Top Belize City Day Trips

Explore the ancient Mayan ruins at Lamanai—and leave the navigation and logistics to someone else—on this day-trip from Belize City that includes a scenic boat ride. Following hotel or port pickup, head to New River for a jungle boat ride to spot monkeys, crocodiles, birds, and more. Next, enjoy a buffet lunch of Belizean classics. Finally, follow your guide through the jungle and into the intricate Lamanai temples.

Avoid trying to find a cab at Belize International Airport and instead book this transportation option to get to your accommodations within Belize City or one of the water taxi terminals, if you're headed to the Cayes off the coast. Travelers can also book this shuttle in reverse, going from Belize City to the airport.

Combine a visit to the ruins of Altun Ha with a cave tubing trip on this private tour from Belize City. You'll start at Altun Ha, where you'll learn about how Mayans lived long ago. You'll then visit the Nohoch Che'en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve for a tubing adventure through ancient caves before making your way back to the city.

Experience the fun of tubing through ancient caves on this private tour, which includes transportation to and from your hotel and lunch. You'll drive from your hotel to the rainforest, where you’ll hike for about 20 minutes until you reach a river. You'll then hop aboard an innertube for a floating adventure through natural caves.

A guide shares information about the cultures and history of Belize City during this shore excursion, catered to cruise passengers with limited time. Relax during a leisurely drive past city landmarks and make several photo stops.

Combine two of Belize’s top activities on a cave tubing and zip lining tour that takes you deep into the jungle. This small-group tour includes a 20-minute rainforest hike, floating through Maya caves, and zip lining with jungle views. Enjoy the undivided attention of your guide and increase your chances of spotting rare flora and fauna as you soar over the jungle canopy and go deep underground on a caving tour.

Experience Belize City through its local flavors on a small-group food tour led by a knowledgeable guide. Sample traditional Belizean snacks and seasonal fruits, visit a rum factory and rum museum for tastings, then finish with a hot tamale lunch in a local park. It’s a flavorful introduction to Belizean culture beyond the city's main sights.

Saddle up on your trip to Belize. Explore the jungle on horseback, no matter what your riding ability is. On this tour, all levels from beginner to advanced are catered to. This guided adventure takes you across picturesque, wild fields and alongside a river. Be one with nature, soaking up the beautiful rainforest setting while keeping an eye out for birds like parrots, toucans and macaws.

Discover what makes Lamanai one of Belize’s most impressive Mayan ruins on this full-day tour that takes you through an excavated ancient city that rises mysteriously out of the jungle. Look for native wildlife including birds and crocodiles on a river cruise to the archaeological site, where the ruins of the Jaguar and Mask Temples and ancient Mayan palaces beg exploration. See fascinating artifacts like clay pots and temple carvings at the on-site museum, and round out the day with a typical Belizean lunch at a restaurant.

Go cave tubing in a remote national park on a guided half-day outing. Travel by mini-bus into the rain forest outside of Belize City and learn about the area’s tropical flora and fauna on a brief walk to the cave system. Once there, get outfitted with a life jacket, helmet, and light, hop in a tube and float downstream, passing unique rock formations and a waterfall as you go.

Explore one of the world’s most-visited Mayan sites at your own pace on a private tour that lets you dive deeper into the history of the Xunantunich ruins. Exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Site with a private guide means that you’ll have ample time to ask questions as can tailor your itinerary to only cover the areas that most interest you. Plus, your guide puts the 26 different temples into context with commentary.

Combine two of Belize’s top outdoor activities without having to book each one separately on a private cave tubing and howler monkey sanctuary visit from Belize City. You’ll save hours of planning and enjoy the undivided attention of your private guide as you soak up Belize’s stunning outdoor scenery and wildlife.

Explore the majestic and mysterious Lamanai Temples on a full-day tour that starts from Belize City, making it possible to visit on a day trip from the cayes. With lunch, transfers, and a guided tour of this ancient Mayan site on the banks of the New River Lagoon included, you just sit back and enjoy the day. Learn about the legends of the temples and see artifacts at the museum.

