Ancient Cave Kayaking Adventure: Explore Sacred Sites & Nature Trails with Expert Guides
4.8
365 Ratings
Belize City
Embark on an ancient cave kayaking adventure to explore sacred sites and nature trails. Expert guides provide equipment and share fascinating insights along the way. Join us now!
Duration: 5 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Nohoch Che’en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve - Align your tour with the ship’s schedule. Secure your spot and disembark one hour post-arrival. Experience our excursions, with all transit and gear disinfected daily. Traverse the Nohoc Chen Caves, where the Caves Branch River meanders. The first three caverns are explored via Cave-tubing, while the pristine upper caverns remain largely untouched, accessible only through our Kayaking Cave Tour. Kayaking offers access to more caverns and the chance to witness the pristine beauty of the cave’s interior. Discover both the upper and lower caverns. The journey includes a 20-minute hike through the tropical rainforest, kayaking in the shadowy caves, and marveling at the stunning formations within Nohoc Chen Park. Enjoy a swim in the crystal-clear waters amidst the sparkling cave formations.\nEach visiting ship has dedicated guides and vehicles, so book the 8 am excursion, disembark at the earliest opportunity, and our guides will be prepared to commence the tour within an hour of the tendering process starting.
What's Included
  • Choice of single or tandem molded heavy-duty sit-on-top kayaks
  • Kayaking gear provided, including paddles, PFDs, helmets, and jackets
  • Punctual tour schedule aligned with Ship Time, ensuring a timely return
  • Comfortable transportation via air-conditioned minivan
What's Not Included
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Our forefathers found practical and sacred uses for cave systems for millennia, using them for habitation, spiritual practices, and food storage. Embark with us on an excursion into this subterranean realm. We provide the essentials - headlights, helmets, life vests, kayaks, and a seasoned guide. Fully equipped, our guides will lead you through a forested trail, explaining the local botanical lore. Upon arrival at the caves, our guide will brief you on the seven-cave layout, kayak handling, and planned route. Here, you’re welcomed by grand cave entrances with a pristine river flowing through them. As you navigate, you’ll pass through a series of caves, and witness an array of intriguing formations. Our guide will identify suitable spots for rest breaks, and even a revitalizing dip. You’ll continue your voyage through the vast cave complex, finally greeted by glistening sunlight on the water’s surface, and the melodic twittering of birds on the river bank at the exit. We’ll then safely store our gear, avail the amenities, and gear up for our journey back.

  • we pick up at FSTV cruise port, Terminal One Exit, street side, San Pedro Express water taxi, hotels
  • A moderate amount of hiking is involved
  • Not recommended for children aged 8 and under
  • Inclement Weather Concerns: we get hourly weather updates as to the condition of water levels at the rivers.
  • sometimes its raining around the cruise line and coastal areas, and the rivers are fine.so we go ahead and do the tour as scheduled. only if the rains are in the mountains and right now the rivers are low and we need more water in the rivers then the float will be better, last week the kayaks were getting stuck in the lower parts of the rivers. if the rains are in the mountains and more than normal and the water rises and we can not take up the kayaks , then we use tubes to do cave tubing…. if the rangers in the mountain top measure more than usual water then the caves system are closed for all activities….we have the zipline tour. or the altun ha Maya site tour or refund for not participating on the alternate tour.
  • participants must know how to swim
  • bring a reusable water bottle, disposing of empty plastic bottles is not allowed
  • for helmet cam use, bring helmet attachment
  • cruise guest stay on ship time and arrive early, checkin with us as soon as possible , play more , arrive early
  • restaurants, river shoe rentals, available at the park
  • bring towels, change of clothing, swimwear, insect repellent, footwear with thick soles used to walk on gravel path and do the river crossing.
  • Reserve Online and come ashore early, we dispatch as the vans fill up
  • The Tour vans and staff are near the Belize sign by the lighthouse.
  • NOT available from NCL Harvest Caye Port
Location
Baron Bliss lighthouse
Fort Street
Cruisers, V.i.V. will meet you at Belize City FSTV cruise port, Terminal 1 Exit, street side, terminal 1 Exit street side. V.i.V. Guest staying in Belize City Hotels, we pick you up at the hotel. San Pedro Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker guest, we meet you at the water taxi terminal in Belize city
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(365 Ratings)
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Cari_b
Apr 24, 2024
Wonderful experience! - This excursion is a must do while in Belize! Make sure and ask for Freddie as your tour director!! Amazing man who was kind, gracious & very informative as he lead us on our island & underwater cave excursions. Will do this excursion again!
Review provided by Viator
Celine_f
Apr 24, 2024
A great excursion!! - We had a small group of 11 people with two guides who were very knowledgeable about the Mayan history and stories about the caves as well as the local area. The drive to the caves is about 35 minutes and then it’s a 15-20 minute walk with 3 stream crossings to get to your kayaks! You don’t have to carry the kayaks at all which was a huge bonus! The water was cool and refreshing especially after the walk through the jungle. We even had a swimming opportunity at this deep spot in the cavern where those who wanted to could jump off a rock and try to splash the ceiling. The kayaking was half in complete caves and half on a quick moving stream with breaks through to the sunshine and trees above. Highly recommend this tour, you have to be at least 4 feet tall and wear water shoes that don’t come off your feet. If you forgot that, they have crocs you can rent!!
Review provided by Viator
Tommy_n
Apr 22, 2024
Fantastic - The kayaking and caves were awesome. So much fun. The tour guides for fantastic and very knowledgeable.
