Belize City Excursions

There's a lot to do in Belize, from visiting the Mayan sites of Altun Ha, Cahal Pech, Lamanai and Xunantunich to cave tubing, canopy adventures, eco tours, visiting the sights of Belize City or birding. Then there's the beautiful cayes along the Barrier Reef coastline for some snorkeling, diving or some fun in the sun. The most popular excursions are the cave tubing tours and the canopy and adventure tours.

Your cruise ship will drop anchor a few miles outside of Belize City's harbor (it's too shallow for the draft of the cruise ships) and be taken ashore by speedy ship's tenders run by the Belize port authority. It'll take about 20 minutes to go from your ship to the Tourism Village docks in Belize City. Almost all excursions to the interior will begin at the Tourism Village. For excursions to the atolls and cayes off of the coast, you will board a tender, catamaran or other watercraft directly from your ship, and proceed to the islands.

If you have taken any of the tours listed below, we'd like your feedback on your experience. Please click on the link of the tour you took, and then click the "Write a Review of This Tour" link and tell us what you experienced.

Last Update: January 25, 2012

Great Blue Hole, near Ambergris Caye

Beach, Snorkel & Sailing

Private Island Beach Break/ Beach Break
4 hours

Throw your cares away for a day, and bask in the warm Caribbean sun on a private island. Swim, play some beach volleyball, ride a kayak or just relax. The private island is kid friendly, too.

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Barrier Reef Snorkel with Beach Break/ Barrier Reef Snorkel & Beach/ Catamaran Barrier Reef Snorkel & Beach
3½ hours

Enjoy some of the best snorkeling in the Caribbean on this tour. At Turneffe Atoll, you'll enter an undersea world with an extensive variety of coral unlike any other location.

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Snorkeling Wonders of the Barrier Reef/ Absolute Paradise
3¼ to 4 hours

The reefs off of Belize offer some of the best snorkeling in the world. Whether a novice or an expert snorkeler, you'll find what you want at Rendezvous Caye.

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Sergeant's Cay Snorkel Adventure
3½ hours

An hour's worth of snorkeling on Sergeant's Cay will enthrall you. Whether novice or expert, you'll take back with you great memories of your day in the sun and reefs.

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Discover Snuba
4 hours

Turneffe Atoll is only one of three atolls in the Western Hemisphere. Discover the beauty of the reefs and marine life on this unique aquatic adventure.

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Bacab Eco Park Kayak Creek Expedition/ Kayak Creek Expedition and Bacab Eco Adventure Park
4½ hours

A unique experience is waiting for you as you take a 1-hour kayak through a jungle creek, surrounded by towering trees and the shrieks of howler monkeys and bountiful birdsong.

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Under Water Windows to the Wonders of the Barrier Reef
2½ hours

A unique experience awaits you as you sail to the Educator Too semi-submersible boat for a tour of Belize's Barrier Reef. It's a great way to see the reef up close and personal without getting wet.

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Biking

Bacab Eco Park Jungle Adventure Bike/ Jungle Bike Adventure and Bacab Eco Adventure Park/ Jungle Bike Adventure
4½ hours

Venture into the Belizean tropical forest on a trail bike, encountering howler monkeys and other wildlife. Test your biking skills as you maneuver through savannah, bajos and riverine forest.

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Birding

Birds of Belize - River Canoeing and Jungle Trekking for Tropical Birds
4½ hours

Discover the charm of Key West while cycling through the town's lesser known, quaint streets and secret lanes. It's a healthy, fun and educational adventure.

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Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary
4½ hours

A must for nature enthusiasts, the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary attracts birders from around the world. See if you can spot the Jabiru stork, the largest stork in the western hemisphere.

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Canopy & Adventure

Belize Aerial Trek
4¼ hours

This zipline features 7 platforms ranging from 40 feet on up to 300 feet in length, and a Grand Finale that takes you rappelling down a 36 foot cliff for a great adrenaline rush.

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Lost World Canopy Tour/ Lost World Zip Line & Rappelling Tour/ Lost World Canopy Tour & Rappelling
5½ hours

With five traverses ranging from 100 to 500 feet in length spanning the fallen ceiling of an enormous open-air cave, the Lost World Canopy is not for the feint of heart. But it is great fun!

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Raiders of the Lost Mayan Caves/ Adventures of the Lost Mayan Cave/ Raiders of the Lost Mayan World: Dragon Mouth Cave
5½ to 6 hours

This fun-packed adventure combines caving, a thrilling zip line experience and spooky legends from the Maya into a fun and exhilarating day in Belize.

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Zipline & Crystal Cave Tubing/ Jaguar Paw Triple Action Adventure/ Crystal Cave Tubing & Zip Combo
6¼ to 6½ hours

This fun-packed adventure at Jaguar Paw Jungle Camp combines a zipline adventure, cave tubing and a walk through the underground cave to witness the stalagmites, stalactites and other amazing subterranean rock formations.

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Cave Tubing

Cave Tubing & Aerial Trek
6½ hours

Begin with the Aerial Trek canopy tour, then you're off for a float down the Caves of the Branch river through an eerie underground cave system replete with stalactites and stalagmites.

