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Belize Adventure Tours
Mayawalk Tours is an eco-friendly, family owned, local tour operator based in San Ignacio, Cayo, Belize. We have been operating adventure tours since 1997, and we offer over a dozen adventure tours in Belize, with special emphasis on caving and canoeing tours. Our local guides are more than happy to share their knowledge about the archaeology and history of the sites that you will visit. Whether you are in the mood for a leisurely tour or a more rugged adventure, Mayawalk Tours can help you plan a special trip that you will remember for a lifetime.
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Departs From: San Ignacio Town
ATM CAVE TOUR
Taking a journey into the Mayan underworld at Actun Tunichil Muknal, or the “Cave of the Stone Sepulchre”, will be one of the most enlightening, epic, and unique experiences ... moreof your life. Leave the world of the living behind as you venture into the heart of the ATM Cave with your licensed guide. Recently deemed the #1 Sacred Cave destination in the world by National Geographic, the ATM cave is not only beautiful geologically, with its crystalline stalactites and stalagmites, but also historically, as is a natural museum of ancient Mayan artifacts, as well as a sacred burial place. This is the final resting place of the “Crystal Maiden”, an ancient Mayan ceremonial victim, as well as the remains of 13 other sacrificed men, women, and children. MayaWalk guides have led government officials, National Geographic teams, the Discovery Channel, The British High Commission, and US Embassy officials into the ATM Cave.
This sacrificial site is accessed by approximately an hour drive from our office in San Ignacio. Here we enter the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve and park our vehicles at the ranger post. From this point on we are on foot, hiking through the jungle for approximately 45 minutes to the entrance of the cave. The hike includes three stream crossings. To access the cave, we swim across a small spring-fed pool with the assistance of a rope and wade into knee-high water into the dark underworld of the cave that allows us access to the extensive underground maze of tunnels, passageways and chambers, climaxing in the ceremonial chamber housing stoneware, ceramics and the famed crystallized skeleton of the “Crystal Maiden”. We spend approximately 3 hours in the cave under the instruction of our experienced guides.
Leave your cameras behind and experience the power of ancient spirits with your mind, body, and soul. This is not only a physical adventure but a journey into the spiritual realm. We enter back into the jungle world and hike to our vehicles, where we relax and enjoy a homemade picnic lunch, with water and soft drinks, before driving back to San Ignacio.
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MAYA & MENNONITE CULTURAL VILLAGE TOUR
Barton Creek Mennonites
There are approximately 10,000 Mennonites living in Belize. Although originally of European descent and heritage, ... moremany Mennonite children and their parents have been born and raised in Belize, creating a unique blend of culture and spirituality. The Mennonites are much like the Amish, living a humble and religiously pious lifestyle. The Mennonites of Belize are peaceful, hardworking people and the more remote communities like Barton Creek retain a very traditional and simple way of life, relying on their knowledge and strength to farm and survive in the jungle with few modern amenities. Belizean Mennonites speak a dialect of German as well as the local languages or English, Kriol, and Spanish.
The communities are very conservative and the women wear bonnets and long dresses, while the men wear denim overalls and wide brim hats. The men may wear traditional suspenders and dark trousers. They use horse-drawn buggies for transportation and till their farm fields with horses. In the most remote communities, they still use horses to drive their sawmills.
The Mennonites of Barton Creek are very restrictive with their use of machinery and they produce many agricultural crops without any modern machinery. They are highly productive people and they produce honey, milk, eggs, poultry, beans, and other staple crops. Often confused with the Amish, the Mennonites are actually their own distinct religious group with strict Christian principals and their own language. They have many traditions and practices that date back hundreds of years, including arranged marriages. Come to explore this fascinating and reserved culture on a trip through the jungle and back in time to how things were before cell phones, cars, iPods, and even before electricity.
