It is located in Cayo District. Caracol in the Spanish word for Snail. Named that way because the winding road to get there and because of the many snails found in that place. 

The site was discovered in 1937 and since then there has been work done investigate about the place. The site was used as a city from as early as 300 BC and had it's peak from 650 thru 700 AD, having around 150,000 people, comparable to the current Belize population (around 250,000). It has occupied until around 1,150 AD. The core area of the place is around 15 square miles (39 square km), while it's area of direct influence was more than 120 square miles (315 square kilometers).

It is the most important Mayan site in Belize. It has the tallest building in Belize 138 feet (42 m) called Caana or Sky Place, I believe the Princess Hotel, the tallest modern building is around 100 feet (30 m), so is a little bigger than the hotel.

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Last modified: January 28, 2006

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