Explore Belize: Self-Launched Maya & Reef Adventure
9 days · Belize
G Adventures charges £1,380
No-markup version: ~£565 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 9-day self-launched take on G Adventures' "Journeys: Explore Belize" — same route from Belize City to Caye Caulker, same Maya ruins (Lamanai, Xunantunich), howler monkey sanctuary, women's cooperative visit and barrier reef finale. Instead of a small-group tour with hotels and a private vehicle, you'll piece it together yourself with local buses and shared shuttles, family-run guesthouses and hostels, and self-bookable day tours. Budget estimate: roughly £55-75 per person per day on the ground (excluding international flights), versus the operator's from-£1,380pp group price.
Day-by-day
Arrive Belize City & transfer to Burrell Boom
Belize City / Burrell Boom
Land at Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) and make your own way to Burrell Boom village, about 20km north-west of Belize City on the Old Northern Highway. The cheapest option is the local bus or a shared taxi/shuttle from the airport — pre-book a shared airport shuttle for around £15-20, or take a taxi to the bus stop and hop a local bus for a couple of pounds. Settle into a riverside guesthouse in Burrell Boom. In the evening, wander the village and grab dinner at a local spot — Creole rice and beans with stewed chicken is the Belizean staple, around £4-6. Get cash in Belize City (Belize Bank or Atlantic Bank ATMs) before heading out, as ATMs are scarce outside town.
🚌Shared airport shuttle or taxi + local bus (~£15-25)
🛏Riverside guesthouse or budget lodge in Burrell Boom (~£20-28/night)
- →Arrive BZE airport
- →Transfer to Burrell Boom
- →Evening village stroll
Lamanai Maya ruins river boat day trip
Burrell Boom / Lamanai
Take a full-day boat excursion to Lamanai, one of the oldest and longest-occupied Maya sites in Central America (settled from ~1,500 BC). The classic route is a boat up the New River from Orange Walk, gliding past mangroves, crocodiles and howler monkeys before reaching the jungle-shrouded ruins on New River Lagoon. Book direct with a local Orange Walk operator (e.g. Lamanai river tours) or via GetYourGuide for around £45-60 including boat, guide and park entry. See the Mask Temple, High Temple and Jaguar Temple, and listen for howler monkeys. Return to Burrell Boom for a swim and a poolside drink at your guesthouse.
🚌Local bus to Orange Walk (~£2) + boat tour
🛏Riverside guesthouse in Burrell Boom (~£20-28/night)
- →Lamanai river boat tour
- →Maya ruins guided visit
- →New River Lagoon wildlife spotting
Howler monkey sanctuary & Maya women's cooperative
Burrell Boom → San Ignacio
Hire a shared van or local bus to the Community Baboon Sanctuary at Bermudian Landing, a community-run reserve for the endangered Yucatán black howler monkey — book a guided walk with a local village guide for around £12-15. Then continue west to San Antonio village to visit a women's cooperative, where you can try your hand at pottery throwing and learn to make corn tortillas the traditional Maya way (a community tour runs around £10-15, lunch included or add ~£4 for a plate of tamales). In the afternoon, catch a local bus on to San Ignacio (via Belmopan), around £4-6 and 2 hours. Check into a budget guesthouse or hostel in San Ignacio town.
🚌Shared van + local bus to San Ignacio (~£8-12)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in San Ignacio (~£18-25/night)
- →Community Baboon Sanctuary guided walk
- →Maya pottery & tortilla workshop
- →San Antonio village visit
Xunantunich Maya ruins & San Ignacio
San Ignacio
Take a local bus or shared taxi to San José Succotz (about 15 min, ~£1), then cross the Mopan River on the hand-cranked ferry to reach Xunantunich. Climb El Castillo for panoramic jungle views and see the intricate friezes and stelae. Entry is around £4-5. Spend the afternoon exploring San Ignacio — visit the lively Saturday market if you're lucky with timing, try local street food like garnaches and salbutes for £1-2, and consider optional add-ons such as the Cahal Pech ruins or a nearby cave tubing trip (book locally, ~£45-60). Evening: chill at a riverside bar with a Belikin beer (~£2).
