Nim Li Punit Mayan Ruins

I have done all of the Mayan ruins you can do on a cruise that tenders into Belize City. Since Norwegian docks at Harvest Caye, they offer one I haven’t been to yet.

I booked this Nim Li Punit with Lunch tour through Norwegian for $109. With my $50 shore excursion discount and my loyalty discount the total came to $53.10.

This is basically a holding area for all mainland tours. Then they call you by tour. 

All of the tours are getting on the same water shuttle. I assume when we get off we’ll have to meet up with our tours again.

It’s a 30-minute boat ride. No standing is allowed on the boat. I found a spot where I can see out the front and side windows.

We‘re going very slow here because of manatees.

That’s the dock.

We have some time here before our buses leave. They have a bathroom area. The men’s line is very short. The women’s line is very long.

They have buses lined up for each tour. 

This is my bus.

The boat is heading back out.

They have snacks and beverages for sale.

I grabbed two Belikins for $10. I’ve been to the top of that temple at Altun Ha.

The bus is old but the AC works good.

We have arrived at the ruins.

They gave everyone a wrist band.

I’ve been to a lot of Mayan ruins sites in Belize and Mexico. Each of them has something unique about it that makes it worth the trip. This one doesn’t have any impressive structures but what it does have is the best preserved stealae I’ve seen. I think these are easier to read than most of the ones I’ve seen because these are done in sandstone. The others I’ve seen have all been in limestone.

This stela is on the $2 bill.

They have a stella on the $2 bill in Belize.

Something else that is significant about this site is it is were the Wind Jewel was found. The Wind Jewel is the second largest jade artifact ever recovered in Belize. The largest is the jade head which was found at Altun Ha.

This jewel is believed to have been worn by the king.

The wind jewel is in a museum but there are some artifacts at the site.

Nim Li Punit means “Big Hat.” The population here was 5-7 thousand people.

This is where the ruler is believed to have lived.

At most of the sites I’ve visited the top people would have a real roof. That is not the case here. I don’t know if it’s a lack of limestone since they were using sandstone or what. They also didn’t have long to evolve because this place was only occupied for 70 years. 721-790ad.  But these big leaves are what the roof would’ve been made of. 

This mound is an example of a structure that has not been excavated yet.

This is the silk cotton ceiba tree. The Mayans believed at the top of these trees were the 13 levels of heaven. And the underworld was in the roots of it.

The place is littered with these hog plums. Our guide said she takes them home and makes jam.

This leaf is used to cure infections. 

These were basically bleachers for common folks to watch the ball game. The open space was also used for trading. 

That is the ballcourt view from here.

If you are interested in how the game worked, I got to go to one in Cozumel a couple years ago.

This is the rubber tree that was used to make the ball for the ball game.

I got to hold the ball at the game I went to. It weighs 7-8lbs.

These leaves can be used to make a roof. They have nuts that are like tiny coconuts inside.

This tree they believe cures cancer. I have my doubts.

This is the plaza of the stela. This is where all of the stelae we saw in the museum earlier were found. The area was used for large gatherings.

Nice view from here.

These are tombs 2 and 3. They were for middle class people. Six skeletons and one animal were found in tomb 3.

This is tomb 1.

On the way out you could buy crafts from the locals.

Next was a 5-10 minute drive to the spice farm for lunch.

This is a standard Caribbean excursion lunch of chicken, rice & beans, slaw or potato salad and juice.

I grabbed a Belekin stout.

They had sodas and water available for purchase.

Desserts as well

This is what they had for sale.

Some flowers on the way back to the bus.

The largest export in Belize is bananas. They have 28 banana farms. All of the blue bags are banana bunches. They do that to protect them. When they cut off a bunch they cut down the tree. Then a new one grows behind it.

We’re taking a smaller boat back.

We’ve got company.

That concludes this excursion. The structures aren’t very impressive but the stelae are the best I’ve seen!