Rainforest and Ruins

Arrive at the Belize City airport and transfer to your jungle retreat. Along the way stop at the Belize Zoo, where in typical Belizean fashion animals roam 29 acres in large natural enclosures. The jungle lodge is located on the banks overlooking the Macal River. Surrounded by pristine forest, your days at the lodge are filled with natural discoveries as you explore the lush vegetation of the Maya Mountains, miles of trails, and on-site farms to explore.

After a leisurely morning, set out to canoe down the Macal River for your first introduction to Belizean wildlife. Your guide will help you spot iguanas, peccaries, coati mundis, and a myriad of bird life. After lunch in town, visit the Maya ruins of Xunantunich, once a major ceremonial site and the second-tallest ruin in Belize. From atop, enjoy a breathtaking panoramic view of the Cayo District of Guatemala.

Today, continue your explorations of the ancient Maya with a visit to the ruins of Caracol. Surrounded by breathtaking Belizean jungle, a visit to the ruins offers massive structures, haunting tombs and burial sites, and intriguing carvings that tell stories about the people who lived and worked in this fantastic Maya city. There is still much to be discovered at Caracol and archaeologists continue their digs and preservation of the site. With time you'll stop at Rio On Pools and Rio Frio Cave. A stop at the pools makes for an inviting dip, especially after hiking the afternoon under the hot Belize sun. The smooth granite stones make for great slides, but be sure to watch your step. Even for those who prefer to keep dry, the beauty of the pools is well worth the stop. Not far from the pools is the Rio Frio Cave. This is the largest cave in Belize. Approaching the cave's enormous mouth invites a magical, almost frighteningly fantastic, sensation. Long ago the cave was used as a ceremonial site for the Maya, but while artifacts no longer remain, the cave still holds onto its mysticism.

Wake early for an unforgettable adventure into the Maya underworld. Begin your journey from the lodge doors, crossing creeks and venturing deep into the Belizean jungle to reach the opening of the sacred Actun Tunichil Muknal – the Cave of the Stone Sepulcher. At the entrance, gear up with a helmet and waterproof headlamp, then wade into the emerald-colored water flowing from the cave's gaping mouth. Follow the river's path through wet and dry chambers, surrounded by hanging stalactites and towering stalagmites. Your final destination is the spectacular primary chamber where ancient kings and priests once made blood sacrifices to appease the Maya gods. Your lights reveal the ghostly outlines of skeletal ritual victims and scattered ceramic shards from ancient rituals. As this is an active archaeological site, take care not to disturb the sleeping skeletons and artifacts before returning to the light above ground. This is a fairly rigorous trip, so being in good shape is essential.

Click here for an alternative excursion available at Black Rock Lodge

After breakfast, transfer to Belize City for your departure.