Each year, thousands of tourists flock to the lush jungles of Central America’s Yucatan peninsula to visit the spectacular Mayan ruins that dot the landscape. Some are so well-traveled you might be reluctant to make the journey; most tourists’ images of stately pyramids and ancient stone-works don’t include hundreds of other visitors simultaneously tramping over the same grounds. If you’re in the mood for archeology and architecture, but on a low-key tip, leave one of the more famous sites like Tikal or Calakmul off of your itinerary, and schedule a trip to Belize’s Cahal Pech.

Located on the western coast, “The Place of Ticks” was abandoned by its original inhabitants sometime in the 9th century. It lay couched in foliage and overgrown by the jungle until the mid-1930s, but due to the Second World War looming on the horizon, no serious excavation was undertaken until the 1950s, when a professor from the University of Pennsylvania made the first studies of the long-forgotten site.

Millennia of History

After this initial study, later, more thorough expeditions were planned and undertaken by the government of Belize. Beginning in 1988, a twelve-year unearthing and restoration project lead by Dr. Jaime Awa of the NICH (National Institute of Archeology) described Cahal Pech in detail, and produced most of the data by which scientists have extrapolated a picture of the daily life of its Maya builders and inhabitants.

The remains of Cahal Pech are nestled within a jungle habitat of significant natural beauty and abundant plant and animal life. Fortunately, stemming from a visit by Belize’s first Commissioner of Archeology in the 1960s, stringent laws have been enacted to ensure that this nearly pristine site remains as removed as possible from the intervention of modern civilization. Construction, logging, and all commercial activity are severely curtailed within a wide radius of the ancient city’s epicenter.

Cahal Pech was first built around 1200 BC, and evidence suggests that the city was inhabited more or less continuously for the next two thousand years, making one of the oldest-known Mayan urban centers. Cahal Pech therefore represents an important opportunity for archaeologists and anthropologists to study the development of Maya civilization over several eras, from the Pre-Classic period onwards. Over thirty structures, some more than 25 meters in height, are arranged around a central acropolis. The quality of artifacts found at the site, which span much of the Mayan empire’s long history, make Cahal Pech one of Mesoamerica’s most important and treasured resources for understanding the life and thoughts of this ancient culture.

Gardens of Stone

Cahal Pech’s location near the meeting of two rivers :the Macal and Mopan :is an indication of how important natural sources of water were to the first city-builders. The Maya would later become a pioneering force in developing irrigation, which allowed the construction of large-scale agricultural projects as well as larger, more complex cities. The site can be entered for only a small admission fee, though you may want to spring for the extra expense of a guide to take you around, as the city’s many small historical treasures might otherwise be easily overlooked.

The accessibility of Cahal Pech, the gorgeous jungle and abundant wildlife, and the remarkably well-preserved and restored buildings and artifacts promise to make the ancient city grow ever more popular on the Mesoamerican tourst trail. Be sure to see it before it becomes overrun by tourists, just as the jungle overcame the city’s defenses and swallowed it up over a thousand years ago.

Travel and Archeology lovers will enjoy visiting Onejungle.com For more information look for Onejungle.com, a site for active travel in Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. Also, you can visit the adventure travel community to find other travelers looking to visit Mayan ruins.

Going On A Cruise: Answer To Managing Money While Cruising