Bring some adventure to your Belize vacation or cruise ship stopover with a cave kayaking tour from Belize City to Nohoch Che'en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve. Feel safe and secure in a hard-shelled sit-on-top kayak as you paddle your way around the Caves Branch River with a guide. You’ll also get to explore Belize City with your guide, stopping for lunch (own expense) along the way.

Discover a ruined Maya city and float through a series of flooded caves with a 6-hour private tour from Belize City to Altun Ha and the Caves Branch River. Explore broad plazas and towering pyramids as you visit the archeological site with your guide, and see the precious treasures excavated from the Temple of the Green Tomb. Hike through a lush forest to the Caves Branch River, then go tubing through soaring caverns as your headlight illuminates cave walls that glint with crystal formations and stalactites.

Venture deep inside an ancient cave system at Nohoc Chen Park on a cave kayaking adventure from Belize City. Old legends and an underground waterfall await inside a series of caverns that you explore by single or double kayak, wearing an LED headlamp to illuminate crystalline rock formations. Hike through the Belizean rain forest and paddle down open stretches of the Caves Branch River on this half-day tour in the heart of the Maya Mountains.

Combine three of Belize’s top natural and historical attractions on a combo tour that saves you the hassle of booking each activity separately. Exploring the ancient Mayan site of Xunantunich with a guide puts the ruins into context, while cave tubing and ziplining satisfy an appetite for adventure. Note that the tour starts and ends in Belize City; water-taxi transfers from Caye Caulker are not included.

Descend into a sacred cave, once considered an entrance to the Mayan underworld, on this tour from Belize City. You'll visit Actun Tunichal Muknal, where you'll see skeletal remains and ancient pottery while you learn about the ancient belief systems of the region. You'll also spend some time hiking in the jungle and dining on an included lunch.

Learn about Belize's animal life and its ancient history on this tour. You'll start with a guided visit to Altun Ha, where you'll learn about how Mayans lived as you check out exceptionally well-preserved ruins. You'll then visit the Black Howler Monkey Sanctuary for a hike through a patch of jungle where many of these creatures live. Hotel pickup is included for added convenience.

Swim among sea turtles, sting rays, and tropical fish at one of Belize’s top snorkeling spots on this day trip from Belize City. Cruise across the turquoise Caribbean to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, a protected channel in the Belizean barrier reef that draws countless sea creatures. After plenty of time in the water here and at a nearby turtle garden, soak up the laid-back vibes of Caye Caulker with free time to explore and grab lunch on the popular resort island.

See a different side of Belize on this day tour, which combines a visit to the Mayan ruins at Xunantunich with a horseback-riding adventure. You'll start at Hanna Stables, where you'll spend around an hour on a trail ride along the Mopan River. You'll then get off your horse and head over to Xunantunich on a hand-cranked ferry, where you'll have plenty of time to explore and take photos.

Combine a visit to the Mayan ruins at Altun Ha with a tubing trip at the Nohoch Che'en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve on this small-group tour from Belize City. Your driver will take you and a small group of fellow travelers out to Altun Ha, where you'll learn about Mayan history as you explore the ruins. You'll wrap up your trip with a river tubing adventure at Nohoch Che'en Caves.

Visit Xunantunich, one of Belize’s most impressive Maya sites, famous for its towering structures and Belize’s largest royal tomb discovered in 2016. Begin in San Jose Succotz, crossing the Mopan River on a hand-cranked ferry. Explore El Castillo, a 130-foot pyramid offering panoramic jungle views and glimpses of Guatemala. Watch for howler monkeys and learn the story behind the name “Stone Woman” from local legend. After the ruins, visit San Ignacio Market to browse fresh produce, crafts, and spices, then explore downtown San Ignacio, enjoying its vibrant streets, cafés, shops, and authentic Belizean culture.