Welcome to
San Ignacio
Day Trip To Crystal Cave and Blue Hole National Park
- Duration8 hours
- Max Travelers15 people
- Free CancellationUp to 24 hrs
- CategoryAdventure Tours, Bus Tours
Overview
See some of Belize’s top natural attractions on this day tour from San Ignacio to Blue Hole National Park and Crystal Cave. You’ll experience the underworld of the ancient Maya as you go spelunking in the crystalline caverns, learning about this ceremonial site where the Maya people practiced sacrificial and sacred rituals. After venturing into the cave chambers, you’ll have the chance to cool down in the waters of the Blue Hole, an inland jungle cenote (not to be confused with the country’s offshore Great Blue Hole). Lunch is included.
Gallery
What's included
National Park fees
Use of helmet and headlamps
All taxes, fees, and handling charges
Guide
Lunch with a drink
What's Not included
water bottle and snacks
Itinerary
Leave San Ignacio in the morning to start your day tour with the drive toward Belmopan and the scenic Hummingbird Highway, crossing the green mountains while passing by orange orchards, pineapple plantations, and rainforest-draped valleys along the way. Your destination is Blue Hole National Park, a protected and accessible area managed by the Belize Audubon Society. It's also home to Crystal Cave, known locally as Mountain Cow Cave, an otherworldly natural wonder located deep in the jungle in the heart of the park.
After a 50-minute hike through the tropical forest with your guide, you'll reach the entry point where you'll rappel 15 feet (4.5 meters) into the vast entrance of the cave. Traverse its large chambers, sliding down mud ramps and scrambling along rocks. This is a challenging descent into Xibalba, what the Maya believed was the realms of the underworld. Your guide shows you the shimmering formations in the cave, along with artifacts and skeletal remains of sacrificial victims from ancient Maya ceremonies.nnThis tour is physically demanding but well worth the effort to walk in the footsteps of Maya ritual leaders and see the evidence of their sacred rites with your own eyes. After your cave exploration, refuel with a hearty homemade lunch and soft drinks, and take a swim in the cool waters of the Blue Hole, a deep sinkhole filled with rain and spring water, known as a cenote.nnYour tour then ends with return to San Ignacio.
Good to know
Infants are required to sit on an adultu2019s lap
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
Minimum age is 12 years
Difficulty: Challenging
What to bring: Hiking sandals or sneakers, change of clothes, small backpack, 1 liter of water, bug spray, snacks, and swimwear with shorts
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.