Cave Kayaking Adventure: Explore Ancient Caves

Embark on an ancient cave kayaking adventure to explore sacred sites and nature trails. Expert guides provide equipment and share fascinating insights along the way. Join us now!

Duration: 5 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Nohoch Che’en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve - For cruise passengers, the tour begins one hour after the ship docks. Kayak through the Jaguar Paw caves with knowledgeable guides, just as our ancestors did, navigating the Caves Branch River. The Nohoc Chen Caves network features the river flowing through them. The lower three chambers are…
What's Included
  • Refillable water bottles
  • Kayak Portage
  • Heavy duty sit-on-top kayaks
  • Single or tandem kayaks
  • Paddles, PFDs, Helmets, jackets
  • Tour on Ship Time
  • Shared transport by air-conditioned minivan
What's Not Included
  • Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

Our forefathers found practical and sacred uses for cave systems for millennia, using them for habitation, spiritual practices, and food storage. Embark with us on an excursion into this subterranean realm. We provide the essentials - headlights, helmets, life vests, kayaks, and a seasoned guide. Fully equipped, our guides will lead you through a…

Location
Baron Bliss lighthouse
Fort Street
Cruisers, V.i.V. will meet you at Belize City FSTV cruise port, Terminal 1 Exit, street side, terminal 1 Exit street side. V.i.V. Guest staying in Belize City Hotels, we pick you up at the hotel. San Pedro Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker guest, we meet you at the water taxi terminal in Belize city
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(405 Ratings)
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Angel_h
Jun 4, 2025
Do this instead of tubing! - This was 100% worth doing. I loved it all. The tour guides taught about the area on the drive out there and stopped to get snacks at a gas station so they would be less expensive for us. On the ‘hike’ (it’s a walk and a 2 year old could do it, so if you’re worried about your abilities, this is not a problem), the guides stopped several times to show us some cool things like these little coconuts (which they broke open and we tasted), termites nests (which he stuck a stick into so we could taste if we wanted, apparently they are minty), a colony of leaf cutter ants (did not taste) and then my favourite, a tarantula hole where we could look in with our flash lights and see a tarantula (no, she wasn’t scary and did not attack us, but she did have an egg sac and it was very very cool). We crossed the river 3 times (bring appropriate footwear) and could cool off in the water. It helped so we weren’t sweaty and sticky. When we got to the kayaks, we loaded up and went the OPPOSITE way of all the tubers. They went down stream while we paddled into the back parts of the caves upstream. It was so dark that without the headlamps, we couldn’t see our hands in front of our faces. We saw a colony of bats (nope, again, they didn’t attack anyone), and then pulled off to take a swim and jump off the rocks which was so refreshing. When we exited the upstream caves, we were back where the tubers were and made our way down the same as the tubers. The people in tubes were all tied together floating and relaxing but having no control over where they went or how long they stopped. With the kayaking tour, I could explore and go at my pace. The pace was very manageable even for those of us who don’t kayak much. Not too much of a current so it was easy. My husband and I both commented on how much of a better experience it was kayaking and were glad we chose that instead of tubing, although I’m sure tubing was good, just this was even better. When we got back, we got on the bus/van and had preordered a Belizian lunch to eat on the way home. Rice/beans, stewed chicken and plantain with a drink for $10 USD. The chicken was dry but flavourful and the rice/beans were good but the plantain was delicious! The tour guides were great. Very fun and informative. Abner (pretty sure that was his name) is of Mayan decent and I loved learning as we went instead of just walking quietly for 30 min. If I could give a higher rating, I would. This was certainly the best excursion we did. 100% worth doing this, especially over tubing.
Review provided by Viator
Meredith
May 21, 2025
Kayaking in caves - Abner, our guide, was amazing. He went above and beyond to give us an excellent personalized experience. With a great sense of humor, he taught us about botany, zoology, the history of the caves and forest, and gave us many opportunities to cool off and swim in the clean cool water.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cruiser795014
May 11, 2025
Kudos to kayaking - This tour was amazing. The hike was low key and the kayaking easy. The views were incredible! Abner was our guide. He loves what he does and such pride in his country! Best stop on our cruise! Great for all ages!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
E9943ptjenniferm
Apr 21, 2025
Cave Kayaking for the Win! - I was waffling between kayaking or tubing through a cave system and I'm really happy this is the option we chose. The cave system itself was fantastic: really cool stalagmites and formations, open and airy (no claustrophobic areas), and a nice mix of jungle as you're going down the river which I wasn't expecting. The main reasons I'm glad we did kayaking is that 1) we got to explore a cave section that tubers wouldn't be able to get to (which included getting to see bats <3) and 2) I bumped into quite a few tubing groups. I would have been annoyed with kayakers if I was in a tube even though it was not intentional at all. No one was hurt but I bet it was obnoxious deferring to a group of people that don't know how to use a paddle to steer themselves. We were all baby giraffes learning to walk and the poor tubers were innocent victims in our bumbling. To that point, if you've never gone kayaking before - you can totally do this excursion (just ask for a little lesson before you get going)! For the most part it was still water. There was the tiniest ripple in the river water in some parts but I would never classify it as a rapid. The current was strong in one section only, but our guide did a great job of coaching us through it and any other tricky spot. There is a small 30 minute hike to get to where you put in; it is not strenuous but it is not for anyone unstable on their feet. I'm not taking my grandma on this trip, ya know? I would take my 5 and 4 year old, though, and put them in a tandem kayak with me (after carrying them through the water you wade through). Make sure you have shoes that are meant for water and have a strap around the back because you will need to wade through the river about 2-3 times and it can be slick/rocky. Flip flops would get yanked off your feet by the current. I absolutely loved this excursion and would recommend it to anyone considering it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kyle_h
Apr 14, 2025
We were on a cruise that... - We were on a cruise that had delayed tendering to port due to ocean conditions but the guides waited for us and were able to put together a great experience within the time constraint we had to deal with. Friendly and fun to talk with during the drive and shared a lot of laughs!
Review provided by Viator
Hatch76
Apr 14, 2025
Great experience and guides - We were on a cruise that had delayed tendering to port due to ocean conditions but the guides waited for us and were able to put together a great experience within the time constraint we had to deal with. Friendly and fun to talk with too!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Robb_m
Apr 11, 2025
Great Excursion- Third time for us! - It's a very fun and unique experience. The caves are an amazing, like being in another world. The kayaks are far better than tubing. This was our third time to take this excursion and we have enjoyed it each time.
Review provided by Viator
John_w
Mar 16, 2025
Experience God’s Amazing Creation - What a great experience! Frederick was a fantastic guide. Definitely experienced more with this tour than if we had booked through the cruise ship.
Review provided by Viator
Ellen_p
Mar 7, 2025
Must do excursion!! - We loved this! They picked you up from the port, yes you have to walk out and down the road, but not hard to find. Our guide was amazing! He had the most hilarious sense of humor. We cracked up all day long! I’m kicking myself cause by the time I’m reviewing this I can’t remember his name. The hike through the jungle and the 2 river crossings were super fun. Added to the whole experience. I loved the kayaking portion. The caves are beautiful! When you come out of the caves the open river part is so pretty too! You have the option to purchase lunch and we did. Delicious! Red beans and rice with chicken! They drop you off back at the port in plenty of time to get back on the ship!
Review provided by Viator
Y385frkellym
Mar 6, 2025
Cave kayaking in Belize - Trip was amazing - Freddie and Fabulous were great guides. The kayaking was outstanding. The scenery was breathtaking.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $69
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).