Altun Ha Archaeological Site

Category
Attraction
Type of Attraction
Archaeological Site, Landmark
District/Region
Belize
Share

Description
Highlights
  • Ancient Maya City
  • Hiking
  • History
  • Wildlife

About Location
The Altun Ha archaeological site is one of Belize's most excavated and restored site. The name is roughly translated of a new the nearby Yucatec Maya village, "Rockstone Pond". As an ancient Maya city, it had a population of about ten thousand inhabitants in the sorrounding areas. Being the only Maya site located in the Belize District, it has become a popular attraction to locals and tourists
 
Whats Nearby
Nearby Places
Learn More
Tours & Shuttles
$
179
/ Adult
Departs From:
Belize City
“No’hoch Che’en” national park has one of the most relaxing cave experience in Belize. Here you will be fitted with a helmet, a headlight, life jacket, and appropriate flotation tube. ... moreWe take a 45 minute relaxing ride down the lazy river and under the jungle canopy. We make sure nobody stays in the underworld! It is a 30 – 45 minute hike to the entrance of the caves. Once we reach the entrance you will board your floating tubes and be navigated through the underworld by one of our experienced guides.

In the caves you will see eagles, turtles, mammoths, sharks, jelly fish, Indiana Jones and even Darth Vador. Once we exit the caves you will continue down the lazy river for another 15 minutes right back to the starting point of the tour. It will be one of the most peaceful and relaxing days of your life.

Departure time is 8:00 - 8:30 am
From Belize City

Things to wear:
comfortable walking shoes, water shoes, comfortable athletic clothes, bathing suite, sun block, bug spray.
$
75
/ Adult
Departs From:
Belize City
The Mayan site of Altun Ha is located just 30 miles north of Belize City. This small but impressive Maya ruin offers detailed information about this amazing civilization that existed ... morein this part of the world thousands of years ago. This tour starts in Belize City. You will be picked up from anywhere you choose within the Belize city area by your licensed driver/guide. You will then be driven north of Belize City for approximately 1 hour. Along the way, your guide will be providing valuable information about our beautiful country. You also get to view the historic Belize river and pass through several villages as well. Once at the site you will get a chance to use the restrooms after which you make your way to the entrance of the site where your driver/guide will be waiting. Before entering the site your guide will have you go through the museum where you will be presented with much more information about the site. Whilst in the company of your guide you will then make your way to the site itself to view the amazing structures in the two plazas. You will be able to take as many pictures as you like as well as to climb a couple of these ancient buildings culminating with your trek on top of the tallest structure the Temple of the Masonry Altar that was dedicated to the Sun God Kinach Ahou. Once finish at the site you get a chance to shop with the local artisan to get you authentic Belizean arts and crafts. From here you make your way back to Belize City.
$
175
/ Adult
Departs From:
Caye Caulker
 (1)
You’ll depart from the island of Caye Caulker by the sea on San Pedro Belize Express water ferry or by air on Maya Island Air; the choice is yours. Our guides will meet you upon ... moremainland arrival in Belize City before heading off to see this beautiful Maya Temple with wide-open spaces. The temples are easily climbed and are not as tall as Lamanai and Xunantunich.

After trekking an ancient home of the Maya, you’ll head west for a 90-minute drive towards Jaguar Paw for tubing. Once at the outpost, you will meet your tour guides who will issue inflatable tubes, headlamps, and life vests. You’ll be given a basic orientation and safety briefing before heading off on a 30-minute hike which includes wading through a few knee-deep water streams. Don’t let the hike worry you though; as it’s mostly on flat terrain, it is enjoyable and informative. It’s shaded by the rainforest canopy and our tour guides will point out flora and fauna noteworthy to the area. Once at the entrance of the cave system, it’s time for your cave tubing adventure through the ancient Maya underworld. Inside, you’ll see intricate crystalline formations that line the cave with a majestic rise and fall of stalagmites and stalactites that add to the serene richness and grandiose of Xibalba as it’s known.

If there’s time, and you’re open to added adventure, our guides may stop at the mini waterfall and swimming area. After leaving the falls, you’ll emerge into the sunlight and free float downstream, ushered by the gentle current and little rapids, to the harmony of birds and natural wildlife which routes back to where the tour started
$
70
-
$
80
/ Person
$
80
/ Adult
Departs From:
Belize City
Provider:
This Maya Ruin is located 45 minutes from the International Airport, it has such a breathtaking view and very rich with antique stones, jades, and pendants; it was the home to the ... moreMayas' sun God. This site has over 4 ruins to climb with breathtaking views it also homes 2 rock stone ponds. Our tour entails a visit to the site's museum, a tour of over 4 Maya ruins and also a visit to the famous rock stone pond. While there enjoy refreshing coconut water sold by the locals, purchase souvenirs, learn the culture/history and most importantly record your memories with amazing pictures.
$
138
/ Adult
Departs From:
Belize City
Provider:
Altun Ha dates back to 200 B.C. and covers an area of 44 acres. The site is rich with wildlife like armadillos, bats, coati, tapir, foxes, and white-tailed deer. 200 species of birds ... moreand even crocodiles inhabit the large Maya-made water reservoir. This city was a very wealthy ceremonial center which is evidenced by the excavation of the famous jade head.
In the village of Bermudian landing, the people have established a special relationship with the black howler monkeys. It took years to foster this relationship of trust with the monkeys and now visitors can actually come face to face with these friendly creatures.

Departure time is 8:00 - 8:30 am
From Belize City

Things to wear:
comfortable walking shoes, comfortable athletic clothes, sun block.

