Yaxha Tour: Monkey Spotting & Pyramid Climb

Walk among 300 yards of cleared Mayan temples, pyramids and plazas, then climb to the treetops for the view.

A full-day archaeological tour of Yaxha from San Ignacio, Belize, with a bilingual guide who leads you through the Minor and Major Astronomical Observatories, the North Acropolis, the Malher Group, and ends at the Temple of the Red Hands for a panoramic view of the forest and lakes. The site sits between two lakes and was abandoned around 900 AD. Because the jungle was cleared only recently, you see more exposed structures than at many other Mayan sites. Hotel pickup is included. Entry fees vary by nationality and age but the operator pays them in advance and you reimburse the guide on the day. Lunch and water refills are provided.

Step-by-step itinerary

Yaxha Archaeological Site Tour and Monkeys Spotting

• Pickup from hotel or airport
• Begin walking tour at Gate 2 of Yaxha
• Visit Minor Astronomical Observatory and North Acropolis
• Walk the Causeway of the Quarry
• Explore Malher Group and observe spider/howler monkeys
• Visit Major Astronomical Observatory and palace
• Pass Causeway of the Lake
• Explore residential palace of Yaxha royalty
• Visit ball game court and Square of the Birds
• Walk Causeway of the residential area
• Walk on rectangular platforms and twin pyramids complex
• Visit Square of the Columns and East Acropolis
• Climb temple of the Red Hands for panoramic view
• Return transfer and drop off at pickup location

The experience

The tour starts with pickup from your hotel or airport in San Ignacio (or from El Remate, Flores, the Belize border, or San Jose Peten, depending on your option). The drive takes between one and two and a half hours depending on your location. Once at Gate 2 of Yaxha, the walking begins at the Minor Astronomical Observatory, built by the ancient Mayans to track equinoxes and solstices using three reference buildings positioned to frame the sunrise: a system that marked the agricultural calendar. From there you walk the Causeway of the Quarry, a Mayan road built next to the stone pit that supplied material for the city's buildings.

The guide takes you through the North Acropolis, the city center arranged in a triadic pattern of three temples representing figures from Mayan mythology, then along the Causeway of the Reservoirs: a 100-foot-wide road the Mayans used to collect rainwater and conduct sacred processions. You'll see the Malher Group, discovered in 1904 by a German explorer, which shows a rare blend of Mayan and Teotihuacan architecture from a period of intense cultural exchange with Central Mexico. Along these walks, you have chances to spot spider monkeys and howler monkeys in the canopy. The longest single walk between stops is around 20 minutes. Total walking distance is roughly 2.5 to 4 miles spread across the day.

After exploring the ball court (where the ancient game Pok Ta Poc was played), the Square of the Birds (likely the market), and the royal residential palace with its five courtyards, you reach the Temple of the Red Hands at the East Acropolis: the tallest structure on site. You climb it at the end of the tour to stand in the treetops and see the forest, both lakes, and the other structures laid out below. Lunch happens at Portal de Yaxha with five menu options including gluten-free and vegan choices. The guide is bilingual in English and Spanish and carries deep knowledge of local history, flora and fauna. The tour ends with a return to your original pickup location or a different one if you arrange it in advance.

What’s included

• Professional bilingual guide with knowledge of local history, flora and fauna.
• hotel or airport pickup and return transport.
• lunch at Portal de Yaxha with five menu options including gluten-free and vegan choices.
• water refills.
• mosquito repellent application.
• Yaxha site map.
• air-conditioned vehicle.

Options for this experience

8 options

Guide in English or Spanish07:55

Guide in English or Spanish08:30

Guide in English or Spanish09:00

See 5 more options

Guide in English or Spanish08:00

Guide in English or Spanish08:05

Guide in English or Spanish07:25

Guide in English or Spanish07:55

Guide in English or Spanish07:30

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 day7 departure times: the first at 07:25, the last at 09:00

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Senior (100 and older) · Youth (10 to 17 years) · Child (3 to 9 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 9

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Paid on siteUS$ 11

Prices and times updated 12 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Gem Trips

Is this one for you?Choose a private departure if you're traveling alone or with a small group and want the flexibility to move at your own pace and linger at the best photo spots. Choose a small-group departure if you're comfortable sharing the vehicle and guide with other travelers and want to reduce the cost. Either way, the tour operates with no more than nine people per group, so you never join a large crowd.

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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 17 years); Child (3 to 9 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What is the Minor Astronomical Observatory and why did the Mayans build it?

The Minor Astronomical Observatory was built to track equinoxes and solstices using three reference buildings positioned so observers could see the sunrise behind them and mark the change of seasons. This was critical for agriculture, the city's main food source.

Will I see monkeys during the tour?

Yes, along the walking routes you have opportunities to spot spider monkeys and howler monkeys in the canopy and treetops.

How much walking is involved, and what's the longest stretch between stops?

You'll walk roughly 2.5 to 4 miles total during the day, but not all at once. The longest walk between any two stops is around 20 minutes, so the pace is manageable.

What's included in the tour price, and what do I pay separately?

The tour includes hotel or airport pickup, a bilingual guide, lunch at Portal de Yaxha with five menu options, water refills, mosquito repellent application, and a site map. Entry fees are not included in the quoted price because they vary by nationality and age, but the operator pays them in advance and you reimburse the guide during the tour.

When do I climb the Temple of the Red Hands, and what will I see from the top?

You climb the Temple of the Red Hands at the end of the tour. From the top you stand in the treetops with a panoramic view of the forest, both lakes, and the other Mayan structures spread across the site.

How long is the drive from San Ignacio to Yaxha?

The drive from San Ignacio town takes about two hours. If you're picked up from El Remate it's one and a half hours; from Flores or the Belize border it's two hours; from San Andres Peten it's two and a half hours.