Experience the history and culture of the ancient maya with a shore excursion that explores the altun ha. Explore altun ha mayan ruins on your belize vacation. Jose tours belize is a family run business that provides visitors with new adventures, unforgettable experiences, and quality services in belize. It formed part of a unique cultural zone along with other coastal sites and was also a center of mayan religious activity. While close to belize city, the road to altun ha includes a 10mile drive on a gravel and dirt road that is full of potholes. In belize city, altun ha is the most visited sight, this is one of the reasons that our family decided to visit, and reserve an excursion in belize city.
If youre interested in visiting altun ha, book your tour with belize boutique. As the archaeological record proves, belize was near the center of ancient mayan civilization. Altun ha, erected during the classic period 200 ad, is the only maya ruin located in the belize district. Altun ha mayan ruins the pride of belizes maya history. Walk up the ancient stepsthis site dates back to 400 adand explore the fascinating history and culture of the maya as well as their enigmatic decline. We had been to the ruins in tulum in mexico so assumed that it would be a similar experience. Belize shore excursions belize shore excursions belize. It is the location of one of the greatest finds in the mayan world. We were picked up at the ocean ferry by our guide, luis. Altun ha is synonymous with belize and connects the country to its majestic past, so much so that the symbol of altun ha, its largest and most popular temple, the temple of the masonry altars, has made its way onto the face of the national currency, and on to the bottles of the countrys leading beer, belikin. Altun ha maya site and belize zoo combo tour expedia.
Altun ha was a major ceremonial center in the classic period 250900 a. Altun ha a guidebook to the ancient maya ruins david m pendergast on. Altun ha mayan ruins all you need to know before you go. Altun ha maya ruins discover belize with belize exotic. Book gave a general overview of the mayan civilization.
Altun ha mayan ruins belize belize cruise excursions. Belize has its fair share on maya temples and historical locations of the. Altun hun mayan ruins with optional cave tubing lucky. Explore the wonders of altun ha, the most excavated mayan site in belize. This mayan sight of altun ha is one of the nearest mayan tour to belize city. Thirty miles north of belize city, hidden in an ancient jungle, lies altun ha. When our daughter and her husband visited for a week, we booked an inland tour including zip line, cave tubing and altun ha ruins tour with belize tours marketplace. Altun ha the pride of belizes maya history my beautiful belize. Altun ha mayan ruins is not very far from the caribbean sea. Lined with quiet stone structures that cast light on the story of its former inhabitants, altun ha today holds the mystique of an. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there, climbing the taller ruins and learning about the mayan culture. Private altun ha and belize city tour from usd 100. According to altun ha website, altun ha is the most visited mayan sight in the country of belize. Learn about the mayans mysterywreathed history and advanced culture as you explore the ruins of this onetime ceremonial site and trading center.
The excitement begins as your guide picks you up at the port and takes you to the famous altun ha mayan ruins, an extensive ancient mayan city that was an important trading post. Altun ha is the name given to the ruins of an ancient mayan city in belize, located in the belize district about 50 kilometres 31 mi north of belize city and about 10 kilometres 6. Explore belizes vibrant culture and fascinating history with a 5hour private tour of altun ha and belize city. As a bonus, youll also get a historical tour of belize city. Altun ha belize shore excursion atlun ha maya ruins shore excursion from belize city cruise port for guest stopping in belize for a day on a cruise. Along the way your guide will share interesting facts about belizean history and culture, and point out the areas ecosystem.
That means the belize ruins are nearly 3,000 years old. The true and surprising history and mystery of the mayan calendar, ruins. Located just a short drive from belize city, altun ha is one of the most popular ancient mayan sites to explore for visitors. Altun ha, the pride of belizes maya history belize was once the heartland of the. The area around the altun ha is rich in wildlife including armadillos, bats, squirrels, agouti, paca, foxes, raccoons, coati, tapir and the whitetailed deer. Altun ha is synonymous with belize and connects the country to its.
Spanning 25 square miles, altun ha is made up of two central plazas surrounded by towering temples that enclose the palm strewn land. Discover the mysteries and rituals of the mayan civilization during a guided tour of altun ha, the ruins of a ceremonial and trading site. Altun ha, baboon sanctuary, cave tubing by airplane. The altun ha mayan ruins are a mustdo day trip from. Feel the everpresent maya spirit at altun ha mayan ruins, one of the most famous ruins, founded around 600bc. As a result, this is a place that should be on your list if visiting belize city by cruise ship. Like many ancient ruin sites, the maya city of altun ha is filled with. Altun ha maya ruins and belize cave tubing from belize. This tour provides an experienced guide as well as an ac tour van to provide safe and comfortable transportation as you enjoy your trip. Altun ha national institute of culture and history. Altun ha maya ruins in belize book tour of altun ha maya site in. Our tour will then lead us to the northern section of our country as we head in the country side and view the older villages which were once mahogany settlements. Altun ha is located 31 miles north of belize city on the old northern highway. The included tour started by going ashore by tender, then a drive through the city that pointed out colonialera buildings, and then a longer ride to the ruins of altun ha.
