Belize is an adventure lovers playground. This tiny Central American nation is brimming with tropical jungles, flooded caves, hidden islands, and exciting local markets. For scuba divers and snorkellers, the spectacular Belize Barrier Reef is a star attraction, with over 500 species of tropical fish and 100 types of coral.
History buffs will be equally enchanted. The country is scattered with archaeological wonders and crumbling Mayan ruins. And when you are ready to take things easy, grab a hammock and dig your toes into soft warm sand. Belize has a picture-perfect beach with your name on it.
Our tour explores the fascinating Mayan ruins of Lamanai, Xunantunich, Caracol & more - including a cross-border journey to the phenomenal site of Tikal, located in the northeast corner of Guatemala.
Nature opportunities are plenty, including excursions out to South Water Caye to investigate the gorgeous reef by boat and by snorkel. Land-based exploration includes the wetlands of Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary and rainforests walks in Bocawina and Chaa Creek for getting up close to the local flora and fauna - Belize is renowned as a birder paradise, it is an exquisite place to visit, even if you are just a casual fan of our feathered friends.
Belize and Tikal offer the best of getting away from the crowds and getting back to nature.
Prices below are per person, twin-sharing costs in US Dollars (USD). Pricing does not include airfare to/from the tour and any applicable taxes. For single supplement rates and taxes (if any), please refer to below Prices & Dates table. For general information on flights to/from the tour, click here.
Your Travel and Accommodation Arranged For You
Tips Included for Driver, Restaurant Staff, Local Guides
Authentic Local Experiences With Lots Of Inclusions.
Select a date below to reserve your spot:
Optional Single Supplement: $930 USD (number of singles limited).
This tour may require a mandatory single supplement charge of $930 if you join our share program and we are unable to pair you.
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Day 1 Arrival in Belize City - Transfer to Crooked Tree
Today we arrive in Belize City, the largest city in Belize, and transfer to the Bird’s Eye View Lodge at the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. The balance of the day is at leisure.
Overnight in Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary.
Included Meal(s): Dinner
Day 2 Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary: Lamanai & Orange Walk Sugar Cane Factory
Today we depart on a full day excursion. We first drive for an hour until we reach the wharf where we board our boat and take the half-hour water transfer to Lamanai – an impressive archeological site and the only one to retain its original Mayan name – which is surrounded by an area of Belize that bird watchers will love. Here, there are a wide variety of exotic birds, plus howler monkeys and iguanas can be spotted. The Maya Archaeological Site at Lamanai contains pyramids, open-air plazas, a ball court, and other remnants of an ancient Maya civilization, including the three large temples, each with its own unique carvings and decorations. We will have our lunch in a local restaurant, explore the Maya ruins for a couple of hours, then take some time for bird watching before heading back to our hotel.
On our return to the lodge we will stop at the town of Orange Walk, known throughout the country as “Sugah City”. As one can guess, sugarcane is vital to the economy of this town of approximately 14,000 inhabitants. Other important economic industries include, naturally, rum produced from the sugarcane and for the raising of cattle. Appropriately, we will have a walking tour of Orange Walk and a visit to one of the region’s main export products; a Sugar Cane Factory. Afterwards, we will return to our resort for the evening.
Overnight in Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
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Day 3 Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary: Lagoon Birding Tour
This morning after breakfast at the lodge, we depart on a full day lagoon birding tour to explore the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary and to visit the Crooked Tree community, which hosts a Cashew Festival in May, featuring many products made from the nut. We explore several trails around the village of Crooked Tree to view the startling variety of fowls and waders, including the Jabiru Stork, black-collared hawk, pygmy kingfisher, rufous-tailed jacamars, various egrets, and stork, to name but a few. And, if very lucky, visitors may also see the elusive agami heron.
After lunch we visit the Western Causeway, and walk through the north end of the Crooked Tree Community to observe local life. Established in 1984, Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary is one of Central America’s premier bird-watching regions. Built on a network of lagoons, swamps, and estuaries, the sanctuary is home to thousands of native and migratory birds. After our tour, we return to our hotel.
