Top San Ignacio Tubing

My husband and I joined Giovanni on the jungle and waterfall excursion on his pontoon boat. First I have to say that he was very personable and had a great sense of humor. During the trip we saw howler monkeys, crocodiles and a whole wide variety of birds including toucans! To begin we went on a short hike to a beautiful waterfall and swam in a crystal clear pool. From there we headed upriver as he prepared lunch aboard the boat. We then made it to a second site and docked while eating lunch directly in front of a triple waterfall! After lunch we were able to dive off the second story of the boat into the deep pools beneath the waterfalls. Giovanni even climbed up the rocks and jumped off to join us! We then were off to make a quick stop to see the dam that creates electric power for much of Belize. Next was the final waterfall of the day with calcium rich pools and crystal clear water complete with tiny fish that swam all around us. My husband and I both thought the trip was amazing and well worth making a day out of. Giovanni really knew the area having grown up on the very piece of land we launched from. He knew a lot of the cultural history of the waterways and was great at helping us imagine the significance the river highway system provided to inhabitants over time. We would both recommend checking this out and give it a solid 10 stars. Thanks Giovanni!

Jose was the best guide we’ve had traveling all over S America (more on him later). It’s a 35min drive to the Mayan site. Climb as much or as little as you want. The structures are impressive with panoramic views from the top. From there the drive to the river & caves is longish (1.5hr). About a 30 min walk up the river and then leisurely tubing down through huge caves. Tubing through the caves was phenomenal made even more enjoyable by our guide Jose. He shared interesting details about the caves, their evolving nature and intricate passages one could take if one wanted to. Jose was full of interesting little details of the flora and fauna of the region which he learnt growing up in the area. Above all he enjoyed the work he did and spread the joy to our party freely and frequently. I highly recommend him and the tour company he works for (sorry cannot recall the company’s name).

We had a great time. There is a 1 mile hike to get to the launch point through the jungle on a wide and cleared trail. You will also walk through crystal clear water a couple of times. I recommend Tiva styled water sandals which are also very helpful in the short cavern hike in the middle of the trip. Those rocks can be sharp and slippery. Our guides were very informative and entertaining. The lunch was very good seasoned chicken with rice, beans and plantains. Keep in mind there could be people in the group that may be zip-lining after the tubing. If you did not sign up for that you will be waiting until they are done, which was an hour or less. There are a few shops and drink vendors available to pass the time. The travel time was an hour and a half each way. The small bus we rode in was modern, pretty comfortable and clean, with air conditioning. If you want to bring anything on the river you don’t want getting wet they recommend leaving it in the van, but I took a dry bag to keep valuables in which you can strap around you (also great for snorkeling at the reef!). Bring a waterproof case for your phone. The kind that hangs around your neck might be safest. You won’t regret this one! Cheers!