Altun Ha from Belize City: Mayan Temple & Jungle Ruins Tour

The temple is taller than you expect, and the view stops you cold.

You're picked up from your Belize City hotel or cruise terminal and driven an hour north through changing landscape to Altun Ha. You walk through the site museum first, then climb the main temple with a guide explaining the Mayan history and structures. The view from the top, jungle stretching to the sea, is the moment the tour earns itself. Transport, water, and all entry fees are handled. You return to the city by early afternoon.

Step-by-step itinerary

Belize City to Altun Ha tour

• Pick up by driver/guide
• Drive through Belize City landmarks
• See Baron Bliss Lighthouse and Museum
• View Old Belize River and rural communities
• Arrive at Altun Ha site
• Use well sanitized restrooms
• Walk through onsite museum
• Guided tour of Altun Ha ruins

What’s included

Your day includes hotel or cruise terminal pickup anywhere in Belize City, air-conditioned transport for the hour-long drive north, entry to the Altun Ha site, a guided walk through the on-site museum, a detailed tour of the Mayan ruins with your driver/guide, bottled water throughout, and return transport to your starting point.

Times

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• Every day 08:30 13:00

Information

Visit Altun Ha, a 1,500-year-old Mayan temple site north of Belize City. Climb the temple overlooking jungle and sea. Includes pickup, transport, museum, and guided tour.

Group Up to 20 2 similar private tours ›

Live guide English Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included. You can choose from 14 pickup points. See the pickup points

Book up to 4h before

Ages Adult (20 to 70 years) · Senior (71 to 90 years) · Youth (12 to 19 years) · Child (4 to 11 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

Cancellation and refunds Free 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.

Good to know

Low physical effort Wheelchair accessible Stroller-friendly Infants must sit on laps

More information The pickup points, the operator’s instructions and every other detail are in the full listing. See the full listing

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The experience

Not many people realize how close Altun Ha sits to Belize City. Just an hour's drive north, but far enough that the landscape shifts from urban sprawl to jungle within minutes. Your driver picks you up from your hotel or the cruise terminal at Fort Street Tourism Village, and the route itself becomes part of the tour. You pass the Baron Bliss Lighthouse, the Museum of Belize (a brick building that used to be a prison), and stretches of the Old Belize River, which was the country's main highway before roads existed. A few rural communities line the route, and your guide points out how the land changes as you move away from the city.

Once you arrive at Altun Ha, you start in the on-site museum: a smaller space that walks you through what the ruins mean before you see them. Then your guide takes you into the Mayan site itself. The Temple of the Masonry Altars is the main draw, and climbing it is straightforward enough, but the moment you reach the top and look out over miles of emerald jungle with the Caribbean visible in the distance, something shifts. You're standing where Mayan kings stood over 1,500 years ago, addressing their people from this exact spot. It's not a feeling you manufacture. It just happens when you're up there.

The whole experience moves at a pace that lets you absorb it. Your guide provides detail about the site's history and what the structures meant, so you're not just looking at old stone. You're understanding why it matters. The drive back to Belize City gives you time to sit with what you've seen, and by the time you're dropped off at your hotel or the cruise terminal, you've had a full morning without the logistics of renting a car or figuring out the route yourself.

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (12 to 19 years); Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

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.

How long is the drive from Belize City to Altun Ha?

Approximately one hour north from Belize City.

What's included in the tour?

Pickup from your hotel or cruise terminal, air-conditioned transport, guided tour of the site and museum, bottled water, and a driver/guide throughout.

Can I book this if I'm arriving on a cruise ship?

Yes. The operator picks up from the cruise terminal at Fort Street Tourism Village, Gate 1.

Is the temple climb difficult?

The tour is suitable for all fitness levels. The temple is accessible, though climbing does involve stairs.

What will I see on the drive?

The Baron Bliss Lighthouse, the Museum of Belize, portions of the historic Old Belize River, and rural communities in the Belize District.

Is the site wheelchair accessible?

The site has accessible restrooms. Wheelchair accessibility varies by area. Confirm specific needs when booking.

What should I bring?

Bottled water is provided, but bring sun protection, comfortable walking shoes, and a camera.

Operated by A Plus Adventures Belize. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.

Prices and times updated today