San Ignacio: Xunantunich Mayan Ruins
Just a short drive outside San Ignacio, the Xunantunich Ruins are nestled on a hillside above the Mopan River. A small manual ferry will shuttle both vehicles and pedestrians across the river to enter the ruins. There’s a short hike or drive up a hill to the parking lot and main entrance.
Once inside, enjoy the grandeur of these ancient ruins. Xunantunich is well kept and guides are plentiful if you so desire. For the most part you are allowed to climb the stairways, temples and enter buildings. Restored stucco carvings adorn a section on the upper terrace of the main temple, El Castillo. From the top of El Castillo we could see into Guatemala while listening to Howler Monkeys in the distance. A few spider monkeys swung thru the canopy, entertaining all who had made the climb. There are no railings to guide you up stairways or along the platform atop El Castillo, making more than a few visitors leery. A few ladies would not budge from the towers adorning the top to peer over the edge. I can sympathize, I’ve felt the terror of being paralyzed in fear due to a drop off. Part of the reason I went sky diving once. To overcome that fear. Turns out I’m actually afraid of falling off more than the height. Who knew?
We enjoyed strolling through the grounds for a few hours while exploring nearly every nook and cranny there is to see. The park is broken into four sections. Above is section A. We went thru three of the four, the rest are no where near fully excavated and restored. Section B gives a glimpse into how the ruins are brought back to life out of the engulfing jungle as restoration is in process. You’ll have to bring your imagination as Section C looked like a bunch of jungly lumps but made for and entertaining romp thru the forest. These ruins are not large but offer a good glimpse into the past and are conveniently located off a main road.
If you’re more adventurous the Caracol ruins are inconveniently located down a long dirt road in the middle of no where. The road is questionable, especially if it has rained. I believe the country is building a highway for easier access. We considered a visit but alas, the conditions were terrible and roads were flooded out all over the place. Better to not get stuck and we already had reservations to visit Tikal in Guatemala.
Good Spot For A Sandwich 
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