Overnight in Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 4 Crooked Tree - Altun Ha - Great Blue Hole - South Water Caye
Today we depart Crooked Tree for Altun Ha, an ancient Mayan city that once covered 3 square miles and housed up to 10,000 people. Located about 50 kilometres (31 miles) north of Belize City, the central area contains more than 500 structures, mostly built during the Maya Classic era 200 to 900 AD. Divided into two main clusters, Plaza A and Plaza B, each site has its own special attractions. Plaza A features the mysterious Temple of the Green Tomb, where jade, jewelry, flints, and other artifacts were found. Plaza B is home to the biggest structure on the site, the Temple of Masonry Altar, which rises more than 60 feet (18 meters) above the plaza. Thought to be the main religious center of the civilization, the temple houses the famous head of Kinich Ahau: a 10-pound (5-kilogram) jade stone carved into the head of the Mayan sun god; this national treasure is depicted on the local currency.
After touring Altun Ha we travel along the Hummingbird Highway towards Dangriga, making a stop at St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park. Here we see the inland blue hole, or Cenote, that gives the national park it’s name. We make a 30 minute stop here, and those who don’t want to go for a swim have time to walk the trails and enjoy some of the over 200 species of birds, and other flora and fauna, that call this park their home.
Afterwards we continue to Dangriga, where we leave our bus and board our boat to transfer to South Water Caye. On our arrival on South Water Caye we transfer to the IZE Ecological Research Station and check into our accommodation. Dinner is served at the station.
Overnight in South Water Caye.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 5 South Water Caye: Reef Excursion
Today after breakfast we gather for a full-day excursion of water-based activities with a break at the resort for lunch. We can drift snorkel and kayak the South Water Caye Reserve, and visit the Smithsonian’s Research Station on Carrie Bow Caye. Belize is well known for having the second largest living barrier reef in the world with approximately 300 kilometres (185 miles) of coral formations of marine life. The area around South Water Caye offers unique snorkeling opportunities for both beginners and the experienced. With visibility ranging from 20 to 30 metres (60 to 100ft), spotting eagle rays, sea turtles, exotic fish, and even dolphins can frequently be seen! ore Reef is a colourful, healthy spur and groove coral formation on the barrier reef, where we might spot eagle rays, turtles, tarpon & groupers. We also have a guided tour of the Smithsonian Marine Research Station on Carrie Bow Caye.
We then head back to our accommodation, disembark and have free time before dinner. Dinner is served at the station.
Overnight in South Water Caye.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 6 South Water Caye: Reef Excursion
Today after breakfast we embark on a second full day of water-based activities. Depending on our guide or local conditions, we may visit any combination of the following: the Twin Cayes - for a mangrove snorkel to see seahorses, upside-down photosynthesizing jellyfish and possibly, the gentle giant Manatee! Or the Whale Shoal - a picture perfect patch reef with triggerfish, rock beauties, Creole wrasses, parrotfish and an assortment of angelfish. The coral gardens are also teeming with sea fans, large brain coral formations to stag horn coral! Or the Grand Channel – aptly named, the largest and deepest channel of all 8 channels in southern Belize and is truly grand. It features a long sandy bottom rife with basking rays; both southern and Caribbean. Your tour leader will determine the best options for the day based on previous sightings, weather, and other mitigating circumstances.
After our day’s activities, we return to our accommodation, disembark, and have free time before dinner. This evening we gather in the hotel foyer and depart for our Garifuna Culture Night dinner and show, with drumming, dancing, songs, a bonfire, and traditional food. After our feast, we return to the hotel.
Overnight in South Water Caye.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 7 South Water Caye - Dangriga - Mayan Museum - Bocawina - Chaa Creek
After an early breakfast at our accommodation we will transfer to the wharf and take the boat back to Dangriga on the mainland. Here we meet and board our bus and depart Dangriga for our overnight destination of Chaa Creek. En route we stop at The Maya Center Mayan Museum, a culturally interactive museum that entertains and teaches real Maya culture. Here we spend a couple of hours watching hands-on demonstrations of Mayan tortilla making, a cultural dance experience, coffee preparation and chocolate making. We tour the farm, then try our hands at making chocolate.
We will break for lunch at the Bocawina Rainforest Lodge, afterwards making our way to start a half-day 3-hour nature/waterfall hike through the Mayflower and Bocawina National Park. Listen as the guide unlocks the secrets of this mystical and magical jungle habitat. We walk the undulating trail from Bocawina Lodge to the foot of Bocawina Falls where we take a refreshing swim and relax in the pools below. We then return to Bocawina Lodge, rejoin our vehicle, and depart for our overnight stop at Chaa Creek, located close to San Ignacio.
