One of the best things about staying on Caye Caulker is that the mainland is close enough for a day trip. You take the morning water taxi or a short flight to Belize City, a guide meets you with a van, and you are back on the island for dinner. These are the trips that work in a day.
Maya ruins
- Altun Ha: the closest major site to Belize City and the easiest ruins day from the island. Temples you can climb, usually combined with another stop.
- Lamanai: reached by a riverboat ride through the jungle, with crocodiles, birds and monkeys along the way. A longer day and a favorite.
- Xunantunich: in the far west near the Guatemala border. Possible as a long day, often paired with ziplining or cave tubing.
Cave tubing
You float on an inner tube down a river that runs through limestone caves, with a headlamp and a guide. It is easy, cool on a hot day and good for most ages. Many tours add a zipline course next door.
The Belize Zoo
A small zoo built around rescued native animals: jaguars, tapirs, toucans, harpy eagles and howler monkeys in natural enclosures. It is on the highway west of Belize City and pairs well with cave tubing.
Howler monkeys
The Community Baboon Sanctuary is a village run reserve for black howler monkeys, which Belizeans call baboons. A local guide walks you into the trees and the monkeys are usually close overhead. It is often combined with Altun Ha.
How a day goes
- Early water taxi or flight to Belize City
- Guide and van meet you at the terminal
- One or two stops with lunch
- Afternoon boat or flight back to the island
Tips
- Book a tour that includes the pickup in Belize City so the timing is handled
- Check the last water taxi back before you commit to a long day
- Bring closed shoes, bug spray and a change of clothes for cave tubing
- Groups get better pricing on a private van
Guests at Casa Vista Belize can have our property manager set these up before they arrive. The island side of the trip is covered in How to Get to Caye Caulker.