Top Things to do in Cayo
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Top 10 Things to do in Cayo, Belize
Discover the best top things to do in Cayo, Belize including The Maya Ruins of Caracol, Xunantunich, Actun Tunichil Muknal, Belize Botanic Gardens, Cahal Pech, Jaguar Paw Cave Tubing and Jungle Zipline, Green Iguana Conservation Project, St. Herman's Cave, San Ignacio Market, Blue Hole National Park.
Restaurants in Cayo
1. The Maya Ruins of Caracol
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 614 reviews
This 30-acre complex is the largest Mayan ruin in Belize.
Reviewed By Sandi-and-Tim - New Castle, United States
Despite having a rental car, my husband, son, and I opted to hire a tour guide (and HIS vehicle) for this trip, in part because of the 52 miles of rough dirt road. Don't be scared off by the "you must join the police escort" warnings. The ruins are close to the Belize-Guatemala border, and the escort was started due to a single incident a few years ago...but there haven't been any reported incidents since then. Caracol has the highest Mayan temple in Belize. In fact, we couldn't see the top from the ground. According to our guide, LIDAR Radar readings taken in the last few years show that there are around 36,000 Mayan buildings in the surrounding jungle that have not been excavated, and they estimate that there were approximately 1.5 million inhabitants at one point. One of the thing that's so amazing about that is that there is no water source nearby. What they did find, though, was over 200 retention ponds. This is a destination that is not as well traveled as some of the other Mayan ruins in Belize due to the poor access, but it is well worth the effort to get there. If you do go without a guide, make sure you sign in at the police checkpoint. Past that point the road is narrow and mostly one way in in the morning and out in the afternoons. Oh, if you do use a guide, make sure he lets you eat some minty-tasting termites. :-)
2. Xunantunich
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,467 reviews
Reviewed By galencampbell - Calgary, Canada
The ruins are excellent and will be workout climbing up and down, with fantastic views from the highest points. We picked up a guide before crossing the ferry. Elfego had A LOT of knowledge, which makes sense since he must have been at least 70 and had been giving tours and working with archaeologists at Xunantunich for decades. The visitor center is good, with enough information to educate you, but not so much as to be excessive. I still recommend a guide though for better explanations of what you are seeing when you are actually looking at it. We also got lucky and saw two troops of howler monkeys howling at each other in trees just up the hill from the ferry (so keep your windows down and your ears listening as you drive in).
3. Actun Tunichil Muknal
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 874 reviews
This remote cave is filled with relics left over from the Mayans.
Reviewed By 143trishc
My family and I visited Actun Tunichil Muknal June of 2019. This is not like a cave in the US where tourists visit. YOu must hike, cross rivers, swim across the pool at the entrance of the cave, wade up streams, squeeze through tight passages, climb rocks in you socks and up a ladder to reach the crystal maiden. Worth every second! It is so beautiful, amazing and tragic too. I am grateful for the experience, it was truly a trip of a lifetime.
4. Belize Botanic Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 199 reviews
Belize Botanic Gardens is a great place to spend from a few hours to the whole day! Come and take one of our guided tours through the gardens and discover some of the secrets within the plants and trees. Do you know what perfumes Chanel No5? or what tree can colour your clothes? come and find the answers. Visit our Orchid house with over 120 orchids species of Belize.
Reviewed By 238CatherineL - Victoria, Canada
My mom and I went for a visit to the Belize Botanical Gardens and we were so impressed. We were greeted by Roxi upon arrival who made us feel so welcome and set us up with a guided tour. The grounds were truly nature beauty at its best. We had a wonderful guide named Enilson, who was asked many questions by those in our group and he was so knowledgeable. It was such a lovely morning and I can highly recommend it to anyone that is even slightly interested in local Belizean flora. I will certainly be back again.
5. Cahal Pech
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,527 reviews
This ancient Mayan site features a museum and several dozen surviving structures.
Reviewed By cliffordicus - Salt Lake City, United States
Cahal Pech is one of the oldest grouping of Mayan Ruins we know of dating back to some of the earliest traces of Mayan history. Compared to many other ruin nearby like Xunantunich, its basically deserted. This is an amazing opportunity to explore some ruins practically on your own (at least that was our experience) the complex goes on and on and is so fun to step into history, literally, and see the amazing structures of a time long past. It's within walking distance of the downtown area (though you'll climb a fairly steep hill) and in really close proximity to a few hotels, including our own, the San Ignacio Resort Hotel. It's close, and it's worth it.
