Río Azul

Rio Azul is a site of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization in what is now Guatemala.

Sak Há Witznal (Clear Water Mountain) its real name is located 80 Km north east from Tikal, The Río Azul National park has several sites the most important is Río Azul, that is a Major Early Classic site, along the Rio Azul banks, this polity was the most important in this area of the Lowlands and was populated by nobles who dominate the commerce routes and was the main source of Jester for axes and blades in the Maya Lowlands, as the structures made entirely from Jester debris show. Dams, Canals, Agricultural terraces and fortifications are distributed along the shores of this river. It was build in 25 years and the population of the area that the Lords of Rio Azul dominated (measuring some 170 sq. Km. including Kinal and other cities in Belice), is thought to be 400,000 around 400 AD. It was occupied since middle pre classic to middle classic, the site itself is 3 Km2 with 41 plazas, 752 Structures, 21 Sculptured Stelas, 26 Plain Stelas, and 16 altars documented to date, the tallest Temple is 47 mt High a typical Preclassic Triadic Temple (Three small structures on the top, the one in the center at the back and the others facing each other). Stela 1 mention the alliance with Tikal, and Stela 2 records the visit of the King of La Milpa (now in Belize), the area was around 170 sq Km and was structured as a feudal state where nobility lived in farms around the city. Among other findings, there was found a chocolate pot with a screw for a lid. it is world renown for a sepulture (bearing 1) with beautiful decoration (400AD), in bearing 12, there are also murals with the cardinal points perfectly aligned and representing the Moon (north), the Sun (east), Venus (south), and the Darkness (west), it was abandoned by 535 AD. To go there, you will have to go to Uaxactún, and drive in 4x4 around 5 hours; you can also go from Melchor de Mencos (6 hours) The visit to Kinal is worthwhile and is only 1 hour hike at the most