Belize City Cultural, religious and historic sites Trips

I went in February, which was the perfect time to escape the cold weather back home. This tour struck a great balance between exploring ancient Mayan ruins, learning about local culture, and experiencing the incredible biodiversity of Belize. Walking through the ruins was like stepping back in time—truly awe-inspiring to see these structures that have endured for centuries. Our accommodation in Guatemala was conveniently located right next to Tikal, making it ideal for the sunrise hike since it was an early wake up. The final few days were spent on Caye Caulker, which was the perfect – true highlight of the tour, relaxing way to end the trip. We enjoyed the beautiful beach just steps from our lodging and had some unforgettable snorkeling experiences.

Very enjoyable trip with a nice mix of activities. The Mayan sites were amazing (especially Tikal). Our visits were timed to avoid the crowds. I also enjoyed the wildlife aspects of the trip. The optional snorkelling trips were brilliant. We had a great guide (Wilfred) who was a mine of information and also had an incredible ability to spot birds and other wildlife. The first 2 hotels after Belize City are on the basic side but they are clean and comfortable. What they lack in amenities is more than compensated by their amazing locations.

Spending a few days in Belize (Caye Caulker specifically) before the tour began allowed time to rest after the flights as well as time to acclimatize to the heat and humidity. Before this trip, Belize was a place on the map where I had never been. By the end of the trip, I came away with the feeling that "Belize was now in my blood and would always have a very special place in my heart". Every day and every place was absolutely alive with new learning opportunities. I would say this trip is very good value for money and would highly recommend.

Discovery Belize offered a great variety of opportunities to see Mayan sites, wildlife and the culture of Belize in Guatemala. The my insights got bigger and better with each site and it may be worth noting that at Tikal that there are steps to help you ascend the top of the site but there are 200 of them. The wildlife on this tour was wonderful with spider monkeys and howler monkeys in the jungle at Tikal alongside many other animals. The trip to the butterfly reserve was fascinating and the addition of all the different types of hummingbirds made this a very special outing. The snorkeling trip at laughing bird caye was just the starting point with a large variety of marine life seen, but the second trip from caye caulker was extraordinary, the coral garden was beautiful with vast numbers of fish swimming among the coral, shark. Ray Ally was extraordinary with the number of sharks and rays swimming around us being breathtaking and the final snorkel of the day was possibly the most special as we met a sea turtle. Our guide. Justin Wiltshire went above and beyond to ensure that our group had a fantastic trip and was always on hand to sort any minor issues out. Justin ensured that our whole group had the best possible experience of the cultures of Belize and Guatemala.

Let’s be clear - this is a great 2-week holiday and includes one of the highlights of Guatemala. It’s very well-balanced, comprising as it does three elements - Mayan sites/history (the best being at Tikal), great wildlife (on earth, sea and in the air) and finally two days out on the Cayes, by boat (few people know Belize has part of the world’s second-largest barrier reef!). The balance between those 3 elements could be tweaked but that is a matter of opinion and for another time…… The accommodation was excellent, with one exception (Sea Spray Hotel), the food was better than we had expected, also with one exception (at the Cahal Pech Hotel) and the beers and cocktails of high quality! Our guide (Tarique) kept us all safe and on track with admirable energy and good-humour!

The itinerary was very varied taking in Mayan temples, bird watching, jungle hiking, snorkelling, beaches, canoeing, and more. The hotels aren’t luxurious but have character and are in fabulous locations. Very lucky with our guide Wilfred. Knowledgeable and organised with a sense of humour. Great trip to discover Belize