Overnight in Chaa Creek.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 8 San Ignacio/Chaa Creek: Excursion to Xunantunich & Cahal Pech
After breakfast, we depart on a tour of Xunantunich & Cahal Pech, the finest Maya Ruins in Belize. The drive through the western villages is a cultural experience in itself, with first hand views of colorful homes, schools and market-places. We then reach the Mopan River, which we cross on one of the country’s last two-hand-cranked river ferries. On the other side lies the ancient Maya temple of Xunantunich (‘Maiden of the Rock’) the tallest part of the ruins is the pyramid which stands at 40 metres (130 feet high) which makes it the second tallest Maya ruin in Belize. From the top we are rewarded with panoramic view of San Ignacio, nearby towns across the border in Guatemala, and the River Mopan below. This site has been largely excavated and has a well-appointed educational museum (Information Center). In July 2016, archaeologists working Xunantunich discovered an ancient tomb under one of the smaller ruins. It contains the skeletal remains of what is believed to have been a Mayan leader- based on the construction of the tomb itself. The figure has the features of a young man, thought to be in his 20’s or 30’s and laid to rest along with a number of other interesting items or value and importance including what experts believe may even be either a jaguar or a deer. This new discovery exposes one of the largest burial sites in the area and adds significant historical value and importance to one of Belize’s most popular Maya Cities.
After lunch in a local restaurant, we drive to our second stop on today’s Maya history tour - the ruins of Cahal Pech (‘Place of the Ticks’). Cahal Pech Maya is just a few minutes’ drive from downtown San Ignacio. Although smaller in size than the other popular ruins in Belize, the site’s religious significance is vital to our understanding of the story of the ancient Maya. Among the objects discovered are carvings made from Conch shells, molded female figurines, pottery made with jade and obsidian (thought to be imported from Guatemala) and other items used for sacrificial purposes. Also of interest are the two Ball Courts at Cahal Pech, which according to the writings of the ‘Popol Vuh’ (the sacred “bible” of the Maya), the game is believed to have been a ritual where victims to be sacrificed were first “defeated” by their captors. After our tour we return to the hotel.
Overnight in Chaa Creek.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 9 San Ignacio/Chaa Creek: Chaa Creek Property & San Ignacio
Located on the grounds of the Chaa Creek Resort is the Blue Morpho Butterfly Exhibit, the Natural History Center, Botanical Gardens, a small artifact museum, and the Belize Nature Reserve. Learn more about the life cycle of the beautiful Blue Morpho, immerse yourself in the history and geography of Belize, and take a walk on several of the nature trails located on site.
Afterwards a shuttle bus will be available to take you to the center of San Ignacio where you can enjoy lunch on your own in one of many cafés and restaurants, followed by an afternoon of independent exploration. The shuttle will return to the hotel at the end of the afternoon.
Overnight in Chaa Creek.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 10 San Ignacio/Chaa Creek: Caracol Excursion
Today after breakfast we depart on a full day tour to visit the dramatic Caracol (‘Three Water Hill’).
Located deep within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, a two-hour drive from our accommodation, Caracol is the largest known Maya site in Belize and one of the biggest in the Mayan world. Caracol was a Classic Period urban center spread out over 90 square km (55 square miles) with an estimated population of 180,000 people. Caracol's enormous central core area covered 25 square km (15 square miles) and was linked together by more than 32 kilometres (20 miles) of "sacbeobs" (causeways) that radiated outward from its epicenter. The ‘Caana Temple’ (Sky Place) rises 42 meters (138 feet) above plaza level and to this day is the largest man-made structure in Belize. Over 70 formal tombs have been excavated and many hieroglyphic texts have been found on stelea, altars, and ball court markers, capstones and wall facades. Ocellated Turkeys are one of the many wildlife species that you will find in this area. This region is also known as an excellent location for birding. We carry a picnic lunch and our guide will find the perfect and picturesque spot in the shade to enjoy. After our excursion we return to our hotel. Dinner is served at the lodge.
Overnight in Chaa Creek.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Day 11 San Ignacio/Chaa Creek - Flores, Guatemala
Today we depart Chaa Creek, Belize, to drive to the border with Guatemala. After passing through border procedures we will then drive to Flores.
Flores is a charming colonial town of 14,000 people that is primarily located on an island on Lake Peten Itza that is now connected to the mainland by a causeway. It is the regional capital of the landlocked northern region in Guatemala of El Peten. Historically speaking, the last independent state of the Maya held out here until the end of the 17th century. Survivors of the assault by Spanish forces fled to the nearby jungle and the Spanish constructed a colonial town on the ashes of the former settlement.
After our arrival into Flores we will check in to our hotel and have dinner.
