Xunantunich (pronounced /ʃunantunit͡ʃ/) is an Ancient
Maya archaeological site in western
Belize, about 80 miles (130 km) west of
Belize City, in the
Cayo District. Xunantunich is located atop a ridge above the
Mopan River, well within sight of the
Guatemala border – which is a mere to the west. It served as a Maya civic ceremonial center in the Late and Terminal Classic periods to the Belize Valley region. At this time, when the region was at its peak, nearly 200,000 people lived in Belize.