Belize: Adventure, Nature, And Mayan Mysteries

Belize is a small country with a lot to offer. With its stunning beaches, tropical rainforests, mountains, ancient Mayan ruins, diverse cultures, music and cuisine, there is something for everyone. Here is an introduction to some of the best things to see and do in Belize:

- Explore the Marine Life: Belize is famous for its world-class snorkelling and scuba diving spots along the Belize Barrier Reef. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve, with its crystal-clear waters and diverse marine life, is a must-visit. Shark Ray Alley, part of the reserve, offers a unique opportunity to swim with nurse sharks and stingrays.

- Discover Ancient Maya Ruins: Belize is home to numerous Mayan ruins and temples, including Caracol, the largest Mayan ruin in the country. Xunantunich, with its impressive El Castillo, and Lamanai, meaning submerged crocodile, are also notable sites. Cahal Pech, a well-preserved ancient Mayan city, offers a glimpse into the past.

- Adventure Tourism: With its low population density, Belize offers wide-open spaces for hiking and mountain biking. The country also boasts extensive cave systems, such as Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM Cave), with its impressive relics and formations.

- Beaches and Islands: Belize's coastline offers a variety of experiences, from relaxing on the beach to snorkelling and diving. Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, and Placencia are popular destinations, while the cayes running along the barrier reef provide secluded getaways.

- Wildlife Sanctuaries: The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, home to jaguars and other wildlife, offers a rigorous hike through lush jungle and breathtaking waterfalls. The Belize Zoo, with its focus on conservation, provides a unique opportunity to see native wildlife in natural enclosures.

- Scenic Flights: A scenic flight over the Great Blue Hole, a marine sinkhole, offers a bird's-eye view of the coral reefs and is a must-do for those seeking a thrilling experience.

- Cultural Experiences: Belize is a melting pot of cultures, including the Garifuna, with their rich history and vibrant music. The annual Placencia Lobsterfest, held to mark the start of the lobster season, is a celebration of food, music, and entertainment.

Explore Belize's caves

Belize is home to some of the most extensive cave systems on the planet. Exploring these caves is a great way to experience the adventure and culture of Belize.

Explore Belize Caves

One of the most unique and exciting adventures offered in Belize is cave tubing. Explore Belize Caves offers a memorable experience, taking you through two large caves and the Mayan Jungle, with a knowledgeable tour guide. You will be in a small group, headed by a friendly guide who will help you experience everything. The trip starts at the cruise port, from where you will be taken to the caves in a comfortable, air-conditioned van, learning fun facts about Belize on the way.

Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave

The ATM Cave, or the "Cave of the Stone Sepulcher", is an extraordinary journey that requires resolve, determination, and a passion for the unknown. After trekking through the forest and crossing a river, you will venture into the cave by wading in chest-deep water. Inside, you will squeeze through cracks and crevices to enter a sacred chamber that houses the "Crystal Maiden", a skeleton allegedly a victim of a ritualistic sacrifice by the Mayas. The human remains are said to be of a young girl, though its origins remain unknown.

Barton Creek Cave

The Barton Creek Cave is a more remote and less visited caving system. You can drive to the mouth of the cave and rent a canoe to paddle your way through. This is great for people who don't like to swim. You can fit 3 or 4 people in a canoe and explore the cave, which is adorned with stunning stalagmites and stalactites.

Caves Branch River

Cave tubing on the Caves Branch River is a relaxed way to go through a Belize Cave. You will hike through the jungle carrying your tubes for a mile and then float into a gigantic cave with large sinkholes that let in little rays of light through the pitch-dark caves. This is a kid-friendly option and a great way to experience the Belizean caves.

ATM Cave, Barton Creek Cave, and Caves Branch River

You can book all three of these experiences separately or book them together as part of a package.

Visit Maya temples

Belize is home to a plethora of Maya ruins and temples, remnants of the once-powerful Maya civilisation that dominated Mesoamerica between 2,000 and 3,000 years ago. Here are some of the Maya temples you can visit in Belize:

Caracol

Tucked inside the Chiquibul Forest, Caracol is one of the most important and impressive Mayan sites in Belize. Once home to more than 140,000 people, it is the largest known Mayan centre in the country. Its tallest structure, Caana ("Sky Palace"), is the tallest man-made building in Belize, standing at 143 feet. The site also features ball courts, an astronomic observatory, altars, reservoirs, and hieroglyphics.

Lamanai

Lamanai, meaning "submerged crocodile" in Yucatec Maya, is one of the only sites that retains its original Maya name. It is also one of the largest Maya ceremonial centres, with over 700 mapped structures, including two 16th-century Spanish churches and an intact 19th-century sugar mill. The site is located on the banks of the New River Lagoon and can be reached by boat or by road through several villages.

Altun Ha

Located about 31 miles north of Belize City, Altun Ha is one of the best-excavated archaeological sites in Belize. The site consists of two main plazas surrounded by over a dozen Mayan temples, pyramids, and residential structures. The most significant find at Altun Ha is the Maya Jade Head, a 10-pound carving of the Mayan sun god, Kinich Ahau, considered one of the crown jewels of Belize.

Xunantunich

Xunantunich, which means "maiden of the rock" or "stone woman" in Maya, is a Classic Period ceremonial centre. The site features six major plazas, over 25 temples and palaces, and a new museum. The highest structure at Xunantunich is 133 feet tall, making it the second-tallest temple in Belize. Well-preserved sun god masks decorate one side of the structure.

Cahal Pech

Cahal Pech, meaning "place of ticks" in Yucatec Maya, is located on a hill overlooking the twin towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena. The site includes two ball courts, an altar, five plain stelae, and well-preserved examples of the Maya Corbel or False Arch. From the central part of the ruins, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the surrounding area.

