How do you get to Altun Ha?
Located in northern Belize, about 30 miles north of Belize City, Altun Ha is easily accessible by car via the Northern Highway or by excursion services operating out of Caye Caulker. Altun Ha welcomes visitors every day between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance costs 10 Belize dollars (roughly $5).
Can you climb Altun Ha?
Altun Ha has 8 large temples and palaces. The main attraction is the 54-foot (16-meter) tall Temple of the Masonry Altars. Visitors are allowed to climb to the top of this pyramid, where they will find a large, round altar. This altar is believed to have served as the epicenter of religious ceremonies.
Is Altun Ha a Mayan city?
Altun Ha /ɑːlˈtuːn hɑː/ is the name given to the ruins of an ancient Mayan city in Belize, located in the Belize District about 50 kilometres (31 mi) north of Belize City and about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) west of the shore of the Caribbean Sea. The site covers an area of about 8 square kilometres (3.1 sq mi).
Which district is Altun Ha?
Altun Ha, which means “Rockstone Pond”, is located 31 miles north of Belize City on the Old Northern Highway. Your expert guide will lead you on this excursion.
Where is the Belize jade head?
A replica of the “Jade Head,” a national treasure, is on display at the Central Bank of Belize, and its likeness is watermarked on all Belizean currency. The Altun Ha Jade head stands 14.9 cm (6 inches) high and weighs 4.42 kg (9.75 Lbs).
How far are the ruins from Belize City?
Altun Ha is the name given to the ruins of an ancient Mayan located about 50 kilometers north of Belize City. The site covers an area of about 8 square kilometers. The ancient site were discovered by archeologists in 1963. The largest of Altun Ha’s temple-pyramids, the “Temple of the Masonry Altars”, is 16 meters high.
How much is the jade head worth?
Photo: Altun Ha Jade Head found in ruins of Belize worth 5-10 mil dollars.
Who discovered Altun Ha?
Dr. David Pendergast
Probably the most prominent discovery at Altun Ha is the uncovering of the famous Jade Head of K’nich Ahau. This treasure is a carved ornamental head weighing almost 10 pounds. Moreover, the relic discovery was in 1968 by the Canadian Archeologist Dr. David Pendergast.
What does ha mean in Mayan?
In Yucatec Mayan, haltun is a stone water deposit or cistern, and ha means water.
Where is the jade head?
The jade head was discovered at in the Belize District’s Maya site of Altun Ha in 1968 by two Belizeans working for Dr. David Pendergast of the Royal Ontario Museum of Canada.
What tribe is Apocalypto based on?
Maya
Mel Gibson’s latest film, Apocalypto, tells a story set in pre-Columbian Central America, with the Mayan Empire in decline. Villagers who survived a savage attack are taken by their captors through the jungle to the central Mayan city.