Mainland Belize
Mayan ruins, Cave tubing and Zip lining
Mainland Belize was once the very center of the ancient Maya Civilization and they have left their mark in one of the largest concentrations of temples and underground ritual chambers, as well as a magnificent repository of art in gold and jade as well as pottery.
Belize is also known for the cave tubing with specially designed inflatable tubes that float above underground rivers inside caves. Many of Alaia's excursions allow time to see a Mayan ruin and cave tube on the same trip.
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The ATM Cave is a world-class adventure tour with a rare opportunity to see an ancient Maya sacrificial site with skulls, pots, and ceremonial altars virtually untouched for centuries. The cave is ranked as one of the Top Ten Caves Of The World by the National Geographic Society. National Geographic and the Discovery Channels and History have done documentaries on this spectacular cave.
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Caves were considered to be the entrance to the underworld by the ancient Mayans. Today cave tubing is one of the most popular excursions in Belize. The cave tubing near the Mayan ruin of Altun Ha let's you float along the underground river through 3 caves where breaks in the ceiling allow the light to filter through from the jungle above. Feel the awe of the Mayans in this sacred place.
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Accessible only by boat, making the trip half the fun, Lamanai (from Lama'anayin, "submerged crocodile" in Yucatec Maya) is a Mesoamerican archaeological site, and was once a major city of the Maya civilization, located in the north of Belize. The site's name is pre-Columbian, recorded by early Spanish missionaries, and documented over a millennium earlier in Maya inscriptions as Lam'an'ain. The boat ride up the river also passes a large community of Mennonites of German and Dutch origin.
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Xunantunich means “maiden of the rock” or “stone woman” in Maya, and is situated on the Western Highway across the river from the village of San Jose Succotz. It can be reached by ferry daily. This site is less than one mile from the rapids of the Mopan River and provides an impressive view of the entire river valley. Xunantunich is a Classic Period ceremonial center. On the main palace building is an astronomical carved frieze.
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The area around Altun Ha is rich in wildlife including more than two hundred species of birds and large crocodiles that inhabit the Maya-made water reservoir. Altun Ha, a major ceremonial and vital trade center during the Classic Period, has two principal plazas. The most significant find of Altun Ha is the Maya Jade Head, which represents the Mayan Sun God, Kinich Ahua; it is the largest object carved of jade in the Maya civilization. And one of the crown jewels of Belize.
ATM - Actun Tunichil Muknal
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The ATM Cave is a world-class adventure tour with a rare opportunity to see an ancient Maya sacrificial site with skulls, pots, and ceremonial altars virtually untouched for centuries. The cave is ranked as one of the Top Ten Caves Of The World by the National Geographic Society. National Geographic and the Discovery Channels and History have done documentaries on this spectacular cave.
Cave Tubing
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Caves were considered to be the entrance to the underworld by the ancient Mayans. Today cave tubing is one of the most popular excursions in Belize. The cave tubing near the Mayan ruin of Altun Ha let's you float along the underground river through 3 caves where breaks in the ceiling allow the light to filter through from the jungle above. Feel the awe of the Mayans in this sacred place.
Lamanai
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Accessible only by boat, making the trip half the fun, Lamanai (from Lama'anayin, "submerged crocodile" in Yucatec Maya) is a Mesoamerican archaeological site, and was once a major city of the Maya civilization, located in the north of Belize. The site's name is pre-Columbian, recorded by early Spanish missionaries, and documented over a millennium earlier in Maya inscriptions as Lam'an'ain. The boat ride up the river also passes a large community of Mennonites of German and Dutch origin.
Xunantunich
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Xunantunich means “maiden of the rock” or “stone woman” in Maya, and is situated on the Western Highway across the river from the village of San Jose Succotz. It can be reached by ferry daily. This site is less than one mile from the rapids of the Mopan River and provides an impressive view of the entire river valley. Xunantunich is a Classic Period ceremonial center. On the main palace building is an astronomical carved frieze.
Altun Ha
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The area around Altun Ha is rich in wildlife including more than two hundred species of birds and large crocodiles that inhabit the Maya-made water reservoir. Altun Ha, a major ceremonial and vital trade center during the Classic Period, has two principal plazas. The most significant find of Altun Ha is the Maya Jade Head, which represents the Mayan Sun God, Kinich Ahua; it is the largest object carved of jade in the Maya civilization. And one of the crown jewels of Belize.
Zipline Through the Jungle
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Kids and adults can soar from platform to platform through the dense Belizean jungle at canopy level, getting a bird's eye view of the country's extraordinary tropical flora and fauna. Ziplining adventures can also be combined with cave tubing.