Lamanai Maya Ruins & New River Wildlife Tour from Belize City

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.36 (22 reviews) 68% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellation

1/5

Duration4h

GroupUp to 40

LanguagesEN · ES

PickupAt your hotel

Boat past wildlife, then climb Mayan temples in a single afternoon

A full-day tour from Belize City combining a New River wildlife boat ride and the Lamanai Maya ruins, with an English or Spanish-speaking guide, air-conditioned van transport, and a Belizean lunch included. The route starts with an hour's drive to the river, then a boat tour spotting howler monkeys and native birds, followed by a guided hike through several temples at the archaeological site before returning by water. Children from age 4 are welcome, and the fixed itinerary means transport, entry and timing are settled before you arrive.

Step-by-step itinerary

Lamanai Ruins and New River Tour

Drive from port to river bank
Board boat for river tour
See native birds and wildlife
Visit Mayan site of Lamanai
Hike to temples for views
Enjoy lunch at site
Return journey on river

The Experience

The day starts with a pickup from Belize City port and a drive inland to the New River. Once you board, the boat moves slowly enough to spot howler monkeys in the canopy, native bird species, and other wildlife along the water before you reach the Lamanai site. The river itself is part of the experience — it is how the Maya would have moved through this landscape centuries ago.

At Lamanai, a guide leads you to several temples scattered across the grounds. The hike takes you through the ruins with stops for views and photographs, and the guide explains what you are standing in front of. After the walking, lunch is served — rice and beans, stewed chicken, potato salad or coleslaw, plus sodas and bottled water — before the return trip downriver to the van and the drive back to the city.

An air-conditioned van handles the road sections, which matters because the inland drive is an hour each way and the afternoon heat is real. The guide speaks English or Spanish depending on your preference. The whole tour runs about four hours from start to finish, so it fits into a port day or a free afternoon without eating the rest of your schedule.

What’s included

Air-conditioned van transport from Belize City port to the river and back.
New River boat tour with wildlife viewing.
guided hike through the Lamanai temples.
Belizean lunch of rice and beans, stewed chicken, and salad.
sodas and bottled water.
all fees and taxes.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Jose Tours Belize

Is this one for you?Book this if you're docking at Belize City or have one afternoon free and want both ruins and rainforest in a single outing—the van, river guide, and meals are bundled together, so you move between sites without gaps.