Archeological Tours in Belize

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Archeological Tours in Belize

There are numerous Mayan ruins in Belize; while on one of these tours you'll visit the best of them. Archeological tours are led by knowledgeable guides who will show you ruins and teach you about the history, culture, and myth that surround them. You'll visit ancient palaces and temples, or explore caves to see the skeletons of Mayan sacrificial victims. These tours are a wonderful option for history buffs or amateur archeologists.

Nim Li Punit or Lubaantun

Placencia Village

Nim Li Punit was built in the Late Classic Period and is one of the smaller Maya sites - located half a mile off the Southern Highway. ACTIVITY LEVEL: MODERATE-AVERAGE PHYSICAL CONDITION FOR ALL AGES

Guided Tours, Hiking, Archeology

From$149

Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour

Ambergris Caye

In the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave (or ATM Cave for short) you get to explore both a natural wonder and an archaeological goldmine. ATM is a wet cave that the Maya believed served as an entrance to the underworld. They used it for ceremonial purposes, and left plenty of evidence behind.

Cave Exploration, Guided Tours, Hiking, Nature Walks, Archeology

From$444

Xunantunich and Belize Zoo Tour

Belize City

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

Guided Tours, Hiking, Species Exhibits, Archeology, Ruins

From$135

Xunantunich and Inland Blue Hole

Placencia Village

Xunantunich was the first ruin site in Belize to be opened to the public when the road and a ferry were built, in 1954. The most prominent structure is the pyramid "El Castillo" which was the tallest man-made structure in all of Belize until the discovery of Caana at Caracol. ACTIVITY LEVEL: MODERATE-AVERAGE PHYSICAL CONDITION FOR ALL AGES

Guided Tours, Archeology

5.0 / 5.0

From$183

Xunantunich and Cahal Pech Tour

San Ignacio

This tour takes you to two of Belize's top Maya sites - Xunantunich and Cahal Pech.

Guided Tours, Hiking, Archeology, Ruins

5.0 / 5.0

From$171

Cave tubing

San Ignacio

On this tour you will get to go tubing on a river that flows through a network of more than 30 caves. These caves have crystalized columns, vaulted ceilings, and Maya artifacts.

Cave Exploration, Guided Tours, Species Exhibits, Archeology

5.0 / 5.0

From$135

Cave Tubing & Xunantunich Maya Temples

Belize City

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.

Cave Exploration, Guided Tours, Archeology, Ruins

5.0 / 5.0

From$164

Xunantunich Tour

San Ignacio

Visit the Xunantunich Mayan Ruins and the site the Maya named after the "Maiden of the Rock." It has enormous and impressive examples of artful Maya hieroglyphs.

Guided Tours, Hiking, Archeology, Ruins

4.8 / 5.0

From$107

Barton Creek Tour

San Ignacio

The Barton Creek Tour is good for people of all ages. You’ll get go caving in a canoe and see Mennonites, Mayan ruins, and some stunning Belize jungle.

Cave Exploration, Guided Tours, Archeology

4.8 / 5.0

From$122

Actun Tunichil Muknal Tour

San Ignacio

Actun Tunichil Muknal (Cave of the Stone Sepulcher) is one of the most impressive caves in the Maya world of Belize, named after a sacrificial chamber deep within the ATM Cave. This wet cave is located within the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve in the Cayo district.

Cave Exploration, Guided Tours, Archeology

4.7 / 5.0

From$135

Tikal One Day From San Ignacio

San Ignacio

Explore the vast ruins of Tikal during this one-day tour. You’ll visit Tikal’s temples and pyramids, learn about Mayan culture, and walk along short trails through the jungle.

Guided Tours, Nature Walks, Archeology, Ruins

4.7 / 5.0

From$158

Xunantunich Horseback Riding Tour

San Ignacio

This tour starts by making your way along the riverside trail leading through habitat for birds, green iguanas and other kinds of Belizean wildlife.

Horseback Riding, Guided Tours, Archeology, Ruins

4.5 / 5.0

From$142

Xunantunich and Barton Creek Cave Tour

Belize City

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.

