St. Herman's Cave & Blue Hole National Park
This 6-hour tour takes you two of Belize’s most interesting inland nature attractions – St. Herman’s Cave and the Inland Blue Hole. In addition to sightseeing, you’ll also get in some hiking through the forest and a swim in one of Belize’s prettiest swimming holes.To reach these spots, you’ll make your way through a lively jungle, where you’ll have the chance to see a huge variety of birds. Keep in mind that this hike is on the more challenging side, so make sure you’re ready for an active day.
- Duration:
- 6 hrs
- Available Days:
- Every day
- Schedule:
- 7:30 AM
- Hotel Transport Included
- Mobile Ticket Included
- Offered in English, Spanish
Before you set out, it helps to have a little background so you can fully appreciate these sites’ significance. St Herman’s Cave was an important spiritual site during the Mayan Classic period, which lasted from 250 CE to 900 CE. The Maya believed that caves like these served as portals to the underworld, and therefore saw them as an appropriate place for human sacrifice victims. On your visit here, you’ll be able to see the calcified remains of one such skeleton, along with other interesting artifacts. The cave is cavernous and vast, with high ceilings and impressive natural formations.
After exploring the cave, you’ll make your way to the swimming hole, which has bright blue, clear water that makes for a refreshing swim. This is a tranquil place to reflect on how little this place has changed since the Maya called St. Herman's and Blue Hole National Park their home. And don't worry about what to eat — your guides will provide a picnic lunch so you don't have to worry about bringing your own food, giving you more space to fully enjoy the experience.
Attraction Visited
Located on the Hummingbird Highway 12 miles (20 km) southeast of Belmopan, St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park covers over 500 acres (200 ha) of rich tropical rainforest. The park, which is managed by the Belize Audubon Society, is home to over 200 bird species and a variety of wildlife, including howler monkeys, which can be heard regularly throughout the forest.
Read more:St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park
What to Bring
Comfortable clothes, comfortable hiking shoes, bug spray, and a camera.
What's included
Tour guide, equipment, water, lunch, 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.
Similar things to do
This is a unique experience, with spectacular views that you will not get anywhere else in Belize. On this tour you will get to go tubing on a river that flows through a network of more than 30 caves.
Actun Tunichil Muknal cave 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.
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