Cayo Scoop! The Ecology of Cayo Culture

Caracol got another great write-up, and they described it quite well, along with the fact that not that many people get to see it due to it being remote.  Worth a read.

'One of the largest Maya cities, Caracol, is rarely visited and is lost far in the jungle off the beaten path in Belize.

Caracol may not be a household name, unlike Tikal and Chichen Itza, but it is one of the large Maya archeological sites. It is located around 25 miles south of the Maya site of Xunantunich on the Vaca Plateau, about 1,600 feet above sea level. It was one of the most important Maya centers in the Maya Lowlands during the Classic Period.

Caracol was rediscovered in 1937 by a native logger called Rosa Mai. At the time, Belize (then called British Honduras) was a part of the British Empire. It was visited the next year by A. H. Anderson - an archeological commissioner.'

Mojo Travels has a top 10 list for reasons to visit Belize.  Many of Cayo's caves are mentioned.  Cockscomb Basin is mentioned in regards to wildlife.  Caracol and Xunantunich are on there, in the number 1 spot.  

https://www.instagram.com/p/CM8h0PIFt_9

Nice article about what to do when visiting Belize for the first time.  Caving, Maya archaeological sites, and visiting the reef are the 3 focused on.  The Old House Hostel gets a great shout out for Cayo, along with the Soul Project.  Xunantunich, Caracol, and Actun Tunichil Muknal are highly recommended.

"No matter what level of adventure (and even history) you’re looking for, there are plenty of options to embrace the Belizean cave system in a truly epic way or in a slow, relaxing way, or both! It’s up to you.

Video of the day.  Well done, and it has Joe Martinez from Martz Farm start it off with a nice little poem.  Cayo is highlighted, from the market to the pontoon boat to Cahal Pech to Xunantunich to Caracol and Mountain Pine Ridge. 

Belize is ranked 3rd in Stride Magazine's Top 7 Adventure Tour Destinations for 2017.  Cayo's Xunantunich and Caracol are mentioned.

"Belize has been a ‘go to’ destination for years among American retirees looking to settle down in a friendly and warm country close to home.  But you don’t need to wait for retirement to take advantage of Belize’s world-class snorkeling and scuba diving.  A guided tour will ensure you gain access to the top snorkeling and diving spots like the Lighthouse Reef atoll, home to the famous Blue Hole.  A tour guide will also provide local insights and historical context when visiting places like the Mayan ruins at Xunantunich and Caracol."

5 Belize Maya Archaeological Sites made Trip Advisor Travelers' Choice Awards for 2016, and 3 of those are in Cayo.  Caracol, the most impressive Maya site around, was ranked 4th place, Xunantunich was ranked 7th, and Cahal Pech took 14th.  Might be why Cayo was ranked as 7th for places to visit in Central America. 

Lamanai came in 8th, and Altun Ha was ranked 20th. 

The Maya Mountain Adventure Club is doing Caracol tomorrow, Xunantunich and Cahal Pech on Sunday, and Tikal on Monday.  If you love ruins, now's the time to check them out.  Belizeans get 50% off tours, and students get 75% off.  Link goes to a short video of Mr. Cruz guiding a tour in Caracol.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=224165641089983

"MAYA MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE CLUB TOUR UPDATES!  OFFERING BELIZE RESIDENCE 50% OFF AND STUDENTS 75% OFF TOURS - BOOK YOUR ADVENTURE TODAY!!"

Great travel article about Belize, and it's spot on covering mostly Cayo. From Xunantunich to Caracol to the San Antonio Women's Cooperative. Worth a read.

'A short drive from the co-operative is the Xunantunich archaeological site, which I access by hand-cranked ferry over the Mopan River. There’s a hardly another soul around as I climb the central pyramid, El Castillo’s gargantuan steps up to its giddy heights. At 40 metres, it is one of the tallest structures in Belize (the tallest pyramid at the Caracol Mayan complex, around 25 miles south, tops out at around 43 metres) and from the top I can see over the border into Guatemala in one direction and miles of trees in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve to the east.'

Video of the day.  Some nice video from all around Cayo, including Xunantunich, Caracol, Cahal Pech, and Mountain Pine Ridge.  

"In this video, I will be taking you to San Ignacio Belize and showing you all the things to do in San Ignacio. Belize is a country with many things to offer, wonderful places, good food and so much more to explore. San Ignacio Belize is one of those wonderful places and has so much to offer. Let's explore all the things to do in San Ignacio Belize together and don't forget to subscribe for more."

Cayo's primary Maya Archaeological sites have been reopened.  Caracol, Xunantunich, Cahal Pech, and El Pilar are open for hiking, exploring, and learning.  Have fun!

"The following sites are open for visitation effective immediately: Santa Rita, Cerro Maya, Lamanai, Altun Ha, Cahal Pech, Caracol, El Pilar, Xunantunich, Serpon, Nim Li Punit, Lubaantun.

We look forward to welcoming visitors to the sites. Please practice social distancing and proper hygiene."

Caracol, Xunantunich, and Actun Tunichil Muknal are all highlighted in Green Globe Travel's list of amazing Maya Archaeological Sites(not ruins please).  They have an interesting take on the translation of Xunantunich...  There's some good history information in the article.

"Built some 1300 years ago, Xunantunich (whose name means 'Sculpture of Lady' in the Maya language) was the ceremonial center in the Belize Valley.

The site is located along the Mopan River, near the border with Guatemala. Its central feature is Belize’s second tallest structure (at 130 feet), which is rather generically referred to as 'El Castillo.'

Though archaeological evidence indicates the area was populated as early as 1000 BC, it didn’t blossom until it was connected with nearby Naranjo in the late seventh century. The site consists of over a dozen palaces and temples, half a dozen plazas, ball courts, and much more that still has yet to be unearthed.

One of the highlights of Xunantunich is that visitors are allowed to climb to the top of El Castillo. The stunning scenic view from the top includes the surrounding ruins, then stretches out over miles and miles of jungle. Another nice part of this site is that it doesn’t have the overwhelming crowds that mass tourism attractions like Chicken Itza get."

Interesting read about Xunantunich and Caracol. 

"The summer of 2016 produced discoveries of tremendous importance for understanding the political history of the Classic Maya lowlands.  While excavating Structure A9 at Xunantunich, Belize, Jaime Awe and his team unearthed two inscribed monuments of rare significance, their contents revealed in detailed textual analyses by Christophe Helmke (Helmke and Awe 2016a, 2016b).  These inscriptions support and elaborate some existing proposals, while supplying entirely new twists to the story.  What follows are a few thoughts inspired by these finds."

NICH unveiled the panel this week at Xunantunich.

"The panel may have been originally at Caracol. Archaeologist are telling us that the glyphs mention the death of Lady Batz Ek, who is the Mother of Lord Kan II and this panel was very likely commissioned by him. It is believed that the panel was cut into several pieces and given away by Naranjo to its subordinate sites as gifts of that conquest. This included Xunantunich, which has forever shown alliance with Naranjo. Much more was found in front of the A9 structure. The panel was backfilled immediately, after everyone had viewed it, but plans are to make a replica that will be placed in the original location, and the original panel will be moved into the Visitor Center."