San Antonio’s Womens Group
Located on the road to the Mountain Pine Ridge, the village of San Antonio was named after St. Anthony of Padua when a Spanish Priest who visited regularly from the town of Benque Viejo del Carmen brought a statue of St. Anthony to the Village. The statue can be seen in the Catholic Church near the Village Square. Prior to the name change, San Antonio was known in the local Yucatec Maya dialect as “Osh Multun Kakab” which translates to “Three Mound Virgin Forest”. Today villagers simply refer to their village as “Tanah,” which is the Mayan term for “our home.”
This is a beautiful and productive community with various cultural activities throughout the year, especially in the months of June and December. June 13 marks St. Anthony Day and villagers celebrate for 13 days with traditional Mayan music, foods, such as tamales, and festivities. This is mainly an agricultural community and the local residents grow crops such as peanuts, corn, squash, and beans, much like their ancestors. There are currently three Women’s Groups in San Antonio. One group operates the community bakery, the other specializes in pottery, local jewelry, and embroidery, and the most recent group is making hammocks, embroidery, and clothing. Tour this lovely village and get a firsthand look at living Mayan culture. Local Mayan lunch included with your tour.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
JUNGLE ZIPLINE
Imagine flying through the rainforest canopy! You can combine your Belize cave tubing adventure with an exhilarating jungle zip line tour. The densest areas of biodiversity ... moreare found in the forest canopy, as it often supports a rich flora of epiphytes, including orchids, bromeliads, mosses, and lichens. These plants attach to trunks and branches and obtain water and minerals from rain and debris that collects on the supporting plants. Here you will find a rich diversity of insects and birds, some yet to be classified. The canopy is also home to spider monkeys and kinkajous.
You will be securely fastened to a harness that is attached to a cable. You push off from a platform up in a tree and zip along the cable to another platform. Here you get a birds’ eye view of the jungle. There are a series of 8 platforms and you will be zipping for about 30 minutes. You will enjoy every thrilling minute of your aerial jungle tour!
Can be done on its own or in combination with the cave tubing.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE
Rio on Pools, Rio Frio Cave, and Big Rock Falls
The Mountain Pine Ridge reserve is over 100,000 acres of protected forest. It is comprised mainly of Honduras pine ... moreforests, some wetlands, the Macal River valley and some subtropical forests. The area is mainly granite and limestone, and the area is home to numerous rivers, springs, waterfalls, and caves. This is truly a nature lover’s haven! There is a small forest ranger post and very little habitation, save for a couple of isolated Mayan communities and a small settlement of Mennonites. A former logging settlement at San Luis is now abandoned since the area has been protected since the 1940s.
This stunning and unique natural habitat is home to numerous bird and mammal species and is a great place for birdwatching and enjoying the peace of the natural environment. The first feature of the reserve that we will explore is the Rio Frio Cave, the source of the Rio Frio river and the largest cave entrance in Belize. Our next stop is the Rio On Pools, a series of shimmering natural swimming holes and rock water-slides that allow for cooling relaxation and meditation.
Enjoy a water massage from cascading waterfalls that run over a wide river bed and smooth granite rocks. We take a homemade picnic lunch break at the pools, followed by a short drive to our next destination, the fabulous Big Rock Falls, 150-foot waterfall on Privassion Creek. Here, the cool spray of mist from the waterfall refreshes swimmers in the clear, deep pool below. This is a day of hiking, spelunking, and swimming with opportunities for wildlife watching not to be missed!
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
INLAND BLUE HOLE BIRDWATCHING
Belize is a birdwatcher’s paradise! As many as 587 birds have been recorded in Belize and, of these, approximately 20 percent are migrants from North ... moreAmerica. Every year new species are being documented. Eight new records were accepted in 2007, including the Crested Caracara, Canada Goose, and Spot-breasted Oriole. For those interested in exploring the diversity and beauty of the avifauna of the diverse habitats MayaWalk expert birdwatching guides will point out tiny iridescent hummingbirds, impressive raptors, and various migratory and endemic songbirds. One of the best places to go on a Belize birding tour is St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park, a beautiful protected area along the scenic Hummingbird Highway.
