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 We picked up our
pre-ordered picnic lunch from Blancaneaux Lodge, and then headed off on the great adventure to the Caracol ruins.
The roads are the worst we have driven, and that's saying something! Navigating the series
of backcountry roads to get to Caracol is potentially very confusing, however we arrived
without getting lost once. Joe on Macal River bridge
- enroute to Caracol, with our Suzuki 4WD. The guidebook says to get a visitor's permit
for Caracol at Augustine (on the way to Caracol), but we purchased permits when we arrived
at Caracol - BZ$10 ea.
We hooked up with Peter, a Maya Expeditions tour guide who was taking
another couple through the ruins. They had driven from Belize City that morning, so they must
have left early.
Caracol facts:
 | 150,000 residents in the city of Caracol, more lived in the state of Caracol |
| Metro Caracol - 10km radius |
| State of Caracol - 7,000-12,000 sq km |
| Conquered the ruler at the famed Tikal |
| Caana is to this day the tallest man-made structure to be found in Belize |
| Intensive agriculture terraces found throughout the site |
| 60km of internal road systems |
| 2 longer distance causeways - one into Guatamala, one running towards the Maya mountains |
| 100 tombs, 200 burials excavated, 375 individual remains |
| Caracol was occupied continuously from 600 B.C. to 1100 A.D. |
Caana - structure rises 43 m above B Plaza
Have a look at this
aerial
shot of Caana taken by Tony Rath, (Copyright 1999
Tony
Rath Photography) |
One of 3 temples built atop Caana |
Barrio - elite residential plaza, as seen from atop Caana. |
 .
Looking out from inside a tomb - located midway
up on the east side of Caana |
Looking south from the top of Caana toward B Plaza (and where the first photo in
this series was shot from) |
Walkway - located midway up Caana - part of the residential section of the structure. |
Joe on the top of Caana - the "I was here" shot |
This stelae (carved stone) was the first indication that Caana existed. A
mahogany logger turned up this stelae in 1933, and had the good sense to report it to the
authorities. |
This large stelae contains the longest glyphic text of any stelae to be found in
Belize. It was erected during the reign of Lord Kan II in the seventh century AD.
|
This plain, (as seen from the Central Acropolis
structures looking westward to the Group A structures) was a reservoir which served as the
only water supply for the population of Caracol. It was artificially raised and
plastered for efficient catchment and storage. |
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