Xunantunich Ruins & Blue Hole Tour: Mayan Temples & Swim

Two Mayan sites in one day: climb El Castillo, then swim in a limestone sinkhole

A full-day tour from Hopkins combines Xunantunich Mayan Ruins in the Cayo District with the Blue Hole National Park cenote, including a 2-hour scenic drive each way on the Hummingbird Highway, lunch at a local restaurant in San Ignacio Town, and a swim in the 300-foot-wide inland Blue Hole. The tour runs 8 to 9 hours total and includes an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned vehicle, bottled water, parking fees, and hotel pickup.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Xunantunich2h · entry included
2. Blue Hole National Park1h · entry included

Mayan ruins, lunch, and Blue Hole swim

• Drive from Hopkins to San Jose Succotz
• Cross Mopan River by hand-cranked ferry
• Walk or drive uphill to Xunantunich site
• Explore El Castillo temple and ruins
• Lunch at Hode's Place in San Ignacio
• Drive to Blue Hole National Park
• Walk down stairs to Blue Hole cenote
• Swim and explore Blue Hole cenote

The experience

Can you actually see both Xunantunich and the Blue Hole in a single day from Hopkins? Yes, the tour strings them together with a 2-hour drive each way on the Hummingbird Highway, routing through Belmopan and San Ignacio Town to reach San Jose Succotz. From there, a hand-cranked ferry crosses the Mopan River to the ruins.

At Xunantunich, you spend roughly 2 hours on the site itself. El Castillo, one of Belize's three largest Maya temples, rises 130 feet above the plaza. Climbing to the top gives a panorama of the surrounding area. The temple's exterior carries stucco friezes depicting Maya mythology. After the ruins, the guide takes you to Hode's Place in San Ignacio Town for an authentic Belizean lunch (about an hour), then it's another hour's drive to the Blue Hole National Park on the Hummingbird Highway.

The Blue Hole itself is a cenote: a sinkhole formed by the collapse of an underground limestone cave. The depression runs about 100 feet deep and 300 feet across, with the actual blue hole at the base measuring roughly 25 feet deep. A 5-minute walk from the parking lot down some stairs brings you to the pool, where the water is sapphire-colored and fed by a river still flowing through the cave system below. You get time to swim, photograph, or simply sit in the rainforest setting. The tour also offers optional stops at gift shops near the ruins and at Country Barn Ice-cream on the drive back.

What’s included

• Bottled water throughout the day.
• lunch at Hode's Place in San Ignacio Town.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the entire route.
• parking fees at both sites.
• English-speaking guide and driver.
• hotel pickup from Hopkins.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

AgesAdult (18 to 55 years) · Senior (56 to 90 years) · Youth (11 to 17 years) · Child (6 to 10 years) · Infant (1 to 5 years)

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 15 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 8 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Julian Transfers and Tours

Is this one for you?This tour works best for small groups or families traveling together, since the shared vehicle and fixed schedule keep costs down and the pace manageable across two very different sites in one day. The 8- to 9-hour commitment and moderate physical demands (including a mile uphill walk to El Castillo and stairs down to the cenote) suit travelers comfortable with a full day of activity and some climbing.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (11 to 17 years); Child (6 to 10 years); Infant (1 to 5 years).

How long is the drive from Hopkins to Xunantunich?

The scenic drive takes 2 hours each way on the Hummingbird Highway, passing through Belmopan and San Ignacio Town before reaching San Jose Succotz, where a hand-cranked ferry crosses the Mopan River to access the ruins.

What is El Castillo and why climb it?

El Castillo is one of the three largest Maya temples in Belize and the tallest structure at Xunantunich, standing 130 feet above plaza level. Climbing to the top gives a panorama of the surrounding area and views of the stucco friezes depicting Maya mythology on the temple's exterior.

What exactly is the Blue Hole cenote?

The Blue Hole is a cenote formed by the collapse of an underground limestone cave, measuring about 300 feet in diameter and 100 feet deep overall, with the actual pool at the base roughly 25 feet deep. A river still flows through the cave system below, creating the sapphire-colored water you swim in.

Does the tour include lunch?

Yes, lunch is included at Hode's Place, a local restaurant in San Ignacio Town, where you'll eat an authentic Belizean meal for about an hour before heading to the Blue Hole.

What's the total time commitment for this tour?

The tour runs 8 to 9 hours total: roughly 4 hours of round-trip driving, 2 hours at Xunantunich, 1 hour for lunch, and 1 hour at the Blue Hole National Park.