Caracol lies deep in the Chiquibul Forrest past the Pine Mountain Range south of San Ignacio. It took me over three hours to get there in a 4 wheel drive vehicle (you will need it) mainly because you cannot drive fast over this rocky, rain rutted dirt road. You will have to stop twice to let the Belizean officials know where you are going. If the road is impassible (due to rain or mud) they just might turn you around and send you back. (Do NOT attempt this trip without a full tank of gas!) During the whole 3+ hours I saw precisely two other vehicles as I drove through the jungle.
Caracol means "snail shell" in Spanish and it is meant to signify the twisty road (like a snail's shell) leading to Caracol. Like many Mayan sites we are perhaps not sure of the real name of this site. Strangely the Mayan stone glyphs or "emblem glyphs" for Mayan cities, have proven very difficult to translate.
The main structure on the site is a huge temple of magnificent proportion called Caa-na or "Sky Palace." The Mayans, believe it or not, were fond of puns in their language, so since the Mayan word "kan" can mean four (4), snake, yellow or sky we may be dealing here with "Snake Palace" or "Yellow Palace" or "Palace #4." Get the picture?
This place really needs more than a one day visit, but unfortunately there are no accomodations very nearby.
Caa-Na "Sky Palace" - Caracol |
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