Mask Temple
A king's face.
Martin Falbisoner — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Urbanarcheology — CC BY 3.0 · Cephas — CC BY-SA 4.0 · IthakaDarinPappas — CC BY-SA 4.0
One of Belize's loveliest and longest-lived Maya sites, set in forest on the New River Lagoon and occupied for more than three thousand years, from before the Christian era until the Spanish arrived, so it stayed inhabited after most great Maya cities were abandoned. Its name means «submerged crocodile». The best part of the trip is the journey: a speedboat up the winding New River for about an hour, through mangroves and forest, past waterbirds, crocodiles on the banks, monkeys in the trees and Mennonite farming villages. The site has three famous temples: the Mask Temple with two huge stone masks of a king in a crocodile headdress; the High Temple, about 33 metres tall, looking over the lagoon and forest to the horizon; and the Jaguar Temple. Among them stand the ruins of two old Spanish churches. A small museum on site shows pottery and carvings. Heat and humidity are high and mosquitoes plentiful, so carry water, repellent and a hat.
A king's face.
Lagoon views.
Birds and crocodiles.
On the New River Lagoon, Orange Walk District, about two hours from Belize City
By boat up the New River for about an hour from Orange Walk; tours from Belize City include the transfer and boat.