Belize Cruise: Adventure And Reefs

Belize is a unique cruise destination, offering a combination of tropical beaches, exotic wildlife, and ancient ruins. The country is also half Caribbean and half Spanish, blending the diverse cultures of Kriols, Garifunas, Mayans, and Spanish people.

Belize City is the largest urban centre in the country and is located within walking distance of the cruise terminal. However, it is not particularly appealing or safe for independent exploration. The Fort Street Tourism Village, on the other hand, offers a range of tourist amenities, including shops, restaurants, and bars.

For those seeking adventure, Belize has the highest concentration of Mayan sites in Central America, with notable sites including Altun Ha, Xunantunich, and Lamanai. The country also boasts impressive natural wonders, such as the Great Blue Hole, and outdoor activities such as cave tubing, riverboat safaris, ziplining, and snorkelling.

With its rich history, diverse ecosystems, and cultural attractions, Belize offers something for everyone, from adventurers to relaxation seekers.

Explore Belize City

Belize City is the country's largest urban centre and is just around the corner from the cruise terminal. However, it is not particularly appealing or safe for tourists to explore on their own. The best way to explore Belize City is with a shore excursion or a sightseeing tour.

If you do wish to explore independently, there are a few interesting landmarks within walking distance of the cruise terminal. These include the Museum of Belize, St John's Cathedral, and the Belize Sign Monument. The Museum of Belize is housed in an old prison and features exhibits that explore the city's past, including the pirate years, colonial era, and natural and man-made disasters. St John's Cathedral is the oldest Anglican church in Central America, built in the 18th century.

For those interested in shopping, the Fort Street Tourism Village cruise terminal has around 30 shops selling souvenirs, tobacco, liquors, perfumes, regional chocolate, and clothing. The Jungle Gift Shop is a large store with a wide range of souvenirs, including hats, t-shirts, and toys.

There are also several restaurants, grills, and bars at the cruise terminal, as well as in the historical centre of Belize City. Popular options include the Wet Lizard, Smoky Mermaid, and the elegant restaurants of the Radisson Fort George Hotel.

Excursions

There are numerous excursions available that depart from the cruise terminal and explore Belize City and its surroundings. These include:

• A bus tour of Belize City with a professional local guide, including a visit to the zoo.
• A riverboat cruise through the rainforest to the Lamanai Mayan Ruins.
• A visit to Altun Ha, a heavily excavated Mayan cultural site.
• A trip to Xunantunich, another important Mayan site located near the Guatemalan border.
• River tubing and ziplining through the rainforest canopy.
• A bus tour and airboat adventure through Almond Hill Lagoon.

Mayan archaeological sites

Belize is home to a plethora of Mayan archaeological sites, with some of the most notable listed below:

Lamanai

Lamanai, meaning "submerged crocodile" in Mayan, is one of the largest Mayan sites in Belize, with over 800 structures spread across a vast expanse on the Belize New River. The site was occupied as early as 1500 BC and is one of the longest-occupied Mayan cities, with evidence of Christian churches and a 19th-century sugar mill suggesting that it was inhabited for over two millennia. Lamanai can be reached via a boat ride on the New River or by road through San Felipe Village.

Altun Ha

Altun Ha is a major ceremonial and trade centre during the Classic Period, located 31 miles north of Belize City. The site has two principal plazas and is surrounded by over 275 unexplored ceremonial structures. The most significant find at Altun Ha is the Maya Jade Head, which is the largest jade object carved in the Mayan civilisation, representing the Mayan Sun God, Kinich Ahua.

Xunantunich

Xunantunich is a major ceremonial centre located on a natural limestone ridge, providing panoramic views of the Cayo District. The site has six major plazas, surrounded by more than 25 temples and palaces. The highlight of Xunantunich is the pyramid "El Castillo", which, at 130 feet, is the tallest man-made structure in Belize.

Caracol

Caracol is the largest known Mayan centre in Belize, with the tallest pyramid, "Canaa", standing at 140 feet. The site is located in the Chiquibul Forest Reserve and can be reached via a scenic but rough road trip through the Mountain Pine Ridge.

Cahal Pech

Cahal Pech is a major Mayan centre located on a hill overlooking the town of San Ignacio. The site has 34 structures, including temple pyramids, two ball courts, an altar and five plain stelae, all packed into a small area of slightly more than 2 acres.

Snorkelling and scuba diving

Belize is a small country located between Mexico and Guatemala, and it offers plenty of exciting activities for those seeking an adventurous, relaxing, or romantic vacation. With over 400 islands, stunning white sandy beaches, and 185 miles of coastline, it is an excellent place for scuba diving enthusiasts. The Mesoamerican Reef, the second-largest reef on the planet, is a stunning place for cruise passengers to snorkel, scuba dive, or fish.