This small park covers 575 acres and has two natural features open for touring, St. Herman’s Cave: a beautiful crystalline cave in the limestone hills and the Blue Hole: a clear sinkhole filled with turquoise waters, perfect for a swim. A series of lovely hiking trails over various landscapes take visitors into the jungle where the foliage, tropical flowers, and rainforest canopy are the feeding and nesting grounds for hundreds of species of birds. For those interested in finding out more about the amazingly diverse avifauna of Belize we recommend purchasing Birds of Belize (University of Texas Press) by H. Lee Jones, illustrated by Dana Gardner-- a must-have for serious birders. Published in 2003, this is the first complete guide to the identification of all to the birds of Belize and it is beautifully illustrated and complete with habitat information. Our birding guides will be equipped with binoculars and a spotting scope to make the most of your birding experience. Enjoy the serene trails of the park and end the day with a lovely swim in the Blue Hole.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
HALF DAY ORGANIC FARM HORSEBACK RIDING
This tour is a leisurely horseback ride around an organic fruit and vegetable farm. If you are looking to spend a shorter period of time horseback ... moreriding and want to see something other than Mayan ruins, come to learn about organic farming in Belize. This short guided tour of the farm includes a slow-paced horseback ride through the property, with stops to view, discuss, and learn about the natural exotic fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants that thrive in Belize, as well as see some local cattle. This tour also includes guiding your horse through the picturesque Mopan River and lunch.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
CAHAL PECH BIRDWATCHING
Cahal Pech was the ancient palatial compound of an elite aristocratic Mayan family. The site name is Maya for “House of Ticks” (given in the 1950s when the ... morearea was used for grazing cattle) and it is situated on the highest hill overlooking modern-day San Ignacio town. This is a serene jungle setting close to the town, and the 2-acre compound is not only rich in ancient artifacts and structures, but also in wildlife. Cahal Pech is an excellent place for birding in Belize. This is a fascinating site for birdwatching as the morning mist rises over the various temples and courtyards, which were built over several centuries spanning from 1000 BC to 800AD. Belize birding tours at Cahal Pech will offer birders a chance to see a vast variety of tropical bird species, including hummingbirds, parrots, birds of prey, and many colorful migratory birds. Your bird watching vacation in Belize is not complete without a morning spent in this otherworldly environment, where the jungle allows glimpses of the cultural past of this ancient landscape.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
XUNANTUNICH MAYAN RUINS ON HORSEBACK
Riding through the jungle on horseback is an exciting way to discover the ancient Mayan city of Xunantunich. The tour begins at a local stable ... morewhere you will meet your Riding Guide, mount your horse and depart. The ride to Xunantunich takes you along a well-maintained trail through a large private farm, along the banks of the Mopan River, in the village of San Jose Succotz.
Here you will cross the river on an ancient (yet well maintained and very safe) hand-operated ferry and then ride your horse up to Xunantunich. When you arrive prepare to dismount and let your horse rest and you spend as much time as you desire to explore the Xunantunich temples and plazas on foot. Afterward, we will ride to nearby Benny’s Kitchen for a delicious lunch of traditional Belizean dishes or enjoy lunch at the farm before returning to the stables. The horseback ride includes lots of nature viewing of local birds and plants.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
TIKAL MAYA RUINS TOUR
Tikal is an ancient Mayan ceremonial center located just across the border in Peten, Guatemala, 19 miles north of Lake Peten Itza and the quaint town of Flores. ... moreWe will drive you to the Belize-Guatemala border, only a short 15-minute drive from our office, and when you arrive at the border we will pay your border fees and assist you with your crossing, after which you will meet your guide. Your guide will drive you for another 1.5 hours before arriving at Tikal National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the way, we will pass small villages, beautiful lakeside scenery and rolling hills with rainforests and agriculture farms.
