Altun Ha Ruins & Belize Cave Tubing tour
Discover the mysteries of the ancient Maya at Altun Ha Ruins & Belize Cave Tubing, where evidence of Maya occupation and rituals still remains! This is a perfect family outing beginning with inspiring history and ending with a splash! The Altun Ha & Belize Cave Tubing tour from Belize City is just US$155 per person! Trade the pool for real adventure and a lasting, memorable, and better way to spend your day!
Discover one of the country’s most iconic Maya sites on our expertly guided tour to Altun Ha. Just under an hour inland, the Altun Ha Ruins offers a powerful glimpse into ancient Maya civilization, where you can climb the legendary Temple of the Masonry Altars and take in sweeping jungle views from the top. Then it is onward to the jungle-shaded rivers of Nohoch Cheʼen Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve on this unforgettable cave tubing adventure. Float gently through a network of ancient limestone caves carved by time, where crystal-clear water carries you beneath towering caverns once used by the Maya for sacred rituals. Ideal for travelers eager for culture, history, and adventure! This Altun Ha Ruins & Belize Cave Tubing tour experience blends convenience with depth through knowledgeable local guides, smooth logistics, and a relaxed pace.
The Moments That Define This Tour
Standing on top of the Temple of the Green Tomb, you are eye-level with the jungle canopy where the Jade Head — Belize’s most iconic Maya treasure — was pulled from the earth in 1968. Hours later, your headlamp cuts through total darkness as the Caves Branch River carries you silently through a cathedral of stalactites, past ancient Maya pottery left untouched for a thousand years. Two worlds. One unforgettable day. The Altun Ha Ruins & Belize Cave Tubing from Belize City is your tour for today!
Everything You Need to Know Before You Go – Altun Ha Ruins & Belize Cave Tubing
TOUR DETAILS |
WHAT TO EXPECT |
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| What time does the tour depart? | Tour departs Belize City at 8:30am | |||||
| How long is the tour? | 5 Hours including 1 hour to 2 hours on your horse | |||||
| What should I wear? | T-shirt, shorts and comfortable walking shoes. Bring along sunshades, cap, sunblock, bug repellent. A backpack with a swimsuit (or wear under), towel and dry clothes for a comfortable ride back. | |||||
| What is included? |
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| What is not included? | Rentals such as water shoes and phone pouches Snacks, alcoholic beverages Gratuties (optional, at your discretion) |
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| How difficult is this tour? | Moderate (light walking, optional temple climbing, uneven jungle terrain, river crossing at knee-deep) | |||||
| Can I book as a solo traveller? |
Yes, solo travelers are welcome to join in! | |||||
| What is the minimum group size? | Rates are per person, based on a final group size of 4 persons on tour day. Jump onto an existing tour at no extra cost. |
Your Altun Ha Ruins & Belize Cave Tubing tour Itinerary
8:30 AM — Pickup in Belize City
Your UpClose Belize guide arrives at the front door of your accommodation anywhere in Belize City. If you are arriving from the islands — San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, St. George’s Caye, Shaka Caye, or any of the surrounding cayes — your guide meets you directly at the water taxi terminal. No scrambling for transport, no confusion about where to go. Load into our air-conditioned vehicle and the adventure begins.
9:30 AM — Altun Ha Archaeological Reserve
Arrive at Altun Ha — one of Belize’s most visited and most important Maya archaeological sites. Altun Ha was a major ceremonial and trading centre during the Classic Maya period (roughly 200–900 AD), and is the site where Belize’s most famous archaeological discovery was made: the Jade Head, a carved jade mask of the Sun God Kinich Ahau, now the national symbol of Belize and featured on every Belikin beer bottle! Restrooms are available at the park.
Let’s explore the Temple of the Green Tomb (Structure B-1) is where the Jade Head was discovered in 1968 by archaeologist David Pendergast, and is the tallest structure on site at 54 feet. You may climb to the summit for panoramic views across the northern forest canopy. Then its on to the Temple of the Masonry Altars (Structure B-4), which is the largest structure in the Plaza B complex, used for ritual ceremonies and offerings. Your guide explains the Maya cosmology and daily life that centred on these plazas. The Ball Court was the central location for the ancient Maya’ s ritual ball game whose outcome had profound spiritual and sometimes mortal significance.
