Belize Mayan Ruin Tours

Xunantunich and Inland Blue Hole

Located in the Cayo District across the Mopan River in Western Belize, Xunantunich can only be accessed by a ferry. Xunantunich which means “Stone Woman” is derived from a combination of Mopan and Yucatec Mayan words. This awe-inspiring tour provides cultural history and breathtaking views of Belize as well as our neighboring country Guatemala. Although a long drive from where we are, this scenic outing takes you on the outskirts of the Mayan Mountain Range and through different villages and communities. As the vegetation changes, you will notice the structure of homes changes as well as the ethnicity of the people. You can truly get a glimpse of the Belizean people going about their day-to-day life. Xunantunich was the first ruin site in Belize to be opened to the public when the road and a ferry were built, in 1950. The most prominent structure is the pyramid “El Castillo” which was the tallest man-made structure in all of Belize until the discovery of Caana at Caracol.

After lunch enjoy a swim in the Blue Hole and/or enter the dark ancient mystery of St Herman’s Cave. The Inland Blue Hole was formed by the collapse of an underground limestone cave.

This tour is included as an option in the Best of Belize Adventure Add-On.

Nim Li Punit and Tropical Spice Farm and Botanical Garden

Uncover the world of the ancient Maya. Nim Li Punit is a Mayan archaeological site in the Toledo district situated at the foothills of the Maya Mountains just off the Southern Highway. It is regarded as a ceremonial center consisting of two plazas filled with Maya stelae  Your journey into ancient history then comes back to present time with a tour of the Tropical Spice Farm and Botanical Garden. See plants that were used by the ancient Maya and still being used today as well as other tropical plants from around the world. The spice plant collection includes cardamom, clove, and nutmeg as well as a large collection of exotic fruit trees such as cashew, rambuttan, sapote, anijoil, bilimi, carambola, nellipuli, several kibds of jackfruits, and a wide variety of mangoes. There are also over twenty varieties of flowering plants such as hibiscus, jetropha, jasmine, ixora, and helicona. The farm is one of the largest black pepper and vanilla farms in Belize and is adorned with beautiful teak, mahogany, rosewood, and sandalwood trees. Learn about the many uses of these plants, fruits, and various herbs on this educational tour!

This tour can be purchased as an a la carte tour.