Belize's Ultimate Adventures: Exploring The Country's Natural And Cultural Treasures

Belize is a small country packed with exciting adventure destinations. From ancient Maya ruins to pristine beaches, there's something for everyone in Belize. Here are some must-do activities to add to your itinerary:

- Explore Maya ruins: Belize was once the centre of the Maya empire, and the country is home to numerous ruins, including the remote Caracol, the tallest human-made structure in Belize, and Xunantunich, with its impressive El Castillo pyramid.

- Scuba dive the Blue Hole Natural Monument: For thrill-seekers, the Great Blue Hole offers a unique ecosystem with coral, tropical fish, and stalactites at a depth of 400ft.

- Party on Caye Caulker: This chilled-out island attracts backpackers and younger travellers with its laid-back Caribbean vibe, seaweed-free waters, and lively bars and restaurants.

- Search for jaguars in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary: Belize has the highest concentration of jaguars in the world, and this sanctuary in southern Belize offers the best chance to spot them, along with other wildlife.

- Go birdwatching: With over 500 avian species, Belize is a bird-lover's paradise. Head to Black Rock Lodge near San Ignacio to learn from some of the country's top birding guides.

- Experience Garifuna culture: The Garifuna people, descendants of an Afro-Indigenous community in the Caribbean, have a rich history and culture. Visit Hopkins or Dangriga to learn about their music, dance, and cuisine.

- Snorkel at Hol Chan Marine Reserve: This reserve, located off the coast of Ambergris Caye, is home to nurse sharks, sea turtles, and eagle rays, offering a unique opportunity to explore the diverse marine life of Belize.

- Visit the Belize Zoo: With over 45 species, the Belize Zoo provides a great overview of the country's wildlife, including jaguars, toucans, and howler monkeys.

- Explore the ATM Cave: Actun Tunichil Muknal, or the Cave of the Stone Sepulcher, offers a challenging but rewarding experience, with ancient Maya relics and human skeletons from centuries past.

Explore the ancient Maya ruins of Xunantunich

Xunantunich is an ancient Maya archaeological site in western Belize, about 70 miles (110 km) west of Belize City, in the Cayo District. The name Xunantunich means "Maiden of the Rock" in the Maya languages Mopan and Yucatec. The site served as a Maya civic ceremonial centre to the Belize Valley region in the Late and Terminal Classic periods.

Xunantunich is located atop a ridge above the Mopan River, within sight of the Guatemala border. The site consists of a series of six plazas surrounded by more than 26 temples and palaces. The core of the city covers about one square mile (2.6 km2).

One of the best-known structures at Xunantunich is the pyramid "El Castillo", which is the second tallest structure in Belize, at some 130 feet (40 m) tall. El Castillo is believed to have been used as a shrine, dwelling, and meeting place for the elite rulers of the city. The top of the pyramid was used for stargazing, speaking, and sacrificial events.

Xunantunich is also known for its stucco carvings, which represent astronomical symbols of the moon god, world tree (Pax gods), and Venus. The site has been carefully restored over decades by archaeologists.

To get to Xunantunich, you can drive or take a tour. Part of the adventure of this archaeological site is crossing the Mopan River via the Xunantunich Hand Cranked River Ferry. There is no fee for the ferry, but it is customary to tip the workers.

A small hand-cranked ferry carries visitors across the river from 7:30 am to 4:00 pm, and the site can be reached by bus or taxi. The distance from the ferry to the site is under a mile and is suitable for hiking, although most visitors prefer to take a taxi or tourist bus to the visitor centre and stroll from there.

There is a visitor centre at Xunantunich, which displays a model of the site, photos, maps, and graphical explanations of significant events in the development of the city. There are also restrooms, picnic areas, and gift shops at the site.

Xunantunich is located directly on the tourist route for those travelling between Belize and Tikal in Guatemala, and it is easily accessible from the Western Highway. The largest city near Xunantunich is San Ignacio, which is about a 30-minute drive away and offers hotels and vacation properties.

Other must-do activities in Belize

In addition to exploring the ancient Maya ruins of Xunantunich, there are several other must-do activities in Belize, including:

• Visiting other Maya ruins sites such as Caracol, Cahal Pech, and Lamanai
• Scuba diving at the Blue Hole Natural Monument
• Partying on Caye Caulker
• Searching for jaguars in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
• Birdwatching
• Attending a yoga retreat on Ray Caye
• Horseback riding in the jungle
• Exploring the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave
• Trying the local hot sauce, Marie Sharp's
• Relaxing on Secret Beach
• Taking a distillery tour at Copalli Rum
• Visiting the Belize Zoo

Snorkel at Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Belize is a small country with a plethora of exciting adventure destinations. One of the most popular snorkelling sites in Belize is the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, just off the coast of Ambergris Caye. The reserve covers about 3 square miles and is divided into zones according to marine habitat. It is home to over 160 species of fish, nearly 40 species of corals, 5 sponges, 8 algae, 2 seagrasses, 3 marine mammals, and 3 species of sea turtle.