11:00 AM — Drive to Nohoch Che’en Archaeological Reserve
Reboard the van and travel west. The 60-minute drive takes you deeper into central Belize’s limestone hills and jungle. Your guide continues with historical and ecological commentary along the route.
12:00 PM — Traditional Belizean Lunch
Enjoy a generous home-cooked Belizean lunch at the riverside dining area of stewed chicken, rice and beans cooked in coconut milk, fresh coleslaw, ripe plantain, and local fruit juice. Vegetarian options available on request at booking. This is a proper sit-down meal, not a packaged box lunch.
1:00 PM — Cave Tubing Orientation and Gear Up
Arrive at Nohoch Che’en Archaeological Reserve, Belize’s famous cave tubing experience. Collect your inflatable tube, headlamp, and life vest from the gear station. Your guide delivers a safety briefing and orientation before the hike begins. Changing rooms and restrooms are available at the park.
1:15 PM — The Jungle Hike to the Cave Entrance
Follow your guide on a 30 minute leisurely hike through old-growth tropical jungle to the Caves Branch River launch point. The trail winds through forest, across shallow streams, and past towering cohune palms and fig trees. This is not a difficult hike as the terrain is mostly flat and shaded. Your guide identifies trees, birds, and insects along the way. The call of Howler monkeys, toucans and more are frequently heard in the canopy overhead.
1:45 PM — Into the Caves of Xibalba
Step into the river and launch into the cave system. The water is cool and clear, a welcome contrast to the jungle heat! Your headlamp illuminates an otherworldly landscape of stalactites, stalagmites, cathedral-like limestone chambers, and crystalline formations that took hundreds of thousands of years to form. In the darkness, your guide tells the story of Xibalba — the Maya underworld accessed through cave openings — and points out ancient Maya pottery and artifacts left in the cave as ceremonial offerings over a thousand years ago.
The float takes approximately 60 minutes to 90 minutes and covers multiple cave chambers connected by stretches of open river under the jungle canopy. There are opportunities to swim in the deeper pools. The experience ends as the river carries you out into daylight at the lower take-out point where you first crossed the river.
2:45 PM — Depart for Belize City
Reboard the van for the return journey to Belize City. The afternoon light on the highway is beautiful and the drive gives you time to decompress, review your photos, and ask your guide any final questions about Belize. Arrival in Belize City is at approx 4:00pm.
Top 7 FAQ on Altun Ha & Belize Cave Tubing Experience!
How physically demanding is the cave tubing part?
The hike is manageable without rushing, but requires moderate mobility. The leisurely walk is about 30 minutes across mostly flat terrain. It is important to note that the trail is a natural path through the jungle. The path itself is wide but not paved. You will be walking on natural jungle ground. The guide makes stops to point out flora and fauna, which helps everyone enjoy mini breaks. It is also important to note that the hike starts with a river crossing. The water is typically between ankle-deep to knee-deep. A guide rope is provided to help with balancing as you make your way across the stony river bottom. At the riverbank, you will ease into your tubes. Some paddling is required but for the most part it is a gentle float down the river. Non-swimmers can participate on this tour!
Do I have to carry my own tube?
All guests of UpClose Belize enjoy our personalized "porter" service at no additional charge. Your hands are free and the load is light to simply enjoy the guided jungle walk.
Is this tour rushed since it combines two activities?
This combination tour offers our guests a leisurely and fully relaxed day. The full tour experience is available at both sites and lunch is a sit-down at a local restaurant.
What’s included—lunch, entrance fees, gear?
Your trip is fully inclusive - what you see is what you pay! Your front door pick up and drop off, tour transfers, park entry fees, complete tour gear, guided tours, and lunch with beverage are included. All your tour logistics are handled up front.
Is it worth combining these, or should I do them separately?
This is a particularly excellent combination tour. Belize's Maya History and quite possibly Belize's most popular tour experience combined in one leisurely day! There is no compromise needed; each site allows for a thorough experience! This combo is perfect for travelers who want to experience both culture and adventure in one day.
