Cave tubing and a visit to the Belize Zoo will bring you face-to-face with Belize’s incredible outdoors. First you’ll visit the Belize City Zoo, which is known for its rehabilitation programs for endangered animals. Then you’ll head to the Caves Branch River, where you will ride on an inner tube through the ancient caves of the Maya

Actun Tunichil Muknal cave (usually referred to as “ATM”) is the doorway to Xibalba, the Maya underworld. This cave contains ceramics and human skeletons that have fused with the walls of the cave. The most famous of these remains is the Crystal Maiden, a skeleton of a young woman believed to have been a sacrifice. Her bones are now partially covered with the sparkling build-up of cave sediment.

On this tour, you’ll get to see two very different Maya sites. The first, Xuanantinuch, is the ruins of a compact but impressive Maya city. Here visitors can stroll around multiple plazas and temples. At the nearby Barton Creek Cave, you’ll see a cave that served as an entrance to Xibalba, the Maya underworld.

This tour will bring you to the top of a Maya temple, and then to the entrance of the Maya underworld. The temple is inside the Maya city of Xunantunich, which is located near the border of Guatemala. Its name translates to “Maiden of the Rock.” After you ascend the walls of its temple, you’ll continue the tour to the Cave Branch River, where you’ll follow the river into a series of caves that had intense spiritual significance for the Maya.

Just 29 miles (47 km) from Belize City is The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center. “Zoo” isn’t the best description for this place – this is truly a natural wildlife habitat. The environment is untouched within the zoo’s 29 acres (12 ha), and is home to 150 animals (48 species total).

Touring Xunantunich and the Belize Zoo will give you the opportunity to some of the best natural and cultural destinations Belize has to offer.

Belize is a country of Maya history, diverse flora and fauna, and gorgeous rivers and streams. In the rainforest of the Orange Walk District, this tour combines these elements into one day’s adventure. The tour offers hotel pick up from Belize City, and even the two hour drive to the river is scenic and informative, with guides narrating the route.

In the Nohoch Che'en Archaeological Reserve, the winding Caves Branch River flows underground through ancient caves, once traveled through and even inhabited by the Maya. Just an hour from Belize City and a half hour from Belmopan is The Outpost, a well-stocked base camp for cave tubing and zipline-riding in the midst of this history-rich area.

On this 8-day, 7-night tour of Belize, you’ll have an action-packed, family-friendly itinerary that takes you to see the highlights of the Maya world as well as some of the most beautiful parts of the landscape. This trip covers a variety of territory, allowing you to cover most of the tiny country of Belize in just one week. With the help of your knowledgeable guide, you’ll leave the jungles of the mainland behind to explore the Caribbean and the island of Ambergris Caye, and then return for a side-trip to Tikal National Park in Guatemala, which is home to one of the most well-known and breathtaking Maya sites in the world. Note: Because this tour takes you to Guatemala, please make sure you have a double-entry visa for Belize. Breakfast is included each day, and some days also come with a stop for lunch.

This plane ride over the coastal waters of Belize is the only way to fully appreciate the Belize Blue Hole in all its glory. During your tour you will observe a dark circle of deep, dark blue water surrounded by reefs and a turquoise sea. Your tour will include several passes around this natural wonder.