Xunantunich Mayan Ruin from Belize City

A must-visit, even when on the shortest stays in our beautiful country. Xunantunich is a national treasure that fills its visitors with a sense of time travel. It is only an hour and a half drive from the city in air-conditioned comfort along the Western Highway. You'll know you're arriving when you spot the little falls of the Mopan River winding alongside the road through the village of San Jose Succotz. You're hit with how green and lush everything is. Some visitors will get to see a group of women doing laundry in the river while their children swim nearby.

Local souvenirs, hammocks, and blankets are available from the many vendors waiting alongside the River where you board the hand-cranked ferry that has carried many thousands to and from the calm beauty of this Maya Temple. The climb/drive up to Xunantunich begins on the other bank of the river.

Xunantunich is very well kept and offers many opportunities for amazing selfies and group photos. The views from atop the castle are stupendous and go on for miles. Its wide-open spaces have provided a lovely backdrop for proposals and weddings, and have served as a location for a few films and telenovelas. The temples are nestled in between lush rainforests whose trees may bloom vibrant red, yellow, orange, or pink in season. Bring along a hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, along an open heart to experience simplicity and visiting another world for a few hours.