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Cayo DistrictHiking

Our most recommended Cayo District Hiking

San Ignacio: Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave Full-Day Tour

1. San Ignacio: Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave Full-Day Tour

Depart from San Ignacio and head to the starting point for your hike. Make your first river crossing band hike to the cave entrance for a safety demonstration. Make your way into the cave, swimming and then walking through the main water passage until you reach the boulder and head to the dry chamber. To enter the chamber, you will be required to slip off your shoes in order to protect the cave. Marvel at the cave's artifacts, most of which have been calcified into the ground, unmoved even by archaeologists. Hear your guides talk about the rituals and ceremonies, bloodletting offerings, food offerings and human offerings, including the 15 human remains uncovered by archaeologists. To access the last chamber, you will climb up a ladder to see a full skeletal remains before exiting the cave in the same way you came in. You will hike back to the parking lot before replenishing yourself with lunch and returning to San Ignacio.

Belize City: Mayan Temple Exploration, Cave-Tube, & Zipline

2. Belize City: Mayan Temple Exploration, Cave-Tube, & Zipline

Immerse yourself into the Belizean culture and journey back into 1000 years of history of the Mayan world on a guided day tour. Explore the wonders of the Mayans, their cave systems, the local flora, and enjoy cave tubing and ziplining. Begin with a pickup from your hotel in Belize City or by taking the ferry from Caye Caulker/San Pedro to Belize City. After meeting your guide, explore the Mayan Temple Altun ha, hike to the top and hear fascinating facts about the site and the Mayan world from your guide. Head deeper into the jungle towards the cave systems with a 15-20 minutes hike following a trail to the cave entrance. Enjoy a lesson on plant identification, insect identification, and all their medicinal uses and local beliefs throughout history in Belize. Cave tube down a river through several caves and marvel at the stunning surroundings and Mayan artifacts. Lastly, zipline over the jungle canopy before returning to Caye Caulker/San Pedro/ Belize City in the evening after a truly memorable Belizean experience.

San Ignacio: Crystal Cave & Blue Hole National Park + Lunch

3. San Ignacio: Crystal Cave & Blue Hole National Park + Lunch

Get an early start and depart from San Ignacio at 7:30 AM. Drive out to St Herman's Blue Hole National Park, known for its lush rainforest and intricate system of interconnected caves and azure freshwater pools. Begin your adventure through the park with a rainforest hike that will end at the entrance to the Crystal Cave system. Embark on a spelunking expedition through the series of limestone caverns that the Mayans treated as a natural pantheon. Admire the beautiful stalactites, stalagmites, flow stones, rock columns, crystalline formations, and Mayan artifacts adorning the interior of the caves. Let your guide show you the evidence of ritual ceremonies that took place thousands of years ago, including pottery, fire pits, charcoal ash, and human remains. Step into Wonderland, an aptly-named chamber deep in the earth with walls covered in shimmering crystals. Spend anywhere from 3–5 hours exploring the cave depending on your energy. Let your guide know if you want to eat the packed lunch and get some rum punch inside the cave or back at the parking lot and fill up after a long day's trek. Finish off with a refreshing dip in the Blue Hole pool the park is named for. Arrive back in San Ignacio around 5:30 PM.

Belize: Mayan Ruins and Inland Blue Hole Tour

4. Belize: Mayan Ruins and Inland Blue Hole Tour

The Xunantunich Mayan Ruins are some of the finest Maya Ruins in Belize. The drive from Hopkins to the Blue Hole and Xunantunich Mayan site in western Belize takes you through the scenic Hummingbird Highway and the western villages of Belize. This is a cultural experience, sightseeing tours with first hand views of the countryside, Mayan Mountains, farms, colorful homes and San Ignacio farmers market. Experience an authentic Belizean lunch in the immediate area of the ruins. Along the way back, we will make a stop at the cenote at Blue Hole National Park on the Hummingbird Highway, this is a great place to swim or just take pictures an enjoy the nature. The Blue Hole cenote was formed by the collapse of an underground limestone cave. In this case, the river running through the original cavern still flows through the cave system, and forms a sapphire-colored pool at the bottom of the sinkhole. The depression measures about 100 feet deep and 300 feet in diameter, with the actual blue hole at the depression’s base having a depth of about 25 feet.

From Belize City: Day Trip to Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave

5. From Belize City: Day Trip to Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave

Start with pickup from your hotel in Belize City and travel for 75 minutes outside the city to begin the hike. Walk for approximately 45 minutes through the lush jungle of the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve to reach the entrance of the cave of Actun Tunichil Muknal.  Enter the cave by swimming, or be towed through 12 feet of water, with life vests provided. Once inside, marvel at the huge interior of the cave. With your guide, discover various types of artifacts from the Mayan civilization. See ceramics and stoneware which were left in the cave and learn about Mayan history and culture. Explore a highly sacred location for the Mayans, and discover the remains of the "Crystal Maiden," who is thought to be a victim of human sacrifice.  After a fascinating journey through the remnants of the past, exit the cave and be returned to Belize City.

