Cave Tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker – for a better way to spend your day!
Two of Belize’s most iconic adventures in your most unforgettable day of Cave Tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker! Ancient Mayan temples at Altun Ha followed by a headlamp-lit float through the sacred caves of Xibalba. Water taxi transfers, gear, lunch and a licensed guide all included for US$200 per person.
Belize‘s Ultimate Combo Day Trip – Cave Tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker – Straight from Your Hotel
The combination of Belize Cave Tubing and Altun Ha Maya Ruins is consistently rated the most popular single-day adventure available from Caye Caulker. In one action-packed day you cover two of the country’s most celebrated experiences: the ancient temples of Altun Ha where Belize’s famous Jade Head was discovered, and the Nohoch Che’en cave and underground river system the ancient Maya regarded as the entrance to Xibalba, the underworld.
UpClose Belize has been running this exact tour, Cave Tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker since 2009. We coordinate your water taxi to the mainland, transfer you in an air-conditioned van, feed you a proper Belizean lunch, and get you home before the last boat. Your guide is not a seasonal hire reading from a script, they are a certified Belizean caving and archaeological enthusiasts who have walked these sites hundreds of times and still love every visit.
Everything is included in one transparent price on your Cave Tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker: US$200 per person, tax-inclusive. No water taxi surcharge, no gear rental at the gate, no surprises.
Tour at a Glance – Cave Tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker
Departure |
6:30 AM via water taxi from the San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi terminal |
Return |
5:30 PM via water taxi from Belize City |
Duration |
Full day, approx. 11–12 hours door to door |
Price |
US$200 per person, all taxes and fees included. No hidden extras. |
Difficulty |
Moderate — walking, optional stair climbing, jungle hiking, wading, cave floating |
Min. Age |
40 inches and above required for cave tubing |
Group Size |
Small groups for intimate, guide-led experience |
Departures |
Daily, subject to 2-person minimum. Rate is based on 4 persons total on tour. No surcharge if joining an existing tour. |
Language |
English, with Spanish available on request |
Hotel Pickup |
Transfers between your hotel and water taxi terminal excluded |
Everything Included in Your Cave Tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker US$200 Tour Price
What’s Included on your Cave Tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker – No Surprises at Any Point in the Day
- Round-trip water taxi transfer: Caye Caulker ↔ Belize City (Belize Express)
- Air-conditioned van transport: Belize City to Altun Ha and onward to Nohoch Che’en Archaeological Reserve
- Certified, licensed UpClose Belize guide: with you for the entire day
- Guided walking tour: Altun Ha Archaeological Reserve — Temple of the Green Tomb, Temple of the Masonry Altars, and surrounding plazas
- Altun Ha National Park entry fees: fully covered
- Cave tubing equipment: inflatable tube, headlamp, and life vest — all provided
- Nohoch Che’en Archaeological Reserve entry fees: fully covered
- Traditional Belizean lunch with beverage: delicious!
- Purified water throughout the day
- All Belize government taxes (GST 12.5%): price shown is price you pay
Not Included on your Cave Tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker:
- Transfers between your hotel and the Caye Caulker water taxi terminal
- Gratuities for your guide (appreciated, at your discretion)
- Water shoe rentals at the cave park (available from on-site cash vendors ~US$5 to US$10)
- Alcoholic beverages and personal souvenirs
Everything You Need to Know Before You Go for Cave Tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker
What to Wear and Bring
- Comfortable, closed-toe shoes with grip — you will hike jungle trail and wade shallow streams. Old trainers are ideal. Do NOT wear flip-flops.
- Swimsuit worn under your clothes — or pack it in your bag. Changing rooms are available at the cave park.
- Quick-dry shorts or lightweight trousers — you will get wet during cave tubing.
- A dry change of clothes in a plastic bag — for the return journey.
- DEET-based insect repellent — Apply before the jungle hike.
- Sunscreen and a cap or hat — for the open water taxi crossing and outdoor sections.
- Camera or waterproof phone case — water will splash in the caves. Protect your device.
- Cash (US dollars or Belize dollars) — for tips (BZD$20–40 per person is customary) and optional water shoe rentals (~US$10 at the cave park).
- Small daypack — for personal items, dry clothes, and any snacks you want before lunch.
Physical Requirements
Cave Tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker is rated Moderate. The cave tubing float itself is gentle and suitable for most fitness levels. The main physical requirement is the 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 required height is 40 inches. Guests with mobility concerns should contact us before booking.
Best Time of Year
This 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
This 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. 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.
Your Full Day — Minute by Minute of Cave Tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker
6:30 AM — Board the Water Taxi at Caye Caulker
Make your way to the San Pedro Belize Express terminal on the main dock. Arrive by 6:00am to check in at the cashier booth with your ticket code to receive your round trip water taxi tickets. Once registered, join the queue for “Belize City”. Present your Deparure ticket upon boarding. Keep your return ticket safe as tickets are not replaceable if lost or damaged. Sit back, relax and enjoy the 90-minute crossing to the terminal on the mainland. The crossing offers beautiful views of the barrier reef and the open Caribbean. Restrooms are available at the arrival terminal, but there is no restroom at the departure terminal on San Pedro.
7:30AM — Meet Your UpClose Belize Guide on the Mainland
Your guide meets you at the Belize City Terminal at the left side exit with your name on a sign. From here you load into our air-conditioned van and head north toward Altun Ha. The 60-minute drive takes you through the old colonial Haulover Bridge district and into the lush citrus and tropical forest country north of Belize City. Your guide begins the day’s storytelling including the history of the Maya, the geography of Belize, and what to expect at each stop.
8:30 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.
