Exploring Xunantunich - Cayo District, Belize
Xunantunich was once a great seat of Maya power in Belize. Today, it is one of the country's most accessible ruins, only a short distance from San Ignacio.


Xunantunich Adventure
In this video we had breakfast at Bambu Tea & Coffee Santa Elena branch. If you are looking for a cute place that has a chill vibe, this is definitely the spot. They have delicious drinks and baked goodies. The ambiance is amazing and they have very cute decor for a lil photo session.

We then went to Branch Mouth wooden cable bridge. It connects the village to the towns over the Mopan River. It is a unique spot because here two rivers meet, to form another main river. We have the Mopan River and the Macal River coming together to form the Belize River. It is a nice spot to swim (if you're a good swimmer). Fun Fact: In the recent flooding that took place last year, the bridge was torn down by the high rising of the river along with the force of the flood waters.

After we left Branch Mouth Bridge, we drove further west (couples miles from the Guatemalan Border and about 70 miles from Belize City) to visit the Mayan Archeological Site, Xunantunich, which means Stone Lady. Pronounced in various ways, Xunantunich in the Mayan language means "Sculpture of Lady" or "Stone Lady" from the Mopan term "Xunan" (noble lady) and Yucatec term "Tuunich" (sculpturing stone). Xunantunich is often referred to as the "Stone Woman" however as reports of a ghostly woman in white with fiery red eyes have been reported at the site for more than 100 years. It is the oldest continuously excavated Maya site in the country. It is known as "El Castillo" (The Castle), it is covered in elaborately carved friezes, and remains the second-tallest tallest man-made structures in Belize.

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Xunantunich Mayan Ruin Adventure
My favorite Mayan ruin has always been Xunantunich, and I am so grateful I was able to visit the "Stone Lady" on my last trip. Belize is rich in history, has a diverse population with a mix of cultures, and traditions kind of like a really amazing stew. I take pride to have been exposed to this knowledge and way of life at a very young age. Not to many people can say they went to a Mayan temple to explore and see what was once a functional city, and village where thousands once inhabited.

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Xunantunich Mayan Ruins San Ignacio
Quick tours on the ferry crossing to the shopping outside the park entrance, enjoy