Belize City: Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Full Day Tour

6. Belize City: Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Full Day Tour

Embrace your adventurous spirit and enter the Mayan underworld at ATM Cave. See Mayan artifacts and swim in the blue waters in Actun Tunichil Mukna Cave. Your day trip includes hotel pickup, as well as lunch and snacks. Departing from Belize City hotels, head to the starting point for your hike. Make your first river crossing and hike 30 minutes to the cave entrance for a safety demonstration and explanation of what to expect on your ATM Cave tour. Enter the cave by swimming and then walking through the main water passage until you reach the dry chamber. To enter the chamber, you will be required to remove your shoes to protect the cave from damage and erosion. Marvel at the cave's Mayan artifacts, most of which are calcified into the ground, unmoved even by archaeologists. Listen to your guide talk about the rituals and ceremonies, bloodletting offerings, food offerings, and human offerings, including the 15 human remains uncovered by archaeologists. Climb a ladder to access the last chamber to see full skeletal remains before exiting the cave the same way you came in. Hike back to the parking lot before replenishing yourself with lunch and returning to your Belize City hotel.

From Belize/San Ignacio: Xunantunich, Ziplining, Cave-Tubing

7. From Belize/San Ignacio: Xunantunich, Ziplining, Cave-Tubing

Pass through charming towns and villages and feel the excitement of crossing the river on a hand crank ferry before arriving at the parking lot. Use the modern restroom and get some bottled water. Start the walk and climb to the top of El Castillo. See the stucco astronomical inscription of the Mayan gods and look across the border of Belize to Guatemala. Take an hour drive from Xunantunich to the foothills of the Maya mountains. Stop to use the modern restroom facilities and have a nice lunch break. Be outfitted with gloves, harnesses and helmets and get familiarized with the zipline. Zipline across the rivers and forest on lines that are up to 1000 feet long. Switch gear and outfits and prepare to get wet. Get a tube, helmet, lights, and PFD from your guide. Hike to the cave system with 100ft high ceilings. Form a mini-train with your tubes and float down the river through the caves. View rock formations and a waterfall. Continue downstream for another 20 minutes in the rainforest after the cave.

Cayo Dristrict: Jungle Zipline and Clandestine Cave Kayaking

8. Cayo Dristrict: Jungle Zipline and Clandestine Cave Kayaking

Provoke your adventurous side with this guided day tour in the Cayo District of beautiful Belize. Fly by zipline over the Mayan jungle trees and rivers, descend under the mountains, and paddle through fresh, azure water caves by kayak or inner tube.     Develop your courage as you soar on seven different ziplines, each ranging from 500 to 1000 feet long. Guides provide equipment, instruction, and encouragement, so you can let yourself experience the rainforest from a completely new perspective. Calm the thrill by kayaking or tubing through a series of clandescent caves fed by natural springs, while learning the natural history, local culture, folklore tales, and surrounding nature from mature and informative guides. Swim in the blue water pools and walk through the peaceful park nature before returning back to your accommodation.

Other Sightseeing Options in Cayo District

Want to discover all there is to do in Cayo District? Click here for a full list.

What people are saying about Cayo District

Holy heck! This was hands down one of the most fun, amazing, interesting, funky, enjoyable experiences of my life. I had no idea what we were getting into, I figured your basic here's a cave, don't touch anything, wooo let's turn off the lights, here's some scratches on the wall kind of tour. It was anything but. It was far more physical than I anticipated (in a good way), far longer than I expected (also in a good way) and truly ranks in the top 5 of things I've done in life so far. Wear REAL shoes, like sneakers, and REAL socks. Dress sparingly, just a tank top or tshirt and shorts is all you will want to deal with. (we went in mid December, still plenty HOT). Something quick dry is nice, but you won't really have a chance to dry off, and too much clothing might get chilly sticking to you. Bring a full on towel/change of clothes, change of shoes, fresh undies, fresh bra, and EAT A GOOD, HEARTY BREAKFAST before you go.

This was my first time visiting Belize and I did this tour on my very first full day...when I tell you I had the BEST time. Brian from Salt Life Tours was our tour guide and he was so great. Really personable and funny and really knew what he was talking about. The zip lining was so fun. Unfortunately the water was too high from the rain so we could not do the cave tubing tour. But everything else was great, the weather is completely out of everyones control. Would highly recommend!

Best thing I did in Belize. No one should leave without doing this tour. It’s adventurous, fascinating, and just an all around unique experience. I don’t think there’s another tour like it in the world. Be prepared to get wet, have fun, see some cool shit and eat some amazing Belizean food at the end.

My wife and I really enjoyed our tour, the guide was very knowledgeable and fun. We learned some interesting history about The Mayans, had fun zip-lining and then a relaxing cave tube ride.

Don’t miss the ATM tour while in Belize. Rafael Guerra, Dr of Archaeology went in depth and shared the history, customs, what was thought to have occurred and importance of the site.