Overnight in Flores.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 12 Flores: Excursion To Tikal
This morning we embark on full day tour of Tikal possibly the most magnificent of all Mayan sites. Here we discover ancient temples, pyramids and stone structures dating from 500 BCE. The five great pyramids of Tikal give this ceremonial center a majestic grandeur unique among Maya cities. The height of the temples, crowned with tremendous roof combs; the complicated assemblage of the palace structures of the Central Acropolis; and the complexity of the chronology of the North Acropolis are staggering to anyone visiting Tikal for the first time. In ancient times Tikal functioned mainly as a ceremonial center in which the aristocratic elite and their priests ruled, dictated, and directed the activities of the architects, builders, craftsmen, and labourers. All endeavours in the region of Tikal were directed to enhance the city, to glorify the gods, to amass wealth, and to acquire tribute for the ruling upper strata of society. To sustain this activity for over a thousand years demanded a well-disciplined peasantry. We spend the entire day, with a break for lunch, exploring these dramatic ruins. After our tour we return to the hotel. Dinner is served at the hotel.
Overnight in Flores.
Included Meal(s): Breakfast and Dinner
Day 13 Departure from Flores
Today you transfer to Flores airport for your departure flight.
BUEN VIAJE!
Included Meal(s): Breakfast
Inclusions
Most meals are provided on this tour (some lunches on your own account - see detailed itinerary). All transport, accommodation, sightseeing and entrance fees for sites noted as 'visited' in the detailed itinerary. Gratuities for local guides, drivers, restaurant staff, hotel porters (if available). Airport transfers for land & air customers and for early arriving/late departing land & air customers who also book their extra hotel nights through us.
Exclusions
International airfare to/from the tour. Tour Leader gratuity, some lunches, drinks, personal items (phone, laundry, etc), departure taxes, domestic and international air taxes (if applicable), optional single supplement. Airport transfers for Land Only customers. Optional trip cancellation insurance.
Our post-reservation trip notes offer further guidance on not included meal costs, shopping, and any locally paid departure taxes.
Seasonality and Weather
The best time to visit Belize is from late November to late April, during the country's dry season with warm temperatures, clear skies, and easy access to the country's top attractions. The average daytime temperature 27C; nighttime temperatures average around 23C). The long, sunny days and clear skies make this a great time to enjoy all outdoor activities.
Transport and Travel Conditions
We travel throughout Belize via comfortable, late model air-conditioned van or coach, depending on ultimate group size. The distance covered are not great, and the roads are generally is good condition, but some journeys can be slowed down by narrow/winging conditions and traffic. We will also have some short boat journey and boat-based sightseeing excursions.
This tour is not particularly strenuous, though the itinerary does involve some physical activity, ie snorkeling and kayaking, neither of which require any previous experience. Our difficulty Level 2 rating also refers to walking tours on natural surfaces at sites that are large, ie Tikal. We also have jungle walks also on natural surfaces conducted at a leisurely pace. We visit some remote locations with limited access to medical services. We may also experience some heat and humidity, which can cause fatigue, though our transport and accommodation are all air-conditioned.
Most hotel/lodges will offer assistance with baggage, however you should be prepared to manage your own bags from time to time.
Am I suitable for this tour? Please refer to our self-assessment form.
Activity Level: 2
These are particularly busy tours that feature a lot of moving around, sometimes by train and short journeys on local transport. Walking tours of towns and cities are leisurely but you should be prepared to be on your feet for several hours. Some of our cultural trips that occur at high altitude and/or require greater independence with baggage handling (at hotels, airports, train stations) also fall into this category.
To learn more about the Activity levels, please visit our tour styles page.
Accommodation
Well-located, comfortable, air-conditioned and soemtimes spectacularly-located hotels & lodges with en suite toilet and bath throughout. This is definitely not roughing it!
Single rooms are limited in number and likely smaller than doubles. Some hotels have outdoor swimming pools.
NOTE:Due to the high cost of single accommodation in the region, this tour has a 100% mandatory supplement if you join our share program and we fail to pair you.
Click on "Map & Hotels" tab for more information.
Staff and Support
Full-time Tour Leader and the assistance of local guides in various locations.
Group Size
Maximum 16 plus Tour Leader
Regions visited: Central America
Countries visited: Belize and Guatemala
*The red tour trail on the map does not represent the actual travel path.
The following is a list of sample hotels at some locations included on this tour. The hotels shown here are meant to provide a general sense of the standard of hotel we usually aim for; they are not necessarily confirmed for your chosen departure.
