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The Cayo District incorporates the beautiful forests of western Belize, centered around the town of San Ignacio, near to the border with Guatemala.

The landscape ranges from subtropical to mountain forest, teeming with tropical birds, tumbling waterfalls and winding rivers.

Cave systems

Most people are attracted to the place to visit the exquisite cave systems such as the Barton Creek and Rio Frio caves, or to explore the impressive Maya ruins of Xunantunich and Caracol.

Experience subtropical forest

If you are a fan of the outdoors, love to canoe, horse ride, birdwatch, hike or swim under waterfalls this is a fabulous place to spend a few days and a great way to experience the subtropical forest.

There are easily accessible and lovely jungle lodges that make relaxing homes, offering you a wide selection of tours with excellent guides to investigate the region’s many places of interest.

Caracol

Relief work on the Caracol ruinsCaracol is the largest Mayan archaeological site in Belize. In 650 AD, the urban area of Caracol had a radius of approximately 10 kilometers around the site's epicenter. It covered an area much larger than present day Belize City 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 (250-950 AD), but also for its prowess in war; this includes an 562 AD defeat of Tikal (Guatemala) and a subsequent conquest of Naranjo (Guatemala) in 631 AD.

Sights include an astronomic observatory, five plazas and over 35,000 buildings. The loftiest among them is a massive pyramid capped by three temples that rises over 50 meters above the jungle floor.

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Start planning your tailor-made trip to Cayo District & Caracol by contacting one of our Belize specialists

Suggested itineraries featuring Cayo District & Caracol

Our itineraries will give you suggestions for what is possible when you travel in Cayo District & Caracol, and they showcase routes we know work particularly well. Treat them as inspiration, because your trip will be created uniquely by one of our specialists.

Map of Cayo District & Caracol

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    Places near Cayo District & Caracol

    Our expert guides to exploring Cayo District & Caracol

    Written by our specialists from their own experiences of visiting Cayo District & Caracol, these guides will help you make the most of your time there. We share both our practical recommendations and the best ways to appreciate Cayo District & Caracol at its best.

    • Belize honeymoons: ideas for exploring the rainforest, ruins and reef
      Ambergris Caye, Belize

      Belize honeymoons: ideas for exploring the rainforest, ruins and reef

      Belize honeymoons: ideas for exploring the rainforest, ruins and reef

      Travel specialist Leticia shares her ideas for the best places to honeymoon in Belize, Central America’s only English-speaking country. She suggests focusing on exploring the rainforest, Maya ruins and the barrier reef, before relaxing on the beaches of Ambergris Caye.

      9 min read

      Read this guide

    Accommodation choices for Cayo District & Caracol

    We've selected a range of accommodation options for when you visit Cayo District & Caracol. Our choices usually come recommended for their character, facilities and service or location. Our specialists always aim to suggest properties that match your preferences.