Carnival Cruise Line's Belize Adventure: An Unforgettable Experience

Belize is a popular destination for Carnival Cruise Line, with its unique ecosystems, Mayan ruins, and diverse cultures. The cruise line offers a range of excursions and activities for all ages and activity levels, including cave tubing, snorkelling, exploring Mayan ruins, and relaxing on the beach. With its crystalline rivers, lowland jungles, and natural wonders, Belize promises adventure both onshore and offshore. Carnival Cruise Line provides reliable and reputable shore excursions, ensuring a fun-filled and positive experience for its guests.

Mayan Ruins

Belize was once the heartland of the ancient Mayan Empire. The country is home to many Mayan ruins, which are considered some of the best Mayan sites to visit.

Lamanai Mayan Ruins

Lamanai is one of the well-excavated ruins in Belize. It is located in the Belize River Valley and is reachable by a climate-controlled bus. The site is one of the largest Mayan ceremonial sites ever discovered.

Xunantunich Mayan Ruins

Xunantunich is another well-excavated site in Belize. It is located on top of a ridge above the Mopan River, about 80 miles west of Belize City in the Cayo District. The site is reachable by a hand-cranked ferry. The name "Xunantunich" means "Stone Woman" in the modern Mayan language. The site was opened to visitors in 1950 and was once home to 200,000 people.

Caracol

Caracol is the largest Mayan site ever excavated in Belize. It is located in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve and features majestic temples that visitors can climb.

Cahal Pech

Cahal Pech is a small complex consisting of seven plazas and over 30 structures, including temples, residential buildings, ball courts, an altar, and a sweat house. The site was settled around 1000 BC and abandoned by 800 AD.

Altun Ha

Altun Ha is a major ceremonial and trade centre featuring the "Jade Head", the largest Mayan jade artifact ever found.

El Pilar

El Pilar is a 100-acre site located 12 miles northwest of San Ignacio. It features 12 pyramids and 25 plazas.

Snorkelling

Belize is known for its world-class snorkelling, offering a beautiful underwater world of corals and tropical fish. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, the second-longest barrier reef in the world, borders nearly the entire length of the country of Belize.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley

Located in the north of Belize, this is perhaps the country's most popular dive and snorkel spot. Hol Chan is the country's oldest reserve, and the marine national park is teeming with incredible marine life. Shark Ray Alley is technically a zone within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, and it's the best spot to see sharks and rays, including lemon sharks, nurse sharks, tiger sharks, bull sharks, and black-tipped reef sharks, as well as yellow stingrays and spotted eagle rays.

Turneffe Reef Atoll

The largest of the three atolls in Belize's Barrier Reef, Turneffe is a full day's trip from Caye Caulker. Established as a marine reserve in 2012, it is largely comprised of hundreds of small mangrove islets, making it a great spot to see turtles. It's also teeming with lionfish and is famous for its primary dive site, The Elbow, which features a 30-metre drop-off.

Lighthouse Reef Atoll

The second atoll in Belize's Barrier Reef, Lighthouse Atoll is the farthest from the coast, so pick a calm day for a smoother boat ride. The reef's massive drawcard is the Great Blue Hole, the world's largest underwater sinkhole. While there isn't much fish life here, it features giant stalactites and offers the kudos of having visited! Lighthouse Reef Atoll also features Half Moon Caye and Long Caye Wall, which have amazing fish life.

Glover's Reef Atoll

The third atoll in Belize's Barrier Reef is the most southerly and was named after a couple of pirate brothers. It's part of the World Heritage area and is surrounded by sheer drop-offs that plunge metres down into the Caribbean deep blue. It's famous for its whale shark population, which can be spotted between March and June.

Coral Gardens

Located near Caye Caulker and part of the local marine reserve, Coral Gardens is a great spot for beginners. The shallow depths and incredible diversity of marine life make it ideal for first-time snorkelers. It's also sheltered, so the currents are less strong, making it easier to swim around.