6. Jaguar Paw Cave Tubing and Jungle Zipline
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 148 reviews
From Cave Tubing on Caves Branch River system or Crystal Caves - Rock Climbing and Repelling - Zip Lining through the Jungle Canopy, and so much more. Our newest addition is the Jungle Tumble In New Zealand where it was invented they call it ZORBING. It is the sport of rolling downhill inside a large 11 foot (3.5 meter) inflatable Ball.
Reviewed By Gailcovington1 - Bisbee, United States
We took a wonderful Cave Tubing trip on our visit this month to Beliez. We rented a car and drove from Belmopan on the Western Hwy to Caves Branch River. We paid a small entrance fee to park then walked around the central area to find a guide. Lucky for us we found a great guide, Fernando. He was experienced, reasonable and promised us an indepth, leisurely through three caves--- and certainly delivered! Fernando was knowledgeable about the caves, the Mayan history, rainforest plants, birds and trees. Instead of a short 90 minute trip, which is the norm, he guided us for 4 hours! While there we saw several other tours racing through only one cave. Fernando was careful, kind and had a great sense of humor. We highly recommend you ask for him. Maybe you can email him to set up a day to meet at Planning for the tour you will need water shoes. Not flip flops because you will climb on rocks when exploring the cave outside f the Tube, intermittently throughout the tour. We used reef walkers and took some water bottles in Fernando's dry bag. You will get wet---and want to get wet! So bring a dry set of shorts.
7. Green Iguana Conservation Project
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,303 reviews
Located at the San Ignacio Resort Hotel, the Project is a continuous effort that aims to conserve and look after the endangered Green Iguana species in Belize. The hatchery uses interactive exhibits and programs to help educate and create awareness among international and local visitors. Here, you are given the opportunity mingle with these wonderful reptiles and also, learn the about the incubation, hatching, rearing, and releasing process
Reviewed By ukienomad - Fleming Island, United States
I’ve been all over the world but have never done an “iguana” tour and it was so much fun. We enjoyed seeing the iguanas interact not only with us but with each other. We were able to pet them and feed them and took lots of great pictures. Tours run every hour and the location is perfect as was our tour guide. The tour was $9 USD p.p. but worth it. Located in the Ignacio Resort Hotel which is beautiful and there’s plenty of parking. Kids will love this. Stay and have a drink by the pool afterwards.
8. St. Herman's Cave
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 279 reviews
Reviewed By Lumberjack67 - Denver, United States
Our guide led us on a short hike to the cave, and explained to us about Belize, the people, and the environment. She even made it a point to stop and show us small, Black Orchid, which is Belize's national flower. While going into the cave, she told us about what the Mayan's believed about the underworld and what kind of rituals they would do in the caves. She even found a scorpion spider, or whip spider, to show us and why they hang out in caves. Once in the water, she pulled us on our tubes to the back of the cave and then we began to float back down the river. At one point, she told us to turn off our lights and to just be quite. We sat there in the pitch black, listening to the sounds of the water and the cave, A very surreal experience. At the end of the tour, we were able to observe some bats and how they fly about the cave. I highly recommend this experience.
9. San Ignacio Market
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 279 reviews
Reviewed By CONatureGirl
We were on a group trip and stopped here for the big Saturday market - you have to experience this!!! The piles and rows of fruits and vegetables and spices were just mind-blowing!! Add the other booths with vendors selling all kinds of art, clothing, etc. and it is like a large flea market. Food and ice cream available, and if you want snacks for your trip through Belize, you must stop here. We got some cool art, snacks for the road, and just had a great time browsing all the local produce!
10. Blue Hole National Park
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 480 reviews
Reviewed By pTAa10 - Winnipeg, Canada
We had a lot of fun here, and its right on the Humminbird highway! We first check out the self-guided cave tour, which was simply incredible. To be honest, I was especially impressed with the distance they allow you to go inside the cave without hiring a guide. We then took a 45 minute trail to get to the Blue Hole pond, and we took a lovely and refreshing dip amongst fish in the very clear blue water. Seems we were the only people until about 10am, when the amount of visitors began to increase. Getting a bus from Belmopan, I think it cost a total of 4 Belize dollars for us to get a ride.
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