Cayo District, Belize: Canoe Adventure: Market, Xunantunich & Cahal Pech. Join our expert guide as we begin exploring the ancient Cahal Pech site, a palatial home once occupied by an elite Mayan family. This remarkable location is one of the oldest recognizable Maya sites in western Belize. It was abandoned in the 9th century AD for reasons still unknown.
The name Cahal Pech, meaning “place of ticks,” was given in the 1950s when the area was used as a cattle pasture. Today, Cahal Pech is an archaeological park featuring a small museum showcasing artifacts from ongoing excavations.
After this captivating visit, continue your journey to the Xunantunich Maya ruin, pronounced “shoo-NAHN-too-nich.” Located about 130 km (80 miles) west of Belize City, atop a ridge overlooking the Mopan River, Xunantunich means “Stone Woman” in the Mayan language. Legend speaks of a ghostly “Stone Woman” said to haunt the site. She is described as a figure dressed in white with glowing red eyes, often seen near El Castillo. Witnesses claim she ascends the stone stairs and mysteriously disappears into a stone wall.
This two in one adventure promises to make your vacation truly unforgettable.
