Embark on a thrilling adventure through Crystal Cave, a Maya ceremonial site, and then take a refreshing dip in the Blue Hole. Discover Belize’s natural wonders on this day tour!
- Crystal Cave - Leave San Ignacio in the morning to start your day tour with the drive toward Belmopan and the scenic Hummingbird Highway, crossing the green mountains while passing by orange orchards, pineapple plantations, and rainforest-draped valleys along the way. Your destination is Blue Hole National Park, a protected and accessible area managed by the Belize Audubon Society. It’s also home to Crystal Cave, known locally as Mountain Cow Cave, an otherworldly natural wonder located deep in the jungle in the heart of the park.
- Blue Hole National Park - After a 50-minute hike through the tropical forest with your guide, you’ll reach the entry point where you’ll rappel 15 feet (4.5 meters) into the vast entrance of the cave. Traverse its large chambers, sliding down mud ramps and scrambling along rocks. This is a challenging descent into Xibalba, what the Maya believed was the realms of the underworld. Your guide shows you the shimmering formations in the cave, along with artifacts and skeletal remains of sacrificial victims from ancient Maya ceremonies.
This tour is physically demanding but well worth the effort to walk in the footsteps of Maya ritual leaders and see the evidence of their sacred rites with your own eyes. After your cave exploration, refuel with a hearty homemade lunch and soft drinks, and take a swim in the cool waters of the Blue Hole, a deep sinkhole filled with rain and spring water, known as a cenote.
Your tour then ends with return to San Ignacio.
- National Park fees
- Use of helmet and headlamps
- All taxes, fees, and handling charges
- Guide
- Lunch with a drink
- water bottle and snacks
Embark on a day trip from San Ignacio to Blue Hole National Park and Crystal Cave, two of Belize’s top natural wonders. Immerse yourself in the ancient Maya underworld as you explore the crystal-filled cave, a ceremonial site where sacred practices and sacrifices were performed by the Maya people. After uncovering the secrets of the cave, take a refreshing dip inside the Blue Hole, a jungle-bound cenote situated inland (distinguished from the offshore Great Blue Hole of the country). The tour includes lunch.
- Minimum age is 12 years
- Difficulty: Challenging
- What to bring: Hiking sandals or sneakers, change of clothes, small backpack, 1 liter of water, bug spray, snacks, and swimwear with shorts
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.