Caracol
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Caracol
Caracol

Caracol

Free admission
65 km south of San Ignacio

The Basics

Occupied as early as 1200 BC, Caracol holds ancient treasures, including dozens of hieroglyphic texts that were carved into altars, walls, and facades. Located in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve and surrounded by wildlife, Caracol provides great examples of Maya architecture. The Caana pyramid, or "Sky Palace, is the largest in the complex, rising 140 feet (420 meters) above ground. All-day tours leave from San Ignacio, which is about 2.5 hours’ drive.

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Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch
Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch
USD125.00 per adult
Traveller Favourite
Great experience
Great experience. Caracol was my favourite even after visiting Tikal and yaxha in Guatemala. Guide and driver were lovely and all stops were lovely
staceyr, May 2023

Recent reviews from experiences in Belize City

Breathtaking!!
star-5
Breathtaking!!
Manon_B, Apr. 2023
Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch
Caracol was worth the drive! The vegetation along the way was breath taking and the ruins were nothing like I've seen before. Damian was super friendly, delicious lunch.
A full day of pleasures
star-5
A full day of pleasures
Christopher_B, Mar. 2023
Caracol Day Trip & Mountain Pine Ridge from San Ignacio
Our knowledgeable guide/driver Bryton gave us a rewarding full day of experiences. A clamber into the Rio Frio cave on the trip out to Caracol was a sleeper highlight, Caracol is the most fascinating Mayan site you’ve never heard of, and a hike to a dip below Big Rock Falls was a refreshing, uncrowned dessert.
Discovering the hidden places of Belize
star-5
Discovering the hidden places of Belize
helbartuskova, May 2023
Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch
A very interesting trip. Driver and guide in one, friendly, safe and knowledgeable about the region. On the way there was a tasty lunch and drinks and a nice stop for a swim. I can recommend the trip.
Once in a lifetime visit.
star-5
Once in a lifetime visit.
KYLE_A, Apr. 2023
Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch
Jason and Mike, our driver, made our Caracol experience awesome! Mike was a phenomenal driver and navigated the bumpy roads to leading to Caracol with ease. Jason was incredibly knowledgeable of Caracol and Mayan culture. They both the made our tour excellent, highly recommend.
Fantastic tour of Caracol
star-5
Fantastic tour of Caracol
Gregory_Z, Feb. 2022
Small group Caracol Tour from San Ignacio
We had a lovely tour with Elio at Caracol. The ride to the park was long and bumpy as the road is under construction, but the benefit was that we had nearly the whole park to ourselves. The views and history are remarkable, the food was delicious, and elio is full of knowledge about Mayan and Belizean history and culture
So glad we booked a tour!
star-5
So glad we booked a tour!
Jessica_H, Dec. 2021
Caracol Maya Ruin Tour
So glad we chose to book a tour for this. Rudy was an amazing guide overflowing with information. He never rushed us and was very friendly and knowledgeable.
Well put together tour
star-5
Well put together tour
Youa_Y, Mar. 2023
Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch
The guide and driver were polite and knowledgeable. The tour is thoughtfully put together in that it breaks up the long drive to Caracol with a cave visit. The swim at the river was the perfect ending to a hot day.
Full Day with Caracol, Nature Walk, Pools on Rio, Rio Frio Cave, and Big Rock Falls
star-5
Full Day with Caracol, Nature Walk, Pools on Rio, Rio Frio Cave, and Big Rock Falls
Michael_G, Aug. 2021
Caracol Day Trip & Mountain Pine Ridge from San Ignacio
Good full day trip here. Included stops at the Rio Frio Cave, Pools on Rio with option to swim, Big Rocks Falls (waterfall), nature walk around Caracol, and plenty of time to explore Caracol. Journey to the site from San Ignacio is paved half the way with the last half along a dirt-clay road. Really enjoyed the trip, a mixture of sites that I would not have seen doing separate bookings. Guide was really fun and you could tell he enjoyed his work which made it more fun and interesting for the group.
Best guide and driver.
star-4
Best guide and driver.
Brigitte_B, Mar. 2023
Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch
Jason, our guide was most knowledgeable and informative. Our driver, Tate., negotiated the muddy roads expertly. We felt as if we were in very reliable hands.
Awesome Mayan ruins. Wildlife. Nature.
star-5
Awesome Mayan ruins. Wildlife. Nature.
Craig_S, Mar. 2023
Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch
It was fun to see howler monkey calls echoing through the Mayan plazas. Also a number of interesting birds were a bonus to the overall cool trip.
Carocal Maya Ruins
star-5
Carocal Maya Ruins
Eddie_H, Feb. 2023
Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch
Our guide Jason was excellent, very knowledgeable, friendly and courteous. He explained what we were going to do and see. We had an excellent day.
Well with the ride!
star-5
Well with the ride!
Kerry_B, Nov. 2022
Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave and a Picnic Lunch
Beautiful day for the tour. Saw a Jaguar crossing the road on the way back. Good experience all around.
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Things to Know Before You Go

  • Visitors need a military escort to access Caracol.

  • Wear comfortable walking shoes with good grip to explore the ruins.

  • Roads to Caracol may get muddy and can be tricky to traverse during the rainy season.

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How to Get There

From San Ignacio, head toward Chiquibul Road and follow it south; a 4WD vehicle is recommended for exploring Belize. The drive from San Ignacio is about 2.5 hours. Many tours offer round-trip transportation and include stops at other sights along the way.

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When to Get There

Because of its proximity to Guatemala, Caracol is only accessible with a military escort. Visitors meet at a military checkpoint outside the site at 9am and join a convoy traveling to the ruins. Once at the site, you can explore freely. Late November to mid-April is Belize’s dry season and arguably the best time to visit, whereas it’s rainy between June and November.

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Rio On Pools

Located in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, en route to Caracol from San Ignacio, the Rio On Pools are a popular tour stop on the way back from the archaeological site. This natural attraction features scenic waterfalls and fresh-water pools with granite rocks and ledges. Bring your swimsuit to get the most from this picturesque setting.

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Frequently Asked Questions
The answers provided below are based on answers previously given by the tour provider to customers’ questions.
Q:
What are the nearest attractions to Caracol?