Day Trips from Belize to San Ignacio

Discover the Mayan mysteries of Xunantunich, one of the largest archeological sites in Belize, on an excursion from Belize City. As well as getting crucial historical context about the ruins from your guide, you’ll go river tubing through a cave network that help great spiritual significance for the Mayans.

Ride a horse deep into the countryside on a 2-hour private riding tour from San Ignacio along the Kiskadee Trail, and explore open pasture, jungle trails and the scenic Mopan River. Watch for parrots, herons and kiskadees as you follow your guide along a gentle path that’s appropriate for all skill levels, then pause to visit an ancient Maya site. Take in the tropical sounds of bird song and monkey calls, and enjoy the serenity of this rural valley before finishing your tour with return transfer to San Ignacio.

This guide-led experience brings travelers together for a well-paced look at the places and activities in the itinerary. At Xunantunich, walk through the ceremonial plazas, learn how the ancient city developed, and take in the wide Cayo District views around El Castillo. A hands-on chocolate-making experience introduces the cacao process and its long connection with Maya culture. Allow about 8 hours for the full experience. This is a shared experience with a listed maximum of 16 travelers. entrance fees, transportation, and bottled water are included. lunch is not included. The experience is not wheelchair accessible. It is not recommended for pregnant travelers, travelers with back problems, and travelers with heart problems or other serious medical conditions.

Instead of setting off to the Actun Tunic Hil Munal Cave on your own, this tour guides you and provides all of the necessary safety equipment for your convenience. With your helmet, headlamp, and life jacket if needed, hike, wade, and swim through this Maya underworld. The journey includes three river crossings, a 30-minute hike to an hourglass entrance, and a journey through a cave system with stalactites, stalagmites, boulders, and freshwater streams.

Explore the Maya Ruin of Caracol and learn its history. Learn the history of how the Caracol was founded before the Common Era. Spend time hiking, touring, having fun, and taking pictures to commemorate the experience. Then, you visit the Rio Frio cave and check out the enormous bolder, stone chandeliers, water pools, and waterfalls. At Rio On Pools, you can enjoy sunbathing, water massages, relaxation, and swimming at a natural spa.

See ancient geological history with this canoe tour. Upon arrival, you'll learn about the history of the region including the role of the Barton Creek Cave in ceremonies performed by the Mayan people. While exploring the cave you'll see gorgeous crystals forming and learn about the culture of local Mennonite communities. Once you arrive at Big Rock Falls you'll have the option of cooling off in the free-flowing water.

Strap on a headlamp for Belize’s most exhilarating caving adventure at Actun Tunichil Muknal, better known as the ATM Cave. Hidden deep in a natural reserve, the ancient cave system can only be explored with a guide, so let an expert lead you safely through narrow passageways, glittering chambers, and up steep ladders. Come within inches of ancient pottery and human remains, remnants of mysterious Mayan ceremonies held here more than a thousand years ago.

Visit Xunantunich, known for its ancient Mayan ruins, on this private tour from Belize City. You'll take a roughly 3-hour drive out to the ruins in an air-conditioned vehicle, where you'll explore ruins and learn about ancient culture. Climb to the top of El Castillo, the second-tallest structure in the country, for views of Belize and Guatemala. Hotel pickup and lunch are included for your convenience.

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.

Experience the ancient history and wild landscapes of Belize’s Cayo District on this small-group kayaking and temple combo tour from San Ignacio. Walk among the ruins of a once-mighty Mayan civilization at the archaeological site of Xunantunich, and then test your paddling skills as you kayak down the rapids of the Mopan River. It’s a great way to get your fill of culture and adventure in a single day.

Discover the best of Belize with Belize Wild Caribbean Tours on an unforgettable adventure to the ancient Maya city of Xunantunich and the natural limestone caves of Nohoch Che’en. Travel with friendly, knowledgeable local guides who bring Maya history to life as you explore temples and enjoy panoramic views from atop El Castillo. Then journey into the jungle to float through crystal-clear cave rivers, entering Xibalba, the Maya underworld, for a relaxing and exciting tubing experience. We pride ourselves on safe, personalized tours and go the extra mile to deliver an authentic, adventurous Belize experience you’ll never forget.

The ATM Cave tour from San Pedro is distinctive because Actun Tunichil Muknal is both an active wet-cave expedition and a protected Maya ceremonial site. After traveling from Ambergris Caye to the mainland, a licensed ATM guide leads the jungle approach, river crossings, swim-in cave entrance, and route through limestone passages. The physical journey is essential to the experience: travelers move through water, climb within the cave, and follow the same natural route that gave the site meaning to the ancient Maya. In the ceremonial chambers, pottery, ritual evidence, and human remains remain in place rather than being displayed in a museum. Your guide explains the archaeological context while protecting a fragile site where every visitor must follow strict procedures. ATM is not a casual cave walk or a standard ruins tour; it is a demanding, closely guided expedition that connects Belize’s rainforest, geology, archaeology, and Maya spiritual history in one unforgettable journey.

