Belize is a small country with a lot of cultural diversity. With African influence in Garifuna to the south, Mexican influence to the north and Guatemalan Maya influence west of central Belize, everywhere you go, the roots of Belizeans can be seen in everyday life.
Today, we are going to visit the ancient Maya ruins of Cahal Pech, which lie west of central Belize. They are about a 3.5-hour drive (145 miles) southwest of Corozal.
Dating back as far as 1200 BCE, the first human settlements recorded in Cahal Pech territory began the rich history we know today. Indigenous Maya populated the lush forests of Belize and began a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. (The word "Indigenous" means they lived in Belize for thousands of years before people from Europe arrived.) Using carved tools and handmade pottery, and living in dense groups, the Maya thrived and built a booming civilization.
By 400 BCE, the Maya site of Cahal Pech, or "Place of the Ticks" in Mayan, was becoming the capital of its region. With ball courts, ceremonial courtyards and several bedroom chambers, Cahal Pech served as a royal palace of sorts. It housed noble leaders who controlled territories as war lords, healers and monarchs.
