Overview:

Santa Rita is a small settlement on the southern coast of Belize near the town of San Pedro on the nearby San Pedro Ambergris Caye. The town, which covers just over 7 acres, is known for its long stretch of stunning white beaches, lush palm trees, traditional Maya ruins of an old city, and its secluded cayes. Santa Rita is a popular destination for both tourists and those looking to relax and escape the mainland. Santa Rita is located in the Corozal District, one of the eight districts in Belize. The district is located just north of Belize City, the country’s main hub for tourism. Santa Rita is easily accessible from Belize City by car or bus. It is a great place for travelers and sightseers of all types, from honeymooners to families. The area is known for its abundance of marine life, which can be explored through snorkeling, scuba diving, and kayaking excursions. There are also plenty of eco-adventures to enjoy in the area, such as hiking trails, birdwatching, visiting nearby cayes, and more. Santa Rita is a great place for anyone looking for a relaxing beach getaway. Whether you’re looking for adventure or relaxation, Santa Rita has something for everyone. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Belize
Prominent Features:

Santa Rita, located in Belize, is an ancient Maya archaeological site located in the Corozal District of northern Belize. It is notable for its large acropolis, which stands at the top of a steep slope. This acropolis was found to contain several palaces, temples, tombs, and ceremonial plazas. These structures date back to the Late Preclassic and Classic Periods, with the earliest parts of the site dating back to around 400 B.C. Santa Rita also contains an ornately decorated pyramid temple along with other fascinating stone structures, providing insight into how the Maya lived, believed, and ruled. It is also home to several intricate carvings and reliefs. Other prominent features of Santa Rita include a unique water canal system used for ritual bathing and two carved stelae, each with narrative panels detailing the site's history, highlights of the Temple of the Moon, and a stelae with hieroglyphic narrative detailing the history of the site. Additionally, visitors can explore carved figures wearing jaguar-skin headdresses, gods in elaborate costumes, and petroglyphs. This national monument of Belize portrays the history and culture of the country.

History:

Santa Rita is a small village in Belize located north of the town of Corozal. Santa Rita was the site of an ancient Maya city, which was a part of the Yucatán Maya region. Santa Rita is one of the largest archaeological sites in the country and has evidence of occupation dating back to the Ox Te period (600–900 AD). It contains some of the earliest evidence of monument construction in the region. At the height of its power, the city was an important trading hub, with far reaching connections that ranged from Chichén Itzá in Mexico to Tikal in Guatemala. During this time, many monuments were constructed, which included creations such as the Jaguar Temple and El Tigre Temple. The people of Santa Rita abandoned their city around 900 AD and it remained abandoned until 1791, when the Mosquito Coast expedition of Tilia Rabinal forcibly relocated a group of Maya from Lamanai to Santa Rita. During the 19th century, Santa Rita was part of British Honduras and became an important sugar cane plantation. In the 1940s and 1950s, during the Honduras Rum War, Santa Rita was the scene of much violence as the leaders of both sides of the conflict sought to gain a foothold in the region. Today, Santa Rita is a village of about 2,000 people and is known for its vestiges of its ancient Maya past, as well as its rum factories. Santa Rita is a popular tourist destination for archeology and cultural tourism. You must visit one of these historical places in Belize on your Belize tour

Interesting facts:

1. Santa Rita is a large Mayan ruin in Belize. 2. Santa Rita was once the largest Mayan city in northern Belize and flourished from 250 A.D. to 990 A.D. 3. Excations at Santa Rita have unveiled ancient Maya artifacts, including pottery, funerary vases, masks and coins. 4. Santa Rita was built on top of a low hill, so high that from the outside it is visible kilometers away. 5. The layout of Santa Rita was based on that of the ceremonial city of Tikal, with a large central plaza surrounded by residential buildings and outlying structures. 6. Santa Rita was likely abandoned during a time when the Maya abandoned many of their cities. Visit one of the famous monuments of Belize with your friends and family.