Adventures in Belize are the BEST! With so much history and activities, there are many options to choose from! Let’s focus on Mayan Ruins, ziplining, and cave tubing, but you can also go on ATV tours, horseback riding, and much more!
On our trips to Belize, we’ve always stayed on the island of Caye Caulker, but any of these adventures would be doable from other nearby islands, the mainland (easiest option, of course!), or even if your cruise ship stops for the day.
Getting to the mainland
When staying on one of Belize’s islands, you’re looking at a full day with lots of travel time if you book a tour on the mainland. Staying somewhere like Caye Caulker or San Pedro, you’ll most typically take the first San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi out in the morning and catch the last one back. You can also fly to Belize City from each island, but it will cost you a pretty penny!
Booking tours
When looking at tours in Belize, there are so many to choose from that it can be overwhelming. We’ve had the best luck booking through our hotel. We just let them know we wanted to go cave tubing, ziplining, and see Mayan Ruins, and they arranged the tour for us and told us where to meet our guide. They chose our locations, but you can specify where to go.
Depending on your plans, you may visit two or three locations or only have time for one. On our first trip to Belize, we went to Lamanai, an all-day trip from Caye Caulker. Due to travel time and tour length, it didn’t allow us time to do anything else. Then, on our most recent day trip, we visited Altun Ha and went ziplining and cave-tubing at Caves Branch Outpost on a private tour with Coral Breeze Adventure Tours. You can find details about this tour at the bottom of this post.
Mayan Ruins
Belize is home to several impressive Mayan ruins that are worth visiting. Some of the most notable ones to visit are Lamanai, Altun Ha, Xunantunich, and Caracol.
| Ruin | Distance from Belize City | Transportation from Belize City |
|---|---|---|
| Lamanai | 40 mi (64 km) | Bus, car, or boat |
| Altun Ha | 31 mi ( 50 km) | Bus or car |
| Xunantunich | 70 mi (113 km) | Bus or car |
| Caracol | 80 mi (128 km) | 4×4 car |
Lamanai
On our first trip to Belize, my husband and I visited Lamanai, which is about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from Belize City. Getting there is half the fun, as the site is accessible only by boat along the picturesque New River!
Lamanai means “submerged crocodile” in the Maya language. Its fascinating history dates back to around 1500 BC, when it was continuously inhabited until the 19th century. During the Classic Maya period (AD 250-900), it was a bustling center, making it a must-see for history lovers!
As we wandered around, we spotted many monkeys, often swinging through the trees. This added to the adventurous and wild atmosphere of the ruins, which are home to several species, including howler monkeys, spider monkeys, and the black-handed spider monkey.
There are also many impressive structures nestled in the jungle, including temples, plazas, and a large acropolis. The most significant buildings include the High Temple (Temple I), the Mask Temple, and the Jaguar Temple. The temple we walked up had steep steps that were a little scary coming down, but the views were incredible!
I wish I knew who did our tour on that trip-I don’t think we even knew during the tour. haha! It was booked through our snorkel guide on Caye Caulker, and we paid cash. I do remember that we had one of the best homemade Belizean lunches! Oh, so good! The tour guide’s mom made it.
If you’re thinking of a day trip from Caye Caulker, Lamanai is a wonderful choice. Just keep in mind that it’ll likely be your main adventure for the day, and it’s definitely worth every moment!
Altun Ha
Altun Ha is about 31 miles (50 kilometers) north of Belize City. We arrived early, around 9 a.m., and there were only a couple of other people there.
There’s a small museum you can walk through to learn more about this history. The site was a trading center from 200 BC to AD 900, and it’s known for its ceremonial plazas, temples, and the jade head of the sun god, Kinich Ahau, including the 54-foot-tall Temple of the Masonry Altars.
Our tour here lasted about an hour and included the museum, walking around the grounds, and climbing two of the temples.
Xunantunich
Xunantunich is a prominent Mayan archaeological site near San Ignacio. It’s located 70 miles (113 kilometers) west of Belize City, close to the Guatemalan border, and is accessible by a short ferry ride across the Mopan River.
