In a world preoccupied with selfies, I took a moment and drew these ruins.

On the way to Caracol. Some muddy sections ahead.

Because we were the only tourists, the police drove us to the temple and back to headquarters.

Panorama of beautiful Maya site of Caracol.

Close-up: the palace rooms are disappointingly small.

A lot of structures are still partially or totally covered by forest...

The remains of an astronomical observatory, Caracol.

Rahel talks about our journey with the soldier guarding the area...

Example of Mayan sculpture. Caracol museum.

Excellent camping ground in the vicinity of Caracol.

And finally, we have reached Belize City.

Belize, first impressions

3 Ogos 2025, Belize ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

After the somewhat disappointing impression left by Guatemala, especially due to the lack of cleanliness in non-touristy areas and the pricing policies in the tourist areas, where the Westerner is seen as a two-legged dollar, Belize welcomes us with green hills, clean, well-maintained streets and smiling people. Here you can feel a relaxed Caribbean atmosphere, in the only country in Latin America where English is officially spoken. It is interesting to note that the countries where we went without high expectations (for example, Nicaragua, El Salvador) delighted us and exceeded our expectations, while countries that are internationally recognized as excellent tourist destinations (Peru, Guatemala) disappoint the experienced traveler, especially due to the lack of cleanliness and the way tourists are treated. It is very likely that those who come with organized groups and are herded like sheep from one "attraction" to another and from one "add-on sale" to another, do not even notice these aspects.

After entering Belize, an incredibly green country during the rainy season, we visited the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich, as well as those of Caracol. The ruins of Belize, especially those of Caracol, seemed to me, due to the complete lack of groups of visitors, even more atmospheric than those of the well-known Tikal. At Caracol, while contemplating the great Mayan palaces, temples and astronomical observatories, all reduced to mountains of stones covered by a dense jungle and partially restored by archaeologists, you have the feeling of being a kind of Indiana Jones. The silence is disturbed only by the breath of the wind or the noise of the creatures that found shelter in the ruins.Baca lagi

Lihat terjemahan

Florin Paun Xunantunich is an ancient Maya archaeological site in western Belize, approximately 110 km west of Belize City. Xunantunich is located on a ridge above the Mopan River, overlooking the Guatemalan border. The complex of Maya buildings served as a ceremonial center in the Belize Valley region during the Late and Terminal Classic periods (c. 700–900 AD). At the time, when the region was at its peak, nearly 200,000 people lived in the Belize Valley. The name Xunantunich means "Virgin of the Rock" in the Mopan and Yucatec Maya languages, combining "Xunaan" (noble lady) and "Tuunich" (stone for carving). As with many situations where memories of the past cannot be adequately explained, many legends have arisen, for example: "The Woman of the Rock" refers to the ghost of a woman who several people have claimed to inhabit the site since 1892. She is said to be dressed entirely in white, with glowing red eyes. According to legend, she generally appears in front of "El Castillo", climbs the stone steps, and disappears into a stone wall. Like many names given to Mayan archaeological sites, "Xunantunich" is a modern name; the ancient name is unknown.

4/08/25BalasTerjemah

Florin Paun Caracol is a large ancient Maya archaeological site located approximately 40 kilometers south of Xunantunich. It is located on the Vaca Plateau, at an elevation of 500 m above sea level, at the foot of the Maya Mountains. The site was one of the most important regional political centers in the Maya lowlands during the Classic period. Caracol covered approximately 200 square kilometers, covering an area much larger than present-day Belize City, the largest metropolitan area in the country. Caracol is a modern name from Spanish, but the ancient Maya name for the Caracol archaeological site was Uxwitza, meaning "Hill of Three Waters". This photo was taken from the top of Caana ("palace of the sky"). This structure is the largest building in Caracol and is the tallest man-made structure in Belize (43 m; yes, there are no tall buildings in Belize!).

4/08/25BalasTerjemah

Florin Paun The hut without walls that you see in the picture is called a “palapa” (Spanish word). Each campsite has a palapa, and the distance between them is at least 20 meters. An extremely useful accessory, it protects you from the sun, but also from the rain. When it rains you can eat outside in peace or even hang your laundry to dry. When I think about the overcrowding in some European campsites, I can only laugh.

5/08/25BalasTerjemah

8 lagi komen

11 suka