Eventually, the ancient discovery included structures that surround two plazas and a 60foot temple of the sun god, which marked the epicenter of a very important. I recommend going on your own, without a tour group, and find a local tour guide to take you privately throughout the ruins. The ruins cover six different sites, labeled a to f, but generally you visit only a and b. Plaza a the archaeological site of altun ha was discovered in the 1950s. The remains of a codex, an ancient book made on bark paper, were also found. While smaller and less imposing than some other maya sites in the country, altun ha, with its immaculate central plaza, is still spectacular and well worth the short detour to get here. As we start on our journey today you will become acquainted with belizes history as we travel along the principal streets of this nation. Altun ha tour belize altun ha tour altun ha, rockstone water, was a small but wealthy ceremonial center during the classic maya period. Altun ha mayan ruins and baboon sanctuary belize city. Most guides do a great job entertaining along the way, and many also offer stops on the way there, back, or both. Artifacts of the 2000yearold ruins were uncovered in the area by workers searching for stone to use in building the old northern highway. With its 8 large temples and palaces, the main attraction is the 54foot tall temple of the masonry altars. Just two miles down a dirt track from the northern highway, altun ha is home to a rich panoply of native wildlife, including foxes, birds, armadillos, crocodiles and deer. After exploring the ruins, you have the opportunity to purchase locally made handicrafts and art from the vendors located near the site entrance.
Altun ha maya ruins in belize book tour of altun ha maya. Archaeological investigations reveal that the location was occupied, at least, since 200 b. Altun ha and river wallace belize shore excursions. Altun ha rock stone pond 2020 all you need to know. It is the home of the famous jade head, the largest jade sculpture ever found. Maya painted book buried with him, but many riches were intact.
The altun ha mayan ruins are about an hour from the cruise port, so expect a ride. Special belize cave tubing with lunch number one tour in belize. Only in the limelight since 1963, this western caribbean secret showcases ruins of. Exploring the ancient maya city of altun ha belize. Altun ha maya ruins is one of the most popular maya sites to visit in belize. Learn more tree top canopy zipline 7 platforms, 6 lines, the longest crossing the river. Altun ha is a small trading center that was are very important to the mayas.
Altun ha mayan ruins caribbean caye, belize anywhere. Embark on a scenic drive to altunha, the 60 minute drive is a guided tour about the culture, flora and fauna of belize as you pass through a few of the rural villages. According to tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience altun ha. Where the rich and famous once lived altun hamayan for rockstone pondis situated amid one of the richest wildlife areas in belize, so if youre eager to spot critters in addition to spectacular ruins, come for the bats, foxes, whitetail deer, tapir, armadillos and ancient buildings. A twomile dirt road connects the main road to the site. There are over 500 buildings or mounds within the site.
Altun ha features two large central plazas surrounded by midsized pyramids. Touring and exploring the altun ha mayan ruins in belize. Experience the history and culture of the ancient maya with a shore excursion that explores the altun ha water of the rock mayan ruins. Altun hais the name given ruins of an ancient maya city in belize, located in the belize district about 50 kilometer 30 miles north of belize city. Follow your guide through the ancient maya citys towering pyramids as you learn the story behind this important site, and see the precious jade artifacts excavated from royal tombs. Altun ha is a city of over 500 mounds with approximately 15 has been excavated. Arrive at altun hathis ancient name is mayan for rockstone waterand discover vestiges of the ancient mayan civilization, estimated to date back to 400 a. Altun ha altun ha mayan ruins is not very far from the caribbean sea.
Altun ha temple has recently in 20142015 gone through some major upgrades including now a wheelchair accessible restroom, a visitor center amongst other. The altun ha mayan ruins are a beautiful example of the mayan architectural accomplishments from well over 2000 years ago in belize. Only in the limelight since 1963, this western caribbean secret showcases ruins of the iconic structures of the maya, who are thought to have occupied the city from 900 bce to ce. Combine adventure with a history lesson of the ancient mayan culture when you take this exciting tour and river cruise of altun ha and the belize river. Learn more maya history shore excursion altun ha amazing tour to the ancient city only 1 hours driver from the port. The site existed from around bc and the maya were still constructing buildings up to ad 900. Although the history is filled with conflicting dates, the mayan people have been documented to establish altun ha as early as 900 b. Book your tickets online for altun ha, rock stone pond. Altun ha is one of the most famous mayan centers founded around 900 bc, perhaps a few centuries earlier. Only a fraction of altun ha has been excavated and relatively little is known about the city, which once covered 25 square miles and had an estimated population of 10,000 people. Altun ha is a mayan site located in the tropical country of belize, in central america. Book your san pedro altun ha travel deeper north for forty five minutes towards one of the finest and majestic ruins known as altun ha water of the rock. Book a tour of this maya site with black orchid resort.
Altun ha is a modern name in the maya language, coined by translating the name of the nearby village of rockstone pond. He knows so much about the history of belize and current information. Altun ha, the maya ruins that have inspired belikin beer labels and belizean banknotes, stands 31 miles north of belize city, off the old northern hwy. Altun ha, the maya ruins that have inspired belikin beer labels and belizean.
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