The name “Xunantunich” means “Stone Woman” in the Maya language, referring to a local legend about a ghostly figure seen in the area. It was inhabited from around 300 BC to AD 1000 and thrived during the Classic Maya period (AD 250-900). Its most popular structure is El Castillo, a large pyramid about 130 feet (40 meters) tall adorned with intricate stucco friezes.
If you’re interested in horseback riding, this is a popular place for horseback tours.
Caracol
Caracol is in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, about 80 miles (129 kilometers) from Belize City.
Typically, you’ll travel to San Ignacio first and then to Caracol, about 40 miles (64 kilometers) away. The roads are rough and often require a 4×4 vehicle. Depending on your mode of transportation and road conditions, the trip can take 3 to 4 hours.
This site existed from around 300 BC to AD 900 and had a population of approximately 150,000. At 143 feet (43 meters), Caracol has the tallest pyramid in Belize, known as “Caana,” which means “Sky Palace.” The site also includes plazas, residential areas, and several temples.
Caves Branch Outpost
Caves Branch Outpost is a perfect launch pad for some of Belize’s most exciting outdoor activities. Located near Belmopan in the Cayo District, this magnificent place is where we went ziplining and cave tubing. We had a BLAST!
It’s about 43 miles (70 kilometers) from Belize City.
Ziplining
Ziplining at Caves Branch Outpost is an exhilarating adventure through the lush jungle canopy. We soared across multiple lines, enjoying breathtaking views of the rainforest. Our guides were so much fun and great with our seven-year-old son, who was grinning ear to ear the entire time. They are trained professionals who combine safety with excitement, making the experience suitable for families and thrill-seekers.
You’ll want to wear pants or longer shorts. I wore leggings, and even though it was 100 degrees out with humidity that felt like 113 degrees, I was more comfortable than in jogging shorts or bikini bottoms (which would be awkward and incredibly uncomfortable with how the harness is fitted).
Cave tubing
After braving the 100-degree weather ziplining, we were ready to cool off! Before heading towards the caves, you can stop at the rent water shoes from the vendors by the inner tubes (or bring your own shoes). You’ll start the tour by walking for 20-30 minutes until you reach the cave entrance. It’s a leisurely stroll through the tall, lush green trees, plants, and shallow parts of the river.
Once you reach the cave, you’ll hop into an inner tube, and your guide will lead you through the ancient caves along the Caves Branch River. We saw stunning rock formations, stalactites, waterfalls, and bats. After exiting the cave, you float along the crystal-clear river and warm up in the sun. It’s a must-try experience that blends relaxation and natural beauty.
Other tours
In addition to ziplining and cave tubing, Caves Branch Outpost offers many other exciting adventures, such as a Waterfall Cave Expedition, a Black Hole Drop, horseback riding, and much more. Their accommodations, including canopy treehouses, jungle bungalows, and jungle cabanas, also look amazing.
Belize Zoo
The Belize Zoo, often called the “Best Little Zoo in the World,” is just a short 20-minute drive from Caves Branch Outpost, making it a perfect addition to a tour!
It offers an educational experience where you can see native animals in their natural habitats. You’ll see some amazing rescued and rehabilitated animals like jaguars, tapirs, toucans, and howler monkeys. It’s a great adventure for animal lovers of all ages!
If you travel from Belize City, it’s about 30 miles (48 kilometers).
Our fantastic experience with Coral Breeze Adventure Tours
While staying at El Ben Cabañas in Caye Caulker, we told the front desk that we’d like to see Mayan ruins, go ziplining, and go cave tubing. They arranged a private tour for us with Coral Breeze Adventure Tours, and it was an exceptional experience. I wouldn’t hesitate to do another tour with this company.
All of the slideshows in the sections above are from this tour (except Lamanai).
