Paradise Expeditions: Unique Combination of Belize Maya Ruins, Caves, and Rio On Natural Pools Tour
4.8
46 Ratings
The Maya Ruins of Caracol

The tour is unique as we combine a visit to Belize Maya ruins, Caves and go swimming at the Rio On natural pools all in one excursion

Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • The Maya Ruins of Caracol - The name Caracol means Snail. Learn the history of the Mayas and their culture as you climb the tallest man made structure in Belize Caana (sky palace). Caracol is the largest Arachaeological site in Belize and covers covers some 25,000 acres. Caracol was occupied as early as 1200 BC.

  • Rio Frio Cave - We will stop at the Rio Frio Caves. Large limestone cave with opening on both sides and a creek flowing through it. Here we can explore the cave. The sun lights up most of the cave as it has a large opening. The water flows through the cave and has a sandy beach.

  • Rio On Pools - We stop at the Rio on pools as the creek traverses creating a series of pools great for a refreshing swim.

What's Included
  • Lunch included
  • Air-conditioned transportation
  • Parking fees covered
Location
The Maya Ruins of Caracol
65 km south of San Ignacio,
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(46 Ratings)
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Y392gbsandys
May 10, 2024
Birding in Belize with Paradise Expeditions - Our guide was Elvis who was excellent at hearing and sighting the birds we saw. Elvis made sure we all (4 of us) got to see each bird, and was patient with us if we couldn't immediately get our eyes on the bird sighted. We had internet and hot showers each evening in our rooms, which were quite adequate. Most of our meals were covered and were very tasty. We often had down time in the afternoon - as it was hot and humid. An added bonus was the snorkeling we enjoyed on Caye Caulker, plus petting the stingrays and watching the sunset. Only disappointment was not seeing the Jabiru on our lagoon boat trip. Maybe next time!
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Walkbergem
Apr 10, 2024
Amazing Birding! - This was a fantastic week long birding experience in Belize! Jeronie organized a great trip for us that included transportation, meals and lodging. Everything was perfect. The food was authentic, and everyone was very kind! Abi was am amazing bird guide! He is very good at ear birding. He has a passion for birding and growing life lists for his clients! We've birded all over the world, and this was the most well organized trip we've been on to date. Thanks Jeronie and Abi! :)
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Kurthi9439hr
Mar 5, 2024
Amazing birding experience - I cannot say enough good things about this tour company. Our guide, Elvis, was fantastic. He was able to identify the birds by call and this made it very easy to find any target birds or new birds for the trip. He was also very friendly, funny, and an excellent travelling companion. All the arrangements in Belize went off perfectly and the lodging and meals arranged by Paradise Expeditions were very good. We got 300 species in 13 days, as well as monkeys, taigas, etc. We even heard a jaguar. I would highly recommend this tour company for any birder going to Belize.
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O2626dxrobl
Jan 4, 2024
Amazing December 19- 30, 2023 trip- Birding in Belize with Paradise Expeditions - My wife & I chose the 12 day/ 11 night North, Central, South & Caye Caulker Belize Birding Tour including Tikal, Guatemala (subsititution for Day 6 El Pilar). Jeronie Tut was excellent to deal with in setting up the package tour & was hands-on for various segments of the tour. The entire Tut family made our stay at Crystal Paradise special & the resort was so beautiful. Food (& Belikin beer) was excellent the entire trip. Our birding guide, Elvis Bustamante was incredible… a native Belizean with 15+ years as a birding guide, a true bush man with extraordinary hearing/ eyesight for identifying & locating birds in the most dense areas. His patience, demeanor, & enthusiasm were so impressive. Elvis was fun to be around. We were rewarded with 229 bird species seen with 150 being new/ life birds!! Our birding guide Miguel in Tikal was excellent as well, & as a bonus, was an expert on Mayan history when seeing the ruins. Howler & Spider monkeys, Tyra (bush dog), Coatimundis , Yucatan squirrels were animals seen (as well as jaguar tracks). Effective bug repellent for mosquitos is a must the entire trip & for sandflies at Caye Caulker. Drink only bottled/ filtered water & bring Imodium! (suspect brushing teeth w/ unfiltered water resulted in tummy aches & big “D”). Otherwise, a fantastic trip. We miss the kind, friendly Belizean people & Fry Jacks already!
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Sightseer550829
Dec 21, 2023