The Hol Chan Marine Reserve is a beautiful nature reserve in an area world-famous for its excellent diving. It is the perfect setting for snorkelling, with crystal-clear waters that allow you to see reefs, fish, rays, and sea turtles. Over 80% of marine life in the reserve is nocturnal, so a night snorkelling tour is a great option to see a different side of the reserve.

There are many tour options available for those wanting to snorkel at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, with most tours also including a stop at Shark Ray Alley. This is a great opportunity to swim with nurse sharks and southern stingrays, as well as schools of fish that congregate there to feed.

The Hol Chan Marine Reserve is a must-do activity in Belize, offering a unique and exciting experience to explore the country's marine life and coral reefs.

Scuba dive at the Great Blue Hole

Belize is a world-class destination for scuba diving, and one of the most thrilling sites is the Great Blue Hole. This underwater sinkhole is found at the centre of Lighthouse Reef Atoll on the Belize Barrier Reef, and is almost perfectly circular, stretching 300 metres across and over 120 metres deep.

The Great Blue Hole was made famous by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who declared it one of the top ten best scuba diving sites in the world. It is the only blue hole that can be seen from outer space. The site is unique, providing a dark chasm in which divers can explore a unique ecosystem, with coral, tropical fish and mysterious stalactites up to 400 feet down.

The Great Blue Hole was formed as a limestone cave system during the last ice age when sea levels were much lower. As the ocean began to rise, the caves flooded, and the roof collapsed. The walls are covered in sea plants, feather-duster worms and algae, and the surrounding reef makes for an excellent snorkelling adventure.

The Great Blue Hole is for seasoned divers only, as the depth of the site requires good control over one's buoyancy, and a calmness when faced with little light and very little change in water temperature. Divers should stick close to their guide and listen carefully to the briefing.

The dive begins with a descent to a sandy limestone shelf that surrounds the Blue Hole. Divers are given a minute or two to descend and equalise, before being led to the drop-off point where they descend into the darkness. At around 100 feet, divers will see Caribbean Reef Sharks circling in the watery void. The maximum depth of this dive is 130 feet, where divers will find themselves in a cavern surrounded by enormous stalactites.

After around 30 minutes, divers will begin their slow ascent, and may be greeted by the 'guardians of the Blue Hole'—Caribbean reef sharks and bull sharks that come barrelling out of the depths.

Visit the Belize Zoo

The Belize Zoo is a must-visit destination when in Belize. Founded in 1983 by Sharon Matola, the zoo started as a rescue centre for wild animals that were used in a natural history documentary. Over the years, it has become a world-renowned wildlife education centre, housing over 150 native wildlife species and attracting more than 43,000 visitors annually. The zoo is located roughly halfway between Belmopan and Belize City and is accessible to persons with physical disabilities.

The zoo is home to a diverse range of animals, including small and large cats, monkeys, tapirs, toucans, crocodiles, and more. The animals are kept in natural settings, providing an immersive educational experience for visitors. The zoo also offers private tours, allowing visitors to get up close and personal with the animals. These tours are a great way to learn about the animals and see them in action during feeding time.

In addition to its wildlife, the zoo also boasts a tropical education centre, an 84-acre site adjacent to the zoo that serves as a lodge, learning centre, and training facility. The centre offers various activities such as birdwatching, savannah trail hikes, river canoe trips, and nocturnal tours of the zoo.

The Belize Zoo is a great place to visit for families, students, and nature enthusiasts. It provides an opportunity to learn about Belize's unique wildlife and supports wildlife rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Whether you're an animal lover or just looking for a fun and educational experience, a visit to the Belize Zoo is definitely worth considering during your time in Belize.

Go wildlife spotting at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Belize is home to the highest concentration of jaguars in the world, and while they're extremely difficult to spot, your best chance of seeing one is by exploring Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in the jungles of southern Belize. The sanctuary is a nature reserve in the Stann Creek District of south-central Belize, established in 1986 as the first protected area for the preservation of the jaguar. It covers an area of about 150 square miles of tropical forest and is the world's only Jaguar Preserve.

The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary has a varied landscape, including rivers, mountain slopes, jungle, and wetlands, ranging from the Maya Mountains in the west to the Caribbean Sea in the east. The sanctuary is home to broadleaf forests, mahogany, and cedar trees, as well as peccaries, tapirs (Belize's national animal), coatimundis, otters, and more than 300 species of birds. The Jaguar (Panthera onca) is the third-largest member of the cat family and is endangered in most of its range. Here at Cockscomb, the jaguar is doing well, and there are four other native big cat species to spot, too.

The best times to go wildlife spotting are during the rainy season, especially at the beginning (June/July), and on cloudy, cooler days. The trails around the sanctuary cater to all abilities, with self-guided walks and short tracks of under a mile, as well as more demanding paths that lead to swimming areas, waterfalls, and up to the pine forests of the basin's rim.

If you're an experienced hiker, you could attempt the 17-mile hike to Victoria Peak, but be warned, it takes four days and is only for the extremely fit and determined! There are also guided tours available, which pack adventure alongside the jaguar search, and even if no big cats make an appearance, there are lots of other animals to see.

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