Caracol

About Caracol

Belize's largest Maya site, Caracol was once home to over 140,000 people. The site's Sky Palace pyramid is still the tallest man-made structure in Belize, rising above the jungle canopy.

Highlights

• Caana (Sky Palace) - tallest structure in Belize at 43 meters
• Extensive plaza system covering 200 square kilometers
• Astronomical observatory demonstrating advanced knowledge
• Victory over Tikal recorded in stelae
• Rich jungle setting with diverse wildlife

Temples & Causeways

Caana (Sky Palace)

At 43 metres, Caana is not merely a pyramid but a vast acropolis comprising three interconnected summit temples, multiple royal palaces, and numerous burial chambers spread across a complex that from a distance resembles a low hill. Excavations have revealed at least two royal tombs within its mass, reflecting centuries of high-status occupation at its summit — and it remains the tallest man-made structure in Belize to this day.

Ball Court & Victory Marker

Caracol's main ball court contains a carved stone marker recording the city's decisive military victory over Tikal in 562 AD — one of the most significant events in Classic Maya political history. The defeat of Tikal, then the dominant power in the southern lowlands, opened a century of Caracol's regional supremacy and was commemorated in public monuments for generations.

Causeway Network

Caracol was connected internally and to its hinterland by at least 35 kilometres of raised stone causeways (sacbes). These elevated roads linked outlying residential groups to the central plazas, enabled the movement of goods and people through dense forest, and defined the territorial boundaries of the urban area. The scale of the network reflects a population that at its peak may have exceeded 140,000.