Belize, Jungle and Coral
Your journey can be tailored to your wishes.
Ten days from the Maya jungle to the Caribbean reef. Climb Xunantunich, paddle a canoe into the ceremonial cave of Barton Creek, reach Caracol and its Caana pyramid, cross into Guatemala for Tikal, then slow right down on Caye Caulker for snorkelling, manatees and a scenic flight over the Great Blue Hole.
Specifications
Duration: 10 days / 9 nights
Style: private journey, Maya archaeology, caves and reef
Countries: Belize, with a day trip to Guatemala
Best season: December to April, the dry season
Itinerary
From the Cayo jungle to Caye Caulker, with a day across the border in Guatemala. Tap the title that interests you and we will take you straight there.
Details
Day 1 — Belize City to San Ignacio
Your driver meets you at Belize City International Airport and takes you inland into the jungle, following the traces of the ancient Maya. This region holds remarkable archaeological sites and well-preserved temples, alongside cave systems, hiking trails and wildlife, from howler monkeys to exotic birds.
The drive to San Ignacio takes about 1 hour 50 minutes along the Western Highway, one of the most scenic roads in the country, with the option of a stop along the way. On arrival you settle into your room and enjoy a relaxed lunch.
Night in San Ignacio.
Day 2 — Xunantunich and Barton Creek Cave
After breakfast your guide collects you for the Maya site of Xunantunich, where the top of the pyramid opens onto a wide view over the jungle.
The day continues by canoe inside Barton Creek Cave, a Maya ceremonial cave. You follow roughly 1.5 km of winding underground river through cathedral-like chambers and broad passages. It is both an instructive and a genuinely enjoyable outing, with waterfalls, a chance to swim, or simply time to take in the setting.
Night in San Ignacio, breakfast and lunch included.
Day 3 — Caracol and Rio on Pools
Into the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve and its waterfalls and natural pools, then on to Caracol, the largest Maya city in Belize, whose name refers to the quantity of snail shells found on site. The highlight is the Caana pyramid, the “Sky Palace,” the tallest structure in the complex.
Note that the tracks leading to Caracol can be muddy and difficult during the rainy season.
On the way back you stop at Rio on Pools, a series of natural pools and cascades set among the hills of the Mountain Pine Ridge, for a swim.
Night in San Ignacio, breakfast and lunch included.
Day 4 — Tikal, Guatemala
Your driver-guide takes you across the border into Guatemala for one of the most significant sites in the country, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list for both its biodiversity and its archaeology. Tikal holds a rare dual designation, listed as both a natural and a cultural World Heritage site.
Set deep in the northern Guatemalan jungle near Lake Petén Itzá, Tikal is an ancient Maya citadel that flourished from the 1st century. The site covers 576 km² and shelters a great number of abandoned temples and palaces.
Night in San Ignacio, breakfast and lunch included.
Day 5 — Burrell Boom
In the late morning or early afternoon your private driver takes you to your next base, set in lush tropical forest on the banks of the Belize River.
This eco-friendly resort sits on the quiet shore of the river, with a calm atmosphere made for slowing down. It is spread across a main building, cottages and villas, with 25 rooms, each looking onto the garden.
Night in Burrell Boom, breakfast included.
Day 6 — Lamanai
Today you reach an ancient Maya city reclaimed by the jungle. Lamanai, “submerged crocodile” in Maya, holds remarkable structures set deep in wild vegetation, with exceptional flora and fauna around them.
You start from Lamanai Landing with a 40 to 45 minute river cruise before reaching the site. You explore the Jaguar Temple and climb the High Temple for a 360-degree panorama over the canopy, and the on-site museum displays clay pots and temple carvings.
Night in Burrell Boom, breakfast and lunch included.
Day 7 — Caye Caulker
Your driver drops you at the Belize Express ferry terminal for the water taxi to Caye Caulker, a small island with a big personality, colourful houses and music drifting through the streets.
On the other side you step into another rhythm. No cars, only golf carts, palm-lined beaches, hammocks and open-air restaurants. The island lives by a single motto, GO SLOW.
Night in Caye Caulker, breakfast included.
Day 8 — Reef, sharks and manatees
A full day on the water. You snorkel along the barrier reef, weaving between coral formations among shoals of tropical fish, and swim alongside nurse sharks and rays. You then look for manatees in the Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary, and finish at an underwater cavern and the tarpons that live around the dock.
Stops included: Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley, snorkelling at the Caye Caulker Coral Garden, manatee observation at Swallow Caye, and the tarpon dock.
Night in Caye Caulker, breakfast included.
