Overview
Discover the fascinating world of the Maya as you delve into the Actuncan site, a once-thriving pre-Columbian city located along the serene Mopan River valley in western Belize. Join our team in exploring the monumental stone platforms, towering pyramids, and vast public plazas that tell the story of Actuncan’s rise from a small village around 1100 B.C. to a powerful political capital. During this field school, you’ll gain practical archaeological skills while helping to investigate the rise and fall of an ancient Maya city, from its days of royal power to its eventual decline and rebirth as a local community center during the Maya Collapse. Situated just outside Belize’s ecotourism and cultural capital, this immersive program includes excursions to iconic archaeological sites deep in the Belizean jungle, offering a unique blend of field research and cultural exploration. Perfect for students with little to no archaeological experience, this program provides you with the opportunity to gain valuable field skills while experiencing the adventure of a lifetime in the heart of the Maya civilization.
Field school highlights:
- Gain experience in fieldwork, survey, and lab analysis under the guidance of experienced archaeologists and alongside a Belizean excavation team.
- Investigate the transformation of Actuncan throughout the ages.
- Explore Belize’s archaeological treasures, including the sacred Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave, where rituals and human sacrifice took place, the iconic Xunantunich Mayan Ruins, and more.
| Course Details | |
|---|---|
| Course Dates | May 25 – June 22, 2025 |
| Course Type | Archaeology |
| Instructors | Dr. David Mixter |
| Credits* | 8 semester (12 quarter) |
| Apply By | February 1 |
| Fees Due By | April 15 |
| Program Fees | (2025) |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $4,770 |
| Transcript Fee* | $300 |
| Health & Evacuation Insurance | $130 |
| Room & Board | $1,330 |
| TOTAL: | $6,530 |
*Please email admissions@ifrglobal.org for any application issues.
Applications accepted on a rolling basis until program fills or final deadline passes.
Instructors
The directors welcome emails and inquiries about the research elements of this project. More general information (tuition, health insurance, and payment schedule) can be found under the ‘Students’ tab above. Any further questions may be addressed to IFR staff. Additional details about research, course schedule, travel, accommodation, and safety can be found on the syllabus. Contacting the directors or the IFR office is encouraged and appreciated. It may help you determine if this field school is a good fit for you.
Testimonials
This is a new IFR field school. No student testimonials are available at this time.
Payment & Student Fees
Application Fee: There is a $45 fee to submit an online application.
Deposit Payment: A nonrefundable $500 deposit is due within 3 weeks of program acceptance in order to secure your place. The remainder of your program fees are due by the deadline indicated under “Course Details”.
*Transcript Fee & Academic Credit Opt Out: If you wish to participate in an IFR field school without earning academic credits, you will not be charged a transcript fee.
For more information about payment, fees, and policies, please see details under our Payment & Finances and Withdrawal and Cancellation Policy pages.
Accommodations
Students will stay in an eco-resort, Clarissa Falls Resort, which provides a lovely setting among tropical flowering plants and fruit trees. You will have plenty of opportunity to spend time swinging in the resort’s many hammocks or lounging by the riverside in your time off work.
Accommodations are dorm-style with 3-6 students per room/cottage. Each room has a private bathroom with hot water shower. Â Each individual will be provided a bed with a mattress, pillows, sheets, and blankets. Each room contains rotating fans to help move some air during hot nights. Resort staff will clean your rooms weekly, but you will be provided with supplies to provide maintenance cleaning in between.Â
Meals are served in the resort’s restaurant, and Chena Galvez is a legendary cook in the region. Each day, she and her staff will prepare local favorites such as stewed chicken, beans and rice, fried plantains, and fresh fruit juice for you to enjoy. Breakfast and dinner are served family style at a single long table, where we will get a chance to get to know each other over Chena’s fabulous food. If you have dietary restrictions, please let the project directors know. Chena is used to dealing with a wide range of dietary requirements.Â
We will provide supplies for students who want to try doing their laundry by hand. For those who are less ambitious, Clarissa Falls Resort provides a laundry service for a small fee.
Travel Info
Natural disasters, political changes, weather conditions and various other factors may force the cancellation or alteration of a field school. IFR recommends students only purchase airline tickets that are fully refundable and consider travel insurance in case a program or travel plans must change for any reason.
General information for this program is below, but keep in mind we will discuss any updated travel information and regulations during the required program orientation, which could affect travel plans.
Students will be met by project representatives at the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport in Belize (airport code: BZE) on Sunday, May 25, 2025. Students must inform the project directors of their arrival time and flight number before the project. Because the airport is a 2 hour drive from Clarissa Falls Resort where we stay, we will wait until all students have arrived to drive back to camp together by car or van. If you are coming overland or would like to arrange your own transportation to site, please contact the directors as soon as possible.
Once at Clarissa Falls Resort, travel to and from the excavation field site is on foot. Occasional outings from Clarissa Falls to nearby towns or archaeological sites will use project vehicles, tour operator vehicles, or local badged taxis. Tours of Caracol, in the Belize Mountain Pine Ridge, and Actun Tunichil Muknal caves will be coordinated by a local tour company and use their vehicles.
VISA REQUIREMENTS
US citizens require a valid passport to enter Belize. A 30-day travel Visa is typically included in your flight. If you plan to stay longer than 30 days (the field school is 28 days), then you must visit a local immigration office prior to departure to pay for a visa extension. Additional information can be found in the U.S. Dept. of State Belize International Travel Information website.
Citizens not from the USA are asked to check the embassy website page at their home country for specific visa requirements.