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Cave Tubing, A FUN Adventure/ Cave Tubing & Rainforest Exploration/ Cave Tubing & Jungle Trek/ Cave Tubing & Rain Forest Trek
5¾ to 7 hours

Begin with a 45-minute hike down a jungle trail to the cave entrance, then don your headlamp and hop on your inner tube for a slow float through the underground cave system. This is a very popular tour.

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Crystal Cave Tubing & Cave Expedition/ Crystal Cave Tubing and Lagoon/ Crystal Cave Tubing & Lagoon
5¾ hours

This fun-packed excursion at Jaguar Paw Jungle Camp combines a cave tubing adventure and a walk through the underground cave system to witness the stalagmites, stalactites and other amazing subterranean rock formations.

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City Tours

Belize City Tour
2¾ hours

Enjoy a day exploring the commercial capital of Belize, where you'll visit museums featuring Mayan artifacts and colonial-era landmarks that make the city an interesting place to visit.

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Belize City & the Old Belize Museum
3 hours

Visit the Old Belize Museum, which chronicles the development of the country from its Mayan roots through the colonial period to present day Belize. Your excursion ends with a bus tour of Belize City.

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Belize City by Carriage
2 hours

Take an intimate and quaint tour of Belize City in a horse-drawn carriage and open tour wagon. You'll see the colonial-era landmarks that make this, the largest city in Belize, such a unique place.

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Calypso Train Tour/ Calypso Train Tour of Belize City
1 to 1¼ hours

Relax and enjoy an interesting and informative narrated open-air trolley tour through the streets of Belize City, the erstwhile capital of this former British colony.

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Baymen City Tour
1½ hours

Relax and enjoy an interesting and informative narrated trolley tour through the streets of Belize City. You'll see the sights of the city, and also take in a visit to a rum distillery and a local nursery.

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Historical Tales of Belize City Walking Tour
2 hours

Take a tour of the commercial capital of the country, walking past the city's colonial-era buildings and through its parks and museums. The tour also includes a stop at a local Belizean restaurant.

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Belize Zoo & City Tour/ Belize Zoo & Belize City
4 to 4½ hours

Combine a tour of Belize City with a visit to the Belize Zoo, one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country. The zoo is home to indigenous Belizean mammals, reptiles and birds.

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The City & Sanctuary Tour
4½ hours

This excursion combines a visit to the Belize Zoo with a tour of Belize City and its storied colonial past. The zoo is one of the country's top attractions, and features a collection of indigenous animals.

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Cultural Tours

Altun Ha Mayan Ruins
4 hours

Altun Ha provides a fascinating look into the Maya culture. It was at Altun Ha that the famous carved Jade Head--one of the treasures of Belize--was discovered in 1968.

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Altun Ha Mayan Site & River Wallace/ Alton Ha and the Olde Belize River Tour
5½ to 6½ hours

This tour combines a fun and interesting boat trip up the Belize River, a Belizean lunch and a visit to the Mayan ruins of Altun Ha. This is a great way to see some of the country on your day in Belize.

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Altun Ha & Belize City Tour/ A Tale of Two Cities/ Mayan City of Altun Ha & Belize City
4 to 5½ hours

This fascinating half-day tour focuses on the contrast between the ancient Mayan city of Altun Ha and modern-day Belize City.

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Mayan Palaces of Cahal Pech
5½ to 5¾ hours

Visit an ancient Mayan ruin that was once a royal compound. Cahal Pech is one of the treasures of Mayan-era Belize.

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Lamanai & New River Safari/ Lamanai Mayan Ruins and New River Cruise
7 to 7½ hours

Explore the jungles of Belize on a 90-minute boat trip on the New River, followed by a visit to Lamanai, with its surreal carved masks accompanied by the eerie shrieks of the Black Howler monkeys.

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Xunantunich Mayan Ruins
7 hours

Travel inland almost to the Guatemalan border to the Mayan ruin of Xunantunich. Its 6 plazas and more than 25 temples and palaces provide fantastic views of the surrounding countryside.

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Xunantunich & Marimba Lunch/ The Mayan Ruins of Xunantunich & Marimba Performance
7 to 7¼ hours

Explore the ruins of Xunantunich with its 6 plazas and more than 25 temples. The largest temple, El Castillo, offers a panoramic view of the area. On the return, enjoy a lunch with a marimba show.

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Maya Gold Village - A Cultural Experience
7½ hours

Take a flight from Belize City to Punta Gorda in the south of the country to explore the culture and customs of the descendents of the Maya people.

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Sights and Sounds of Belize
3½ hours

Immerse yourself in the history of Belize at the Old Belize Museum, where interactive displays make you feel like you're living it. Then enjoy a music and dance extravaganza that celebrates the cultural life of the country.

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Diving

Discover Scuba Diving
4½ hours

This excursion gives you the introduction to the sport. Your first dive will be in an area Scubaguide calls the 5th best in the world. Just call it brilliant planning on your part!

