Visit the ancient Mayan ruins at Altun Ha and learn more about the history of Belize. Fly over the jungle on a zip line and see the jungle from a different perspective.
You'll meet your guide outside of your Belize tender terminal and start your day with drive-by sightseeing of Belize City. Your transport will take you through the old city where you'll pass several historical buildings and monuments like St. John's Cathedral, the oldest Anglican church in Central America, and the Government House, one of the best-preserved colonial buildings. The exact route depends on traffic. Your knowledgeable guide will give you the history of this once-thriving mahogany settlement. On your way to the ruins, your guide will explain more of the history and culture of this tiny country. The drive is approximately 45 to 60 minutes inland.
The ancient Mayan city of Altun Ha is very well preserved. It has over 500 structures that have been swallowed up by the jungle and only about 15 have so far been excavated. Canadian Dr. David Pendergast did extensive research from 1967 to 1974 and with the help of locals started the excavation. In the Sun God Temple, they discovered the largest jade artifact in the Mayan World - a carved jade stone head.
The head, along with forty other objects, had been placed in the tomb of an important person whose identity remains a mystery. The head is now housed in the Central Bank of Belize in a special vault. You'll hike above the plaza and have a panoramic view of the city as the elite Mayans who lived up there. You can also see and breathe in the lush green rainforest that surrounds the city. Your guide will point out and explain the medicinal purposes of some of the plants found there. At the end of your visit to Altun Ha, you can satisfy your hunger with an authentic Belizean dish served at the local diner that includes rice and beans cooked in coconut milk, stewed chicken, fried plantains, and coleslaw.
Part 2 of your adventure is at the Zip Lining Park boosts the biggest Arial trek site in West and North Belize. You'll fly along a zip-lining boulevard, which has a series of 7 lines with 12 platforms. The longest run is over 1300 feet and crosses the rainforest and Cave Branch River. The highest point is over 200 feet for a birds-eye view of the treetops.
The shore excursion guides there will go over all of the safety rules and instructions before assisting you into a harness and passing out your helmet. Safety is paramount and there are 2 cables for added safety, each can hold up to 3,000 lbs. Your harness has 7 straps and each can hold up to 600 lbs. One person zip lines on each cable at a time, unless it's a child accompanied by an adult. Each platform has 2 staff - a sender and a receiver - who are there to guide you and make sure you're safe at all times. All zip line gear is included so get ready to soar over the treetops.
At the end of your day, you'll board again your transportation to return to your Belize cruise tender terminal. Enjoy a fun day in Belize when you dock in Belize City by visiting the ancient Mayan ruins at Altun Ha and zip lining across the rain forest. History and adventure rolled into one!
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