The walks around the causeways can last an hour or two or up to half a day. The sounds of the jungle coming from the thick vegetation, the odd stone that is kicked could be another piece of the historical puzzle, the animals that cross the path in front of you are all worth experiencing. At present the ruins are being preserved rather than restored. However, you will find that Caracol rivals Tikal as a worthwhile Maya site.
The entrance is often engulfed in mist and the Maya believed that the rain god, Choc, lived inside. The mist is suspected to be the reason the Maya called thecavethe placeof fright. This cave was especially popular during a period of drought that occurred just before the abandonment of many sites in Belize around AD 1000. Scientists believe that the Maya came to appease the rain god so he would end the dry spell. As the droughts got worse, the Maya went farther into the three-mile-long cave.
From the cave, follow the trail to the hilltop observation tower, where you can spot some of the 256 bird species found in the area. The tower gives you a great view of the surrounding landscape. This is a one-hour walk from the cave. If you want a longer jungle hike, follow the trail to the rear entrance swiss international of the cave and back to the visitor center. This will take about three hours, total.
AUTHOR TIP: The rain forests play host to a huge number of birds and animals, many of which are active at night, when it is cooler. Be aware of this when taking a tour. If someone promises to show you a tapir (a night-time hunter), for example, be sure to take an early morning or late evening tour, as the animals are never seen at midday.
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