Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour from San Ignacio
Description
Small groups for a personalized experience. Convenient pick up and drop off at your hotel within 10km of San Ignacio town. Xunantunich Maya Temple means “Maiden of the Rock," and it is located only 30 minutes south-west of San Ignacio Town, in the beautiful village of San Jose Succotz. This makes this site one of the most accessible Maya Temples in the area. To gain access to this magnificent site one must cross the Mopan River on a hand-cranked ferry. This is also a great place to pick up souvenirs and popular gift items like hand-made hammocks, slate carvings, jewelry, etc.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Xunantunichi, pronounced 'Shoo - Nan - Tu - Nich', gets its name from a legendary folktale about the ghost of a woman who as locals have it inhabited the sacred grounds as far back as the late 1800’s. A classic period (300 – 900AD) ceremonial center located just a stone’s throw away from San Ignacio in the beautiful Maya village of San Jose Succotz, making this one of the most accessible Maya Temples in the area. Xunantunich boasts Belize’s second largest Maya structures named El Castillo (The Castle) standing 130 feet and offering an astonishing panoramic view of the Maya Mountains.
Located just a stone’s throw away from San Ignacio in the beautiful Maya village of San Jose Succotz, making this one of the most accessible Maya Temples in the area. Xunantunich boasts Belize’s second largest Maya structures named El Castillo (The Castle) standing 130 feet and offering an astonishing panoramic view of the Maya Mountains. To get to the site one must cross the Mopan River by a hand cranked ferry, which then gives us access to the one mile ascent into one of Belize’s most popular sites. Here you will find yourself immersed in pristine jungle surroundings, home of howler monkeys, spider monkeys, birds and iguanas. While exploring along with your guide, you will learn about the history of this site and the Maya civilization that once inhabited it.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Departure Point: Centrally located hotels within 10km of San Ignacio town Return Details: Original departure point We can pick up guests and return them to their hotel as long as it is within a 10km radius of San Ignacio town
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- Due to the nature of this tour and the safety of all guests, the tour operator reserves the right to refuse service to passengers who are intoxicated or show signs of intoxication. If, as a result, your tour is canceled, you will not be entitled to a refund.
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
- Things to bring along: Cool and comfortable clothing, hiking/tennis shoes, camera, bug spray, sun block lotion
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Reviews(152)
What a wonderful tour! We learned so much from our guide about the history of the site as well as the Mayan people. We appreciated the depth of information of our guide and hope to book again with this tour company the next time we are in the area.
Shout out Pedro for being so kind and informative! This was an incredible experience learning about Xunantunich and Mayan culture! The ruins were breathtaking, and from the top, we could see everything. We discovered so much about different plants and their uses. We even got to see spider monkeys!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had such an incredible experience at Xunantunich. Pedro will be delighted to know his knowledge and kindness helped make your visit so memorable. We're glad you enjoyed learning about Maya culture, Belize's native plants, and even spotting spider monkeys along the way! Thank you for choosing Cayo Inland Expeditions. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable Belize adventure!
Great tour, beautiful spot to visit and our tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. We had a great time
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear you had a great time exploring Xunantunich and that you enjoyed the beauty of the site. It's wonderful to know your guide's knowledge and friendly service helped make your experience even more memorable. Thank you for choosing Cayo Inland Expeditions. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Belize again soon!
While you can self guide, we choose to get a guide so we could learn more and ask questions. Pedro our guide did not disappoint. We learned so many interesting facts and also discovered how they are still learning as the site is being explored.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted you chose to tour Xunantunich with Pedro and that his knowledge helped bring the ancient Maya city to life. It's exciting to know you enjoyed learning not only about the site's rich history but also about the ongoing discoveries being made there. Thank you for choosing Cayo Inland Expeditions. We hope to welcome you back for another Belize adventure soon!