Upon arrival at Tikal we will pay your entrance fees and then your guide will provide an in-depth 4-hour tour of this magnificent site (Our guide speaks fluent English). Tikal is known for its massive pyramid temples, monumental plazas, palaces, and stelae. This is a very significant site in the history of the region and Tikal was the most powerful metropolis in the area for many centuries. It was a prominent player in the Mesoamerican trade route, which extended up through Belize, into Mexico and beyond.
You will also have time to view wildlife such as howler monkeys and coatis, enjoy birding as you spy parrots, toucans and oscillated turkeys among the trees, as well as sample some of the local culture of modern-day Guatemala. After an extensive tour of the site, we make our way to a local restaurant lunch, including vegan and vegetarian options. Lunch is included in your tour. After lunch, we will have the opportunity to purchase some crafts and souvenirs before heading back across the border to Belize.
This is your chance to knock another item off your bucket list (and if Tikal is not on your list, trust us, it should be!). Tikal is a unique and impressive Guatemalan archaeological site within close proximity to our Belize headquarters. Take the plunge and get the best of both worlds at MayaWalk!
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
CARACOL MAYA TOUR
Caracol, a major and dominant site in Mayan history, is an expansive city covering nearly 6 square miles and rivaling the ancient metropolis of Tikal in size, power, ... moreand riches. This is a fantastic site to visit, set high on the Vaca Plateau, in the heart of the Chiquibul Forest Reserve (a subtropical forest south of San Ignacio near the Guatemalan border). Caracol is accessed through the Mountain Pine Ridge, a beautiful area with flowing rivers and hidden limestone caves.
After a 1.5 hour drive from San Ignacio up rough dirt roads, passing through small Mayan villages and scenic countryside we will arrive at the sprawling archaeological site of Caracol. Here you will learn about the anthropology, archaeology, and flora and fauna of the area, including rare and endangered wildlife such as Keel-billed Motmots, Tapirs, Jaguars, Oscillated Turkeys, Gibnut (the “Royal Rat”) and Coatimundis.
Caracol was a huge population center at its peak, with over 150,000 inhabitants and 30,000 structures, including an astronomical observatory. It was the largest metropolis in the Mayan Lowlands during the Classic Period, built with elaborate city planning and complex agricultural systems. This site was hidden for many centuries by the trees in the tropical broadleaf forest. Today you might catch a glimpse of howler monkeys in the mammoth trees towering over the ancient Mayan ball courts and plazas.
Revel at the engineering and architectural sophistication of the Mayan people as you climb the temple pyramid structure of Caana (Sky Temple), the highest man-made building in Belize to this day. Once at the top, nearly 135 feet above the courtyards below, you will get impressive panoramic views of Belize and neighboring Guatemala.
The history of the inhabitants of Caracol is documented by scribes of the past in hieroglyphics and carvings on the monuments, stelae, wall facades and altars that are found throughout the site. Caracol has a very unique history, different from other major ancient cities in the region, and your guide will illuminate the rich and complicated past of this glorious civilization with a fully guided tour of the excavated portions of the Caracol site.
After touring the ruins, refresh yourself with drinks and a picnic lunch. We then continue back through the Pine Ridge area where we take a break at the Rio On Pools, a series of natural swimming holes, to cool down and relax in the clear water. We will also visit the Rio Frio Cave, which has the largest entrance of any cave in Belize.
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
CAVE TUBING TOURS
Float down a pristine river in the heart of the jungle with a full-day tubing and caving trip from San Ignacio. Strap on a helmet equipped with a waterproof headlamp, ... moreand hike into a cave entrance surrounded by lush foliage. Follow a gentle stream through a series of cavern passages, learn about the rich Maya history of the region, then enjoy a cool swim in the clear water. Visit a final cave to see a thriving bat colony and fantastic rock formations before returning to San Ignacio.
Experience the Belize jungle on a full-day tour.
Travel through caves on a tubing adventure.
All equipment, National Park fees, and picnic lunch included Learn about the region's Mayan history
Departs From: San Ignacio Town
Points of Interest Nearby
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