Getting from our resort to the mainland
El Ben Cabañas instructed us to be on the first San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi that departs at 6:30 a.m. from the south side of Caye Caulker and goes to Belize City. Since we were staying on the north side of Caye Caulker, the resort boat took us to the south side, and then we caught the water taxi. We left our room around 6 a.m.
Meeting our guide and payment
When we arrived in Belize City around 7:30 a.m., we found our guide on the dock, which was easy since she held a sign with our name. Then, we paid our guide’s supervisor for the tour using a credit card.
The cost included transportation from Belize City to all tour locations, breakfast, lunch, a tour of Altun Ha, and ziplining and cave tubing at Caves Branch Outpost, and transportation back to Belize City. We gave cash (US Dollars) to our guide for gratuity.
Breakfast and coffee
Once payment was complete, we hopped into our guide’s air-conditioned minivan and quickly stopped at a gas station for coffee.
While arranging the tour, the resort asked us what we wanted for breakfast (gave us options to choose from), so our guide brought ham and cheese croissants for me and my husband and a cheese croissant for my son. They were so delicious!
Altun Ha Mayan Ruins
It was about an hour’s drive from the gas station to Altun Ha, which went by quickly. Our guide was very informative and told us about Belize and the different sites we saw along the way.
We reached Altun Ha around 9 a.m., which was an ideal time to be there. We pretty much had the place to ourselves. Our guide first took us through a museum and then around the ruins, where we could climb to the top of some of the structures. The tour lasted about an hour.
Lunch
We drove from Altun Ha about an hour and 20 minutes to Teaky Tavern for lunch, where we enjoyed authentic Belizean food.
Ziplining
From Teaky Tavern, it was a 10-minute drive to Caves Branch Outpost for the adventure part of our tour.
Our guide checked us in and led us to the ziplining area, where trained guides met us. They suited us with gloves, helmets, and harnesses and explained the rules, safety, and instructions. Our seven-year-old was too lightweight to go by himself, so the lead guide would cross with him when extra weight was needed. However, he let him do the last line all by himself, and he almost made it the whole way! Our guide shimmed out 15 feet to reel him back in.
This was my son’s favorite part of the tour (cave tubing was a very close second) and lasted about 40 minutes. The guides were spectacular, especially with our son.
Cave tubing
After ziplining, we met back up with our guide from Coral Breeze Adventure Tours, and she got us ready for cave tubing. We rented water shoes and were able to leave our sandals with the vendor. From there, we grabbed life vests and helmets, and then she led us on a scenic walk through the jungle, which took about 20-30 minutes to reach the cave entrance.
The water was cold but refreshing after ziplining in 100-degree weather. It’s very dark in the cave, so you’ll appreciate your helmet with a flashlight once you’re in there. Our tour guide tethered my son’s inner tube to mine and pulled us through the cave, similar to most other groups.
It took about 30 minutes to pass through the cave, and then we floated another 25-30 minutes, relaxing in the sun and admiring the crystal-clear river water.
After getting out of the river, we had a short walk back and returned our shoes and equipment. We quickly changed in the dressing rooms near the parking lot and hopped in the guide’s minivan.
Getting back to our destination
We left Caves Branch Outpost around 3 p.m. and had about an hour and a half drive back to the dock. Our guide told us she would try to get us on the 4:30 p.m. water taxi, which we appreciated. She was a master of navigating the traffic and got us there just in time to get tickets and board! If you haven’t driven on the roads in Belize, buckle up! You’re in for a ride. LOL! She was a safe driver, though; it’s just different than the roads in California. We could’ve taken the 5:30 p.m. taxi, but we were so happy to be on our way and get back to Caye Caulker a little earlier!
We arrived back in Caye Caulker around 5:30 p.m. and enjoyed dinner before returning to our resort.
What to wear and things to bring
- Water
- Sunscreen
- Clothing with UPF (not a must, but nice if you have it)
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Long pants or long shorts for ziplining
- Swimsuit/swim trunks
- Rashguard
- Water shoes (or rent them)
- GoPro! It’s so much fun to have for ziplining and cave tubing!
- Cash for tipping