Balaam Eco Adventures: FIVE TOP ACTIVITIES TO DO ON YOUR BELIZE VACATIONS

FIVE TOP ACTIVITIES TO DO ON YOUR BELIZE VACATIONS

April 4^th, 2014 by Oscar Castaneda for Balaam Eco Adventures

Belize is growing fast in popularity and every year more visitors arrive for overnight stays by land, air and also for day excursions on cruiseships making calls to Belize on a weekly basis. With only a two hours flight from major US ports in Miami and Houston it’s a quick get away from the rat race of daily life. Once you arrive in Belize you quickly realize that you need to go slow and you immediately get into the spirit of Belizean lifestyle enjoying this little tropical paradise in Central America. With English as it’s official language and a stable exchange rate of $2.00bze for $1.00 US is so easy to get around and truly enjoy your Belize Vacations. This tiny jewel in the Caribbean and geographically located in Central America boasts of a plethora of Belize Adventure Tours, excursions and activities for the more active and adventurous.

With so much to do from Rainforests, Ruins and Reefs it’s no mystery as to why so many visitors love Belize and keep coming back for vacations with some even buying a vacation home while others come back to retire in this tranquil paradise of democracy, peace and tranquility. I have asked many visitors coming to my beautiful country as to why they chose Belize over other destinations and the answer always seems to be the same: Belize is so close to the US and offers both Rainforests and Reefs which are easily accessible from one country and you travel within close distances.

There are a myriad of Excursions, activities and Belize Adventures Tours to choose from however we have outlined the FIVE TOP ACTIVITIES TO DO ON YOUR BELIZE VACATIONS. Hope that I have convinced you to come and vacation with us and also enjoy Mother Nature’s Best Kept secret-Belize!

1)ATM Cave

Actun Tunichil Muknal famously called ATM Cave is located deep in the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve seven miles from the main highway at the village of Teakettle in the Cayo District. Ranked the number one sacred cave site in the world by National Geographic Society in 2012. This is one of the most fascinating caves and Actun Tunichil Muknal means the “Cave of the Stone Sepulcher” named after the skeletal remains of a Mayan Princess was discovered in one of the chambers.

Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM Cave) was first discovered in 1989. The cave was investigated between 1993 and 1999 by a team of Belizean and North American Archaeologists under the direction of Dr.Jaime Awe a Belizean Archaeologist.This tour is a one hour drive from San Ignacio and upon arriving at the destination your guide will give you your helmet and head light for the tour.

2)Snorkeling

With the most beautiful cayes (pronounced as keys) Belize abounds with white sandy beaches and destinations for the best snorkeling experiences. Snorkel at some of the most popular and pristine locations like :Shark Ray Alley, Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Mexico Rocks, Gladden Split, Silk Cayes, Laughing bird Cayes. Bring your waterproof camera and even better bring along your Go Pro camera to capture memories for a lifetime as you snorkel with Manatees, Dolphins, Nurse Sharks, Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, Logger Head turtles, colourful species of fishes, the most spectacular rainbow coloured coral reefs and visit the Great Barrier Reef.

3)Diving the Great Blue Hole

In the mid 1970s Jacques Cousteau’s famous Calypso made its famous investigation of the Great Blue Hole and the Belize atolls, which corresponds to the arrival of dive travel to the region. The Great Blue Hole is a large underwater sinkhole measuring 1000 ft around with a depth of 480 feet located near the centre of Lighthouse Reef a small atoll 100 kilometres (62 mi) from the mainland of Belize City. It’s the world’s largest natural formation of its kind and the Great Blue Hole is part of the larger Barrier Reef Reserve System, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

The Great Blue Hole is a world class destination for recreational scuba divers attracted by the opportunity to dive in crystal clear waters and see a myriad of marine life including tropical fish and spectacular coral formations. In 1836 the famous biologist and evolutionist Charles Darwin paid homage to these remarkable formations when he said the Belize atolls and the Belize Barrier Reef constitute “..the richest and most remarkable coral reefs in the entire western Caribbean.”

4)Cave Tubing & Zip Lining

The most relaxing of all the Belize Adventure Tours is the combo tour of Cave Tubing and Zip Lining. Belize is home to flora and fauna, rainforests, reefs, caves, pine forests and remarkable activities of which Cave Tubing and Zip Lining are by far the most rejuvenating and exciting tour excursions. Zip Line over the rainforest canopy for an adrenaline rush like no other while you sing “I Belize I can fly”. Imagine walking a nature trail learning about plants the Ancient Mayas used as you head to the cave entrance.

Enter “Xibalba” the Mayan Underworld floating on your very own tube as you see spectacular stalactites and stalagmites formed over time. This amazing cave bears testimony to the many rituals, ceremonies and sacrifices performed inside its many chambers and elevated platforms. Travel back in time to relive these ceremonies offered to the gods of rain, fertility and enjoy of an awesome adventure.

5) Rainforests & Archaeological Sites

Our jewel Belize sits on the lower elevations compared to our neighbouring countries. An estimated 60% of the rainforest is protected and abounds with Archaeological sites and caves being discovered all the time. Fifteen sites are open to the public where you can appreciate the grandeur of one of the greatest civilizations of all time. As these cities were abandoned thousands of years ago and nature took over there is a lot of work that scholars and Archaeologists are doing to uncover the great mysteries and accomplishments of the Ancient Mayas.

Climb the tallest man made structure in all of Belize up to date at Caracol’s Caana or “Sky Palace”. Visit Xunantunich with its friezes on the East and West side depicting the Sun God, Venus, Bacabs, deities and other gods. Relive the daily life of Kings, rulers, elite at Cahal Pech which sits on a hill strategically located for defence. Travel by boat to Lamanai (pronounced La-mai-inn) meaning submerged crocodile and see the most intact stelae depicting events that occurred and recounting of the past victories and events. Learn about the trading routes at Altun Ha which was very active in trading with other cities. At structure B-4 numerous bodies were uncovered and one having an elderly priest with the largest Jade artifact in the form of the Sun God Kinich Ahau.

Come relive the past and walk where the Ancient Mayas walked and performed their ceremonies and enjoy of your Belize Beach Vacations with one of our affordable Belize Vacation Packages. Let us know if you have questions and for more information emails us at info@balaamecoadventures.com

Creating lifetime memories one vacation at a time.