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El Pilar Review

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El Pilar

Address: 8 mi (13 km) west of Bullet Tree Falls, Western Hwy., San Ignacio
Phone: No phone

Category: Archaeological Sites
Location: San Ignacio

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Fodor's Review:

El Pilar, a less frequented archaeological site, is still being excavated under the direction of Anabel Ford, a professor at the University of California. Excavations of Mayan ruins have traditionally concentrated on public buildings, but at El Pilar the emphasis has been on reconstructing domestic architecture—everything from houses to gardens with crops used by the Maya. El Pilar, occupied from AD 700 to 1000, shows evidence of sentry posts in some areas, suggesting that this was a community of high-ranking officials surrounded by a hostile population. Two well-marked trails take you around the site. Because the structures haven't been stripped of vegetation, you may feel like you're walking through a series of shady orchards. Don't forget binoculars: in the 5,000-acre nature reserve there's some terrific bird-watching. Behind the main plaza, a lookout grants a spectacular view across the jungle to El Pilar's sister city, Pilar Poniente, on the Guatemalan border. Note that several incidents of robbery have occurred at or near this site.

Cost: BZ$10
Open: Daily 8-5

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