Xunantunich and Cave Tubing Expedition

This tour takes you to one of Belize’s most well-known and thoroughly studied Maya sites in Belize, before continuing to a cave tubing adventure – splashing around in an inner tube is a great way to cool off after exploring a fascinating site. First, you’ll spend 3 to 4 hours exploring the site of Xunantunich. In the afternoon, you’ll leave on a 5-hour tubing trip down the swift moving water that passes through Jaguar Paw Cave.

For cave tubing, there is no maximum weight limit. Participants just need to be able to complete the trail hike, which takes approximately 35 to 45 minutes.

Xunantunich features a couple of imposing temples, with massive hieroglyphs that stare down from the facades. Archeologists believe this site was occupied from 650 to 1000 AD. It covers 6 plazas, 25 temples, and an abundance of residential buildings. El Castillo is one of the most talked-about temples, with its impressive height of 135 feet (41 m). The name “Xunantunich” means “stone woman” in the local Maya dialect, and references the ghost of a woman with glowing red eyes who is supposed to wander the grounds around El Castillo. But don’t worry – you’re unlikely to see her during the day.

Before moving on to your cave tubing adventure, you'll stop for lunch at a nearby resort. Then, you'll have the rest of afternoon to explore an atmospheric cave and maybe do some swimming. You'll also get to see some interesting wildlife (especially bats) and learn about the significance of caves in Maya culture.

Make sure to wear sturdy shoes – you’re allowed to climb up some of the ruins to get a better view of the site. This aspect of the tour also means you’ll want to be prepared for some lightly challenging physical activity. Your guides will provide bottled water, but make sure to bring necessities like sunscreen and bug spray.