Mexico Rocks

Located just a 20-minute boat ride from Ambergris Caye, Mexico Rocks is an excellent spot for marine photographers. The great visibility makes the colours of the coral pop, and it's one of the top places to spot lobsters and eels. It's also nicely sheltered, with depths of only about 12 feet, and is usually calm with plenty of angelfish and yellowtail snapper.

Goff's Caye

While Goff's Caye is more of a tropical island, it's also a great snorkelling spot, especially if you're basing yourself in or near Belize City. It's popular with cruise ships and features a huge selection of colourful fish, as well as the occasional turtle and dolphin.

Belize City

The city has a rich history that dates back thousands of years, with monuments, ruins, and remnants of civilisations past. It offers a unique combination of tropical oasis, explorer's paradise, and thrill-seeker's playground.

The city is known for its crumbling infrastructure, with potholes, poor drainage, and missing street signs. It is also home to a vibrant social scene, with trendy boutiques, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Jungle Tours

Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve:

Located 2 hours south of San Ignacio, the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve is dedicated to preserving Belize's native pine forest. It offers a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, swimming, and wildlife spotting. The reserve features scenic waterfalls, rushing pools, and mysterious caves, making it a must-visit destination.

Actun Tunichil Muknal:

Actun Tunichil Muknal, often referred to as ATM, is a Maya ceremonial cave located within the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. To reach the cave, you'll embark on a 2-hour hike through dense rainforest and rivers. Inside, you'll discover rare bloodletting altars, sacrificial human remains, and over 1400 Maya artifacts. National Geographic has recognised this site as one of the top Sacred Places of a Lifetime.

Xunantunich Archaeological Reserve:

Just 15 minutes west of San Ignacio lies the Xunantunich Archaeological Reserve, a fascinating Maya site. After crossing a hand-cranked ferry, you'll find yourself surrounded by lush jungle and impressive temples. It's a great spot for relaxation and wildlife watching, with regular sightings of howler monkeys. The main temple, El Castillo, rises 130 feet above the ground, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding villages and Guatemalan mountains.

The Belize Zoo:

The Belize Zoo, located about an hour west of Belize City, is a unique animal sanctuary. It serves as a refuge for orphaned or rescued native animals and is primarily used as an educational facility to promote wildlife conservation. Here, you can get up close and personal with over 45 native species, making it a great family-friendly destination.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary:

The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, situated 15 miles southwest of Hopkins, is known as the world's only Jaguar Preserve. While jaguar sightings are rare, the sanctuary offers excellent opportunities for waterfall chasing and wildlife spotting. It is home to a diverse range of plants and animals, including margays, deer, ocelots, pumas, howler monkeys, tapirs, and numerous bird species.

Nohoch Che’en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve:

Located just 30 minutes southeast of Belmopan City, the Nohoch Cheʼen Archaeological Reserve is a network of limestone caves surrounded by dense rainforest. It is a popular destination for cave-tubing, kayaking, and spelunking. You can also experience the thrill of zip-lining through the canopy, often combined with other activities for a 2-in-1 adventure.

These jungle tour options provide a glimpse of the natural wonders and ancient ruins that Belize has to offer. Whether you're seeking relaxation, adventure, or cultural immersion, there is something for everyone in Belize.

Cave Tubing

The tubing adventure begins with a 20-45 minute hike through the Belizean rainforest. The hike is described as a "stroll" and a "well-beaten trail", although some reviewers recommend wearing water shoes for grip. Bug spray is also recommended. After the hike, you'll tube down the river and into the cave systems. The river will carry you in and out of the caves, and you'll be able to view ancient cave formations and colonies of bats. At the end of the tubing, there's a 20-minute float through the rainforest back to the starting point.

The whole experience can take up to 9 hours, including travel, and some companies offer additional activities like ziplining, ATVs, and lunch.

Several companies offer cave tubing excursions, including Cave-Tubing.com and Butts Up Cave Tubing. Both companies offer tours specifically designed for cruise ship passengers. Butts Up Cave Tubing also offers free hotel pick-up for overnight visitors.

Frequently asked questions