Exploring the Temples with Your Guide
- Temple of the Green Tomb (Structure B-1): the tallest structure on site at 54 feet. Climb to the summit for panoramic views across the northern forest canopy. This is where the Jade Head was discovered in 1968 by archaeologist David Pendergast.
- Temple of the Masonry Altars (Structure B-4): 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.
- Ball Court: the ancient Maya played a ritual ball game here whose outcome had profound spiritual and sometimes mortal significance.
- Medicinal Plant Trail: a short walk through labelled jungle plants used by the Maya for medicine — many still used in Belizean traditional medicine today.
10:00 AM — Drive to Nohoch Che’en Archaeological Reserve
Reboard the van and travel west along the Hummingbird Highway toward the Caves Branch area. 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.
11:00 AM — 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.
11:15 AM — 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.
11:45 AM — 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.
1:15 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.
2:15 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.
3:30 PM to 4:30 PM — Belize City Terminal
Your guide drops you at the Belize City Terminal in time for the late afternoon water taxi back to San Pedro. Two return options at 4:30pm or 5:30 PM are available depending on your actual return time at the terminal. Your guide confirms which boat to take and ensures you are safely checked in before departing.
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM — Return to Caye Caulker
Arrive on the island ready for a cold Belikin and dinner, you’ve earned it on this Cave Tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker!
Frequently Asked Questions about Cave Tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker
How long is the cave tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker?
The full day runs approximately 11 to 12 hours door to door. Departure is at 6:30 AM from the water taxi terminal and you return on the island 5:30 and 6:30 PM. The day includes a 90-minute water taxi crossing each way, a 90-minute drive to Altun Ha, approximately 90 minutes at the ruins, a drive to the cave park, the jungle hike, cave tubing float of approximately one hour, and a sit-down Belizean lunch.
Does the tour price for Cave Tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker include the water taxi?
Yes. The UpClose Belize price of US$200 includes round-trip water taxi transfers between Caye Caulker and Belize City. Many competing operators advertise a price that excludes the water taxi. Our price is fully all-inclusive: water taxi, van transport, park entry fees, cave gear, guided tour, and lunch.
What is the difference between cave tubing and ATM Cave?
Both are cave experiences in Belize but they are very different adventures. Cave tubing at Nohoch Che’en involves floating on an inner tube through a river cave system — it is gentle, accessible to most ages from 4 upward, and takes approximately one hour. ATM Cave (Actun Tunichil Muknal) involves a 45-minute river hike and swimming into a dry cave system containing ancient Maya sacrificial remains and crystallised skeletal remains — it is more physically demanding, requires swimming, and has a minimum age of 6 years. Cave tubing is Belize’s most popular single activity. ATM is its most awe-inspiring. UpClose Belize offers both from Caye Caulker.
Is cave tubing safe for children and non-swimmers?
Yes. Cave tubing at Nohoch Che’en is suitable for children from 4 years and for non-swimmers. All participants wear a life vest throughout the experience. The river current is gentle and there are no rapids. The tubes are stable and buoyant. Your UpClose Belize guide leads the float and maintains visual contact with everyone in the group at all times. The main requirement is completing the 25-minute jungle hike to the cave entrance, which involves wading through shallow streams. Non-swimmers and young children complete this tour successfully every day.
What time does the water taxi depart for the cave tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker tour?
The water taxi departs from the San Pedro Belize Express terminal on Caye Caulker at 6:30 AM. This early departure is necessary to give you enough time on the mainland for both Altun Ha and cave tubing and to ensure you return to Belize City in time for the late afternoon water taxi back to Caye Caulker. Your guide meets you at the Belize City terminal upon arrival. Please arrive at the water taxi terminal by 6:00 AM.
What should I do if I miss the water taxi back to Caye Caulker?
This has not happened on an UpClose Belize tour. We time our day specifically around the last water taxi departure and your guide monitors timing throughout the day. In the unlikely event of a significant delay (weather closure of the cave park, for example), your guide will contact you and arrange an alternative water taxi. Our 15 years of running this route means we have contingency plans for every scenario.
How do I book the cave tubing and Altun Ha from Caye Caulker?
Book directly through the UpClose Belize website using the Book Now button on this page. You can also contact us via WhatsApp for group bookings, private tours, or specific scheduling requests. We recommend booking at least 48 hours in advance and earlier during the November to April peak season when this tour fills regularly. Full cancellation terms are shown at checkout.
More Caye Caulker Adventures with UpClose Belize
Add a Zipline — Cave Tube + Zip Line + Altun Ha from Caye Caulker
Upgrade this tour with a treetop zipline experience at the same Caves Branch location. Fly through the rainforest canopy on dual cables before floating through the caves — the ultimate Belize triple combo day. Same great guide, same great lunch, three iconic experiences.
Lamanai Mayan Ruins from Caye Caulker
A completely different Maya experience — Lamanai is reached by a one-hour jungle river safari through one of Belize’s most productive wildlife corridors. Crocodiles, howler monkeys, roseate spoonbills, and 108-foot ancient temples. Full day, fully managed.
ATM Cave from Caye Caulker
The most awe-inspiring cave experience in Belize — Actun Tunichil Muknal requires swimming and hiking into a mountain, where ancient Maya sacrificial artefacts and crystallised skeletal remains lie exactly where they were left over a thousand years ago. Not for the faint of heart. Unforgettable.
River of Caves 7-Mile Kayak from Caye Caulker
Kayak the full length of the Caves Branch underground river on a 7-mile guided journey through multiple cave chambers. A more active, more adventurous version of the cave experience for travellers who want to go deeper into the Maya underworld.
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