Caracol is the largest Maya site in Belize and one of the most consequential in the entire Maya world, though it sees a fraction of the visitors of better-known Tikal across the Guatemalan border. Spread across more than 25 square kilometres of dense Chiquibul forest, the central plaza is anchored by Caana ("sky place"), a 43-metre pyramid that is still the tallest manmade structure in Belize.
The drive from San Ignacio takes nearly three hours each way over deteriorating road, much of it through the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve; almost everyone goes on a tour, and the round trip is a full day. The lack of crowds is the point — you frequently have the central acropolis to yourself, with toucans calling and the occasional jaguar paw print in the path. Day trips usually include a swim at Rio On Pools or Rio Frio Cave on the way back.