How to Visit Xunantunich Mayan Ruins (Belize)

How to Visit Xunantunich Mayan Ruins (Belize)

Located less than a mile from the Guatemala-Belize border, the Xunantunich Ruins are one of the most popular Mayan ruins in Belize. Often frequented by those travelling between Belize and Guatemala, Xunantunich is an ideal stop to explore some of Central America’s fascinating history. Formerly home to over 200,000 inhabitants, Xunantunich is now one of the most deserted and beautiful Mayan sites in Central America!

This guide will cover everything you need to know to visit Xunantunich from San Ignacio, including transport tips, guides, cost-saving and more to help you maximise this awesome day out!

About Xunantunich

Before we go any further, you’re probably wondering how to pronounce Xunantunich. It’s pronounced: Shoo-nan-too-nitch.

Xunantunich translates to Stone Woman or Maiden of the Rock from the Yucatec Maya language. The Mopan term ‘Xunan’ means noble lady, while the Yucatec term ‘Tuunich’ means sculptured stone. Stone Woman actually refers to the multiple sightings of a white, ghost-like figure with glowing eyes seen around the ruins in 1892.

This jungle-bound site, which is still being excavated to this day, covers an area of over one square mile. Within which six plazas, containing over 26 palaces and temples including the second-tallest structure in Belize, can be found!

History of Xunantunich

Compared to other nearby archaeological sites, Xunantunich’s Mayan history is comparatively short and follows a slightly different timeline. It is estimated that the first indigenous settlers arrived around 600-300 BC. Particular population growth began many years later, around 700AD while other settlements were on the decline. Shortly after (around 750 AD), a sudden abandonment left Xunantunich uninhabited and undiscovered for many years. It’s thought that a natural disaster (viewed as a sign from the Gods) may have caused people to flee; though this is just speculation.

This site was rediscovered in the 1890s, making it the oldest excavated site in Belize. Since then a series of excavations, to varying degrees of success, have taken place uncovering a world of delights. In 2016, the largest royal Maya tomb was discovered, with an array of untouched ritual items and artefacts alongside a lone male corpse!

Visiting Xunantunich Overview

• Entrance fee: $10 BZD ($5 USD)
• Opening hours: 08:00-17:00
• Opening days: Monday-Sunday
• Ferry times: 07:30-16:00
• Facilities: Toilets ✅, Parking ✅
• What to bring: Water, suncream, comfortable shoes, a camera, snacks.
• Guide needed? – No, but are available.
• Time needed: 2-3 hours ⏳
• Suitable for children? – Yes
• Suitable for fear of heights? – Yes (El Castillo is optional)

FAQs

Where is Xunantunich?

Xunantunich Mayan Ruins are located in the west of Belize near the Guatemala-Belize Border. The nearest town is San Ignacio which is approximately 10km northeast of the ruins.

Address: Xunantunich Access Rd, San Jose Succotz, Belize

How to get to Xunantunich?

There are several options to get to Xunantunich: by bus, taxi, rental car or a guided tour with transport included.

Most people travel from the nearby town of San Ignacio, but you can also drive from Belize City, Belmopan or even across the border in Guatemala.

Bus to Xunantunich from San Ignacio:

Take the bus labelled Benque (Benque Viejo del Carmen). This leaves from the main bus terminal in San Ignacio and costs $1.5 BZD. Make sure to let the conductor know you are heading to Xunantunich, as not many people get off here and otherwise you may end up at the Guatemalan border! You will be dropped off next to a small roadside market beside the Copan River.

Buses also run from Belmopan and Flores towards the nearby border town of San Jose Succotz.

Taxi to Xunantunich from San Ignacio:

If you don’t have much time, then I recommend getting a taxi. The drive from San Ignacio is approximately 30 minutes. From the town centre, a taxi shouldn’t cost more than $15 BZD.

Crossing the Mopan River

From your riverside drop-off point, you will need to cross the Mopan River to reach the Xunantunich ruins. This is where the adventure begins as you board the Xunantunich hand-crank ferry – a small ferry powered by hand to cross the river. It’s well-sign-posted and hard to miss! The ferry is free (though tips are welcome) and the workers will occasionally offer to let you crank it yourself!

Once on the other side of the river, it’s approximately a 15-20 minute walk uphill to the ruins. Or you can hitch a ride with anyone going in that direction.

On the way back to San Ignacio, wait at the same drop-off point by the riverside market. You can catch any bus in that direction as they will all pass through San Ignacio.

Can you drive to Xunantunich?

Yes, you can drive to Xunantunich. You can cross the river with your vehicle on the ferry, then drive up to the entrance of Xunantunich. There are several places to hire a vehicle in San Ignacio, or you may already have one for your wider Belizean tour! Having a vehicle is a great way to explore the rest of the surrounding area including Pine Ridge, Big Rock Falls or 1000-foot Falls.

The drive from San Ignacio to Xunantunich takes around 30 minutes and parking is free.

How much does Xunantunich cost to enter?

Entrance to Xunantunich ruins costs $10 BZD (5 USD).

You should also factor in the costs of transport and a guide for your daytrip to Xunantunich.

Do you need a guide for Xunantunich?

You can visit Xunantunich on either a tour or independently – both have their place.

If you choose to visit Xunantunich independently, that doesn’t mean you can’t hire a guide. But the question is, do you want to?

