With local bushmen as your guides, search for the lost Mayan ruins located around the 58,000 acre Caves Branch estate. Walk across unexcavated ceremonial plazas, and stand on the palaces and temples of ancient kings and priests amidst the eerie sounds of the jungle.

This guided day trip with experts on Maya takes you from the Caves Branch Estate to two of the major Mayan sites in Belize.

First visit Xunantunich, also known as the "Maiden of the Rock" which is the second tallest Mayan ruin in Belize. It stands 130 feet high to give a panoramic view of the Cayo District, Guatemala and the Mopan River. The site has been largely excavated and is reminiscent of some of the largest Mayan temples found in Tikal and Copan and has a great on site museum.

Then lunch in San Ignacio and proceed to the Cahal Pech Mayan ruins, meaning "Place of the Ticks". Cahal Pech is located 15 minutes on the outskirts of San Ignacio, and was home to a Maya Royal Family.

Tikal in Peten, Guatemala is one of the grandest and most magnificent Mayan site in Central America. Four hours of guided tour at the site and enough time to walk around on your own. Leave at 6:00 a.m. and return 5-6:00 p.m. Optional stops on way back for photographs and shopping. This trip includes round trip transportation, Guatemalan border and park fees, guide at the site, and lunch. The guests have to pay their own BELIZE departure tax.

Note: People who have US passports or the new barcoded EU passport do not need a visa to enter Guatemala. All other visitors should check with their embassy about getting a multiple visa for Belize and a Guatmalan visa if they plan to do this tour and return to Belize.

Departing Caves Branch at 6:45 am for an incredible drive through the foothills of the Maya Mountains, arriving in the beach village of Hopkins by 8 am. One of our dive boats will take you to South Water Caye where your snorkel guide will meet you. Then on to the Barrier Reef for a two stop snorkeling day then later stopping at one of the research stations along the reef for a familiarization tour of the stations. Returning to the mainland beach just after mid day. Spend the rest of the afternoon on the white sand beaches of Hopkins. Departing from Hopkins to Caves Branch at approximately 4:30 pm. A full day of sand, sun and surf.

Following the same travel and time itinerary of the snorkeling trip above, you are taken from Hopkins Village directly to the Great Barrier Reef for 2 1-tank dives at different dive locations along the reef. Spectacular diving on a part of the reef that sees very little dive tourism to date.

This day trip takes you in and around Belize City for some close encounters of the animal kind.

A visit to the Belize Zoo is one of the best ways to get an introduction to the animals of Belize, and to understand why it is important to protect their natural habitats. The zoo encompasses 29 acres of tropical savanna and exhibits over 125 animals all native to Belize. The animals at the zoo were orphaned, rehabilitated, born at the zoo, or sent to the Belize Zoo as gifts from other zoological institutes.

The Community Baboon Sanctuary is a cooperative venture of private landowners, conservationists, and biological researchers. Their common aim is to preserve extensive forest habitat for a large population of Black Howler Monkeys (locally known as the "baboon" in English or the "saraguate" in Spanish), and, as a result, also for all the other wild flora and fauna that inhabit the area.

Spend time with John Carr of the Banana Bank Equestrian Center. The Center boasts about 50 head of well-kept mixed breed horses, predominantly quarter horses. This combination provides sturdy but agile mounts necessary to negotiate river terrain and jungle trails. Banana Bank provides hands on experience interacting with the horses that allows you to learn how these horses "whisper". Then ride along jungle trails, tropical rivers and Mayan ruins and enjoy the friendly people and exotic surroundings. Before heading back to Caves Branch, lunch is served, after which you will have time to tour the art gallery of Carolyn Carr, one of Belize's most famous artists.

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