Kayaking, Cave Exploration, Guided Tours, Hiking, Archeology

4.0 / 5.0

From$176

Cahal Pech Tour

San Ignacio

Located on a hilltop overlooking the beautiful town of San Ignacio is the Cahal Pech Maya site and the Visitor Center. This site is one of the oldest Maya ruins in Belize.

Guided Tours, Hiking, Archeology, Ruins

2.3 / 5.0

From$93

Caracol Maya Temple

San Ignacio

This tour will take you to two different nature reserves in the Maya Mountain region of western Belize. You'll get to see Maya ruins and some of the incredible natural formations that characterize this part of the country. Keep in mind that there is some hiking and climbing involved in this tour, so participants should be at least moderately fit and have no physical limitations.

Guided Tours, Hiking, Archeology, Ruins

From$137

Altun Ha Temples

Belize City

This tour will introduce you to the breathtaking sights and historical mystery of Altun Ha. Visitors will see the 5 miles (8 km) of land the site encompasses, and then walk around the grand temple-pyramids. Stroll around the bright green, lush grounds and gaze up at a majestic piece of history that gives us so much insight into the mysterious Mayans.

Guided Tours, Hiking, Archeology, Ruins

From$108

TIKAL

San Ignacio

*This tour takes you to Guatemala via Belize*

Located in the dense tropical jungles of the Petén region of Guatemala, Tikal is the largest Mayan site you can visit, and is spectacular! Extensive excavation and restoration has revealed the grandeur of this past civilization. An abundance of tropical birds, monkeys, and other wildlife can also be seen while exploring the trails throughout the site.

Guided Tours, Hiking, Archeology, Ruins

From$170

Barton Creek Private Tour

San Ignacio

The Barton Creek Tour is good for people of all ages. You’ll get go caving in a canoe and see Mennonites, Mayan Ruins, and some stunning Belize Jungle. Barton Creek pass through a remote underground water cave system in a canoe. While canoeing through the cave see large and colorful formations, skeletal remains and other cultural artifacts left behind by the Mayas centuries ago. It is believed that the Mayas once used this cave for ritual burials

Cave Exploration, Guided Tours, Archeology

From$155

LAMANAI JUNGLE RIVER

Ambergris Caye

Lamanai Jungle River will explore new areas of the new river of Lamanai

Guided Tours, Hiking, Archeology

From$177

Altun Ha Maya Ruin and Maruba Spa

Ambergris Caye

Combine history, culture, and relaxation on this tour of the Altun Ha ruins and the Maruba Spa. The spa has treatment areas out in the open that blend in with the jungle surroundings.

Guided Tours, Hiking, Nature Walks, Archeology, Ruins

From$90

CAVE TUBING & XUNANTUNICH MAYA RUIN

Ambergris Caye

We begin by making our way to the mainland & up the Belize River. Along the way as we serve breakfast keep an eye out to spot crocodiles, iguanas & possibly manatees. Once at the site our guide will give you an informative tour of the ruins.

Hiking, Archeology, Ruins

Inquire for Price

Tikal National Park And Mayan Ruins

San Ignacio

This full-day tour to Tikal National Park introduces you to the greatest city the Maya ever built. It dates back to 200 BC, and remained a flourishing capital until 900 AD. At its height, it is believed to have supported a population of around 90,000.

Guided Tours, Hiking, Nature Walks, Archeology, Ruins

From$197

Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tour

San Ignacio

Take this tour to see the site that the Maya called “Stone Woman.” You’ll reach Xunantunich via a ferry ride down the Mopan River, followed by a short hike through the jungle. Xunantunich spreads out over a couple of miles, but the central site is fairly compact.

Guided Tours, Hiking, Nature Walks, Archeology, Ruins

From$144

Cahal Pech Mayan Ruins

San Ignacio

Take this tour to see one of the oldest Maya sites in Belize. It has ruins that you can climb and is only 30 minutes from Chaa Creek.

