Cave Tubing in Belize City: Float through ancient Maya caves

The caves took several hundred thousand years to form, and you float through them in an afternoon.

Cave tubing near Belize City is a four-hour tour from the city that takes you through two dry cave systems and then floating downstream through the Sibun River inside a cave system where the ancient Maya once conducted rituals. You pick up a tube, helmet with light and life vest, walk a jungle trail through primary rainforest to the cave entrance, then float the river while observing geological formations. A live guide in English or Spanish leads the group.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cave tubing adventure in Belize

• Drive one hour west from Belize City
• Pick up tube, life vest, and caving light
• Walk jungle trail through dry caves and rainforest
• Float downstream through cave system on Sibun River
• Observe geological features and rock formations

The experience

An hour's drive west from Belize City brings you to the Sibun Caves Branch site, where the operation includes modern bathrooms, secure parking, a jungle restaurant and handicraft shops. After you arrive, you'll pick up your tube, life vest and caving light, then walk a leisurely trail through two dry cave systems and primary broadleaf rainforest to reach the cave entrance. The walk itself moves through the landscape the ancient Maya knew when they visited to conduct important rituals here.

Once at the water, you float downstream through the cave system on your tube, drifting past rock formations and observing the geological features that took hundreds of thousands of years to carve. The helmet light lets you see the cave walls and ceiling as you move through the darkness. Groups stay small (a maximum of four adults per booking), so the pace stays leisurely and you're not crowded on the water.

The tour runs four hours total. You'll need at least a moderate level of physical fitness for the jungle walk and the float, though children as young as four can come along (those under 40 inches in height sit and play by the riverbanks with a parent instead of tubing). Pickup from your Belize City hotel is included, and a guide in English or Spanish travels with your group.

What’s included

• Helmet with light.
• tube.
• life vest.
• pickup from your Belize City hotel.
• live guide in English or Spanish.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to ThursdayDeparts at 09:50

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (11 to 80 years) · Child (4 to 10 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

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 3 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effort

Operated by Belize Caribbean Tours

Is this one for you?You float the river yourself on the tube. This isn't a guided boat ride where you sit and watch. If you want to move through the cave at your own pace and see the formations up close from the water, this works. If you prefer to stay dry or avoid the jungle walk, look for a boat-based cave tour instead.

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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 (4 to 10 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What exactly happens during the cave tubing part? Do you float the whole time or walk through sections too?

Once you reach the cave entrance after the jungle walk, you float downstream on your tube through the cave system itself, drifting with the current of the Sibun River and observing the rock formations as you go. The floating is the main event. The walking happens before you reach the water.

How dark is it inside the cave, and will I be able to see anything?

The cave is dark, which is why the helmet with a built-in light is included and required. The light lets you see the rock formations and cave walls as you float, so you're not navigating blind.

What's the jungle walk like between Belize City and the cave entrance?

The trail is described as leisurely and passes through two dry cave systems and primary broadleaf rainforest before you reach the water entrance. It's part of the four-hour experience, not a separate strenuous hike, and it's the route that takes you through the landscape where the ancient Maya once visited.

How many people will be on the tour with me?

Groups are capped at four adults per booking, so you won't be in a large crowd on the water or the trail.