At Chaya Maya, we offer a wide range of caving expeditions.
Crystal Caves + Blue Hole- All day - Challenging
Experience the most extreme Belize Cave Adventure! Not for the faint of heart, the Crystal Cave, also known as Mountain Cow Cave will challenge your physical fitness and your spirit of adventure. After a drive to the Blue Hole National Park, the Crystal Cave Tour starts with a 50 minute hike through lush rainforest and partially steep terrain which is considered challenging by most. Then we will descend by ropes for a 15-foot drop into the mouth of the mammoth Crystal Cave where we will enter what the ancient Mayas believed to be the domain of their gods – the underworld of Xibalba!
After our adventure in the Crystal Cave we will hike back to the park facilities where we have the option of taking a refreshing swim in the cool waters of the inland Blue Hole.
Note that you must be relatively fit and prepared for a long hike and strenuous activities to do this tour. We invite you to test your spirit of adventure and experience what most visitors to Belize never do – the amazing world of Xibalba!
Cave Tubing (Half day) + Zip Lining (Half day) - Easy to Moderate
Your trained guide will set you up with your necessary equipment, begin the one mile trek through Belize’s sub-tropical forest, waltz across knee high portions of the river and pass through two caves before reaching a stunning lagoon surrounded by steep limestone walls. Along the way, your guide will point out various exotic flora and fauna, native to this region.
Float along the cool waters in an inner tube illuminated only by your headlamp, gently pushed by a current or led by your guide into two large chambers - both impressive sanctuaries used by the Mayas for sacrificial rituals. Plunge into darkness and listen to the sounds of the cascading waterfalls and bubbling rapids. Upon exiting the caves, continue floating along the jungle-lined river for approximately thirty minutes before returning to the starting point.
Zipline through Belize’s unspoiled jungle canopy from treetop to treetop from a bird’s eye view of the rainforest below. An accelerating adventure, there are 5 runs at heights ranging up to 100 feet off the ground, culminated by rappelling down from the last treetop to the ground for that final adrenaline rush
Black Hole Drop -Challenging
The “Mother of all Caves”... Actun Loch Tunich! Start with a vigorous hike up into the foothills of the Maya Mountains to the mouth of the cave. The edge of the Actun Loch Tunich sink hole sits over 300 feet above the basin below, 200 feet above the rain forest canopy that grows out from the sink hole basin.
Our fully trained caving guides rig a system of rappelling ropes for your descent to the basin below. The first 10 feet provides the adrenaline, the next 200 feet provides an unforgettable experience and sights to behold, the last 100 feet takes you down through the rain forest canopy. The sink hole is not actually black, but you can't see the bottom from where you start. Once you're at the bottom you rest with a delicious picnic lunch. The next question is... how do we get you out??? Climb of course! After a return hike including some rock climbing, ladder climbing, and a lot of sweating, it's just a short ride back to the lodge for a dip in the pool with a well deserved cold drink
Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) - All day - Challenging
Also known locally as "Xibalba", is an extraordinary cave in Belize, near San Ignacio, Cayo District, notable as a Maya archaeological site that includes skeletons, ceramics, and stoneware. They include the famous "Monkey Pot", one of only four located across Central America.
You will be getting wet so bring along extra clothing, pair of socks.
Mountain Pine Ridge - Rio Frio Cave and 1000 Foot Falls - All day - Easy
1000 Foot Falls
HIDDEN VALLEY FALLS, also known as Thousand-Foot Falls, is believed to be the highest waterfall in Central America and is actually over 1,500 ft. to the bottom. A viewing platform overlooks the falls. There is a short scenic trail around the escarpment for taking in the valley view.
Rio On Pools
At Rio on Pools you can enjoy a picnic surrounded by the fresh scent of pine and cooler temperature of the pine forests while enjoying the breathtaking beauty of small waterfalls making their journey over large granite rocks, spilling into cool round pools. You can swim in the relaxing pools of the famous Rio on Pools or enjoy the view of its waterfalls and natural water slides. This is truly an unforgettable place for all nature lovers that wish to taste tropical paradise.
The Rio On Pools is a popular place for swimming, relaxing, sliding around in the cascades and little falls, or simply admiring the granite rock formations dating back 300 million years. A common bird visitor to the Rio On Pools is the Hepatic Tanager.
Rio Frio Cave
Located less than a mile from the Pine Forest Headquarters in Augustine. Stepping-stones lead inside the most easily accessible of Belize's river caves. You can literally just walk right in to Rio Frio Cave.
Barton Creek Cave - Half day - Easy to Moderate
Glide through a remote underground water cave system in a canoe equipped with powerful spotlights. It is believed that the Maya once used this cave for ritual ceremonies. While canoeing through the cave see large and colorful formations, skeletal remains and other cultural artifacts left behind by the Maya centuries ago.
Barton Creek is a large river cave over 4 miles long. The cave consists of giant passages covered with numerous large stalactites and stalagmites. These cave features have made it a popular Belize travel destination.