Southern Maya Ruins
Southern Maya Ruins: Nim Li Punit and Lubaantun
Explore the Southern Maya ruins at Nim Li Punit (Big Hat) and Lubaantun (Place of the Fallen Stones). This full-day tour departs from Placencia. First, both sites offer fascinating characteristics unlike any other ruins in Belize. Plus, they sit in the quieter Toledo District. As a result, you may even have the Southern Maya ruins to yourself.
Lubaantun (Place of the Fallen Stones) is the largest Mayan ceremonial site in southern Belize. This ruin stands out for several reasons. First, the builders constructed it entirely without mortar — hence the name “fallen stones.” Second, it has no stelae. Third, its architecture looks completely different from other Maya cities. Most famously, this is where the controversial crystal skull was found.
The builders showed incredible skill in splitting and fitting stonework. As a result, the structures have stood for centuries without mortar. Archaeologists point to the artifacts discovered here — obsidian blades, grinding stones, beads, shells, turquoise, and pottery shards. Together, these suggest Lubaantun was once a bustling farming and trading center. Meanwhile, the origin of the crystal skull remains a mystery. Interestingly, a second skull reportedly sits in a museum in France.
