By Robert Schrader | Published on June 5, 2023
When you imagine cruises to Belize, you may be picturing paradise islands and gorgeous beaches to relax on. Beyond that, there are so many exciting things to do in Belize for the thrillseeker in you, like cave tubing. Cave tubing in Belize's lush inland is every bit as magical as hotspots like Caye Caulker and the Great Blue Hole — and not just because of the jaw-dropping Mayan ruins you'll find there.
On your next cruise vacation to Belize, make time to explore the country's wild side and try cave tubing. When you witness the stunning cave systems up-close and from the inside, you'll see why this extreme activity stands out even in a country famous for bucket-list experiences.
What Is Cave Tubing?
Before we talk about what cave tubing is, we should talk about where it takes place — and why it's even possible. Most cave-tubing trips are bound for spots in Belize's so-called Mayan Hills, which are roughly halfway between Belize City and the Guatemala border. Over many millennia, the limestone rock that sits under these hills has eroded thanks to underground rivers. As a result, several stunning caves were carved out.
Many of these underground rivers still flow in the places where local tour guides run tubing trips, which is what allows travelers to enjoy the activity. A typical cave-tubing experience will be relatively relaxed — you're literally just floating along the current — while some caves feature elevation changes and even rapids for a more adrenaline-pumping experience.
If you've ever explored this region of the world, you may be well-acquainted with cenotes — an underground chamber or cave that holds a permanent body of water that is fed by an underground river system. Because of this, many cave-tubing tours in Belize's Mayan Hills will also take you to a stunning cenote, which means you may be able to have multiple life-changing experiences in a single day. Such is life in Belize!
The Best Belize Cave-Tubing Spots
There are so many great Belize cave-tubing spots. Several cave systems within the Mayan Hills are easily accessible for cave tubing. The most popular among most Belize City tour operators is by far Nohoch Che'en, which is not far from Belize's capital Belmopan. St. Herman's Cave is another popular spot, located in the Blue Hole National Park, not to be confused with the more famous Blue Hole that sits off Belize's coast in the Caribbean Sea.
Cave tubing with an organized tour company in Belize is the best way to ensure you have an incredible, and safe, experience. These guides have spent years acquiring expertise on which caves have the best rapids, are easily accessible and are the most exciting.
Cave-tubing tours usually require a short hike to get to the cave, though many tours also include other physical activities. One popular combination for tourists is a tubing adventure in Nohoch Che'en or St. Herman's Cave combined with a visit to Altun Ha, the ruins of an ancient Mayan city. Although these locations are in different directions from Belize City, travelers find that they tend to pair well.
Other tours head farther west toward the Guatemalan border to more distant sights like the ruins of Xunantunich, the tourist hub of San Ignacio or to any of the non-tubing caves (like cenotes and dry caves that are meant exclusively for climbing) carved into the hills. As with most other elements of your Belize trip, your cave-tubing excursion will be fully customizable, so try not to stress too much about it far in advance of your departure date.
How Your Journey Through The Caves Will Go
No matter what else you do on your Belize vacation, nothing can prepare you for the thrill of cave tubing. Well, one thing can quite literally prepare you, and that's the hike to get there. Depending upon which cave you end up visiting, you may need to hike for as long as 30 minutes (probably while carrying your own tube) in order to reach the entrance to the cave. This is one of the reasons why it's so helpful to go with a guide, unless you know Belize very well.
Some caves may also require even more adventurous maneuvers to reach, such as zip lining or even a bit of climbing. Of course, your tour guide will supply the equipment necessary for these excursions.
Once you go inside the cave, you may be deceived by how light it is. As you float away from the light of the outside world, this illusion will quickly dissipate. Your guide will light the way with a very bright flashlight, which serves two purposes. In addition to making sure your group safely navigates the cave as you float through it, the light source also allows the guide to explain the features of the cave to you, be it stunning stalactites or stalagmites, or to alert you of oncoming rapids.
Reading all of this, you may be wondering "How long does cave tubing in Belize take?" Well, you'll generally tube through the cave for about an hour, but that's not your entire day. Add in hiking for about an hour round-trip to reach the cave, any time spent zip-lining or climbing, cenote swims, waterfall-trekking or visits to the Mayan temples, and you may be looking at a full (but also fulfilling) day.
Is Belize Cave Tubing Scary?
Tubing in Belize is a bit more adventurous than it might be at your local river, but it definitely isn't scary, and is often a great activity for kids. Your guide will be trained not only to describe the features of the cave to you, though to ensure you're able to enjoy all parts of the river safely and without unexpected problems. Stay on alert and be prepared for a change in rapids and other conditions of the river so that you don't find yourself surprised and potentially vulnerable because of it.
Some travelers are also wary of the sorts of animals that live within the caves, namely bats. The good news is that since your cave tubing excursion in Belize will happen during the day, bats shouldn't be a problem since they're likely to be asleep. As you travel past and watch the bats hang above or tend to their young, it might just dawn on you how cute they really are.
As is the case with many other experiences when looking for things to do on your Belize vacation, a lot of how much you enjoy cave tubing depends upon your expectations. Try not to psych yourself out by anticipating a super scary situation. Likewise, if you're an adrenaline junkie and looking forward to cranking things all the way up, keep in mind that depending on rainfall and the flow of the rivers through the cave, the tubing may be a gentle experience, a crazy one or anything in-between.
Belize Cave-Tubing Tips And Advice
As is the case with many of the more adventurous things to do in Belize, cave tubing is an activity that requires a bit of forethought. Since you'll likely be cave tubing on an organized tour, you won't need to worry about bringing along equipment such as head lamps, first aid kits and, of course, tubes.
It's also important to dress appropriately when cave tubing in Belize, keeping in mind the other activities you may do on the same day. For example, since most cave-tubing trips require you to hike through the jungle at least a little bit, you'll want to bring a pair of hiking boots (or at least a very good pair of sneakers). You, and your shoes, are likely to get wet while cave tubing, so a swimsuit, waterproof shoes and a spare change of clothes in a dry bag are highly recommended.
Finally, you'll want to capture some Kodak moments (with a waterproof camera or phone!) while cave tubing in Belize, just as you will during every other part of your unforgettable Belize vacation. A good tip for any adventurous activity is to attach the camera or phone to your body using a strap or lanyard so you don't lose it. If the rapids are going quick, you'll need all the help you can get to hold on to your belongings!
Get Royal Deals, Sign Up Today
Getting There
Explore Our Most Affordable Itineraries
Experience the underground wonders for yourself when you cruise to Belize.
