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(158)
From start to finish the Maya Walk Tour staff made this experience one of a kind. The staff members were knowledgeable and passionate about not only the environment but the history. Maya Walk provided hotel pick up and drop off which made this excursion especially convenient. Francis was an amazing tour guide who looked after the group while sharing his knowledge and making us laugh. Another highlight was the meal provided by a local family — delicious and a true taste of Belize.
The Xunantunich ruins were beautiful. Our guide, Pedro, was quite knowledgeable, sharing Mayan history for each building and area. It was just the right amount! We decided to extend the adventure to include cave tubing. There was plenty of time for both and the tubing was fun and relaxing!
Thank you so much for your wonderful 5-star review! We're delighted to hear you enjoyed exploring the magnificent Xunantunich Maya Ruins with Pedro. He has a true passion for sharing Belize's rich Maya history, and we're glad his insights made the experience both engaging and enjoyable. We're also happy you decided to extend your adventure with cave tubing—it’s the perfect combination of history, nature, and relaxation. Thank you for choosing Cayo Inland Expeditions. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable Belize adventure!
Our visit to Xunantunich was unforgettable, and a huge part of that was our amazing tour guide, Bern. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the history of the Mayan civilization and shared fascinating stories and cultural insights that made the ruins come alive. You could tell he has a real passion and a background for preserving and teaching Mayan culture. As we climbed the ruins, Bern made sure everyone felt safe and comfortable, giving clear guidance and watching out for the group every step of the way. His professionalism and attention to safety allowed us to fully enjoy the incredible views and experience. We were also lucky enough to have Bern as our guide for cave tubing, and once again, he was outstanding. He kept us safe throughout the adventure, pointing out wildlife like crocodiles and snakes while making sure we knew what to expect. He even guided us to an exciting cliff-jumping spot, making the experience both thrilling and safe. If you're visiting Belize and have the chance to tour with Bern, don't hesitate. His knowledge, professionalism, focus on safety, and friendly personality made both the Xunantunich ruins and cave tubing adventures experiences we'll never forget. We highly recommend him! If you'd like, I can also make it shorter for Google Reviews or more enthusiastic for Facebook or TripAdvisor.
Thank you so much for your incredible 5-star review! We're thrilled to hear that your Xunantunich & Cave Tubing adventure was such a memorable experience. We'll be sure to share your wonderful comments with Bern—he'll be honored to know his passion for Maya history, culture, and Belize's natural beauty made such a lasting impression. At Cayo Inland Expeditions, we believe the best tours combine education, adventure, and safety, and we're delighted that Bern's knowledge, storytelling, and dedication helped bring the ancient Maya world to life while ensuring everyone felt comfortable and confident throughout the day. Thank you for your kind recommendation. We truly appreciate your support and look forward to welcoming you back to Belize for another unforgettable adventure!
This tour was very interesting. I liked learning about the history even more than I thought I would. Pedro was very knowledgeable about more than just the Mayan history. I thoroughly enjoyed talking with him and learning from him. We also got to see spider monkeys, and even one with a baby on its back!
Thank you so much for your wonderful 5-star review! We're delighted to hear that your visit to Xunantunich exceeded your expectations and that you enjoyed learning about the fascinating history of the Maya civilization with Pedro. He loves sharing not only Belize's rich history but also its incredible wildlife and culture, so we're thrilled you had the chance to spot spider monkeys—including a mother carrying her baby! Those unexpected wildlife encounters make every tour even more memorable. Thank you for choosing Cayo Inland Expeditions!
Great guide and experience! Guide was very informative and fun!
Thank you so much for your 5-star review! We're delighted to hear you had a fun and informative visit to Xunantunich. Our guides are passionate about bringing Belize's rich Maya history and culture to life, and it's wonderful to know they helped make your experience both enjoyable and memorable. Thank you for choosing Cayo Inland Expeditions!
We had a great visit with Pedro. He was very knowledgeable and even stopped to bring us to see monkeys! He answered all our questions and we had a great visit! Highly recommend.
Thank you so much for your wonderful 5-star review! We're delighted to hear you had such a great experience exploring Xunantunich with Pedro. He is passionate about sharing Belize's rich Maya history and natural beauty, and we're so glad you enjoyed his insights—and the unexpected opportunity to see the monkeys! Moments like those make every tour even more memorable. Thank you for your recommendation and for choosing Cayo Inland Expeditions.
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.
Thank you for your wonderful 5-star review! We're delighted to hear that you enjoyed your visit to Xunantunich and appreciated the insights into Maya history and culture shared by your guide. At Cayo Inland Expeditions, we're passionate about creating enriching experiences that bring Belize's incredible heritage to life. It means so much to know you'd choose to tour with us again on your next visit. We look forward to welcoming you back for another unforgettable Belize adventure!
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!
