Belize – Maldo Travels https://www.maldotravels.com Travel - Learn - Share Fri, 29 Apr 2022 13:24:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://www.maldotravels.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Favicon-Black.png Belize – Maldo Travels https://www.maldotravels.com 32 32 San Ignacio – Mayan Cave and Ruins https://www.maldotravels.com/central-america/san-ignacio-mayan-cave-and-ruins/ https://www.maldotravels.com/central-america/san-ignacio-mayan-cave-and-ruins/#respond Tue, 15 May 2018 21:04:57 +0000 http://54.211.240.11/?p=2069

A two-hour bus ride away from Belize City takes you towards the Guatemala-Belize border at San Ignacio. The terminal is quite basic as are the buses so do not expect air con or other amenities. The town of San Ignacio is small but offers several stores, restaurants, and bars. It is perfectly located due to its proximity to both Mayan ruins and adrenaline filled experiences.

Ancient Mayan Cave

The most advertised tour is the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave, which although a little pricey at 85 USD1, is definitely worth checking out. This Mayan cave is believed to have been used for burial rituals and sacrifices. It is mainly unexcavated so all artifacts are in their original positions and mostly embedded in the ground. Unfortunately, cameras are not allowed in the cave thanks to a tourist who dropped their camera on a skull. The authorities stress this and take this very seriously so you should refrain from being tempted to sneak one in. Some tour operators (Maya Walk Tours in my case) will email you a couple of pictures after the tour which are the ones I’ve used for this post. The tour operators also ask visitors not to use or to dial down the use of sunblock or repellent to help preserve the site, however, this is really up to you. The ATM Cave tour is no easy task. The tour operator will sugarcoat its difficulty to get you on board but you should be prepared to endure a physically demanding adventure. Also expect to get wet as well as knocks, bruises, and maybe even small cuts from sharp rocks. The tour operators will provide equipment which includes a helmet, headlamp, and water shoes if you don’t have your own.

The tour bus takes about 1 hour to arrive at the national park entrance and the guide will point out what are believed to be unexcavated Mayan ruins along the route. From the park entrance to the cave, it is a 45-60 minute trek where you will cross 3 streams/rivers. The water level is usually hip height but will of course vary depending on the season. Once you arrive at the cave entrance, all food and drink must be left behind on the benches along with any loose personal belongings. The guide will also hand out snacks at this point before heading into the cave. The river flows through the entrance of the cave and you may need to swim a couple of meters depending on how tall you are. Once inside, the guide will take you through the cave pointing out artifacts and explaining the rock formations. You will need to crouch, climb, squeeze through openings, and traverse through water which can reach hip high levels. The last section of the cave can only be explored without shoes but they let you keep your socks on if you don’t mind getting them muddy. This final section is where the majority of the artifacts lie mostly untouched. There are pottery, tools, and skeletons everywhere and although areas are cordoned off, you have to watch your step and be careful not touch or lean on any rocks your guide points out. It is a truly spectacular site with so much history and mystery. Once back at the park entrance, lunch will be served while you use the facilities to change into dry clothes and hang your wet ones to dry.

Mayan Ruins a Walk Away

The Mayan ruins of Cahal Pech are a short 25-minute walk from San Ignacio town center. They are believed to have been the residence of an elite ruling Mayan family and is small enough to cover in less than 2 hours. Entrance is 10 BZD2 which includes access to the visitor center and small museum. The complex is made up of several plazas, residential buildings, temples, and a pyramid. It’s a great stop if you don’t have time for the large Mayan ruins in the area.

]]> https://www.maldotravels.com/central-america/san-ignacio-mayan-cave-and-ruins/feed/ 0 Caye Caulker – An Island Paradise https://www.maldotravels.com/central-america/caye-caulker-an-island-paradise/ https://www.maldotravels.com/central-america/caye-caulker-an-island-paradise/#respond Sun, 13 May 2018 14:41:30 +0000 http://54.211.240.11/?p=2046

To get to the serene island of Caye Caulker, you have to take a 1-hour 15-minute boat ride from the port of Belize City. Boats leave every hour, and if you just missed the boat, you can grab a drink and some food at the port while you wait for the next one. Caye Caulker is made up of two islands, however, only the south island is populated. The south island is very small, you can walk its length in about 20 minutes and its width in about 5 minutes. So no matter where you decide to stay, you will be walking distance to any destination. The activity not to be missed at Caye Caulker is snorkeling. There are several operators and my group went with Ragamuffin Tours which cost 70 USD1 each. With a name like that, you know you’re going to have a good time. The tour was an all-day tour with 4 stops for snorkeling and a drop off at the private beach of Koko King. A basic lunch was also included and of course, an unlimited supply of rum punch.

The boat stops for 30-60 minute snorkeling sessions on the way to and at Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Snorkeling gear is provided and the group is split up and assigned to a knowledgeable guide who points out the marine life. There is a lot of wildlife that will be swimming around. We got to see a stingray, turtle, eel, sharks, and a wide range of fish species. There are also seals at certain time of the year, however, we didn’t manage to see one. The corals are beautiful and there was also a cave that you could dive under and come out the other side. The guide is a strong swimmer and is always there to help you out. The tour finishes at Koko King which is a private beach with a bar/restaurant, trampoline, inflatable pyramid, swings, kayaks, and buoys to float around which are all free to use. There are also areas with beach chairs and hammocks which you can rent out for 20 BZD2 which is fairly economical when split between a group.

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