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Turneffe Atoll Two Tank Dive with Equipment
6 hours

Visit one of the most spectacular and popular dive sites in Belize. Turneffe Atoll is a haven for divers, with clear waters and a great place for a wall dive.

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Turneffe Atoll Two Tank Dive without Equipment
6 hours

Visit one of the most spectacular and popular dive sites in Belize. Turneffe Atoll is a haven for divers, with clear waters and a great place for a wall dive.

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Eco Tours

Bacab Jungle Park
4½ hours

At the Wild Wings Butterfly House, winding pathways offer the opportunity to view a wide variety of native Central American butterflies in a kaleidoscope of colors.

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Wildlife River Rafting
4 hours

Board a motorized river raft and travel the Old Belize River looking for crocodiles, howler monkeys, iguanas and a vast array of bird species. It's like the jungle cruise at Disney World, only real.

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Mangrove Tunnels & City Museum
3½ hours

Take a glimpse into the culture and natural history of Belize on this low-impact tour. You'll visit the Museum of Belize, then board a boat for a leisurely cruise up Haulover Creek and its mangrove tunnels.

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A Wildlife Adventure/ Wildlife Adventure
6 hours

Begin your day's adventure with a 20-mile boat ride up the Belize River to see birds, animals and reptiles in the wild. After lunch, enjoy a trip to the Belize Zoo to view all the species endemic to the region.

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Fishing

Belize Fly Fishing
6½ hours

Test your fly fishing skills with some flats fishing in the coastal region near Belize City. You'll be fishing for tarpon, bonefish and permit, and even if you don't catch anything, you'll have a great day fishing!

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Reef Bottom Fishing
4 hours

Designed for both novice and avid fishermen alike, this fun excursion takes you into the channels leading out to the barrier reef in search of snappers, grunts, porgies and groupers.

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Deep Sea Fishing Charter
6 hours

Since you'll be fishing in Belize's Barrier Reef, it's not unusual to hook into fish weighing well over 100 pounds in these waters. For the devoted fisherman, nothing can beat it!

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Food & Drink

Belizean Cuisine-A Culinary Lesson in the National Dish
3 hours

This Belizean cooking class will have you and your teammates create Belize's national dish: curried stew chicken, with rice and beans and side dishes. It's a tasty way to spend an afternoon in Belize City.

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Rum Runner River Tour
4¼ hours

Begin with a historical tour of Belize City, then head north to a rum distillery. You'll see how rum is made, and enjoy samples of their best rums, after which you'll take an hour-long boat ride through the mangrove forest.

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Horseback Riding

Bacab Eco Park Horseback Safari/ Bacab Horseback Safari/ Jungle Resort Horseback Safari
4½ hours

Take a walk on the wild side, riding on a densely forested riverside trail through the home of Howler monkeys, giant green iguanas and Central American tapir.

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Horseback Safari and Bacab Eco Adventure Park
4½ hours

Take a walk on the wild side, riding on a densely forested riverside trail through the home of Howler monkeys, giant green iguanas and Central American tapir. Then relax at the facility's pool.

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River Kayaking & Jungle Horseback Riding
5½ hours

Take a walk on the wild side in the Belizean countryside. You'll begin with a 1-hour kayak on the Sibun River, where you'll get an up-close-and-personal view of the wildlife. Then enjoy a horseback ride through the Belizean jungle.

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Motorsports

Land Rover & Cave Expedition/ Caves & Jungles of Belize/ Land Rover Jungle Tour
5 hours

Take a boat ride up the Sibun River, then pilot your Land Rover 4X4 through the lowlands and jungle trails, where you'll come upon a Mayan cave complex. Then it's time to explore the caves.

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Scenic Tours

Airboat Adventure & Belize City Tour
2½ hours

Begin with a bus tour of Belize City, then head off to the lagoon for your airboat. Fly across the water at speeds approaching 40 mph, then enter waterways where only Airboats dare to roam.

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Helicopter Adventure to 1000 Foot Falls & Victoria Peak
2½ hours

The ultimate Belize sightseeing experience, this adventure takes you from Belize City to see 1000 Foot Falls and Victoria Peak in a Bell 106 helicopter. A truly unforgettable experience!

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Important Information

Notes on the above cruise excursions:

• The information on the cruise excursions listed above was developed from publicly available sources.
• The cruise lines may elect to add to, change, delete or otherwise alter the itineraries of the excursions above;
• The cruise lines may restrict the number of passengers allowed to go on any particular excursion.
• The cruise lines may impose other restrictions on any particular excursion, including height, weight, minimum age, etc.; make sure to check with them to determine if there are such restrictions.
• There may be seasonal limitations on certain excursions or tours, such as whale watching. Be sure to check with your cruise line to determine if the tour in which you're interested is available when you're on your cruise.

Why buy a tour through the cruise lines?

• They have selected tour operator partners who are safe, reliable, licensed and insured.
• They offer a wide selection of tours, purchasing convenience and can provide expert advice on the most appropriate tour for you.
• They offer a one price, no surprises policy, with no hidden fees.
• They will be happy to credit your onboard account if you've already booked an excursion and there is a change in itinerary of the ship.
• They will wait for you if your tour is late.

Footnotes