River lodges on the Macal and Mopan, the ATM cave, pine ridge waterfalls and Caracol.
Cayo is the west of Belize: a market town, San Ignacio, sitting where the Macal and Mopan rivers meet, with lodges strung along both rivers in the forest. Mornings here belong to the river: a canoe before breakfast, birds along the banks, and the mist lifting off the water.
From a river lodge you reach the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave with a licensed guide, the waterfalls and pine forest of the Mountain Pine Ridge, and the ruins at Caracol, a long drive south. Almost every first trip to Belize starts here.
Actun Tunichil Muknal
A river cave with licensed guides only; no cameras, swimming required, age and height rules.Check before you travel
Canoe the Macal
An early paddle downstream from the lodge, for kingfishers, iguanas and herons.
Mountain Pine Ridge
Pine forest, swimming holes and waterfalls on a cooler plateau.Check before you travel
Caracol
Belize's largest ruin, a long drive on rough road through the pine ridge.Check before you travel
San Ignacio market
Saturday morning is the big one: fruit, tamales, and the whole district in town.
Tikal next door
Guatemala's great site is across the border, as a one-night side trip.Check before you travel
Boat and flight times are ranges and depend on the weather and the operator. How we get around
We choose places to stay for the setting, the people running them, and how they fit your plans.
The ATM cave is physical: a walk through the forest with river crossings, then swimming and climbing in the dark. It is one of the best things we can arrange in Belize, and it isn't for everyone. We go through the rules with you first.
Lodges vary a lot. Some are a short drive from town, some an hour down a dirt road. We'll match you to the river and the distance you want.
A jaguar reserve with forest trails and a waterfall, half an hour from the sea.
Lagoons full of birds, the New River to Lamanai, and the dory-builders of Sarteneja.
