Dan Snow investigates ancient Mayan secrets in Belize for major historical hit documentary and podcast | News
History Hit, the podcast, SVOD and content platform network founded by Dan Snow, heads deep into the Belizean jungle to uncover the story of one of the most important Mayan archaeological discoveries in decades and explore the extraordinary ancient sites that make Belize one of the world’s most fascinating archaeological destinations.
In July 2025, archaeologists working at Caracol announced the discovery of the burial chamber of one of the Mayan civilization’s greatest rulers, Te K’ab Chaak, the founder of the Caracol dynasty, and the first royal tomb with a ‘named person’ discovered at the site in more than 40 years. Inside they found remarkable treasures, including jadeite decorations, ritual pottery and a mosaic death mask, which offered new insights into the power, sophistication and beliefs of the Classic Maya world.
Now, Dan Snow and a production team from History Hit, in partnership with the Belize Tourism Board, have traveled through Belize to explore the country’s rich Mayan heritage. The team visited the ancient city of Lamanai and the iconic Masked Temple, ventured into remote cave systems once used for Mayan rituals, and met the archaeologists behind the historic Caracol discovery to understand what this extraordinary find reveals about the Mayan civilization.
The trip has formed the basis of a new History Hit network collection, including:
One premium SVOD documentary – ‘Secrets of the Maya’ (working title). Release date June 25, 2026
Two YouTube films – ‘We Explored Abandoned Ancient Megacity’ (Tour of Caracol) and ‘Life as an Ancient Maya’ (working title). Release in July TBC.
A two-part narrative podcast miniseries – ‘The Rise of the Maya’ and ‘The Fall of the Maya’ on Dan Snow’s History Hit. Release dates – August 3 and 6
Social content on History Hit channels from June to August
As millions of travelers flock to the famed Mayan sites of Mexico and Guatemala, Belize remains one of Central America’s best-kept secrets, home to vast jungle-covered sites, sacred caves, ancient temples and living Mayan traditions that remain largely undiscovered by the international public.
“People think they have to go to Mexico to experience the Mayan world, but Belize is just as extraordinary and perhaps more adventurous,” says Dan Snow. “You’ll travel through crocodile-inhabited rivers to reach hidden cities that emerge from the jungle canopy, explore caves full of evidence of ancient rituals, and meet communities where Mayan culture still thrives today. The recent discovery at Caracol is hugely exciting. Speaking to the archaeologists behind it provided a fascinating insight into how discoveries like these continue to reshape our understanding of the ancient Maya.”
Throughout the series, Dan follows the rise and fall of the Mayan civilization, examining its sophisticated cities, belief systems, environmental ingenuity, and the unanswered questions surrounding both the collapse of the Classic Mayan world and the later impact of the Spanish conquest.
The productions will also spotlight Belize itself as a vibrant cultural crossroads shaped by indigenous civilizations, colonialism, migration and settlement, while showcasing the country’s growing focus on ecotourism, wildlife conservation and archaeological preservation.
Key moments in the collection include:
Travel by boat through crocodile-inhabited jungle waterways to the ancient city of Lamanai and the iconic Mask Temple
Meeting the archaeologists behind the internationally reported 2025 discovery of the royal tomb at Caracol
Join local players for a game of the ancient Mayan ball game Pok-Ta-Pok
Trek through remote cave systems and discover human remains and ritual artifacts associated with Mayan ceremonies
Stay with a local Mayan family to discover how Mayan traditions continue today
The project also aligns with broader tourism and development initiatives in Belize, including the promotion of new Air Canada routes into the country and continued investments in ecotourism and archaeological programs designed to support sustainable growth while preserving Belize’s extraordinary historical heritage.
