Have you ever been to the Mayan Temples of Altun Ha? Located just 31 miles north of Belize City, this site was once a wealthy ceremonial center and includes at least 500 visible structures or mounds. At its peak, the population of Altun Ha and surrounding areas ranged between 8,000 – 10,000 inhabitants, with around 3,000 living in the central core of the city.
The most imposing building at Altun Ha is Structure A-4 – the Temple of the Masonry Altars, rising some 54 feet about the plaza floor. The exploration of the interior of this structure, yielded one of the most remarkable finds at any Maya Site in the country – a 6 inch high, ten pound, solid jade carving of the head of the Maya Sun God “Kinich Ahau.”
While not the largest (or smallest) Mayan Site in Belize, Altun Ha has become quite a favored tourist attraction over the years. Its proximity to Belize City makes it easily accessible by road and is a perfect half-day tour for cruise ship passengers, backpackers and locals alike.
Here are 5 awesome photos of Altun Ha snapped over the weekend and as you can tell, it was a great time to capture this amazing site:
Wide-angle view of Altun Ha
Temple A-1 at Altun Ha
Learning about the Maya Civilization
Temple of Sun God/ Temple of the Masonry Altars
Snapping one last photo of this magnificent Temple
Note: Altun Ha is open to visitors year-round from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and the fee to enter is $5.00 USD for Non-Belizeans. Bring along a cap/hat, water, sunscreen, repellant, a rag/towel, breatheable clothing, a pair of comfortable shoes for climbing and of course, your favorite camera.
Have you seen the symbol/image of Altun Ha anywhere else in Belize? Let us know when, where and on what!
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