The Cahal Pech
Visitor Center is an on-site
museum located in the northwestern part of the
Cayo district. The medium sized ancient Maya
ceremonial center is perched on a hilltop overlooking
the picturesque town of San Ignacio. Recent
excavations, consolidation and restoration have
revealed masks, facades, terraces, stairways
and large pyramidal structures.
Clusters of temples and palaces are arranged
around a series of plazas on the six- acre grounds.
During the Middle and Late Preclassic Periods,
Cahal Pech (place of Ticks) may have been the
primary ancient Maya center of the central Belize
region. The Cahal Pech Visitor Center outlines
the prehistory of the Cayo area from the archaic
period (4000 BC) to the ancient Maya Postclassic
(1100 A. D.). A major focus of the current exhibition
is the role of the ancient site of Cahal Pech
in the development of Maya civilization particularly
in the Preclassic period (300 B.C. –250
A.D.)
The Cahal Pech
Visitor Center is open 365 days
in the year from 6:00am to 6:00 pm. Admission
is US $5.00.
For further information contact the
Institute of Archaeology at 501-822-2106
or email at ia@nichbelize.org