This was a really cool experience and totally worth it. The tour was 3 hours long but it was plenty to see the Mayan ruins. Xunantunich has so much history and our guide was very knowledgeable and gave us a lot of information about he Mayan culture. The views are also beautiful. We also saw spider monkeys and Iguanas.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a great experience exploring Xunantunich with us. Although it's a half-day tour, we're glad you found it to be the perfect amount of time to discover the incredible Maya ruins and learn about the rich history and culture of this ancient city. It's also fantastic that you were able to spot some of Belize's amazing wildlife, including spider monkeys and iguanas. Encounters like these make every visit to Xunantunich even more special! Thank you for choosing Cayo Inland Expeditions. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Belize for another unforgettable adventure soon!
The guide was knowledgeable and personable, he answered questions thoughtfully, he knew about the buildings, the excavations at the site, and the history of the city, its people, and their relationship to and with other Mayan cities. And we visited, walked through and climbed the buildings. It was a great half-day excursion from San Ignacio.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Xunantunich and found the tour to be such a rewarding experience. It's great to know that your guide's knowledge and personable approach helped bring the ancient Maya city to life—from its impressive architecture and archaeological discoveries to its fascinating history and connections with other Maya cities. We're especially happy that you enjoyed exploring the site on foot and climbing the temples while taking in the incredible views. Xunantunich truly is one of Belize's most remarkable cultural treasures. Thank you for your recommendation and for choosing Cayo Inland Expeditions. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back for another unforgettable Belize adventure!
Amazing experience and absolutely worth it. Even though the tour was only about 3 hours, it felt packed with so much history, culture, and incredible views. Xunantunich is truly stunning in person, and climbing the temples while learning about the Mayan civilization was such a memorable experience. Pedro was an outstanding guide and honestly made the tour. He was knowledgeable, engaging, funny, and made everything easy to understand without it ever feeling overwhelming or scripted. You could tell he genuinely cares about giving people a great experience and sharing the history of Belize. The entire tour was smooth, well organized, and the perfect activity. Highly recommend this tour, and if you get Pedro as your guide, you’re lucky!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you had such an amazing experience at Xunantunich. Although it's a shorter tour, we're glad it left a lasting impression with its rich history, breathtaking views, and fascinating Maya heritage. Pedro will be delighted to hear your kind words. He is passionate about sharing Belize's history and culture, and it's wonderful to know his knowledge, humor, and genuine enthusiasm helped make your visit so memorable. We'll be sure to pass along your compliments! Thank you for recommending our tour and for choosing Cayo Inland Expeditions. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to welcoming you back to Belize for another unforgettable adventure!
Amazing tour! Henry was a great guide. Gave enough info to make us more knowledgeable and had a fun personality! Stopped at his family farm on the way back to let us try some fresh cashew fruit, mango and tamarind. Beautiful ruins - highly recommend the tour and Henry!
Thank you so much for your fantastic review! We're delighted to hear you had such an amazing experience exploring Xunantunich with Henry. He has a wonderful way of bringing Maya history to life while keeping the tour fun and engaging, and we're so glad you enjoyed his personality and insights. We're especially happy that you got to experience a little taste of authentic Belize with the visit to his family farm. Fresh cashew fruit, mangoes, and tamarind are some of our local favorites, and it's always a pleasure sharing these unique experiences with our guests. Thank you for your recommendation and for choosing Cayo Inland Expeditions. We hope to welcome you back for another Belize adventure soon!
Reuben was amazing in setting up my tour! It was swift, easy, and absolutely incredible ! Everything flowed really well and my guide was knowledgeable and funny 😁 Great way to meet people and get to know the history of the mayans. Thank you for a great experience!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're delighted to hear that you had such an incredible experience exploring Xunantunich with us. Reuben will be thrilled to know his assistance made the booking process smooth and hassle-free, and we're glad your guide's knowledge and sense of humor made the tour both informative and enjoyable. There's nothing better than sharing the fascinating history of the ancient Maya while creating opportunities to meet new people and make lasting memories. Thank you for choosing Cayo Inland Expeditions. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back to Belize for another unforgettable adventure soon!
The most amazing horseback ride to the ruins. Gentle horses and Jose was phenomenal.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such a fabulous experience on the Xunantunich tour. Horseback riding to the ruins is such a special way to experience the jungle and history, and we’re so happy you enjoyed the gentle horses and scenic ride. Jose will be especially grateful for your kind words — we’ll be sure to pass them along to him! We truly appreciate you choosing us and hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Belize someday.
