Horseback Ride to the Forgotten Jungle City

Recommended by 100% of travelers

San Ignacio, Belize

8 hours (approx.)
Pickup offered
Mobile ticket
Offered in: English

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Overview

Venture deep into Belize’s rain forest to the ‘Forgotten Jungle City’ of Minanha on a full-day horseback riding adventure from San Ignacio. Trek through the Maya Mountains on a trusty steed to reach the archaeological site, where you can explore hidden caves, ceremonial temples, and burial chambers left behind by an ancient Mayan civilization.

Full-day tour by horseback to the ancient Mayan city of Minanha
Explore a complex of ancient ruins hidden by the thick jungle
See sacred Mayan artifacts and burial chambers deep inside a cave
Includes a typical Belizean lunch
Great way to explore Belize's ancient Mayan heritage
Convenient meeting location in central San Ignacio

What's Included

Bottled water
Lunch
Professional guide
Transport by private vehicle

Gratuities
Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

We provide transportation for guests staying at hotels within the San Ignacio- Area. If you are staying at a hotel outside of the San Ignacio-area, simply let us know at time of booking so we can assist you in arranging a pick-up and drop-off for a small additional fee.

Meeting point

Cayo Welcome Center & Tourist Information Center
San Ignacio, Belize
Complimentary transportation to and from your hotel within San Ignacio can be provided. For guests residing in a hotel outside San Ignacio or an Air Bnb, please meet your tour guide at the Cayo Welcome Center in Downtown San Ignacio.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.8:00 am

What To Expect

Connect with your guide in central San Ignacio in the morning, and head to the local stables to meet your horse and saddle up. Soak up the unspoiled beauty of the Maya Mountains as you venture by horseback away from modern civilization and deep into the Belizean jungle.

Follow in the footsteps of archaeological explorers as you approach Minanha, a once-mighty Mayan city that was discovered buried under layers of thick jungle vegetation. Dismount your horse and climb among the 38 partially uncovered structures of this ‘lost’ city, including a ceremonial acropolis where you can admire the same view seen by ancient Mayan kings. Keep an eye out for the rare white morpho butterfly and other native wildlife as you explore.

Midday, recharge with an included lunch before venturing into the ancient Mayan underworld known as Xibalba by way of Isabella Cave. Strap on a headlamp to descend into a network of chambers that glimmer with natural crystalline formations, and see remnants of ancient burial artifacts left behind more than 1,000 years ago. When you return to the surface, climb back on your horse for the return journey to San Ignacio.

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Not recommended for travelers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions

Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Dress code: Comfortable riding clothing (long pants and a sleeved shirt) are recommended
Vegetarian option is available; please advise at time of booking if required
Please specify if you have any dietary restrictions at time of booking
This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Matt_T

An awesome experience! All of the guides we worked with were helpful, knowledgeable and kind. This was an excellent way to see the beauty of the jungle and learn this history of Belize. We rode to beautiful viewpoints throughout the trip and explored a cave. Along the way we spotted wildlife including owls in the cave. This was the first time riding for two in our party and they can’t wait to go again. This isn’t your average trail ride, it is so much more! This is a must do for any visitor to Belize!

Reviews

5.0

based on 37 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Jungle Adventure

Lynn_A, Feb 2026

We were picked up near our hotel and taken to a farm outside San Ignacio. At the farm, we met Roberto and his family. There was just Roberto, my daughter (adult) and me on the tour. The horses were saddled and ready to go. The horses were healthy and well cared for and the saddle and bridle were also in good shape so we felt very comfortable. The day was incredible. We rode through the jungle, past a farm and up and down large hills to great lookout points. We stopped at a cave for a wonderful lunch that Roberto’s wife had prepared for us. We spent time in the cave exploring and finding pieces of Mayan history. Roberto was extremely knowledgeable and provided a lot of information about the area, agriculture, and Mayan culture. We rode for quite a few hours and enjoyed our experience immensely. I would highly recommend this tour.