🚌Local bus/shared taxi to Succotz (~£2) + hand ferry
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in San Ignacio (~£18-25/night)
- →Xunantunich ruins & El Castillo climb
- →San Ignacio market & street food
- →Optional cave tubing
ATM Cave or San Ignacio free day
San Ignacio
Use today for one of Belize's signature activities: the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave, a Maya ceremonial site with crystalised skeletons, reached by swimming, scrambling and wading through an underground river. This is highly regulated, so book through a licensed operator (around £90-110 including transport, guide, lunch and gear). Alternatively keep costs down with a jungle hike, butterfly farm or iguana project visit for £10-20. In the evening, swap San Ignacio for a night in the nearby village of San Ignacio's twin town, Santa Elena, or stay put and eat cheaply at a local comedor.
🚌Operator pickup / walking
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in San Ignacio (~£18-25/night)
- →ATM cave tour (optional)
- →Jungle hike or butterfly farm (budget alternative)
Transfer to the coast & water taxi to Caye Caulker
San Ignacio → Caye Caulker
Travel from San Ignacio back east to Belize City (local bus, ~£4-5, 2.5 hrs) and take the water taxi from the Belize City terminal to Caye Caulker with San Pedro Belize Express or Ocean Ferry — around £18-22 one way, 45-60 minutes. Caye Caulker is a tiny, car-free island where everyone gets around by bike or golf cart. Check into a budget guesthouse, beach hostel or cabana. Spend the afternoon at the Split swimming spot, then eat fresh seafood or a lobster burrito for £5-8 at a beachfront shack. Cash only in many spots, so stock up.
🚌Local bus to Belize City (~£5) + water taxi (~£20)
🛏Beach hostel or budget guesthouse on Caye Caulker (~£20-30/night)
- →Belize City to Caye Caulker water taxi
- →Swim at the Split
- →Beachfront seafood dinner
Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley snorkel day
Caye Caulker
Book a snorkel day trip to Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley — this was an optional add-on on the original tour (~$100 USD) but is easy to book independently on the island for £40-60, including boat, guide, gear, park fees and usually a fruit-and-rum-punch break. Swim with nurse sharks, stingrays, turtles and a huge variety of reef fish over the northern end of the Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest reef system on Earth. Afternoon free for hammocks, paddleboarding (rental ~£8-10) or simply lazing. Evening: watch the sunset from the west side of the island.
🚌Walking / bicycle rental (~£5/day)
🛏Beach hostel or budget guesthouse on Caye Caulker (~£20-30/night)
- →Hol Chan Marine Reserve snorkelling
- →Shark Ray Alley
- →Sunset on the west side
Free island day — sailing, manatees or diving
Caye Caulker
A full day to shape as you like. Go on a half- or full-day sailing snorkel trip to the reef for £45-70, book a two-tank scuba dive if certified (£70-90), or take an early morning boat to Swallow Caye to see West Indian manatees (£45-60). Budget alternative: rent a bike and explore the island's sandy tracks, visit the Caye Caulker Forest Reserve, and cool off at the Split with a Belikin in hand. If it's Sunday, join the locals for a beach barbecue. Book any boat trips direct with island operators or via Klook/GetYourGuide for easy confirmation.
🚌Bicycle rental / walking
🛏Beach hostel or budget guesthouse on Caye Caulker (~£20-30/night)
- →Sailing or diving day (optional)
- →Manatee spotting at Swallow Caye (optional)
- →Forest Reserve & island cycling
Last morning on Caye Caulker & depart
Caye Caulker → Belize City
Enjoy a final breakfast of fry jacks and fresh fruit juice by the water (around £4), then take a morning water taxi back to Belize City (£18-22) to connect with your flight home — aim to leave enough time for the ~1 hour crossing plus airport transfer. Flights must depart no earlier than 11:30 if you're following the original tour's airport guidance. If you're staying on, use the day to hop onward to San Pedro (Ambergris Caye) or mainland beach towns like Hopkins.
🚌Water taxi to Belize City (~£20) + airport taxi/shuttle (~£10-15)
🛏Departure day (no overnight)
- →Final island breakfast
- →Water taxi back to Belize City
- →Airport transfer & departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£565 | £1,380 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £815 per person (59%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
~£565
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
Customise with Tour BusterCreated by
Travel Crew
0 trips
Frequently asked questions
How much does Explore Belize: Self-Launched Maya & Reef Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £565 per person for 9 days in Belize. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,380 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £565 — a saving of roughly £815 (59%) per person.
How long is the Belize trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through Belize.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, wildlife trip through Belize, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
No comments yet — be the first to share your take.
Sign in to leave a comment.