Altun Ha Maya Ruins & Catch Your Own Lunch: Private Tour

You catch the tilapia, the chef cooks it fresh while you wait.

A private tour combining Altun Ha's ancient Maya temples with a farm-to-table lunch at Fu Wi Flavaz restaurant, where you fish for your own tilapia from the ponds and watch the chef prepare it with local spices. Your guide leads you through the ruins, then the restaurant's greenhouse and open-air dining space, with lunch, transport and all fishing gear included.

The experience

The day starts with pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle heading straight to Altun Ha, the ancient Maya city built around ceremonial plazas and towering temples. Your private guide walks you past the structures, sharing the history of the rulers who built them while pointing out the local wildlife moving through the jungle trails. The ruins sit roughly an hour from the coast, so the drive itself gives you time to settle in before the walking begins.

From there you head to Fu Wi Flavaz restaurant, where the real work starts. The restaurant sits on a working farm with three tilapia ponds and a 17-by-60-foot greenhouse growing fresh vegetables for both the kitchen and the market. You grab a handline fishing rod and bait, then fish straight from the ponds until you land your catch. The chef takes your tilapia into the kitchen and prepares it to order: deep-fried whole, wood-fired on the open grill, or sautéed with local peppers and onions. If fishing is not your thing, the menu includes open-fire grilled chicken, BBQ pork, or Creole shrimp, all cooked the same way.

Lunch arrives with coconut-milk rice and beans, classic potato salad, fresh salsa, natural fruit juice and a local dessert. The dining space is open-air with bamboo walls and live tropical plants, large windows framing the farm grounds. The whole experience (ruins, fishing, cooking and eating) takes about six hours from pickup to return.

What’s included

• Private transportation and air-conditioned pickup.
• private guide in English or Spanish.
• entry to Altun Ha ruins.
• fishing line, rod and bait.
• your tilapia catch prepared by the chef.
• authentic Belizean lunch with coconut-milk rice and beans, potato salad, fresh salsa, natural fruit juice and local dessert.
• bottled water and soda throughout the day.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 09:30

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 32 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.

Paid on siteUS$ 25

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Cave Tubing R Us

Is this one for you?You do the fishing yourself on this private tour, so it suits anyone who wants a hands-on experience rather than watching someone else cook. The six-hour length and moderate walking at the ruins mean it works best for travelers with reasonable fitness. It's not recommended for those with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or cardiovascular concerns. Children from age 3 are welcome.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years). Children under 3 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 is Altun Ha and what will I see there?

Altun Ha is an ancient Maya city built around ceremonial plazas and towering temples. Your guide leads you through the ruins, explaining the history of the rulers who built them and pointing out the local jungle wildlife along the trails.

Can I really catch and cook my own fish on this tour?

Yes. You fish for tilapia straight from the restaurant's farm ponds using a handline rod and bait provided. Once you land your catch, the chef prepares it fresh in the kitchen (fried whole, wood-fired on the grill, or sautéed with local peppers and onions), while you wait.

What if I don't want to fish or eat fish?

The restaurant menu includes open-fire grilled chicken, BBQ pork, and Creole shrimp, all prepared with the same fresh ingredients and traditional spices. Every meal comes with coconut-milk rice and beans, potato salad, fresh salsa, fruit juice and dessert.

How long is the whole tour and what's included?

The tour runs about six hours from pickup to return. Included are private transportation, the guide, all fishing gear and bait, your lunch with drink and dessert, and bottled water and soda throughout the day.

What is the farm tour at Fu Wi Flavaz?

The restaurant sits on a working farm with three tilapia ponds and a greenhouse where fresh vegetables are grown for the kitchen and local market. You see both the ponds where you fish and the greenhouse before or after your meal.