A one-hour van ride will deliver passengers to the New River just outside Orange Walk Town, where they will board a boat for a 26-mile upriver journey to the ancient Mayan ruins of Lamanai. Perched amidst the tropical rainforest on the bluffs of the New River Lagoon, the over 3,000-year-old complex features numerous temples and opportunities for wildlife encounters. Howler monkeys and toucans abound in the large Ceiba trees throughout the site. Panoramic vistas reward a climb to the top of the High Temple, while intricate carvings can be seen along the base of the Mask Temple. An on-site Welcome Center and Museum provide facilities and interpretive exhibits for visitors.
Explore wild cave systems while floating down the crystal clear waters of the Sibun River Cave Branch. Tour guides provide transportation to the Welcome Center at the trailhead, where explorers will begin a 30- to 40-minute trek through the rainforest before arriving at the river. Enter by jumping off a cliff or wading in from shore, then relax on your inflated inner tube for your journey downstream. Headlamps provide illumination as you float down river through two cave systems amidst the surrounding lush vegetation. Brief stops while you're underground provide chances to explore the caves on land.
Venture to the island of Caye Caulker via the water taxis that depart four times daily just upstream from the Tourism Village at the mouth of Haulover Creek. Passengers can take a 45-minute water taxi ride past Chapel Caye and other islands before landing on Caye Caulker, the second-largest of Belize's roughly 200 off-shore islands that dot the country's Caribbean waters. Multiple signs urge visitors to "Go Slow" along the streets of the village, and walking barefoot is the preferred mode of transportation since there are no cars on the island. Spend the day exploring the colorful shops, markets and restaurants in the small, three-street wide village. Hang out at "the split," a natural channel formed in 1961 by Hurricane Hattie, which split the island in two. The location is a popular spot for swimming and relaxing.