Day 9 — Scenic flight over the Great Blue Hole
A geological marvel more than 120 metres deep and close to 300 metres across, ringed by coral, made famous by Jacques-Yves Cousteau. There are two ways to experience it, diving into it or seeing it from above. This itinerary takes the scenic flight.
The show starts seconds after take-off: the island, the barrier reef in every shade of turquoise, strings of untouched islets, some with coconut palms and white sand, others thick with mangrove, then long stretches of reef before the Great Blue Hole itself. Because the aircraft flies low, it is sometimes possible to spot sharks, manatees, manta rays and dolphins from the air.
Blue Hole flights depend on weather conditions. Poor conditions may mean rescheduling or, rarely, cancellation with a full refund.
Night in Caye Caulker, breakfast included.
Day 10 — Departure
After breakfast, a taxi takes you to the Caye Caulker ferry terminal for the boat back to Belize City, where your driver meets you and transfers you to Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport in Ladyville.
End of our services.
Pricing
A private journey with your own driver, guided excursions to the Maya sites and the caves, and dedicated AZORA care throughout your stay.
BELIZE, JUNGLE AND CORAL
10 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS · PRIVATE JOURNEY
INCLUDED
✓ Accommodation for 9 nights
✓ Private driver and the transfers listed in the programme
✓ The excursions listed, including Xunantunich, Barton Creek Cave, Caracol, Tikal and Lamanai
✓ The full-day reef, shark and manatee outing from Caye Caulker
✓ Scenic flight over the Great Blue Hole, subject to weather conditions
✓ Meals listed in the programme
✓ English-speaking guide where specified
✓ Taxes and administrative fees
✓ Follow-up and assistance
NOT INCLUDED
✗ International flights and any domestic flight not listed: check our airline comparator to find the best options
✗ Border fees for the day trip to Guatemala
✗ Meals and drinks not listed
✗ Tips and personal expenses
✗ Anything not listed under included
Prices are quoted per person, double occupancy, land services only, excluding international flights. The final price varies with the number of travellers, the season, availability and the length of the stay.
Good to know
- The day trip to Tikal crosses into Guatemala, so bring your passport and check the current entry requirements for your nationality.
- Barton Creek Cave is explored by canoe on an underground river, with no climbing involved, which makes it a gentler alternative to the region’s more demanding caves.
- The tracks leading to Caracol can be muddy during the rainy season, and access may be adjusted on the day.
- The Great Blue Hole flight depends on the weather. If conditions are poor it is rescheduled, or cancelled with a full refund.
- Caye Caulker has no cars. Everything moves by golf cart, bicycle or on foot.
- Reef-safe sunscreen is strongly recommended in the marine reserves.
When to go to Belize
The dry season runs from December to April and suits this itinerary best, with clearer water for snorkelling, easier jungle tracks and more reliable conditions for the scenic flight. The rainy season runs from June to November, when showers are usually short but the roads to Caracol can be muddy. The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from 1 June to 30 November, with the highest activity between August and October. We will advise the best window for your dates.
Customise my trip
This ten-day itinerary is a starting point, not a fixed package. Drop the Tikal day, swap the scenic flight for a dive, add nights on Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye, change the hotel standard or the departure date. Tell us what you have in mind and we build the journey around it.
Belize, Jungle and Coral FAQ
How long is the Jungle and Coral tour and where does it go?
It is a 10-day, 9-night private journey through San Ignacio, Xunantunich, Barton Creek Cave, Caracol, Tikal in Guatemala, Burrell Boom, Lamanai and Caye Caulker.
Does the trip cross into Guatemala?
Yes, on day 4, for a day trip to the Maya citadel of Tikal, which is listed by UNESCO as both a natural and a cultural World Heritage site. Bring your passport and check the current entry requirements.
How is the Great Blue Hole visited?
By scenic flight from Caye Caulker, which lets you see the whole formation and the surrounding reef from the air. The flight depends on the weather and is rescheduled, or refunded in full, if conditions are poor.
What is the difference with the Essential of Belize tour?
The Essential of Belize is a 9-day itinerary built around Ambergris Caye and the ATM Cave. Jungle and Coral runs a day longer, swaps the ATM Cave for the gentler Barton Creek Cave, adds Tikal in Guatemala and the Great Blue Hole flight, and finishes on Caye Caulker rather than Ambergris Caye.
What language is spoken in Belize?
English is the official language, alongside Kriol, Spanish, Garifuna and Maya languages. Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America.
When is the best time to go?
December to April, the dry season. The rainy season runs from June to November, and the Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from 1 June to 30 November.
Can the itinerary be tailor-made?
Yes. Every AZORA journey is designed to measure, so the pace, the length and the experiences can all be adjusted.
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