Can you climb Cahal Pech?

Take this tour to see one of the oldest Maya sites in Belize. It has ruins that you can climb and is only 30 minutes from Chaa Creek. Cahal Pech is a Maya phrase that means “place of ticks.” This nickname dates back to the 1950s, because area used to be surrounded by pastures and tick-covered cattle.

How old is Cahal Pech?

It is believed that Cahal Pech is one of the oldest Maya sites in the region, first built more than 3,200 years ago.

What does Cahal Pech mean in English?

Cahal Pech, meaning “Place of Ticks,” is a Maya site located in the Cayo district of Belize, just outside the town of San Ignacio. The site is within the upper region of the Belize Valley, close to both the Macal and Mopan rivers and about 10 kilometers (approx.

What does Pilar mean?

pillar
El Pilar means “pillar” in Spanish and it was named after an army camp in the area. El Pilar is one of Belize’s largest Classic Maya sites with a well-defined ceremonial section including both private and public areas.

Why is Cahal Pech important?

1200 B.C. and abandoned around 800 -900 A.D. The site is particularly important for the information it has provided on the earliest Maya settlers of western Belize. Early cultural remains, for example, suggest that the site’s first inhabitants were relatively sophisticated.

Who discovered El Pilar?

Archaeologist Anabel Ford
Archeological discovery Archaeologist Anabel Ford first mapped El Pilar in 1983 in the course of her Belize River Archaeological Settlement Survey or BRASS project. Settlement patterns in the region suggest a hierarchy of community size and composition that was directly related to farmland.

When was Pilar built?

Built over 1,800 years from around 800 B.C. to roughly 1000 A.D., El Pilar has enabled Anabel Ford to study the resource conservation techniques of the ancient Maya in the jungle and undertake one of the deepest investigations of the Maya in Belize ever.

What material is the Basilica del Pilar made of?

marble
While they were traveling, the angels built a pillar of marble, and a miniature image of Our Lady. Our Lady gave the message to St James and added that a church was to be built on the site where the apparition took place. The pillar and the image were to be part of the main altar.

Can you walk to Cahal Pech Mayan ruins?

Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins: So Close, You Can Walk Here! The contrast between yesterday and today is remarkable: One can literally stroll between lively, modern San Ignacio Town to an ancient Mayan historic site by walking a mile to the Cahal Pech Mayan ruins.

Where to stay in Cahal Pech?

Ideally, staying in San Ignacio Town offers you the best of both worlds: take advantage of cultural sites and in-town fun while you immerse yourself in Cahal Pech’s mystique.

Why should you visit Cahal Pech?

Here’s another advantage to visiting a historical site at a fairly high elevation: You can visit any time you like because even during the green season, there’s little danger Cahal Pech will close due to flooding like some other Mayan ruins.