Lamanai Day Trip from San Ignacio: Riverboat & Jungle Ruins

Riverboat to a buried city: Lamanai's temples rise from the rainforest canopy

A guided day trip from San Ignacio to Lamanai, Belize's largest and oldest Mayan city, combines a two-hour drive, a scenic riverboat cruise along New River, and a jungle hike to reach temples still half-buried in the hillside. Your guide leads you through plazas and structures like the Mask Temple and High Temple while pointing out howler monkeys, crocodiles and tropical birds. Lunch and hotel transport are included.

The experience

The day starts with hotel pickup in San Ignacio and a two-hour drive along the Western and Northern Highways toward the New River. Your guide watches for lowland villages and bird species along the way, then you board a riverboat for a scenic cruise through creeks and lagoons. The river itself is the main event here: you'll spot black hawks, kites and falcons overhead, herons and Jabiru storks around lily pads, spider monkeys in the canopy, and crocodiles sunning on the banks. Orchids and bromeliads cling to hardwood trees along the water.

Lamanai appears at the entrance to New River Lagoon, the largest freshwater body in Belize. From the riverboat landing, a 1.5-mile jungle hike takes you into the site. Before touring the temples, you'll visit a small museum with Mayan artifacts. The Temple of the Mask dates to 450 AD and carries two 13-foot stone faces carved into each side. The Stela Temple displays a stone monument of the Mayan ruler Lord Smoking Shell in ceremonial dress. The Jaguar Temple yielded a jade mask during excavation. The High Temple rises 100 feet above the forest floor, and from its top you can hear howler monkeys calling and see the landscape of structures still buried in the hillside. After lunch, you have free time to explore more of the rainforest before the riverboat returns you to the drive back to San Ignacio.

Your guide speaks English or Spanish and points out medicinal plants like copal and ramon trees on the return walk. The whole outing runs nine hours door-to-door. Hotel pickup applies only within San Ignacio town limits. Hotels outside town carry a surcharge.

What’s included

• Local guide in English or Spanish.
• hotel pickup and drop-off within San Ignacio town limits.
• lunch.
• riverboat transport on New River.
• access to the Lamanai archaeological site and museum.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 06:00

Book up to10h before

AgesAdult (15 and older) · Youth (11 to 14 years) · Child (under 11)

GroupUp to 15

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

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Belize Family Adventure

Is this one for you?Hotel pickup from San Ignacio means you don't need a rental car or arrange your own transport to reach the New River. The guide handles the drive and the riverboat, leaving you to focus on the ruins and wildlife 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: Youth (11 to 14 years); Child (under 11).

What is the Temple of the Mask at Lamanai?

The Temple of the Mask is one of Lamanai's main excavated temples, dating to 450 AD. It is the smallest of the major temples and features two 13-foot stone faces carved into each side.

Will I see wildlife on the New River boat ride?

Yes. The riverboat cruise regularly passes black hawks, kites, falcons, herons, Jabiru storks and jacanas around the lily pads. Spider monkeys move through the canopy overhead, and crocodiles bask on the riverbanks.

How far is the hike once we reach Lamanai?

The jungle hike from the riverboat landing to the Mayan site is 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers), a short walk through the rainforest to reach the temples.

What does the High Temple look like from the top?

The High Temple rises 100 feet above the forest floor. From the summit, you see the landscape of Lamanai's structures, many still partially buried in the hillside, and hear howler monkeys calling through the canopy.

Is lunch included in the day trip?

Yes, lunch is included. After touring the main temples, you have free time to explore more of the rainforest before returning to the riverboat for the journey back to San Ignacio.