Cave Tubing and Ziplining in the Belize Jungle
Cave tubing and ziplining are two very popular activities in Belize. You can zip through the trees for an adrenaline rush and then cool off on a hot Belizean day in the cool river floating through a cave. See what a cave tubing and ziplining excursion in Belize is like here!
Cave Tubing and Ziplining in Belize
On our honeymoon trip to Belize, Kevin and I knew we wanted to get out for a little adventure. Ziplining has always been a favorite activity of ours, and Belize has plenty of jungle ziplines. Cave tubing is another popular activity in Belize, and one that we’d never tried before. So a cave tubing and zipline excursion was the perfect choice!
Nohoch Che’en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve
Our cave tubing and ziplining tour was arranged through our resort. For this tour, we headed to the Nohoch Che’en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve, commonly known simply as Caves Branch. This archaeological reserve is made up of a network of limestone caves on the Caves Branch River.
This site was a sacred Maya cave, representing a mystical underworld where gods dwelled. Maya priests would come to Xilbalba, the Underworld, to commune with the gods and hold traditional religious ceremonies.
The Nohoch Che’en Caves Branch Archeological Reserve has one spot for ziplining and a number of operators running tours for cave tubing. The reserve also has toilets, changing stalls, souvenir stalls, snack shops, and a restaurant.
Ziplining Adventure in Belize
First up, we did ziplining. It was just a short walk from the parking lot to the ziplining station where we were outfitted in harnesses and helmets. You’ll want closed toed shoes for ziplining, but if you’re also cave tubing then you can wear sturdy water shoes.
Be sure to bring along your GoPro as they have attachments on some of the helmets for the cameras. Then you can get cool videos as you zipline!
Then we headed up in the trees to really start our adventure. This 6-line course high above the Belize rainforest has lines ranging from 100 to 500 feet long. At the height of the course, we were 190 feet above the forest ground. The fastest line can have you zipping up to 30mph.
The last two lines zip over the Caves Branch River for some amazing views. Be sure to take it all in, as that’s where we’re headed next!
Cave Tubing Tour in Belize
Next up, we grabbed some tubes, lifejackets, and helmets with headlamps to get ready for cave tubing. This is another great GoPro opportunity as they also have helmets to attach the camera to.
To get to the start of the caves, we had to take a 30 minute hike through the jungle. You’ll definitely want some sturdy water shoes that are good for walking as well as going in the water. The trail was level the whole way and not strenuous, but we did have to carry all of our tubes and gear. Some tours will carry the gear for you, though.
Throughout the hike, we crossed the Caves Branch River three times as we serpentined our way to the start of our float. The waters were nice and cool, a comfortable 68 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s a little chilly at first, but very easy to get used to. At some spots, the currents were difficult to wade through, but I just held on tight to Kevin.
When we finally made to the start of the cave, we had some time to take pictures and swim in a deep spot while our guides tied together the tubes.
Once we were on the tubes, it was a leisurely float in the cool, crystal clear waters of the Caves Branch River through the mouth of an ancient Maya underground cave. Depending on when you visit, the river current could be slow or fast. While we visited just after a big rain and the current was pretty swift, the guides still needed to paddle or pull the tubes some of the way, and they were always steering us away from obstacles.
The cave was dark, but we had headlamps to illuminate the stalactites and formations. At one point, we all turned off our headlamps to see how the light from a cave opening turned a column a bizarre glowing green.
We spent about half the trip inside the cave and the other half floating down the open river, enjoying the sights and sounds of the Belize jungle.
Top Belize Cave Tubing and Ziplining Tours
- Cave Tubing Paradise and Jungle Ziplining
- Zipline and Cave Tubing Adventure from Belize City
- Cave Tubing & Zipline Adventure with Lunch
Find more Belize cave tubing and ziplining tours here.
More Belize Travel Tips
- Romantic Belize Honeymoon Guide: 8 Days in Paradise
- What to Pack for Your Belize Vacation
- Exploring the Xunantunich Maya Ruins in Belize
- Where to Stay in Belize: Coco Plum Island Resort
Where to Stay in Belize
- Where We Stayed: Coco Plum Island Resort
- Top Hotel: The Lodge at Chaa Creek
- Great Value: Mahogany Bay Resort & Beach Club
- Unique Stay: Little Harvest Private Island
Ready to travel to Belize? Plan your trip with these tips.
- Book your flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
- Find accommodation: You can find top hotels and resorts in Belize using Booking.com.
- Book your tours: Make the most of your honeymoon by booking amazing tours in Belize.
- Get packing: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need with my packing list resources.
Cheers!
Paige
Have you gone cave tubing and ziplining in Belize? Let me know in the comments!
I’ve never visited Belize, but I’d LOVE to visit and go cave tubing and ziplining. What beautiful scenery!
I’d never even heard of cave tubing before visiting Belize. It was such a great experience, I highly recommend it!