**Price of a ferry from islands to tour starting point in Belize City can be a lot less if guests opt for us to purchase the ferry tickets for them.**
$
112
/ Person
Altun Ha, which means “Rockstone Pond”, is located 31 miles north of Belize City on the Old Northern Highway. Your expert guide will lead you on this excursion. This site is rich with ... morewildlife: hundreds of species of birds, crocodiles in the ancient reservoir, armadillos, bats, squirrels, tapirs, and more have all been spotted at this site. Altun Ha was a ceremonial site that has two main temples and 13 additional structures. Located near the Caribbean Sea, it was part of a network of other sites near the coast. The discovery of tombs at the site indicates that Altun Ha was inhabited by the elite ruling class. Another interesting feature of this site is the reservoir which was made by the ancient people. The bottom of the reservoir contains yellow clay, which hardened to form a base that retains water. Enjoy learning more about this wealthy Mayan site!
$
80
/ Person
Departs From:
Belize City
This tour is offered to capture both the wonderful world of the Maya and some of the amazing birds of Belize. The tour begins with pickup at your hotel, cruise ship or airport. We ... morehead to the old northern highway en route to the ancient Mayan City of Altun Ha, once a major trading city in the Mayan World and home to the famous jade head of Kinich Ahau. Passing through the savannas of northern Belize we may encounter the magnificent Jabiru, Black-throated Bobwhites and Vermilion Flycatchers. Leaving the savanna we pass through the old logging settlements of Luckystrike and Rockstone Pond and unto Altun Ha. At the site itself, our expert guide will provide you with a well-informed tour of the ancient city with pointing out birds that may be passing over; such as King Vultures, White-crowned Parrots, and Montezuma Oropendolas. Following the tour of the main site, we will take the trail to an ancient pond that was built by the people of Altun Ha to provide water during the dry season. Along the way, the broadleaf forest will provide us with species such as Golden-Olive Woodpeckers, Royal Flycatchers, Black-headed Trogons and our national bird the Keel-billed Toucan. At the pond, we'll come across Green and Ringed Kingfishers, Anhingas, Green Herons and even the surprise treat of a Morelet's Crocodile. After finishing up the tour we will head back to your drop-off location.
$
130
/ Person
$
575
/ Group
Departs From:
Belize City
Get a chance to see both Mayan World with the famous Mayan ruins of Altun Ha, and after enjoy guided sightseeing through Belize City (This is a 6 Hour Tour).... more

Your Tour Guide will meet you at your hotel, cruise terminal, Water taxi or the Municipal in Belize City. You will be transported in an air-conditioned vehicle. Altun Ha is about 45-60 minutes From Belize City; 

Altun Ha Mayan Ruin (Rock Stone Pond) is the Mayan Ruin which the temple of the “Green Tomb.” Altun Ha consists of two plazas that include four ceremonial temples and two residential complexes. At this Maya sites in Belize, you can still climb to the top of the temples and enjoy the view of the Belize forest. The highest temple is approximately 16 meters. It was considered one of the wealthiest Maya sites in Belize as a result of the biggest carved Jade head which was found in the masonry temple which is the highest temple.

After the guided excursion to Altun Ha, your Guide will take you to a local restaurant to enjoy a traditional Belizean lunch. if you wish, we can take you to interact with Snake, accompany by famous snake man in Belize. After lunch, we head back to Belize City to continue your day tour of Belize City. 

On this fully guided tour around historic Belize City, where you will enjoy this educational tour to visit several locations. Such as the ancient swing bridge over Haulover Creek, then we head through busy downtown streets of the city to the Anglican cathedral in Central America, St. John’s Cathedral built from bricks used as ballast in sailing ships of old. Directly across the street, you, will visit Government House, once home to the colonial Governors and now a museum. As we make our way through the city, we will be making 5 stops:

Museum of Belize (Previously the Old Belize City Prison)
Baron Bliss Lighthouse and The Belize Sign
St. John’s Church 
Old Government House (Now the House of Culture)
Downtown Belize City (Albert Street Shopping Central)

Throughout the tour, guests will have the opportunity to take pictures, buy souvenirs, eat the local cuisine and meet local fruit/food vendors.

After, we return to your hotel, cruise terminal, Water taxi or the Municipal in Belize City
$
101
70
/ Person
Departs From:
Belize City
Provider:
Altun Ha is located just 31 miles north of Belize City on a two-mile-long dirt road that connects the site to the Old Northern Highway. It covers an area of about five square miles ... moreand was once a major ceremonial and trading center. Once home to as many as 10,000 inhabitants over a 1,000 year-long period of occupation dating back as early as 200 BC, it was occupied as recently as the 10th century.

Howler monkeys are found only in the rainforests of the Americas. They are the largest monkey in Latin American rainforests growing as high as up to three feet tall when standing and weigh from eight to twenty-two pounds. They have big necks and lower jaws, where their super-sized vocal cords are housed. They live high in the trees and hang from branches by their tails. In order to mark their territory, the howlers make loud vocalizations.
$
73
45
/ Person
Departs From:
Belize City
Provider:
Altun Ha, a major ceremonial and vital trade center during the Classic Period, has two principal plazas. The most significant find of Altun Ha is the “Jade Head”, which represents ... morethe Mayan Sun God, Kinich Ahua; it is the largest object carved of jade in the Maya civilization.

It’s approximately a forty-five minutes drive from the city to the park. When doing this tour, a city tour is also done by the tour guide as you're driven through the city. Complimentary purified water for our guests is provided. Free use of our umbrellas if you need one for reasons such as the sun is too hot or if it starts to rain.
0 reviews   0 comments
Overall
Scenic
Family Friendly
Interesting