Great all inclusive package - All I had to do was show up with binoculars and camera. - A ten-day trip in early December 2023, was my second tour with Paradise Expeditions, run by the remarkable Tut family. Our guide, Elvis, is not a family member but he is every bit as skilled and knowledgeable as the Tut brothers. With his amazing ability to recognize calls and then locate the bird, Elvis insured that each outing was successful. We were probably ninety per cent successful finding targeted species. The Jabiru and a few other waders eluded us. When I return it will be at the height of the dry season when the birds are more concentrated. Our small group (3) had diverse interests ranging from geology to Mayan history to agriculture, so in addition to great birding, Elvis gave us commentary on Belizean culture. Stops at roadside stands for barbecue and visits to local markets were an unexpected treat. This tour, Advanced Birding in Belize, is for serious birders and flexible adventurous travelers. Expect high humidity, swarms of insects, and muddy bumpy roads. That said, we could depend on returning each evening to comfortable accommodations that included beach front motels and jungle eco-lodges, all clean and well maintained, and the Belizean style meals were excellent.
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Cruiser43205
Sep 25, 2022
Excellent Birding Trip to Belize - I highly recommend Paradise Expeditions, a family-owned business in Belize. Jeronie Tut planned an excellent one-week birding itinerary for a friend and me. We visited a number of key spots in Belize including the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary and Caracol National Monument. Our guide, Jeronie’s brother, Eric, is an expert on the birds of Belize and can identify everything by sight and sound. He made sure that we also observed the birds. Eric was good company and informative about other wildlife, native plants, local culture, and the status of conservation in his country.  Jeronie also arranged for a knowledgeable archaeological guide, Mariela, to lead us through the incredible ruins in Tikal National Park in nearby Guatemala. Accommodation and food were good, including at the the family’s own lodge near San Ignacio. A note: visitors to Tikal National Park in May should be prepared for hot weather. Our night was also very warm as the national park requires all electricity to be shut off by 9:00 p.m. We were “serenaded” by two clans of howler monkeys throughout much of the night. The monkeys are misnamed as they roar not howl.
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Kjmilesphotoz
May 21, 2022
A Fabulous Adventure - What an amazing experience! Eric Tut gave our small group (6 people) front-row seats to a world of birds we would never have found on our own. This was my first birding-focused adventure, and it did not disappoint. I loved the attention to detail and kindness offered at all of our lodgings, and there was never a dull moment. I would most highly recommend this small-group tour to anyone who is interested in finding birds and/or having an off-the-beaten path Belize experience. Even someone not interested in birding would have enjoyed this experience for the landscapes, wildlife, archaeological sites, boat rides, and beach time. If you're looking for nightlife, wild parties, and crowds of loud people, this is not the experience for you. We almost felt like we had the whole country to ourselves. It was bliss! (I took thousands of photos, most of which are too large to upload).
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Tvplano
May 2, 2022
A birding trip of a lifetime! - We returned last week from a 10 day birding tour with Paradise Expeditions. The guide assigned to us was Eric Tut. We enjoyed every aspect of our trip, from the comfortable lodges to the birds, the drives and the local food. The arrangements were efficient, and the staff at the lodges were helpful. But it was Eric's expertise and deep knowledge of the birds and their habitat that made our trip so amazing. We saw 270 species of birds. We were fortunate to have excellent weather throughout, and hardly any bugs. We found Picaridin worked well against mosquitoes, but Deet is the only repellent that works against the no-see-ums in the pine forest. We hope to return to Belize with our friends and will use Paradise Expeditions again.
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R1094jcbarbs
Dec 25, 2021
Wonderful week of wondering the wilderness of Belize - Fantastic! Eric Tut is an amazing birder. He gave my dad the bird watching trip of his life. He not only knows his birds, but he knows the history and culture of Belize. Our entire group had a wonderful week of wondering the wilderness of Belize. Thanks to Eric and his family for making our trip great.
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Eileen
Aug 1, 2022
Thanks, Jonathan! - Enjoyed my birding trip to Belize except for the second to last day when I became very sick from something I ate. However, I have to give a shout out to our guide, Jonathan Urbina, who was fantastic. He worked very hard to help me see as many birds as possible during our time together. We saw a total of 268 birds of which 90 were "lifers" for me. He has an incredible ear and he impressed me time and time again with his ability to ID the various songs and calls of birds in the area. His winning personality and outstanding birding ability made it an unforgettable birding experience. Thanks, Jonathan!
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up to 14 guests
1 Adult
July 2024
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