As with any experience, whether you get a guide depends on your budget, interest and reason for your visit.

On this occasion, I chose not to get a guide which was fine. I found it pleasant exploring Xunantunich in complete peace without anyone else around!

That being said, guides at Mayan ruins in Central America are often very helpful and informative. And with no prior knowledge of Mayan history, you may find yourself wandering aimlessly around some old, albeit impressive, man-made structures.

You can hire a guide from the ticket office by the entrance or arrange a guide at the hand-crank ferry. Prices start at $30 USD for a two-hour tour for two people.

If you visit Xunantunich as part of a tour, a guide and transport are generally included as standard. Besides the standard tour of Xunantunich with an informative guide, there are also tours that incorporate other activities such as cave tubing, river kayaking or other Mayan sites (Cahal Pech). One of the next most popular is the horseback riding tour.

When to visit Xunantunich?

The best time to visit Xunantunich is during the dry season of January-May.

There is no best time of day to visit Xunantunich as it’s generally pretty quiet. You may have more chance of spotting wildlife early in the morning, plus it’s a bit cooler. I would avoid going at the end of the day as you may be rushed to get the ferry on the way out (as there’s no other way across the river), plus there’s a chance you may need to queue to leave if you drove.

What to expect at Xunantunich

A visit to Xunantunich Mayan Ruins is an ideal mix of adventure and history! It’s a largely peaceful day out, minus any encounters with loud howler monkeys!

Ticket Office

On arrival, you head over to the ticket office on the left-hand side of the entrance. You will pay your $10 BZD fee and receive a small ticket. There is the option to hire a guide here if you desire. From here you are able to explore the whole Xunantunich area.

There are toilet facilities near the entrance.

Visitor Centre

Just beyond the entrance is a small museum filled with artefacts and stories. This should be the first stop on your visit. It’s a great way to get acquainted with the history of the region and learn more about what you’re about to explore. The descriptions are in English too!

Mayan Ruins

There are more than two dozen temples and structures to explore around Xunantunich which have been categorised into Groups A-D. Group A is the most significant and probably where you will spend most of your time.

Walking up from the visitor centre, we stayed right to explore Plaza A-II and A-III first. Each area has been excavated to a different level and some structures are more intact than others.

We looped around before finishing with Xunantunich’s largest and most iconic structure – El Castillo (A6).

El Castillo

El Castillo is my personal highlight of Xunantunich. It’s the highest point of the ruins, standing at approximately 40m tall (130ft). Unlike several other Mayan ruins across Central America, you are allowed to climb over the structure to explore, including all the way to the top. From here you will have 360-degree views of the surrounding landscape of lush jungle and ancient ruins. On a clear day, you can see all the way into Guatemala!

Built into its solid structure, you will see intricately carved friezes wrapped horizontally around El Castillo. These large, hieroglyphic-like markings depict the Mayan God of Creation and the Tree of Life, among other notable themes.

Tips to enjoy your day at Xunantunich

• Bring a packed lunch: The area is quiet and peaceful, so you may wish to sit down and have lunch. Make sure to take everything with you when you leave.
• Look at the map when you go in (and take a photo). If you don’t have a guide, plan your route around the ruins so you can see everything you want to see.
• If you want to see wildlife, go early or late! Go in the middle of the day if you don’t want to see people!
• Hike up. If you can, I recommend the 1-mile wander from the crank ferry to the entrance of Xunantunich. Though it’s all uphill, it builds suspense and adds to the sense of remoteness of the site.
• Don’t skip the visitor centre. Whilst a little dark inside, it’s full of facts, information, and a few artefacts to give you background on what you will see around Xunantunich. Particularly helpful if you aren’t going to hire a guide.

How does Xunantunich Rank amongst other Mayan Sites

Xunantunich isn’t as big as some of the other Mayan sites in Central America like Chichen Itza in Mexico.

Xunantunich isn’t as significant to Mayan history as sites such as Tikal in Guatemala.

What Xunantunich does offer is a lack of tourists. It’s not uncommon to find yourself completely alone in the ruins. Experiencing a civilisation where people used to live, unobstructed by fellow travellers creates a completely different atmosphere.

Compared to other Mayan sites in Belize such as Caracol, Cahal Pech, Lamanai, Lubaantun and others, Xunantunich is one of the largest and easily accessible.

Is Xunantunich Worth Visiting?

So you’ve heard a lot about Xunantunich now, but you might be wondering if Xunantunich is worth visiting.

The simple answer to that is, yes – Xunantunich is absolutely worth visiting.

The combination of its locality to San Ignacio; the relative desertedness of other travellers; and its stunning beauty made exploring Xunantunich one of the highlights of my backpacking adventure through Belize. Given its cheap price and lack of fame, I had somewhat low expectations for the site. These were blown away by the views and wildlife encounters I had whilst there, making it all the more special!

So if you have a spare morning or afternoon in San Ignacio, I would highly recommend a visit to the Xunantunich Mayan ruins.

Before you go

Thank you for reading my guide for visiting Xunantunich in Belize. If guides, itineraries and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.

If you are new to Matt’s Next Steps, check out the About Me page to find out a bit more about who I am, my travel adventures, and why I wanted to become a travel writer.

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Happy travelling!