Belize is renowned for its world-class snorkelling and scuba diving. The Mesoamerican Reef, also known as the Belize Barrier Reef, is the longest unbroken barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere and the richest and most diverse habitat in the ocean. The reef is a living coral reef described as solid mounds of submerged limestone. The underwater landscape structure, tropical latitude, and sea ocean currents make Belize the proud home of the largest living coral reef in the Western Hemisphere.

The Mesoamerican Reef provides endless opportunities for both sport divers seeking challenging adventures and beginners looking for safe snorkelling or PADI certification. The waters are clear, warm, and rich with marine life, offering great conditions for beginners and thrilling experiences for advanced divers. Most dive sites are also less crowded than those found in similar diving destinations, allowing for a more peaceful underwater experience.

One of the best ways to explore Belize's waters is by chartering a sailboat or catamaran to maximise your dive time. For those on a smaller budget, snorkelling and diving excursions can be found along the beaches of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. The most common excursions will take you to both Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley for around $35 USD, including snorkel gear. Be mindful of an additional $10 BZ park tax charged to foreigners, which goes towards the upkeep and protection of the reef.

Diving excursions are also offered to the Blue Hole but expect to pay a lot more for the privilege. The Blue Hole is probably Belize's most famous dive site, and it was named one of the best dives in the world by underwater explorer Jacques Cousteau. It is a huge sunken cave, 300 feet by 400 feet, located off the coast of Belize, near Lighthouse Reef Atoll.

Belize offers a range of scuba diving courses, including PADI courses for beginners and more advanced courses for diving enthusiasts. When scuba diving, it is important to wear comfortable clothing and avoid anything too thick or heated. Additionally, the best time to dive in Belize is year-round, but the water temperature varies between cooler months (November to July, around 78°F) and warmer months (August to October, around 82-84°F).

Whether you're an experienced diver or a beginner, Belize has plenty of snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities to offer. So pack your bags, grab your gear, and get ready for an underwater adventure!

River tubing in underground caves

Belize is known for its cave tubing, which involves floating above underground rivers inside caves in specially designed inflatable tubes or tyre inner tubes.

The whole experience takes around four hours. The trip from Belize City to the cave tubing areas of Cayo near Belmopan takes about two hours. There's then a 30-minute hike through the rainforest to the site, followed by 45 minutes of cave tubing.

You don't need any special equipment. Tour companies provide everything you need, including professional-grade tubes with headrests and connecting links so that groups can tube together. They also provide refreshments, snacks and cover all park fees. You should bring your swimming costume, a towel, sunscreen, insect repellent and cash.

Floating through the caves, you'll be sitting in a professionally designed, air-filled tube with a life vest and a forehead-fitted cave light. You'll see incredible vistas of stalactites and stalagmites, some shaped like human and wildlife figures. You'll then emerge at the mouth of a huge stalactite-lined cave into the bright, sunlit jungle, teeming with wildlife and tropical trees.

Tour companies

There are several tour companies offering cave tubing experiences in Belize, including Cave-Tubing.com, Butts Up Cave Tubing and X-Stream Belize Cave Tubing.

Wildlife watching

Belize is well-known for its wildlife conservation efforts, particularly in regard to its vast rainforest. The country offers a plethora of wildlife-watching opportunities for nature enthusiasts. Here are some options for wildlife-focused excursions in Belize:

Monkey River Tour

Take a boat ride along the Monkey River to explore the extensive mangrove and wildlife habitats. Keep an eye out for monkeys, manatees, dolphins, tropical birds, and even the occasional crocodile. This tour includes a stop in Monkey River Village for an authentic Creole lunch.

Belize Zoo and Blue Hole National Park

The Belize Zoo is home to a variety of local fauna, including jaguars, monkeys, toucans, scarlet macaws, tapirs, and snakes. After visiting the zoo, head to the Blue Hole National Park, where you can take a refreshing swim in the sapphire-blue waters of the Inland Blue Hole, a sinkhole formed by the collapse of an underground limestone cave.

Baboon Sanctuary and Jeep Adventure

Observe playful Black Howler Monkeys at the Community Baboon Sanctuary, and then embark on a thrilling Jeep ride through the Belizean countryside.

Altun Ha Mayan Ruins and Tropical Jungle Monkey Reserve

Explore the ancient Mayan ruins of Altun Ha, including the Temple of the Sun God and the Temple of the Masonry Altars. After delving into history, visit the residents of the Belize Community Baboon Sanctuary.

Cave Tubing and Zip Line Combo

This excursion offers a unique opportunity to explore the rainforest by air, land, and water. Tube through Belize's underground cave system, walk through the rainforest, and zip line across the lush canopies.

Manatee Watching

Take a water taxi to see manatees, an endangered species, in their natural habitat.

Lamanai Eco Adventure

Lamanai is one of the largest Mayan sites in Belize and offers an eco-adventure that combines archaeology and nature.

These are just a few examples of the many wildlife-focused excursions available in Belize. Each of these options promises an immersive experience in nature, providing opportunities to observe a variety of animal species in their natural habitats.

Frequently asked questions