Belize
Xunantunich & Cahal Pech, San Ignacio
Cross the Mopan River on a hand-cranked ferry to climb toward El Castillo at Xunantunich, then visit Cahal Pech above San Ignacio.
Xunantunich, the "Stone Lady", stands on a limestone ridge across the Mopan River from San Jose Succotz. You reach it on a hand-cranked ferry. Its great pyramid, El Castillo, rises 130 feet and carries stucco friezes, and on a clear day the view reaches into Guatemala.
Cahal Pech, the "Place of Ticks", looks over San Ignacio. It was first settled around 1200–1000 BC, making it one of the oldest settlements in the Maya lowlands. It has two ballcourts, elite courtyards and a small visitor centre with finds from the excavations.
Pickup at your hotel in San Ignacio or Belize City.
Photos: Denis Barthel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Denis Barthel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Duration
- About 8 hours
- Guide language
- English · Spanish
- Pickup
- At your hotel in Belize (other areas on request)
What's included
- Private transport with hotel pickup
- Guide
Not included
- Entrance fees, meals, equipment and boat: to be confirmed when we reply to your request
Sample itinerary
- 1Pickup at your hotel
- 2Hand-cranked ferry across the Mopan River
- 3Guided visit of Xunantunich and El Castillo
- 4Guided visit of Cahal Pech
- 5Return to your hotel
Good to know
When are the sites open?
NICH lists Xunantunich as open daily 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Cahal Pech opens daily 6:00 am to 6:00 pm from April to October and 6:30 am to 5:00 pm from October to April, with last entry one hour before closing (checked September 2026).
Can we drive up to Xunantunich?
No. NICH says vehicles stay at the ferry; you cross the river on the ferry and continue to the site from the other side.
