Xunantunich

Things to do · Cayo District, Belize

This hilltop Maya city near the Guatemalan border is reached by a charming hand-cranked cable ferry across the Mopan River. Its centrepiece, El Castillo, is one of the tallest ancient structures in Belize, and visitors can still climb it for sweeping views over the Cayo countryside, with restored friezes partway up. The site has a visitor centre and is an easy half-day trip from San Ignacio.