How good or important is the tour guide?
Ask for Elvin, Belize's top-ranked tour guide and winner of the Tour Guide of the Year award by the Belize Tourism Board! At UpClose Belize we provide you with a vacation adventure worth remembering!
How big is the tour group size?
At UpClose Belize we do not join you with cruise ship excursions! We consider it a semi - private tour because you will only share your van and your guide with other guests of UpClose Belize!
All About Altun Ha & Belize Cave Tubing Experience!
Altun Ha — Where Belize’s Most Famous Treasure Was Found
The Altun Ha Ruins is a Maya archaeological site located 31 miles north of Belize City in the Belize River valley. Occupied from approximately 200 BC through 900 AD, it functioned as a significant ceremonial centre and trading hub connecting the Caribbean coast with the Maya heartland further inland. The site covers roughly 25 square kilometres, though only the central ceremonial precinct — containing two main plazas and seven major structures — is open to visitors.
The Jade Head — Belize’s Most Iconic Artefact
In 1968, Canadian archaeologist David Pendergast excavated a royal tomb inside Structure B-4 and discovered a carved jade head representing Kinich Ahau, the Maya Sun God. Weighing nearly ten pounds and carved from a single piece of jade, it remains the largest carved jade object ever found in the Maya world. The original is secured in the Belize Bank vault in Belize City; a replica is displayed at the Museum of Belize. The Jade Head now appears on Belizean currency, the Belikin beer label, and is the unofficial symbol of the country.
Belize Cave Tubing — Floating Through the Maya Underworld
Cave tubing is Belize’s signature adventure activity and one of the most distinctive experiences in all of Central America. Unlike cave tours in other countries, Belize cave tubing involves floating on an inflatable inner tube through a live river cave system — carried by the current, headlamp illuminating the chambers around you, surrounded by stalactites and the echoing sound of water in complete darkness.
The Nohoch Che’en Cave System
The Caves Branch River flows through a series of interconnected limestone caverns in the foothills of the Maya Mountains in central Belize. The Nohoch Che’en Archaeological Reserve protects both the cave system and the surrounding old-growth jungle. ‘Nohoch Che’en’ translates from Yucatec Maya as ‘Big Snake Well’ a reference to the serpentine path of the underground river. The caves contain stalactite and stalagmite formations, calcite crystals, subterranean pools, and in certain chambers, ancient Maya pottery and ceremonial artifacts deposited over a thousand years ago.
Physical Requirements
The Altun Ha & Belize Cave Tubing tour is rated Moderate. The cave tubing float itself is gentle and suitable for most fitness levels. The main physical requirement is the 25–30 minute jungle hike to the cave entrance, which includes wading through shallow streams (knee-deep at most). Terrain is mostly flat. Temple climbing at Altun Ha involves steep stone staircases and is optional — the site is fully rewarding at ground level. Minimum recommended age is 4 years. Guests with mobility concerns should contact us before booking.
Best Time of Year
The Altun Ha Ruins & Belize Cave Tubing tour runs year-round. The dry season from November through April offers the most reliable weather, lower humidity, and cooler temperatures. The wet season from May through October brings lush green jungle, fewer tourists, and slightly warmer cave water — afternoon rain showers are common but brief, and cave tubing is actually enjoyable in light rain. Water levels in the Caves Branch River are higher in the wet season, which makes the float slightly faster and the cave experience marginally different but equally beautiful.
Children and Families
The Altun Ha & Belize Cave Tubing tour is an excellent family experience. The minimum age is 4 years for cave tubing. Children are captivated by the cave — the darkness, the headlamps, the stalactites and the underground river combine to make it feel like genuine exploration. The temple climbing at Altun Ha is also popular with children (always with an adult). Note that the full day is long (11–12 hours) — for children under 7, consider whether the duration suits your family’s pace. Contact us and we can advise based on your group.
Dietary Requirements
A traditional Belizean lunch is included on this Altun Ha & Belize Cave Tubing tour. Vegetarian options are available — please notify us at booking. Guests with allergies or specific dietary needs should advise us in advance and we will ensure the kitchen is prepared.
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