Guided Tours, Hiking, Nature Walks, Archeology, Ruins

From$144

Caracol Mayan Ruins

San Ignacio

Take this tour to see one of the largest Maya ruins in the world inside the Chiquibul Forest Reserve. It begins with an early morning drive from Chaa Creek—you’ll travel 2 hours to reach this site.

Guided Tours, Archeology, Ruins

From$309

Caracol Mayan Site Tour

San Ignacio

Caracol Mayan Temples was discovered in 1938 by loggers, located deep within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve now it is the most extensive Maya site in Belize and one of the biggest in the Maya World.

Guided Tours, Hiking, Archeology, Ruins

From$143

Actun Tunichil Muknal

Placencia Village

Actun Tunichil Muknal is also known as ATM - the Cave of the Stone Sepulcher is one of the most thrilling caving experiences Belize has to offer. ACTIVITY LEVEL: GOOD PHYSICAL CONDITION OR ENJOY WALKING OR HIKING

Guided Tours, Archeology

From$257

ACTUN TUNICHIL MUKNAL (ATM)

San Ignacio

This site has been featured on National Geographic, Discovery Channel, and History Channel because of its mesmerizing giant shimmering flowstone formations, stalactites, and stalagmites widely present throughout this 3-mile long cave. ATM features burial chambers, Mayan artifacts, intact calcified human remains, and slate stelaes that were used for burials. The cave was name after a shocking display showcasing the calcite-encrusted remains of a woman whom the Cave of the Stone Sepulchre was name for

Cave Exploration, Archeology

From$158

XUNANTUNICH

San Ignacio

This site is home to the renowned 130-feet-tall temple, El Castillo, which offers incredible panoramic views of surrounding temples and views of both Belizean and Guatemalan landscapes. Xunantunich was a major ceremonial centre as well as a residential and recreational area for the ancient Maya civilization. There is a most impressive stucco frieze on the East side of the temple, whose carved elements represent astrological symbols.

Guided Tours, Hiking, Archeology, Ruins

From$63

CARACOL

San Ignacio

Discovered in 1938 and later explored in the 1950s, Caracol was thought to be a little more than a Maya ceremonial centre. It was not until more extensive excavation efforts in 1985 discovered the importance and prominence of this site. Caracol filled an important missing piece of Maya history by covering approximately 140 years of the Middle Classic period— highlighting this site as a supreme city. This tour also showcases landmarks of Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve such as Rio On Pools and Rio Frio Cave.

Guided Tours, Hiking, Archeology

From$155

XUNANTUNICH & CAHAL PECH

San Ignacio

This tour takes you to nearby Maya sites to showcase the architecture and centres developed by the ancient Maya in the Cayo District. The tour features visits to some of San Ignacio’s landmarks— the Xunantunich and Cahal Pech temples, two very popular sites amongst archaeologists. During this combination tour, you’ll learn about the rich culture of the Maya people and witness infrastructures that have persisted for many centuries.

Guided Tours, Hiking, Archeology, Ruins

From$89

Actun Tunichil Muknal

Placencia Village

Guided Tours, Archeology

From$257

Actun Tunichil Muknal Caves

Belize City

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.

Cave Exploration, Guided Tours, Hiking, Archeology

From$173

Mayan Heart Horseback Riding tour

San Ignacio

The nicest way to see Belize up close is on horseback. You’ll find beaches, jungle, pine forests and a few other types of terrain. The San Ignacio area is predominantly jungle and rolling hills with lots of Mayan ruins.

Horseback Riding, Bird Watching, Guided Tours, Archeology

From$108

Lamanai Ruins Half Day Tour (TT)

Ambergris Caye

Lamanai Archaeological Site Walking through actual plazas and temples that were once of paramount importance to the ancient civilization, visitors will feel the vibrancy and mystery of the Maya.

Guided Tours, Hiking, Nature Walks, Safari Float, Archeology

From$287

Lamanai Maya Temples & the New River Safari

Belize City

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.

Bird Watching, Guided Tours, Mangrove Tours, Safari Float, Species Exhibits

From$175