Best guides and best presentation of the tours. We are very knowledgeable of this tour and you will have the best day with us.This Tour is unique because its your getting a lot done in one day and its in a fun filled learning experience. Three Tours in one days save you quite a bit and allows you to keep on the move for the day and not waiting or killing time waiting for others in line a special tour for special energetic people. Imagine being on top of the world on a Mayan Temple one min and then a half hour later being in the underworld where the Maya make sacrifices and offerings to their Gods. Also spending a little time with local vendors is a must so you can get you local souvenirs...A great day to remember

Go on an adventure to this incredible sacred cave in Belize. Drive from San Ignacio to Actun Tunichil Muknal, otherwise known as the Cave of the Stone Sepulchre. Here, you’ll follow guides as you wade through rivers and hike through the jungle to reach the cave entrance. Explore the stalactites, boulders and chambers of the cave, until you reach the remains of Crystal Maiden, believed to once have been a sacrificial offering to Gods.

In addition to a personal experience, you will - Have exclusive access to off the beaten path parts of the site - Climb one of the tallest Mayan structures - Smell and taste exotic wild plants - Connect with the world of the ancient Maya - Create lasting memories with loved ones - Learn about the lives of ordinary people - Have fun!

Satisfy an appetite for adventure during a high-octane day trip that combines three of Belize’s top attractions and activities—the Mayan ruins of Xunantunich, cave tubing and ziplining. As well as saving you the hassle of booking three separate tours, this small-group excursion is limited to 15 travelers, to ensure you receive personalized attention from your guide. Plus, you’ll see Belize from three different perspectives—land, water, and sky.

This Xunantunich and horseback riding tour from San Ignacio combines two close-up ways of experiencing the Cayo landscape. Cross the Mopan River by hand-cranked ferry and explore Xunantunich’s plazas, palaces, carved friezes, and El Castillo with a local guide who explains Maya rulership, ceremony, astronomy, and regional connections. At Banana Bank Lodge & Jungle Horseback Adventures, meet the ranch team, receive a safety orientation, and ride through tropical trails and riverside countryside on a horse selected for your ability. The transition from ancient ceremonial architecture to working Belize ranch country gives the day unusual depth and variety. Travelers first see how the Maya built above the river valley, then experience the surrounding countryside at trail level from horseback. Because both experiences are rooted in the Cayo District, they feel naturally connected rather than assembled as unrelated stops.

Guest get to view the city and the country side and learn the Culture and History of it while heading to the cave. The guest hike through the rain forest for 20 minutes to where they start the cave tubing. Guest will not carry their tube, the tubes will already be at the cave entrance. In the cave guest get to see Magnificent Stalactite, Stalagmite, columns and also a beautiful waterfall in the cave system. After finished at the cave guest head to where they do the Mudding (In Our Rainy Season) in the jeep wranglers through the rain forest and also through the Maya Mountain. After the jeeps guest head to have lunch (Lunch Included in the tour).After lunch they head back to where they were picked up in the morning.

Combine several of Belize’s top outdoor adventures in one day without arranging separate excursions. This private tour pairs a high-flying zipline with a guided kayak journey through a cave system featuring waterfalls, rock formations, and swimming spots. Hotel pickup and private transportation keep the focus on adventure rather than logistics.

Jump on ATVs accompanied by our experienced guides. This invigorating ride exposes you to the spectacular scenery of Cristo Rey and San Antonio Villages as you roam through towering trees, tread through mud puddles, climb hills, and coast through vast rugged rainforest terrain. Whether you are an experienced rider or a first-timer, you’re sure to have an exhilarating trip. Upon arrival, we give you a ten-minute introduction on how to operate the vehicle, including safety instructions, and provide you with helmets as a safety precaution. And then Cool off in the refreshing water of the Mopan River gliding along the beautiful village of Bullet Tree Falls while being sunkissed. For almost 2 hours you will enjoy the thrills of rushing over small rapids and the relaxing part of the slower river while listening to the beautiful songs of the bird singing. Our well trained guide can point out rare birds and also some spider and howler monkeys of Belize.

Discover some of Belize’s top natural attractions with ease on an 8.5-tour of Crystal Cave (Mountain Cow Cave) in the Blue Hole National Park from San Ignacio. Following a moderately challenging hike, you’ll descend to Xibalba, the reputed entrance to the Mayan underworld, and marvel at stalagmites, stalactites, and crystal formations. Plus, you’ll swim in the Blue Hole and enjoy a hearty lunch accompanied by rum punch.

Embark on an archaeological adventure in the jungles of Belize with a half-day trip to the Xunantunich Mayan ruins from Belize City. Learn about the history of this ancient Mesoamerican city from an expert guide, and climb to the top of the El Castillo stone temple for magnificent views over the treetops and into Guatemala.

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.

Xunantunich is an absolute bucket list experience for Belize. And this triple combo gives it all... arguably the best triple combo experience for memorable Belize trip!