Altun Ha & Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary tour from Belize City

Ancient temples tour: explore artifacts, pyramid summit, and lagoon with storks and herons

This full-day tour from Belize City combines two landmarks: the Maya archaeological site of Altun Ha, where you climb the Sun Temple and see the plaza where the famous Jade Head was found, and Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize's first Ramsar wetland site, where hundreds of waterfowl nest and congregate. A guide leads both stops, and the route passes through rural villages, mangrove forest and rain forest. Lunch and transport by air-conditioned minivan are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Altun Ha1h 40m · entry included
2. Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary2h · entry included

Visit Altun Ha and Crooked Tree

• Drive through rural villages and forests
• Walk and explore Altun Ha first plaza
• Tour Altun Ha second plaza residential area
• Visit Sun Temple and sacrificial altar
• View Jade Head artifact and pyramid summit
• Return to van and drive to Crooked Tree
• Explore Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary birdwatching

The experience

Altun Ha sits inland from Belize City, reached by a slow drive through rural villages, grassland savannah, mangrove forest and rain forest. The site itself spreads across two plazas. The first plaza holds the findings from archaeological excavations that ran from 1964 to 1974: your guide walks you through what was uncovered there. The second plaza was the residential area, where skeletal remains and polychrome vessels turned up in the rooms during the digs. You climb several temples, and the highlight is the Sun Temple: at the summit sits the sacrificial altar, and inside this structure archaeologists found the wealth of artifacts that made Altun Ha famous, including the Jade Head, the largest carved object ever found in the Maya world. After the views from the top, you descend and return to the van.

Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary lies on the way back toward the city. Declared Belize's first Ramsar site in 1998 for its wetland significance as waterfowl habitat, the lagoons host hundreds of birds, especially during the dry season: storks, herons, egrets, kites, hawks and parrots. The Jabiru stork is the sanctuary's most famous resident: Belize holds the largest nesting population of these great birds in all of Central America, with two pairs known to nest within the sanctuary. They arrive in November to nest in the lowland pine savannas, and after the young fledge in April and May, birds from across northern and central Belize gather at the lagoons before the rains come and they depart.

The tour runs six to eight hours and includes an air-conditioned minivan, a driver and guide who speaks English, and a lunch of local Belizean rice and beans with stew chicken and coleslaw. Pickup and drop-off happen at your hotel, the airport, the cruise port or the water taxi terminal. Bring refillable water bottles, insect repellent, a hat, sunglasses and a camera or binoculars. Wear proper footwear for uneven temple paths and bring a poncho or umbrella in case of rain.

What’s included

• Your tour includes transport by air-conditioned minivan with a driver and English-speaking guide.
• entry to both Altun Ha and Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary.
• and a lunch of local Belizean rice and beans with stew chicken and coleslaw. Pickup and drop-off at your hotel, airport, cruise port or water taxi terminal are included.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00, 08:00, 09:00 and 10:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Youth (12 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

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 17 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 or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendly

Operated by Tourism Auto Transport Ltd.

Is this one for you?Book this if you want archaeology and birdwatching in one day. The van-based format lets you cover both Altun Ha and Crooked Tree Sanctuary without splitting your schedule across separate trips.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 17 years); Child (6 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 5 years).

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 is the Jade Head and where do I see it on this tour?

The Jade Head is the largest carved object ever found in the Maya world, discovered inside the Sun Temple at Altun Ha during archaeological excavations. Your guide shares information about this and other artifacts found in the temple, and you climb to the summit where the sacrificial altar sits.

When is the best time to see Jabiru storks at Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary?

Jabiru storks arrive in November to nest in the lowland pine savannas within the sanctuary. After the young fledge in April and May, birds from across Belize gather at the lagoons. The dry season brings hundreds of waterfowl to the lagoons, so that is when birdwatching is most active.

What does the drive through Belize City and the countryside show me?

The route passes through rural villages, grassland savannah, mangrove forest and rain forest. Along the way you see the BELIZE sign, colonial-style architecture residences, Lindberg Landing, fruit trees, flowering plants, various bird species, the Old Belize River, small farms, unique native trees and plants, orchids and bromeliads.

What is included in the price?

The tour includes transport by air-conditioned minivan, a driver and guide service in English, a lunch of local Belizean rice and beans with stew chicken and coleslaw, and pickup and drop-off at your hotel, airport, cruise port or water taxi terminal.