Barton Creek Cave Canoe Tour
Take this tour into depths of the mysterious and enchanting Barton Creek Cave. Barton Creek flows through the cave, allowing you to paddle through its interior. This tour also introduces you to some interesting archeological remains.
- Duration:
- 3 hrs
- Available Days:
- Every day
- Schedule:
- 8:00 AM, 1:00 PM
- Hotel Transport Included
- Mobile Ticket Included
- Offered in English, Spanish
As you paddle, your guide will point out Maya artifacts, including ceremonial pottery. This complex cave system was considered sacred by the Maya, which is why you’ll also see the bones of sacrifice victims. In Maya lore, caves served as entrances to the underworld, which is why they served as burial grounds.
This cave complex is fairly massive, and the chambers have extremely high ceilings. Besides the history of the Maya, your guide can also share some interesting details about the cave’s natural history. It’s surrounded by jungle growth, making the trip to the cave scenic as well.
Attraction Visited
Barton Creek Cave is one of the most fascinating wet caves in Belize. A tour of Barton Creek Cave involves gently paddling a two-man canoe across the cave’s still water, guided only by headlamps that light up the intricate stalactites and stalagmites that make up the limestone walls. It is one of the few wet caves in Belize where exploring doesn’t require swimming or tubing. Please note that the cave ceiling is quite low in places, and all visitors should be comfortable in dark.
Read more:Barton Creek Cave
What to Bring
Comfortable attire, comfortable shoes, and bug spray. A waterproof camera recommended.
What's included
Tour guide, equipment, water, transportation, and entrance fees.
Transportation
Many of our tours and activities offer transportation pick up & drop off options from several locations and destinations. Options vary by tour, see “BOOKING REQUEST” for full details.
Traveler Comments
Surreal!!!
So beautiful and perfectly creepy. We were the only people there and it felt like we were in the middle of the jungle alone. Ours kids are 5 and 7 so this was the perfect alternative to the cave tubing which would have been too scary for the little one. Our guide was great and we really enjoyed the whole day.
Similar things to do
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.
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.
Canoe down Barton Creek to see an enormous and mystical cave that played an important role in local Maya culture. Once you paddle inside, it’s easy to see why the Maya chose this awe-inspiring cave as a site for ceremonies. Guides on this half-day tour are well-versed in Maya history as well as natural history.