An Amazing Adventure

Matt_T, Jan 2026

Real Indiana Jones stuff, be prepared for an experience!

Gulnara_B, Aug 2025

Didn't know what to expect, the description was a tad vague, but on our last trip to Belize, in 2023, my boys and I took a half day jungle horseback tour and was one of our favorite activities, so wanted a longer trip and found the one offered by Jungle Splash Eco tours that listed 8 hour adventure so we went for it. Our day started with a 6.30 departure from our hotel at Caves Branch and we met Giovanni from Jungle Splash at San Ignacio at 8. The adventure had begun. We took a 45 minute ride from San Ignacio through Western Belize across unpaved road to the remote family farm owned by Giiovanni's family. The ride to the farm was fun and informative as well, as we passed through rural farmland. We arrived at the horse farm about 9 and met our guide Robert (Giovanni's older brother) and Roberts beautiful wife and children as well, as we waited for the horses to finish their breakfast. Then we were off, heading up a jungle path, (followed by Robert's trusty band of rugged Red and Blue Heeler farm dogs) that led to an elevated bluff that had breathtaking views 360 degrees, you could see from Guatemala to the west all the way to the mountains that back up the Belize shoreline to the east. After some photo/video opps up there we started the real trekking, first down through farmland roads and paths, through cattle pastures, and eventually back into the jungle. Robert is extremely knowledgeable about Belize, Maya History, the flora and Fauna. He is an educated Government guide and he knows the land very well. We took a long ride through winding jungle pathway, most of the time it was barely as wide as the horses themselves, and not often travelled. We made our way to a sizeable dry cave and stopped for lunch at the entrance, just in time for a mid day thunderstorm that rolled in and provided amazing ambiance as we stayed dry inside as we watched the ran come down. We then were offered probably the best meal that we ate on our 10 days trip, a delicious war chicken stew with rice that we ate picnic-style. After lunch we took considerable time to explore the cave, and Robert was a great source of Maya history and lore. We got to see some artifacts that were found in the cave, and were even able to explore 2 empty burial chambers found there. and when I say explore, I mean crawl through 24" wide openings 10m down into the understory of the cave. We learned about the local geology that demonstrated how the Maya used the caves for various purposes and the evidence that was left behind. After Resting up for a while we re-mounted and headed out to the "Forgotten City" . There had been serious fires in the area 2 years prior and much of the large trees in the area had been replaced by thick undergrowth, Robert literally cleared a path through the new growth with a machette to allow for our progress. We travelled through 2m tall heavy growth, often over fallen trees until our path was ultimately blocked by a massive fallen tree, but we were close to the archiological site, so we chose to continue on foot for the last 500m. to the base of the ruins. As we found out later this complex had been partially excavated by a University from Canada in the early 2000's and Robert had been part of the local team that assisted the archaeologists in their work, so although the site had been once again reclaimed by the jungle, we were able to hike to the top of the largest pyramid and see some of the rooms that had been at the apex as well as take in the amazing vistas from the top of the massive structure. The return ride was also fun and informative as we passed back out through the jungle and past lush farmlands on our way back to the homestead. My older son 16, has an interest in entomology, and Robert was even kind enough to dismount, take take my son's phone, and produce some epic pictures and video of a massive procession of Leafcutter ants we came upon on the ride back. I have been visiting Belize for 35 years now, probably 15/16 trips over the years, and this was the most interesting, challenging, and satisfying adventure yet. Big thank you to Robert and Jungle Splash for the life-enriching adventure!

Memorable

Stacy_S, Oct 2024

By far exceeded all expectations. Sorry I didn’t write this review before now. Will definitely be repeat visitors. Horses were great under saddle, Robert was fantastic, we learned so much about this beautiful country. Thank you so much!!!

