Caracol sits high on a plateau, 500 meters above sea level on the western edge of the Maya Mountains. It is nestled deep in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve within the Mountain Pine Ridge area.
Caracol is famed as the most extensive Maya centre in the country.
Cutting across the hilly terrain, remnants of vast agricultural field systems give evidence of an extensive farm industry that once provided sustenance for a large population. Caracol has an internal road system made up of 60 kilometers of Sacbeob (roads) and causeways, which served as routes for transportation and communication.
This site is home to the tallest man-made structure in Belize, Canna, standing 143 ft above the plaza floor. The discovery of Alter 23, which shows bound captives, indicates that Caracol was an extremely fierce and war-like center. It is believed that Caracol defeated Tikal in the war in 562 A.D.
The scenic drive to Caracol traverses through the Mountain Pine Ridge area some of the birds we can see through the Mountain Pine ridge include Swallow-tailed Kite, Laughing Falcon, Rufous-capped Warblers, Rusty Sparrow, Black-headed Siskins, Golden-hooded tanager, Blue-black Grossbeak, Azure crowned Hummingbird, Slate-headed Tody-flycatcher, yellow-bellied Elaenia and more. The road travels over a series of creeks, through lush tropical forest and pine forest, habitat for a variety of bird species. The highest canopy rainforest is home to several species of cats, as well as rare birds such as the Keel-Billed motmot, Tody motmotCrested Guan, Great Curassow and the Ocellated Turkey Olive-backed Sparrows, Green-backed Sparrow, Bat Falcon, Gray-headed kite, Great Black Hawk, Scarlet Macaws, king Vultures, Strong Billed Woodcreeper, Chestnut-colored Woodpecker just to name a few. All four trogons can easily be seen here Collared Trogon, Slaty-tailed trogon, Black-headed Trogon, and Gartered Trogon. A wide variety of orchids, vines, and trees are also found in the area.
This tour can be combined with a visit to the Rio Frio Caves and the Rio On Pools. Some great birds can be seen near the Rio Frio Caves.
