Xunantunich and Inland Blue Hole Tour
Description
Xunantunich is one of the largest ancient Maya cities ever built, the rulers of Xunantunich clashes with other powerful rivals in the area, including Tikal. In 2016, the largest Maya royal tomb ever discovered was excavated in Xunantunich, and the site remains an impressive display of pyramids, palaces, and other grandiose buildings.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This tour includes a visit to two of the most incredible attractions in Belize, the ruins of the ancient Maya city of Xunantunich and the sapphire waters of the Inland Blue Hole. Xunantunich Maya Ruins One of the largest ancient Maya cities ever built, Xunantunich is located approximately 70 miles (110 km) west of Belize City. Constructed on a ridge overlooking the Mopan River, Xunantunich was once home to nearly 100,000 people. The original name of the site is unknown, but its modern name derives from a Maya term that means “Stone Woman.” First rediscovered in 1892, many visitors to the site reported seeing a ghostly woman who was reported to haunt the structure known as “El Castillo” (The Castle). Still the second-largest manmade structure in the country, El Castillo measures 130 feet (40 meters) tall. Built as a temple pyramid, El Castillo is located in the exact center of the town. Today, Xunantunich is located approximately one mile from the Guatemalan border. During its heyday during the Classic Period of the Maya civilization (around 600-700 AD), Xunanutinch competed with nearby cities, including Naranjo, Caracol, and Tikal (which lies just a few miles over the border in Guatemala). The Inland Blue Hole Not to be confused with the Blue Hole that lies on the offshore reef, the Inland Blue Hole is located in the St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park near the capital of Belize, Belmopan. First designated a national park in 1986, St. Herman’s is managed by the Belize Audobon Society as it sits in the middle of one of the most ecologically diverse areas of the country. Over 200 species of birds have been recorded in the area, including the red-legged honeycreeper and the piratic flycatcher. There is also a wide selection of wildlife in the park, including three big cat species.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
Airports or Centrally Located Hotels
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Reviews(86)
Edgar gave us such a rich history of the mayan culture and history that I was amazed at the advancement of the mayan civilization. This tour was not only a nice hike up the ruins, but a rich lesson in history, cultural, and civilization of the mayan culture. If you enjoy history, anthropology, or cultural civilization lessons then you’ll enjoy this experience.
My family had a great time! Edgar had great energy, good vibes, and very knowledgeable. He made our experience very enjoyable! Highly recommend.
Edgar was a wonderful guide with a lot of explanation and thoughtful.
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience with Untame Belize Tours & Transfers and that Edgar made such a positive impression. He truly has a passion for sharing Belize’s history, culture, and nature, and we’re so happy his thoughtful guidance and detailed explanations helped make your tour even more meaningful. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to him. We hope to welcome you back to Belize again soon for another amazing adventure!
This was amazing and so informative. Edgar was our guide and from the moment we stepped into his van he began the tour. Edgar gave us the history of every town we passed through with all the local stories. Once we got to the ruins Edgar continued with the tour and was extremely knowledgeable on all aspects. This was so enjoyable all do to Edgar and his great knowledge and insights he presented. Highly recommend and make sure you ask for Edgar as your tour guide.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for choosing Untame Belize for your Belize adventure! We’re thrilled to hear you had such an informative and enjoyable experience with Edgar. He is truly passionate about sharing Belize’s history, culture, and local stories, and we’re so happy his knowledge and personality made your tour extra special from beginning to end. From the scenic drive through the villages to exploring the Mayan ruins, it means a lot to know the experience left such a great impression on you. We’ll be sure to share your kind words with Edgar — he will truly appreciate them. Thank you again for your recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back to Belize again soon. :
we had the most amazng guide and driver Jimmy and Johnny...they went out of their way to create a great environment, gave us plenty of time to ask questions, provided food that i was not allergic to, they were very knowledgable and kind , great talking and learning from them!!! They provided such a wonderful history to the ruins... a first class experience!!! Thank you guys for making my and my nieces trip so memorable!! it meant alot
Thank you so much for your heartfelt review and for choosing Untame Belize for your Belize adventure! We’re so happy to hear Jimmy and Johnny made such a positive impact on your trip. Creating a welcoming and comfortable experience for our guests is something we truly value, and we’re glad they were able to accommodate your needs while sharing their knowledge and passion for Belize along the way. It means so much to know the experience at the ruins, the conversations, and the overall journey helped create special memories for you and your niece. We’ll be sure to pass along your kind words to both Jimmy and Johnny — they will truly appreciate them. Thank you again for your support, and we hope to welcome you back to Belize again soon!
We had an incredible time on this tour. Our guide, Edgar, picked us up in Hopkins and was a consummate host from start to finish. He generously shared local history and stories, and made us feel genuinely well taken care of throughout the day. Xunantunich is truly awe-inspiring, and the Blue Hole was a perfect, refreshing stop along the way. An all-around gold star experience!
Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re absolutely thrilled to hear that you had such an incredible experience. Edgar will be delighted to know he made your day so special—he truly takes pride in sharing our culture, history, and making every guest feel at home. We’re so glad you enjoyed the awe-inspiring beauty of Xunantunich and the refreshing stop at the Blue Hole—two of Belize’s true gems! Thank you for choosing Untame Belize Tours and Transfers. It was our pleasure hosting you, and we hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure soon.
Edgar was an excellent guide. His depth and breadth of knowledge is impressive. Whether speaking about ancient Maya history or natural history, his ability to bring the landscape and history of Belize to life was fantastic. Edgar is full of energy and went above and beyond to craft a unique and exceptional day for us. And the combination of the Mayan temple tour with the cave tour was a really cool day combining very unique and different activities into a very full experience of Belize. Keep up the good work Edgar! 🙏
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a memorable and enriching experience. Edgar will be truly happy to read your kind words—his passion for sharing Belize’s history and natural beauty really shines through, and it means a lot to know he made your day so special. We’re glad you enjoyed the combination of the Mayan temple and cave tour—it’s one of our favorite ways to showcase the diversity and magic of Belize in a single day. Thank you for choosing Untame Belize Tours and Transfers. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another incredible adventure soon!
Edgar was engaging, informative, and accommodating. His forensic archeology degree and family background with Mayan archeology added an unexpected perspective. Edgar went out of his way, quite literally, both to search for mangoes and also to include an additional Mayan site in the tour.
Thank you so much for your thoughtful review! We’re delighted to hear that you had such a unique and enriching experience with Edgar. His background and passion for archaeology truly add a special depth to every tour, and it’s wonderful to know you appreciated that perspective. And yes—going the extra mile (even for mangoes!) is just part of what makes Edgar’s tours so memorable. We’re so glad you enjoyed the added Mayan site and the personalized touches throughout your day. Thank you for choosing Untame Belize Tours and Transfers. We hope to welcome you back for another one-of-a-kind adventure in Belize soon!
Wonderful history, very impressive. Our guide gave us much information and history. Inland Blue Hole was a treat on a very hot day.
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the rich history and found the experience so impressive. It’s great to know your guide shared meaningful insights that brought the history to life, and that the Inland Blue Hole was a refreshing treat—especially on a hot day! Thank you for choosing Untame Belize Tours and Transfers. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you back for another wonderful adventure in Belize soon!
It was a great day and Edgar was a wonderful and knowledgeable tour guide. You will get your money's worth on this tour.
Thank you so much for choosing Untame Belize Tours and Transfers! We’re delighted to hear that you had a great day and that Edgar made the experience even more special with his knowledge and guidance. We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you again for another adventure in Belize!
