Altun Ha Maya Ruins and Cave Tubing from Belize City

Climb the temples, then float through the caves where the Maya believed their underworld lay

A full-day tour from Belize City combines two experiences: climbing the restored temples at Altun Ha Maya Ruins and tubing through a cave system the Maya called their underworld. A live guide in English or Spanish leads the 6-hour outing, which includes hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle and bottled water. Children from age 4 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Altun Ha and cave tubing

• Visit Altun Ha Maya ruins
• Climb temples at Altun Ha
• Go cave tubing in Mayan caves
• Learn about Mayan culture underground

The experience

The day starts with Altun Ha, a restored Maya site about 30 miles north of Belize City where you climb the main temples and learn the history of the people who built them. The guide walks you through the plaza and explains the structures as you move between them: no rushing, no roped-off zones. After the ruins, you head to the cave system where the Maya believed their underworld existed. You float through it on an inner tube, moving through passages carved by water over thousands of years, with the guide narrating the cultural significance of the caves as you drift.

The cave tubing is the second half of the day and it is genuinely different from the ruins walk. You are in the water the whole time, moving slowly through limestone chambers, some narrow and some opening up. The guide stays with the group and keeps talking about what you are seeing and what it meant to the Maya. It is not strenuous (the current does most of the work), but you do need to be comfortable in water and able to move in and out of a tube. Bottled water is provided throughout, and the air-conditioned vehicle means the drive back to Belize City is a chance to rest.

The tour runs 6 hours total and includes everything except tips. Hotel pickup is part of the booking, so you do not arrange transport yourself. The guide speaks English or Spanish depending on your preference. Children from age 4 can join, though a moderate level of fitness helps: climbing the temples involves stairs and uneven ground, and tubing requires comfort in water.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and return in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• entry to Altun Ha Maya Ruins.
• cave tubing through the Maya underworld.
• a live guide in English or Spanish.
• bottled water throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

AgesAdult (18 to 60 years) · Senior (61 to 85 years) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 6 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortPublic transport nearby

Operated by Explore Belize Caves

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup means you do not need a car or directions to reach Altun Ha or the cave. The driver collects you and handles the full route, which works well if you are staying in Belize City without a rental. The 6-hour structure fits a single day without eating into an early morning or late evening, so it suits travelers on a short visit who want two distinct experiences without splitting them across multiple days.

Traveler reviews

4.92★★★★★★★★★★

87 verified traveler reviews

5 ★83

4 ★2

3 ★1

2 ★1

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What exactly is the cave tubing part of this tour?

Cave tubing means floating on an inner tube through a cave system filled with water. The Maya considered these caves their underworld, and the guide explains the cultural meaning of the passages as you drift through them. You are in the water the whole time, moving at a slow pace with the current.

Can I climb all the temples at Altun Ha?

Yes. Altun Ha is a restored site where you are allowed to climb all the main temples. The guide leads you through the plaza and explains the structures and their history as you move between them.

How does pickup work if I'm staying in Belize City?

Hotel pickup is included in the tour. The driver collects you from your hotel and brings you back at the end of the day, so you do not need to arrange your own transport to the ruins or the cave.

What is included in the 6-hour tour?

The tour includes entry to Altun Ha Maya Ruins, cave tubing, a live guide in English or Spanish, hotel pickup, an air-conditioned vehicle and bottled water. Tips are not included.