Unearthing Caracol & Pine Ridge: Belize's Epic Jungle Journey
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Travel through time to the mysterious world of the ancient Maya at Caracol, the largest Mayan site in Belize! Located deep within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve and nestled amid high-canopy jungle, the archaeological complex includes five plazas, an astronomic observatory and thousands of buildings. You’ll learn about Caracol’s agricultural practices, sacred rituals and their historic defeat of Tikal as you tour the site with your knowledgeable guide. This day trip from San Ignacio includes round-trip hotel transport by minivan or SUV.
Reviews
Reviews and Rating (Tripadvisor)
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Reviews by Tripadvisor travelers
chidio579, 10/11/2025 7:26:00 PM
I was a female solo traveler for this trip and was very comfortable with my male guide, Edgar. I didn’t know what to expect on this tour other than visiting ancient sites. During our 2hr drive, he educated me on the formation of Belize, the Mayan culture, and his extensive studies of agriculture, birds, and first responding. His 13 years of experience was on full display as we toured Caracol—from bird sightings, to Mayan calendars, to the faces carved out in stone. He even had a book to reference the many replicas that we saw. Glad I wore long sleeves and pants because the insects were out and buzzing. Luckily I didn’t leave with any bites cause I used mosquito repellent before we started. Comfortable and breathable shoes and clothes are a must because you’ll break a sweat climbing those steps. A visor and glasses are great for when the sun is at its peak. We ate lunch at the picnic area as the sounds of nature hummed beautifully. The meal was delicious and nourishing after spending half the day in the sun. Ensure to use their restroom before leaving because the next available one isn’t as decadent. On our way back, I napped as we headed to Rio on Pools. I wasn’t aware this was part of the tour so I didn’t bring a bathing suit. Bring clothes to change into, a towel, and swim shoes with grip because the granite is very slippery. The water was cool and refreshing. There are pockets were you can stand but me mindful because some places are deeper than others. There are 2 stalls for changing clothes and 2 stalls to use the restroom. If you do go, bring your own everything. I’d recommend this tour to anyone who loves nature, learning about culture, or a low risk, high reward adventure. Edgar, I hope today was worth interrupting your dream. I appreciate your high level of safety and wealth of knowledge on this tour. You’re an excellent guide, safe driver, and great conversationalist. Thank you for making my first trip to Belize memorable!
Ardeth_J, 9/4/2025 8:45:22 AM
Caracol is a must to visit. I enjoyed the drive through the many villages to get there. Was able to see how the people live.
Lindsey_M, 7/4/2025 4:01:12 PM
Caracol was such an amazing site to explore! It wasn't nearly as crowded as other sites. We only passed 1 other group! Our tour guide, Luis Juan, had a wealth of knowledge to share. He pointed out a lot of cool facts along the drive. The drive went fast and the road was well maintained. He was great at answering all of our questions, and he made sure that we saw all of the ruins possible. The road was closed to get to the Rio Cave so he gave us the option to walk the easy 30-40 minutes to go see. We all chose yes! It was a short tunnel of a cave and he let us know that. It was still worth going to see and neat to walk through! Finishing with the Rio Pools felt refreshing and great in the heat. Highly recommend this tour with all you get to learn and see!
Suzanne_P, 4/22/2025 11:42:39 AM
We really enjoyed the entire trip as a group of teens and adults! Our guide Angel was very knowledgeable. Highly recommend!
668jennh, 4/20/2025 4:51:07 PM
We had an excellent tour with Leo! Our family of four (kids 9 and 11) took a private tour and had a blast climbing among the ruins, eating a picnic lunch, and stopping by the Rio-On pools on the return. This was definitely a full day and fun-filled adventure. There is a new road to Caracol reducing a 4-5 hour road trip from San Ignacio to about 2 hours. There are parts of the road that are still VERY bumpy and a little off-road. Our kids had a great time with the adventure drive - but it's not, perhaps, for those who aren't into that sort of thing. Leo was an expert driver and helped us understand so much of Belize's history and Caracol itself. He even had a hand in some of its excavation! We were able to visit Cahal Pech on our own and really knew how to appreciate it and take it in after Leo's Mayan civilization tutorial. Thank for such a wonderful time!
Robert_G, 2/9/2025 10:09:09 AM
Our guide, Louis, was absolutely amazing! His extensive knowledge of agriculture, insects, history, and the culture of Belize—and specifically Caracol—was truly impressive. He made the experience both educational and enjoyable, and we couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Additionally, the company was highly responsive and professional throughout the entire process.
Brooklynbridge04, 1/6/2025 10:13:01 PM
Luis was a great tour guide...very accommodating and knowledgeable. We enjoyed seeing the ruins and got to see some wildlife as well. Lunch was simple but good. The pools were nice to swim in. Our only complaint was not getting to go the cave due to poor road conditions. Not the company's fault, but it seems like that has been the case for awhile, so it would have been helpful to have an updated type description. Overall, we had a great day!
Wing_H, 11/14/2024 8:28:38 PM
Leo was our tour guide. He was actually worked in Caracol archeology site in around yr2000. So he explained to us what they did and what they found . He also told us the relationship between Caracol, Tikol and Chichen Itzu. He also told us about the history of Belize and the relationship with Mexico and Guatemala. I learned a lot from him
Luigi_C, 8/22/2024 10:59:29 AM
Our guide on this tour was Leo, whom we had already had for our Lamanai trip. He is a great guide, a great source of information and a great conversationalist. If he happens to be your guide -you’re in luck. The Caracol tour is a must for everyone. The ruins, the rain forest, the animals, you’ve got to experience it. Don’t miss it.
Yadiii55, 7/7/2024 9:05:26 PM
We were very lucky to have a private tour with the one and only Miguel! He made us feel so welcomed and shared so much of his mayan knowledge with us. He always took his time and also made us feel like there was no rush. We also appreciated the moments when he offered to take picture of us for our memories.The tour was truly amazing and the lunch included was very delicious. Thank you so much for a memorable tour!
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Please note: a minimum of 2 passengers is required in order for this tour to operate. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund. Hotel pick up and drop off included is for hotels within San Ignacio town limits. For hotels outside of San Ignacio town, a surcharge applies.
- Bring reusable Water bottle
Departure point
Unit 2 inside the Belize Caving Expeditions OfficeReturn details
Travel through time to the mysterious world of the ancient Maya at Caracol, the largest Mayan site in Belize! Located deep within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve and nestled amid high-canopy jungle, the archaeological complex includes five plazas, an astronomic observatory and thousands of buildings. You’ll learn about Caracol’s agricultural practices, sacred rituals and their historic defeat of Tikal as you tour the site with your knowledgeable guide. This day trip from San Ignacio includes round-trip hotel transport by minivan or SUV.Redemption
Please note: a minimum of 2 passengers is required in order for this tour to operate. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund24 hours before travel date - 100% refund
Less than 24 hours before travel date - 0% refund








