Plenty of fun, relaxation and adventure awaits visitors to La Isla Bonita, but there is even more excitement to be had on Belize mainland tours and trips on Ambergris Caye. From the island, guests will take the short jaunt to mainland Belize to explore some of the area's most important Mayan ruins, experience native wildlife, ride innertubes down underground caves and ride horses through the rainforest. Catering to all schedules, half-day, full-day and overnight tours are available from Ambergris Caye.
Mayan Ruins
Explore a variety of remnants of ancient Mayan cultures on one of several different tours and combinations. One of the popular tours is a visit to Altun Ha, Mayan for "Water of the Rock." The full-day tour to the center of the Belize District delights tourists with sights of more than 500 structures and mounds, such as the Temple of the Green Tomb and Temple of the Masonry Alters.
The Temple of the Green Tomb is the discovery site of more than 300 important jade artifacts and The Jade Head, the largest jade carving found in the Mayan area. Mysterious passageways and chambers used by Mayan high priests for ancient rituals abound at Temple of the Masonry Alters. Lunch at the legendary Maruba Jungle Spa is followed by free time to indulge in the spa's freshwater swimming pool, spa services and horseback riding.
Underground Cave Exploration
For even more excitement, choose one of the mainland tours and trips on Ambergris Caye that combine Mayan cave tubing with exciting all-terrain vehicle (ATV) transportation or zooming down a rainforest zip line. The ATV/cave tubing adventure takes you through Belize to Peccary Hills National Park. There, visitors will learn safety procedures, receive the route guide and safety gear, and board an ATV to travel through the rainforest. The first stop is at Caves Branch National Park, where visitors will make a short hike to the entrance of the intricate network of caves. With flashlights in hand, tourists will settle in for an underground cave adventure like no other. Guests must be at least 16 years of age to participate in this tour.
For those who want to see the rainforest from high above as well as underground, the zip line and cave tubing adventure is a great choice. Once on Belize, guests will drive to Caves Branch National Park and make a 10-minute hike to the zip line platform. Guests are treated to 70-foot high vistas of the rainforest's broadleaf canopy and a bird's eye view of the area's wildlife. After the exhilarating zip line tour, guests will take a 30-minute hike to the next adventure: tubing through the ancient network of underground caves. Participants must be at least eight years old to travel on this tour, which is not advised for non-swimmers.
Other tours include an awe-inspiring trip to the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave, a scared prehistoric Mayan site. The cave system includes a grand cathedral cave where Mayan priests held sacrifcial ceremonies. Other cave trips through important Mayan ruins include the Xunantunich and Barton Creek Cave tour, Belize's oldest archaeological site.
In addition to Mayan ruin exploration, cave adventures and recreational excitement, the experts at Ambergris Caye offer a vast array of other tours and experiences, including a trip to the Belize Zoo, a refuge for native wildlife used in outlying zoos or in other capacities. Canoeing down the Mopan River, enjoying river trips to watch birds and explore the jungle and wandering the Butterfly Farm's tropical wildflower gardens are just some of the experiences available at the Exotic Caye Beach Resort on Ambergris Caye.
For a full list of tours, visit http://www.belizeisfun.com/bel_tour.htm
