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Xunantunich and Jungle Pontoon Waterfall Adventure

Recommended by 100% of travelers
San Ignacio, Belize
Great choice
5+ bookings last month.
  • 5 to 8 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Overview

Climb one of Belize's tallest temples and learn the history of the ancient Mayan civilization on a tour of Xunantunich, a hilltop archaeological site near San Ignacio. After walking among the ruins of ball courts and royal palaces, head to a tucked-away forest reserve for a jungle pontoon cruise. It's an eco-friendly way to explore the Belizean rain forest, complete with waterfalls, tubing, and cliff jumping for the adventurous.
  • Explore the ruins of ancient Mayan city at Xunantunich
  • Get views into Guatemala from the top of the 'El Castillo' temple
  • Ride a pontoon boat through a protected forest reserve
  • Visit hidden waterfalls, cliff jump, and float on an inner tube in the Belizean jungle

What's Included

  • All taxes, fees and handling charges
  • Lunch
  • Water
  • Local guide
  • Transport by private vehicle with air condition
  • Gratuities
  • Snacks
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • 29 Burns Avenue, San Ignacio, Belize

    Cayo Welcome Center in downtown San Ignacio

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Operating hours
.8:00 am

Itinerary

1

Jungle Splash Eco-Tours

8 hours Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Service animals allowed
  • Near public transportation
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • Children must be accompanied by an adult
  • Vegetarian option is available, please advise at time of booking if required
  • This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate

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)

Reviews

5.0
based on 38 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

I would do this excursion...

Katie_S, Feb 2026
I would do this excursion again! The guides were fantastic and the scenery was spectacular! I would recommend the ruins portion also as you get to learn more about the history as well as some of horticultural. 10 out of 10!

Good to go early in the...

betty_e, Feb 2026
Good to go early in the day to avoid the crowds at xunantunich. The pontoon portion broadened our to climbing waterfalls and jumping off a cliff. We had a really GREAT day, thanks so much to Stephen.

Xunantunich and jungle...

Margaret_B, Feb 2026
Xunantunich and jungle pontoon was excellent, you’ll need good walking shoes for xunantunich. Wear your bathing suit underneath for the pontoon, you will get wet so choose a warm day.

A unique and can’t miss excursion!

Ashley_I, Jan 2026
An amazing and unique experience! Our day started with clear communication on where to meet and our guide, Giovanni Met us promptly at that time. He drove us out to Xunantunich and gave us a really nice tour of the area and took photos for us. He was also great at accommodating my dad, who had a hurt a foot. After our exploration completed, he grabbed some items for lunch and we were able to stock up on drinks for ourselves for the pontoon boat. A bit of a drive down a bumpy dirt road brought us the river and the amazing pontoon and met Giovanni‘a partner in crime. We got a beautiful tour of the river and were able to check out several waterfalls and beautiful pools. We were lucky enough to be there when the water was running so that we could climb Sandpaper Falls. Our guide was great at leading us up 5 levels of rock walled pools for a total of 150 ft. It was breathtaking! After the climbing we came back to lunch ready and waiting on the boat. It was delicious! The guys were great at taking care of us and making it a special experience!

Fun day of ancient ruins and waterfalls

Kelvin_A, Jan 2026
Great combination of Mayan Culture and Belizean waterfall fun. Our guide knew all the great Mayan facts about Xunantunich where we could appreciate the ancient site, the history and the views. Then we met up with the pontoon boat waterfall tour where we visited two waterfalls and had lunch with time to swim and jump off cliffs. The first waterfall was a great adventure and the highlight, which was a combination of walking/climbing up the calcified waterfalls where the calcium in the water and rocks allows your bare feet to the grip and walk up the waterfall . It was great and the fam had tons of fun doing it.

100% recommend

Tina_N, Dec 2025
My little sister and I originally booked this tour and wanted to cancel because we wanted to go see Tikal instead. We didn’t end up canceling after all and I’m so glad that was the case! Nadir was our guide and he was so accommodating/patient and made it everything so much fun. Xunantunich was really cool but the best part for us was definitely the pontoon cruise. We went swimming in the river, saw a bunch of waterfalls/even climbed one, and went tubing. I don’t normally leave reviews but this recommendation is one I’m very happy to give.

Had an amazing experience

Marly_B, Jul 2025
Nadir was a great guide! He was a great storyteller while telling us the history of the ruins. While on the pontoon boat he cooked us a very delicious meal and encouraged us to explore the water and the waterfalls. We had an amazing time 10/10 would recommend.

An Exciting Trip

Linda_E, Feb 2025
Our guide Nadie was so knowledgeable about the ruins and also provided us insights on the culture of this beautiful country. We also took the tour of the river, swam in the waterfalls and enjoyed a leisurely trip down the river while eating a delicious meal prepared on board by Nasir. Giovani was also a great host. He added humor and always extended a hand when we needed help maneuvering the trails. A great trip. Even enjoyed the bumpy ride to the river.

Awesome day full of history and local culture.

smithtr7, Jul 2024
Our morning started with Dave taking us to the ruins where he was great at sharing the Mayan history, customs and how Belize still respects parts of that culture today. Next, he took us to the pontoon experience on the river where Giovani was also great about sharing information on the river, dam and wildlife. They grilled for us while we swam and were just a great group to joke with and get to know. Couldn’t have asked for a more personable team.

Great Time!

Jarred_C, Jun 2024
Despite it being very hot, we had an incredible time. Our guide was awesome and made the experience that much better! Highly recommend.

AMAZING

Deb_S, Apr 2024
Giovani was a great guide. We had such a great time learning about the ruins and then floating in the river. The BBQ on the boat was so good!

Great day for ruins and rivers

Lindsey_S, Feb 2024
Would do again! Great way to spend the day. We got to the ruins early so we almost had ot to ourselves. The pontoon had plenty of room. We saw two crocodiles!

Amazing!

Trisha_C, Aug 2022
This was one our favorite days of our trip to Belize! Our guides Nadir and Eder were so wonderful! Full of knowledge and humor, we really enjoyed our time with them! These aren't the biggest waterfalls in the area, but it was still very fun and beautiful. Also food was amazing, and we got to see monkeys, iganuas, a toucan, and a crocodile, which was a bonus.

Amazing experience! Robert was such...

Archana_B, May 2017
Amazing experience! Robert was such a great guide - learned so much, he made us laugh the entire day and went above and beyond to make our experience perfect. His love for Belize made us fall more and more in love with the beautiful country! Definitely the highlight of our trip - highly recommend!

Robert was a wonderful guide with so...

Jennifer P, Feb 2017
Robert was a wonderful guide with so much knowledge! We loved walking around these stunning ruins. The pontoon adventure was gorgeous!! Calm water, jungle, birds and even a baby alligator... climbing the waterfalls and swimming at a little beach were a great end to this day. We enjoyed Robert so much that we booked him for a tour the very next day!

From $165.35

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 42 days in advance.

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