Waterfall Cave Climb San Ignacio: Scale 6 Waterfalls

You climb up waterfalls and rappel down into pools inside the cave.

A full-day waterfall cave expedition near San Ignacio takes you 35 minutes into the jungle, then 45 minutes deeper into the cave system to a series of thundering cascades. You climb 6 or 7 waterfalls over 90 minutes with helmets, life vests and headlamps provided. Expert guides secure you with safety lines on the steeper sections. The descent follows the same route but ends with a plunge into a pool at the second-to-last waterfall. Lunch is included. Good physical fitness is required. No prior cave or swimming experience is needed, and children from age 10 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full day Waterfall Cave Expedition

• Hike 35 minutes to cave entrance
• Hike 45 minutes inside cave to waterfalls
• Gear up with life vest, helmet, headlamp
• Climb 90 minutes up 6-7 waterfalls
• Descend same path down waterfalls
• Experience thrilling plunge into pool

The experience

The hike starts at a jungle trailhead and takes about 35 minutes to reach the cave entrance. Once inside, another 45 minutes of walking brings you to the base of the waterfall series, where your guide fits you with a helmet, life vest and headlamp, all mandatory. The climb itself takes roughly 90 minutes: you move up through six or seven cascades, each one dropping into its own pool, using handholds and footholds on the rock face. On steeper pitches, safety lines help you move upward. The water is cold and constant. You'll be soaked within the first few minutes and stay that way.

The descent retraces your path downward. Partway down, at the second-to-last waterfall, you jump or dive into the pool below: the operator calls it a sensational plunge. Lunch happens after you exit the cave and dry off. The whole outing runs about five hours from start to finish. You'll need lightweight long pants (not jeans), a t-shirt or long-sleeved shirt, and well-threaded hiking boots or tennis shoes. Tevas, Keens and sandals are not permitted for safety reasons. Yoga pants that reach the ankle work too. The guides reserve the right to turn away anyone who shows up in unsafe clothing.

Good cardiovascular fitness matters here: the climb is sustained and the terrain is uneven. Travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, or poor heart health should not attempt this. If you're prone to anxiety in tight spaces or enclosed areas, this cave system may not suit you. Children from age 10 onward can participate if they meet the fitness requirement. Guides speak English and Spanish.

What’s included

• Full-day guided expedition with expert guides speaking English or Spanish.
• all climbing gear including helmet, life vest and headlamp.
• lunch after the cave exit.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in English or Spanish08:30

Guide in English or Spanish08:30

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:30

AgesAdult (21 to 55 years) · Senior (56 to 65 years) · Youth (10 to 16 years) · Under 10: can't be included in the booking

GroupUp to 8

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “Starting point is the Caves Branch Welcome Center. Tours are available for Overnight Belize Guests Only and Not Possible for Cruise Ship Passengers due to the distance from Belize City and Off/On boarding times.”

Cancellation and refundsFree 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.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Demanding physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Ian Anderson's Caves Branch Adventure Company & Jungle Lodge + Belize Tree Houses

Is this one for you?You need strong cardiovascular fitness and comfort moving through water and tight spaces: the climb is sustained, the cave passages are narrow, and you stay soaked throughout. If you have a spinal condition, are pregnant, or experience anxiety in enclosed areas, this is not the right activity for you.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 16 years). Under 10: they 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.

How far is the hike before I reach the waterfalls inside the cave?

The jungle hike from the trailhead to the cave entrance is about 35 minutes, then another 45 minutes of walking inside the cave brings you to the base of the waterfall series where the climbing begins.

What gear do I wear, and is it provided?

Helmets, life vests and headlamps are all provided and mandatory. You wear your own hiking boots or tennis shoes (not sandals), lightweight long pants, and a t-shirt or long-sleeved shirt. The guides will turn you away if your clothing doesn't meet the safety code.

Do I need to know how to swim or have cave experience?

No prior swimming or cave experience is required, but you do need good physical fitness to handle the 90-minute climb up the cascades and the sustained effort of moving through the cave system.

What happens on the way down?

You descend the same route you climbed, retracing your steps down the waterfalls. At the second-to-last waterfall on the descent, you plunge into the pool below before continuing out of the cave.

Is lunch included, and when do we eat?

Lunch is included and happens after you exit the cave and have had time to dry off, before heading back to the starting point.