Archaeological site made up of pyramid-shaped stone structures, with panoramic views from the top.
At a glance
Rating breakdown
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5 ★89%
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4 ★9%
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3 ★1%
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2 ★0%
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1 ★0%
What reviewers talk about
Share of 16 recent reviews that mention each topic.
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View50%
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Price & value19%
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Location13%
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Waiting & crowds6%
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Service & staff6%
Quick facts
- What is the rating of Xunantunich Mayan Ruins?
- Xunantunich Mayan Ruins is rated 4.9 out of 5 based on 5,070 reviews.
- Where is Xunantunich Mayan Ruins located?
- San Jose Succotz, Belize
- What do visitors mention most about Xunantunich Mayan Ruins?
- Most often: view, price & value, location (from 16 recent reviews).
It was an honor to climb to the top of this beautiful and important piece of the world's history. Definitely worth seeing the view from the top and the cultural center at the bottom of the entrance holds so many beautiful items. Very greatful to have been able to be there and see this magnificent place.
If you love your history then this is one of the most accessible Mayan restorations in the Belmopan vicinity.
We didn't have a guide, but our paid driver took us through the ruins for a personal tour.
We were told about the mysteries and stories about the ruins and some fairly accurate history about the recent find and restoration.
The journey there is quite beautiful and a nice adventure with lots of places to give your tourist money to the local traders.
I personally recommend the shops at the ferry and at the ruins. You might not have time to stop at the ferry shops on your way there, but try to shop there after you come back over the river on your return.
Carved wood and stone, weaving, painting, etc. All made by locals (I think) and you can bargain the prices down if you feel you have to.
When in these types of stores, I tend to think of a budget, like $50, and then bargain with them for what I can get for $50. Fake or not, it makes me feel less guilty compared with pushing someone down to $5 for a stone carving. Your money going into the local economy is the best thing we can do for three lovely people.
Everyone on the day we went here was wonderful and friendly.
We didn't have a guide, but our paid driver took us through the ruins for a personal tour.
We were told about the mysteries and stories about the ruins and some fairly accurate history about the recent find and restoration.
The journey there is quite beautiful and a nice adventure with lots of places to give your tourist money to the local traders.
I personally recommend the shops at the ferry and at the ruins. You might not have time to stop at the ferry shops on your way there, but try to shop there after you come back over the river on your return.
Carved wood and stone, weaving, painting, etc. All made by locals (I think) and you can bargain the prices down if you feel you have to.
When in these types of stores, I tend to think of a budget, like $50, and then bargain with them for what I can get for $50. Fake or not, it makes me feel less guilty compared with pushing someone down to $5 for a stone carving. Your money going into the local economy is the best thing we can do for three lovely people.
Everyone on the day we went here was wonderful and friendly.
Amazing experience. We took a border taxi from San Ignacio and walked in from the ferry. Doable, but uphill. There are guides at the ferry that will also take you in and give you a guided tour for about $40 USD. I recommend that to save your energy in the heat for the pyramids. They allow you to climb to the top. There are also several bird species, monkeys, and other wildlife.
Xunantunich is one of the best in Belize! It has got such a great view for you to experience and also there are many different ways to enter the site. One in particular is through horseback, which was a fun experience in San Ignacio! Loved it so much!
Great tour and views of the area from up top. Just be mindful that cruise tour groups come periodically, so be sure to either rush ahead of them or check out another area as they are going through. They don't spend much time.
Amazing site! Beautiful ruins with all sorts of cool wildlife. Iguanas just chilling at the top of the complex and bats in the belfry. Spider Monkeys all over the place. Worth the visit and very easy to get to. You have to take a hand cranked ferry across the river but it doesn't take long at all.
Booked a tour to this site through our resort. Servin our guide was awesome. Very knowledgeable about the history. The climb 134 ft was crazy and some of the steps were very steep, but the views from the very top was beautiful. You can even see the border of belize and Guatemala. Lots of walking but plenty of shaded areas. I would go early to avoid the crowds. When we left there were crowds of tours arriving and seemed a bit chaotic.
Beautiful. We hiked on our own (no tour) and we had a blast! We saw a spider monkey and lots of birds among the ruins. It is truly spectacular.
Xunantunich was the second archaeological site we visitited this trip to Belize and it didn't disappoint. The structures were incredible to see. You do have a relatively small hike up to the site but it's not really anything compared to the hiking up the structures themselves. Make sure you bring a hat, some bug spray, and water.
Great site, Go very early. You will want to climb and explore a lot, and the heat and humidity will be a limiting factor as the day progresses. The little ferry crossing is charming.
One of the most amazing sites I've visited. This park is well kept and completely accessible! That is, if you're a healthy mobile person. It's a hike traveling up and down all the different ruins here. The views are amazing and you will not be disappointed!
A great well maintained site and a definite must see for the view. History and natural beauty all rolled into one location. Highly recommended.
Wow. What a sight to see. Although you can see the ruins on your own I 100% recommend going with a guide, the history and knowledge they have to share makes the ruins that much more breathtaking. Also, first thing in the morning!! I went middle of the day, and I'm positive I sweat more than I have my entire life 😆 bring lots of sunscreen, cold water, and enjoy history at it's finest!
What a wonderful historical lesson. Thanks to our guide Selvin from Sweet Songs Jungle resort for making this an amazing adventure. Loved the historical context, the beautiful views and just the tranquility of being in these ruins.
This is a fairly quiet Mayan site, a steady trickle of people compared to the floods at some of the better known places, but more enjoyable as a result. It is more extensive than it initially looks, and really needs a couple of hours to explore properly, especially if you enjoy wildlife and the spider monkeys are playing close to the ground. The main pyramid is particularly impressive and you can climb right to the top for spectacular views, although the staircases are quite exposed. There isn’t a lot of shade in parts of the site, so a hat is a good idea, as is a guide if you are not part of an organised tour as there are not many information boards. There is also a small but interesting museum, best visited at the end when you have a feel for the ruins.
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