fascinating history and culture of the maya as well as their enigmatic decline. Altun hais the name given ruins of an ancient maya city in belize, located in the belize district about 50 kilometer 30 miles north of belize city. Tour the mayan ruins of belize visit either one of belizes incredible archaeological sites altun ha, lamanai and xunantunich ruins. Your local guide will start by showing you a few key belize city landmarks, followed by a journey up to altun ha. Altun ha had a jungle hike around the ruins for just a few bucks more. A steeped in history shore excursion took us to the ruins in belize, the mayan ruins in belize. Ancient mayan city lamanai and the book of mormon youtube. Altun ha mayan ruins all you need to know before you go. The site existed from around bc and the maya were still constructing buildings up to ad 900. After the museum, we set off to the first pyramid at the lamanai mayan ruins, the jaguar temple.