What had once been the thriving urban centre of an ancient trade capital was eerily quiet now, except for the occasional squawk of birds hidden high in the treetops.
The view from the top of the main pyramid was impressive. Below me stretched an entire ancient city that had been sleeping here for centuries, undisturbed beneath the sheltering green canopy of jungle that covers all of central Belize.
The steep stone steps of the pyramid’s central stairway made getting to the top a tiring, sweaty challenge, but I did it. And now, despite the rising tropical heat and the lack of any breeze at all, I was determined to enjoy the stunning view for as long as possible.
I'd made it to the peak of one of the most important Mayan sites in Belize: the place where gods and rulers had once stood above the lost city of Altun Ha.
A View Into the Past
Below, the central plaza was bordered on all sides by stone temples and smaller pyramids. In the distance I could also see a number of still-un-excavated burial mounds. What had once been the thriving urban centre of an ancient trade capital was eerily quiet now, except for the occasional squawk of birds hidden high in the treetops.
The plaza’s central axis ran several hundred yards out into the distance, and all of it was acoustically perfect. It would have been the main public square for thousands of people. It was where they lived, worked, and worshipped, and where they came together to hear their leaders speak during rituals, sporting events, and colourful annual festivals.
This particular pyramid is still an important touchstone for the people of Belize today, too. It has become one of the country’s most popular and well-known symbols. And if you choose to quench your thirst with a sip of the national beer, Belikin—or “Be Likin,” as it’s known locally—you'll see an iconic image of the pyramid printed onto its green bottles as the beer’s logo.
