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Caracol, Spanish for "snail", - the largest Maya archaeological site in Belize

Overview
Caracol is the largest Maya archaeological site in Belize. In AD 650, the urban area of Caracol had a radius of approximately 6.2 miles around the site's epicenter. It covered an area much larger than present day Belize City (the largest metropolitan area in Belize) and supported more than twice the modern city's population. Urban Caracol maintained a population of over 140,000 people through the creation of an immense agricultural field system and through elaborate city planning. Caracol is noted not only for its size during the Maya Classic era (A.D. 250-950), but also for its prowess in war; this includes an AD 562 defeat of Tikal (Guatemala) and a subsequent conquest of Naranjo (Guatemala) in AD 631.

Caracol covers 30-square miles of thick, high-canopy jungle, and includes five plazas, an astronomic observatory and over 35,000 buildings which have been identified. Caracol's largest structure, the 138-foot Caana (Sky Place), is the tallest building in either ancient or modern Belize.

Caracol's central core today consists of three plaza groups surrounding a central acropolis and two ball courts, along with a number of smaller structures.

Visitor Center exhibits a number of photographs and diagrams of the site, along with artifacts, including a recovered ceremonial altar.

History
Discovered in 1938 by loggers, excavations did not begin until 1950, with most of the work having taken place since 1985. Caracol can truly be described in superlatives: Largest archeological site in Belize - One of the largest in the Maya world - Tallest man-made structure in Belize (Caana) - Most structures, largest area, largest population, most hieroglyphics.

Caracol was linked together by more than 20 miles of roadways that radiated outward from its epicenter like the spokes of a wheel and it is estimated that 200,000 or more Maya lived in the area when this important City-State reached it's peak around 700 A.D.

Many hieroglyphic texts have been found on stelae, alters, ball-court-markers, capstones and wall facades. The discovery of an elaborately carved ball-court-marker dating back to the end of the early Classic Period has been interpreted as Caracol claiming a military victory over Tikal, located more then 60 miles away in Guatemala.

Evidence of Post-Classic occupation is lacking, thus presenting a similar situation to that found at other Classic sites in the region.

Situated within the Chiquibul Forest,
Caracol archeological site and the surrounding area are rich in tropical flora and fauna.

Fauna and Flora
The scenic drive to Caracol traverses through the Mountain Pine Ridge area. The road travels over a series of creeks, through lush tropical forest and pine forest, habitat for a variety of bird species. The highest canopy rainforest is home to several species of cats, as well as rare birds such as the Keel-Billed Mot Mot, Crested Guan, Great Curassow and the Ocellated Turkey. A wide variety of orchids, vines and trees are also found in the area.