Belize Self-Launched: Maya Ruins, Jungle Rivers & Caye Caulker

Land at Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport and skip the included private transfer — a licensed taxi from the airport to Burrell Boom village runs about BZ$90 (£9) for the 25-minute ride, or take the local bus toward Ladyville and a short taxi onward. Check into a riverside guesthouse in Burrell Boom (the same area G Adventures uses as its base). Pick up a Belize SIM or eSIM at the airport, draw cash from an ATM (many rural places are cash-only), and take an evening walk along the Belize Old River. Eat dinner at a local spot — stew chicken with rice and beans costs around £5.

🚌Airport taxi to Burrell Boom ~BZ$90 (£9)

🛏Riverside guesthouse or budget hotel, Burrell Boom (approx. £25-35/night double, £13-18 per person sharing)

• →Airport arrival and SIM/ATM stop
• →Evening walk along the Belize Old River

Book the same full-day Lamanai excursion independently — either direct with a local Burrell Boom or Orange Walk operator, or via GetYourGuide. The classic version starts with a speedboat up the New River from Tower Hill (about 1.5 hours), which is a wildlife safari in itself: crocodiles, iguanas, bats and howler monkeys. At Lamanai a licenced local guide walks you through the Mask Temple, Jaguar Temple and High Temple, with the climb up the High Temple worth it for jungle views. Shared tours typically cost £50-65 including boat, guide and park fee; public-bus DIY with a boat transfer from Tower Hill brings it to around £35-45. Back at the guesthouse by late afternoon — the pool-and-hammock afternoon is free.

🚌Shared tour boat from Tower Hill, or local bus to Orange Walk then boat

🛏Riverside guesthouse or budget hotel, Burrell Boom

• →New River boat safari to Lamanai
• →Guided tour of Lamanai archaeological site (Mask, Jaguar and High temples)

Take a local bus or shared taxi to the Community Baboon Sanctuary at Bermudian Landing (entry ~BZ$15/£6, plus a £5-8 guided trail walk from a village guide). The black howler monkeys here are genuinely wild but habituated, and the community-run reserve is the same one the tour visits. Then continue to San Antonio village, where the San Antonio Women's Cooperative runs pottery and corn-tortilla workshops — ring ahead or ask your guesthouse to arrange; expect £8-12 for the class plus a home-cooked Cayo lunch. In the afternoon catch the local bus or shared van to San Ignacio (about 1.5 hours, ~BZ$10/£4). Settle into a guesthouse in town and eat at a local comedor.

🚌Local bus/shared taxi Bermudian Landing → San Antonio → San Ignacio (~£10 total)

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel, San Ignacio (approx. £30-45/night double, £15-23 per person sharing)

• →Community Baboon Sanctuary howler monkey walk
• →San Antonio Women's Cooperative pottery workshop
• →Traditional Maya corn tortilla making class and local lunch

Take a local bus or collective taxi toward Benque Viejo and get off at San Jose Succotz, where you cross the Mopan River on the hand-cranked ferry (free, a highlight in itself) and walk or take a short shuttle up to Xunantunich (entry ~BZ$10/£4). Hire a licenced guide at the gate for around £20-25 or simply read up and climb El Castillo for sweeping views over the jungle to Guatemala. Afternoon free: options include Cahal Pech ruins in town (~£5), the Green Iguana Conservation Project, or the San Ignacio market. Laid-back evening on Burns Avenue.

🚌Local bus/collectivo to Succotz, hand-cranked ferry crossing

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel, San Ignacio

• →Xunantunich ruins and El Castillo climb
• →Hand-cranked Mopan River ferry
• →Optional: Cahal Pech ruins or Green Iguana Conservation Project

This is the big optional the tour lists at USD140 — booking direct with a San Ignacio operator makes it around £70-85, or book through GetYourGuide/your guesthouse a day ahead. You'll swim into the cave mouth, wade and scramble through chambers of crystal formations, and reach the ceremonial chamber where Maya ritual remains and the Crystal Maiden skeleton sit. Licensed guides only, and there's a daily visitor cap, so book ahead. Bring grippy shoes, a change of clothes and no camera inside (rules enforced since 2012). If caving isn't your thing, alternatives include cave tubing at Caves Branch (~£55-70), Barton Creek canoeing, or a butterfly garden and Iguana Project day for around £20.

🚌Operator pickup from San Ignacio (included in tour price)

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel, San Ignacio

• →Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) Cave guided expedition
• →Optional alternatives: cave tubing at Caves Branch, Barton Creek canoeing, butterfly garden

Morning local bus from San Ignacio to Belize City (about 2.5 hours, ~BZ$10/£4), then a short taxi (£5) to the Marine Terminal. Water taxis to Caye Caulker run hourly-ish with San Pedro Belize Express and Ocean Ferry (about 45-60 minutes, one way BZ$37/£15). Check into a guesthouse or small budget hotel, then wander the sandy streets — there are almost no cars here. Swim at the Split, grab a Belikin and rice-and-beans at a beachfront shack, and enjoy the reggae and golf-cart pace. Note: Caye Caulker is quiet and safe by day but stick to lit areas after dark and watch your drink.

🚌Local bus San Ignacio → Belize City ~£4; taxi to Marine Terminal ~£5; water taxi to Caye Caulker ~£15

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel, Caye Caulker (approx. £35-50/night double, £18-25 per person sharing)

• →San Ignacio bus ride and Belize City water taxi terminal
• →Swim at the Split
• →Evening stroll through Caye Caulker village

Rent a beach cruiser for about £5-6 a day and ride the sandy tracks to the north-end Split and beyond — the same easy-going loop as the Bike with Purpose tour, minus the group. For the afternoon, book a half-day snorkelling trip to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley with a local operator (around £30-40 including park fee and gear; check boats are licensed and gear fits). You'll swim with nurse sharks, rays, turtles and huge schools of fish over the barrier reef. Optional: sunset sail on a local sailboat with a Belikin in hand (~£25-35).

🚌Bicycle hire ~£6

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel, Caye Caulker

• →Self-guided bike loop of Caye Caulker
• →Half-day snorkelling at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley
• →Optional sunset sailing cruise

A full free day. Options: a full-day sailing and snorkelling charter to Hol Chan or a manatee-watching trip toward Swallow Caye (£45-60), a kitesurf or kayak session, or simply a hammock and a book. Keep it cheap by snorkelling off the Split for free and eating at the local food stalls. In the evening, take a small-group sunset cruise (£25-35) and finish with the farewell dinner at a well-reviewed local spot — fresh snapper or lobster when in season, with rum punch, for around £15-20.

🚌Walking / bike

🛏Guesthouse or budget hotel, Caye Caulker

• →Optional sailing and snorkelling charter
• →Sunset cruise
• →Farewell seafood dinner at a local restaurant

Catch a morning water taxi back to Belize City (~£15), then a taxi to the international airport (~£12-15) — allow at least 2.5-3 hours before an international flight, and remember the USD39/£31 departure tax is usually folded into airfare but check with your airline. If you have a late flight, leave bags at the terminal and take a quick look at the Belize City Museum or swing by the Swing Bridge. Otherwise, it's a slow breakfast on the dock and off you go.

🚌Water taxi Caye Caulker → Belize City ~£15; taxi to airport ~£13

🛏None (departure day)

• →Morning water taxi
• →Optional Belize City museum or Swing Bridge visit