Santa Rita

Santa Rita, located in northern Belize, is a Mayan ruin that dates back to 2000 B.C. It is what remains of Chactemal, an ancient Mayan city that was a strategic trading centre. Excavations have revealed fishing net sinkers and other objects, indicating the site's coastal importance. Santa Rita is easily accessible, as it is located on the outskirts of Corozal Town.

Snorkel at Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Snorkelling at Hol Chan Marine Reserve is a must-do when visiting Belize. The reserve is located about 4 miles from the shore of Ambergris Caye and is the oldest reserve in Belize. Its name, Hol Chan, means "Little Channel" in Mayan, referring to a coral-filled gap in Belize's barrier reef. The reserve covers around 3 square miles and is divided into four sections: the mangroves, the reef, the sea-grass beds, and Shark Ray Alley.

With crystal-clear waters and an abundance of marine life, Hol Chan is a prime spot for snorkelling and diving. You'll get to see a variety of marine life, including stingrays, eels, nurse sharks, sea turtles, and countless species of fish. The reserve is also home to vibrant coral formations, such as coral pillars and giant sponges.

There are various tour options available for visiting Hol Chan Marine Reserve, including sailing and snorkelling tours, as well as combo tours that include other popular destinations like Shark Ray Alley and Caye Caulker. These tours typically last a full day or half a day, and many offer hotel pick-up and drop-off for added convenience.

• Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel Tour on the 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat
• Belize Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley Snorkel Tour - Ambergris Caye
• All-inclusive Snorkelling at Hol Chan
• Hol Chan Full-Day Bucket List Snorkelling and Marine Life Tour
• Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel and Caye Caulker Tour 40' Sirena Azul Sailboat

Go wildlife spotting

Belize is home to a vast array of wildlife, from the whale shark to the toucans and jaguars. Here are some of the best spots for wildlife spotting in Belize:

Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area

The Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area is one of the best places to spot the elusive jaguar. This huge protected area encompasses 100,000 hectares of tropical rainforest and is said to host the largest population of jaguars in Central America. It's also home to nearly 400 bird species and all of Belize's cat species, including the ocelot and margay.

Community Baboon Sanctuary

The Community Baboon Sanctuary, despite its name, is actually home to black howler monkeys. These vocal primates are native to Belize and can be found in a protected area just outside Belize City, where over 2,000 of them are conserved. The sanctuary spans over 20 miles and includes seven villages, with landowners voluntarily conserving their land for the protection of the black howler monkey habitat.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Belize is known for its world-class snorkelling on the Barrier Reef, and the Hol Chan Marine Reserve is a prime spot for this. It's also a great place to spot nurse sharks and stingrays. Located just off the southern tip of Ambergris Caye, this protected area is known for its crystal-clear waters and abundant sea life.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

The Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is the world's first and only known jaguar preserve. Located in the Stann Creek district, it's easily accessible from the Southern Highway. While spotting a jaguar is unlikely, there are plenty of other animals to see, including pumas, ocelots, deer, and tapirs. The sanctuary is also a great place for birdwatching, with fabulous birdwatching opportunities.

Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary

Belize's first government-designated wildlife reserve, the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary is a vast wetland area packed with thrilling birdlife. In addition to the expected wetland birds, the sanctuary is home to the jabiru stork, the largest flying bird in Central and South America, with a wingspan of up to 12 feet. It's also a great place to spot howler monkeys, iguanas, and crocodiles.

Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary

The Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary is a community-based non-profit that focuses on the protection of manatees. Located just a few miles off the coast of Belize City, this island is considered a wildlife sanctuary run by the Friends of Swallow Caye (FOSC). Certain tours can take visitors to the protected area, where they can observe manatees grazing on the sandy floors and coming up for air.

Experience the Belizean jungle

Belize is a wildlife enthusiast's dream, with its conflicted yet harmonious ecosystems, thick rainforests, crystal-clear waters, windy rivers, verdant mountains, and valleys. The Belizean jungle offers a sensory overload and an adrenaline rush, satisfying all your primal drives.

Ziplining

Soar through the deep jungles of Belize with exotic birds. Zip-lining is a popular activity in Belize, and you can zip-line almost anywhere, from the treetops to caves with translucent waters.

Horseback Riding

Horseback riding is a fantastic way to navigate the ancient Maya ruins hidden deep within the forests. On horseback, you can explore mind-boggling Maya pyramids and mesmerizing waterfalls.

Monkey River Tour

Take a riverboat tour to get up close to monkeys and bond with these friendly creatures as they swing through the jungle.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

This 150-square-mile sanctuary protects the eastern slopes of the country, where some of the great Maya cities were built thousands of years ago. It is a must-visit for those hoping to catch a glimpse of the stealthy Belizean jaguar.

Bird Watching

With over 500 species of birds, Belize is a bird-watcher's paradise. Some of the stunning bird species to look out for include the Jabiru, Azure-crowned Hummingbird, Gartered Trogon, Lesson's Motmot, Amazon Kingfisher, Rufous-tailed Jacamar, Keel-billed Toucan, and White-fronted Parrot.

Waterfall Swimming

Take a dip in one of the many crystalline waterfalls in Belize, such as the Big Rock waterfalls or the Maya King Falls, and enjoy the fresh mountain water.

Exploring Ancient Maya Ruins

Belize is home to many ancient Maya cities, such as Caracol, the largest excavated Maya site, and Lamanai, dating back to the 16th century BC. These sites offer a glimpse into the heart of Belize and feature extraordinary ceremonial architecture and magical temples.

The Belizean jungle offers a unique and exciting experience for those seeking adventure and a deeper connection with nature. With its diverse wildlife, stunning scenery, and range of activities, it is sure to leave lasting memories.

Frequently asked questions