Take the tour to the forgotten jungle, you don’t know what you’re standing on!

erica_b, Apr 2024

What a fun experience! So cool to travel into the jungle on horseback and learn about the forgotten city. Roberto was an amazing guide and his brothers who picked us up were so nice. Their four very cute and sweet dogs joined us on the trip which was an extra bonus as who doesn’t love dogs? We stopped for a homemade lunch at this amazing cave that he then led us into to show us ceremonial areas and burial sites. I even got to hold an 800+ year old Mayan bowl that he found unexpectedly during another tour. He’s knowledgeable of the area as it’s where he grew up and was so so nice. It does get hot so be sure to wear SPF! They provide plenty of water and again, the lunch was so good and still hot to enjoy while at the cave. We will recommend this tour to anyone we know coming to San Ignacio, Belize. Just remember, if you haven’t ridden a horse in a while… your legs will hurt a bit!

Best experience ever!

Jesse_O, Dec 2023

Truly one of the best guided experiences we’ve ever had! Horseback riding through the jungle is surreal and exciting. Robert did an incredible job creating the trails as least invasive to the natural habitat as possible. It feels as if you are an explorer in the jungle. We learned so much about the Mayan culture from Robert during our journey, and we highly recommend for everyone to do this tour!

Great horses, fun day!

Edwin_S, Aug 2023

The horses here were well trained and cared for. The weather was not good the day of our trip, but Robert went out of his way to make sure we had an enjoyable day. We cut the horseback ride short because of torrential rainfall causing it to be very muddy. They adjusted and we took a shorter ride and then went on a pontoon ride to some beautiful waterfalls and had a very nice lunch. We would have preferred a longer ride, but given the conditions, appreciate them going out of their way to ensure we had a great day!

Incredible horse riding experience!!!

Amanda_J, Oct 2022

We had such a blast horseback riding in the jungle!! Robert was an excellent host and made us feel right at home! The tour was extremely informative on the culture and history of the area and the horses were just amazing!! Loved that the dogs got to come too! We will be back!!

Absolutely perfect

Deborah_P, Jan 2022

This was one of the absolute most incredible adventures I’ve ever been on. We weren’t sure what to expect from this trip but it was exceptional. First let me say that if you are not experienced on a horse, go for a shorter ride. This was very challenging at times both in terrain and the amount of time you are in the saddle. Robert, the owner of both the horses and the land is an excellent guide. He is knowledgeable and intelligent. He has a great sense of humor and perspective. We thoroughly enjoyed our time with him. He is a passionate educator and really has a vast knowledge of the land he lives on. The trip was enhanced by his lovely assistant Rachel and his hysterical dogs. They provided a passion for the land (Rachael) and immense comic relief (Red and Blue)This really was an adventure of a lifetime

Response from Host, Feb 2022

Thank you for your review and feedback! It was a pleasure hosting both of you. We are very happy to have made new friends who also appreciate the jungle adventures as much as we do. We look forward to seeing you again on more adventures soon. Sincerely, Robert, Rachel, Red and Blue.

jungle adventure

Marc_B, Sep 2021

great land and information from Robert. Learned a lot, saw even more. prepare your butt, its a full day!

Great experience

Michelle_B, Mar 2020

Great experience. Would rate it as moderate exertion and would not take younger children. We rode thru farmlands and dense jungle. Had to dodge a few trees and be able to trot a short distance a few times. Up hills, etc. Crawled thru some neat caves and tight spaces. Lunch and guide were great. Jungle city was underwhelming as is covered in overgrowth and earth. Looks like just hills. Overall I would highly recommend.

A true adventures experience

Anna_F, Mar 2020

Where to start....It was an approximate 9 hours trip in total. The morning started with Robert our guide picking us up and driving us to the basecamp where we got our horses and set up on dirt roads leading to the dense Mayan rainforest,to a massive mayan cave which we got to explore .The cave had mayan pottery and several artifacts scattered through out.We then set off from the cave through the rainforest some more to a 90 ft buried mayan pyramid .There we had one of our best experiences of our lives(wont spoil it).Robert guided us the whole way .He was very knowledgeable..a true historian of Mayan culture and genuine cared about our experience. Would highly recommend to go on this tour it's a once in a lifetime experience.