27 Jul 2023
Going on this cave kayaking adventure proved the best decision we made in the Belizean rainforest. It was simply a magical and unforgettable way to experience this amazing river cave system, in all its cavernous, crystallized, and stalactitic glory.
We'd considered cave tubing tours, and spotted a couple of them launching into the water into the last leg of our route. All the guests’ tubes were tied together, and they were being towed along by a guide wading through chest deep water. It looked very passive, and though I’m sure the cave time was just as scenic, no way could it have been as fun. I would choose kayak every time. Our whole group was all smiles from start to finish.
Expect a couple hours of fairly easy kayaking, with a maybe half mile rainforest hike between river openings, carrying an inflatable kayak ~15-20lbs. The portage section takes effort, but it’s not too tough. I’m in average middle age shape, not a gym rat, and I would have kept hiking twice the distance to get back into that cave river system.
As a working travel writer, I’ve had the opportunity to kayak into sea caves, through redwood forest, and across alpine lakes. Nothing beats this. I can’t say enough good things about this tour, and our guides. One of the top travel experiences of my life.