Review provided by Viator
Curious03038096260
Apr 17, 2024
A great day! - What a great tour. We've kayaked before but this was unlike anything we've experienced. The caves were amazing! Our guide for the day was Abner who is deeply knowledgeable and very, very funny. He filled the trip to the caves with stories about the local community, the history of Belize, endangered species, and the uses of many of the plants we saw. Our trip through the caves included a stop where he had us turn off our headlights to sit in the most complete darkness I've ever experienced. The waterfalls and the stalactites were breathtaking. Highly recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Peterldowns58
Apr 17, 2024
Lovely tour with an entertaining guide - Abner led us on a great tour by kayak under the mountain with a visit to a bat cave and time for swimming. He had lots of stories about the caves, the Mayans, and plants we saw on the hike from the park entrance to the kayaks. He's a bit of a joker, so keep your wits about you! He might offer you a snack of termites. It is entirely up to you whether to accept.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kristin_b
Apr 15, 2024
Best excursion in Belize! - We have done cave tubing and visiting Mayan ruins previously in Belize. All were enjoyable, but this was the best! Sharon and Fred were excellent guides (and Fred is a very good driver!) The van was fairly new and in very good condition - the AC worked well and was very welcome. The hike up the river was pretty hot but once you got into the cave it was very pleasant. The kayaking was really fun, including the "ripples". The swim was also very refreshing. Fred pointed out several interesting plants and animals. We saw small fish, a howler monkey in the trees, and many bats in the cave. We even tasted a termite. You should do this excursion!
Review provided by Viator
Claytonallansmith
Apr 8, 2024
This was unbelizeable!!! - Our host for the day was Cardinal, also known as "C" through V.I.V. adventures. If I lived here i know Cardinal and i would be buddies. As we drove to the caves he spoke about the area, pointed out wildlife and different types of trees and what types of fruit they produce. He is extremely knowledgeable about all the plant and wildlife on the island. We got to see leaf cutter ants on the trail and even stopped to eat some termites. My youngest son really took a liking to Cardinal and wanted to ride on his kayak with him the rest of the tour which Cardinal gladly accepted. Because we were on kayaks we got to go to places that people on the tubes cannot, we paddled up the river through the caves and had it all to ourselves. It was absolutely amazing. I have seen a lot of beautiful places in my life and this is at the top of that list. We stopped at a place where the water first comes into the cave system and swam around, jumping off boulders and skipping rocks into little caves. After our swim we got back onto the kayaks and paddled downstream where we eventually met up with all the people on tubes and navigated our way through the rest of the cave system. After we emerged from the caves the people on the tubes were instructed to come out of the river because that is where it ended for them, but not for us!! We got to kayak down the rest of the river to the starting point and once again we had the river all to ourselves. It was absolutely amazing. This excursion did not disappoint and we got to see and experience so much more then the people on the tubes. The kayaks are the only way to really experience this cave system and having a super host like Cardinal made it that much better, he really put it over the top for us. Cardinal, thank you so much for that day and for the memories. It was unbelizeable!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Melanie_s
Apr 7, 2024
This was unbelizeable!!! - Our host for the day was Cardinal, also known as "C" through V.I.V. adventures. If I lived here i know Cardinal and i would be buddies. As we drove to the caves he spoke about the area, pointed out wildlife and different types of trees and what types of fruit they produce. He is extremely knowledgeable about all the plant and wildlife on the island. We got to see leaf cutter ants on the trail and even stopped to eat some termites. My youngest son really took a liking to Cardinal and wanted to ride on his kayak with him the rest of the tour which Cardinal gladly accepted. Because we were on kayaks we got to go to places that people on the tubes cannot, we paddled up the river through the caves and had it all to ourselves. It was absolutely amazing. I have seen a lot of beautiful places in my life and this is at the top of that list. We stopped at a place where the water first comes into the cave system and swam around, jumping off boulders and skipping rocks into little caves. After our swim we got back onto the kayaks and paddled downstream where we eventually met up with all the people on tubes and navigated our way through the rest of the cave system. After we emerged from the caves the people on the tubes were instructed to come out of the river because that is where it ended for them, but not for us!! We got to kayak down the rest of the river to the starting point and once again we had the river all to ourselves. It was absolutely amazing. This excursion did not disappoint and we got to see and experience so much more then the people on the tubes. The kayaks are the only way to really experience this cave system and having a super host like Cardinal made it that much better, he really put it over the top for us. Cardinal, thank you so much for that day and for the memories. It was unbelizeable!
Review provided by Viator
James_h
Apr 6, 2024
Fun but a long ride out... - Fun but a long ride out there . Our driver and guide were very good. We bought food at the restaurant and it was good too.
Review provided by Viator
Doug_p
Apr 3, 2024
Great tour, bad time management - Guides were great. Highly recommend this tour because it is very good. Using the Kayaks instead of the tubes creates a great way to see the caves and experience more than with the tubes. Down sides: tour says its 4 hours, took over 7, the location is not nearly as close as noted. Also the guides did not seem to be tracking out boats set sail time and i had to inform them of it and they did not seem to be concerned that we wouldn't make it. We got to the port 2 mins before the last tender left and the guide told us "to stop worrying, I've been doing this forever, they wont leave you." When i got on the boat i asked the crew and they said we almost missed it. If i hadn't been persistent with the guides we would have missed out boat.
Review provided by Viator
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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