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Belize with kids: Cave tubing to hell and back

One of the excursions my family was looking forward to doing other than zip lining in Roatan was cave tubing in Belize during our Caribbean cruise last January.  Cave tubing is a popular activity for visitors in Belize which was floating in huge, inflatable tubes inside one of the country’s many cave systems.  Belize has the largest cave systems in the Americas.  Many of them unexplored but more than 300 have been discovered.  The unique underground experience was what sets this apart from the typical activities on the islands.

belize cave tubing

There were quite a number of tour operators specializing in cave tubing.  After reading many positive reviews, we went with cavetubing.bz.  Their tours were customizable and prices were affordable and much cheaper than what the cruise line offered.  We met up a passenger van who was driving us to the caves area.

Getting There

The 45-minute drive from Belize City on the Western Hwy was filled with learning all about Belize.  It’s an interesting country which just became independent in 1981 after being a British colony since 1840 and was then known as British Honduras.  Along the way, this sleeping giant formation, which is really a group of valleys and hills, was pointed out to us.  Can you see his profile with its head on the right?

Belize Sleeping giant

We finally came to an area known as Nohoch Che’en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve.  This was where all the cave tubing companies were set up.  There were also vendors renting out supplies including water shoes and selling souvenirs and snacks.  The bath house with changing areas, showers and restrooms (Western standards and clean) was already crowded even before the tour buses had arrived.

After changing into our bathing suits and water gear, we were led to their equipment area to get fitted for our life vests, helmets with headlamp and our inflatable tubes with handles.  All of these were included with the tour price.  They usually put 6-8 people in a group.  We got lucky and only the four of us were with one guide.

Belize cave tubing with kids

Going to hell and back

Belize was home of the Maya civilization. Mayans believed caves were entrances to Xibalba (pronounced She-bal-ba) the underworld or Place of Fear.  They believed that the nature gods and caves served as a portal between the human world and the world of gods (Xibalba).

The Mayans used the caves for sacred rituals and ceremonies.  So, going into the caves was going into their version of hell/underworld.  The tour guides were saying that completing cave tubing is like saying “I’ve been to hell and back”.  The vendors were selling many shirts with this saying which I bet catches a lot of people’s attention back home.

Belize cave tubing

The caves were not anywhere near the changing area.  There was still another 40-minute hike into the forest trails carrying the inflatable tubes. They weren’t that heavy but just big and bulky.  Our guide actually carried one of our kids’ tubes and my husband carried the other.  There was no way my kids could have carried them all the way through the hike.

Belize cave tubing hike

Then came the most challenging part of this tour.  After a short hike, we had to cross a river with some strong currents.  A rope hung from one end of the bank to the other.  There was no getting around it and no bridges in sight.  I guess it was all part of the adventure.

But, I was very nervous for my kids since the water came up to my six-year old’s chest and hoping they don’t get swept away.  It was a balancing act of trying to hold on to the tube and the rope and working against the water current.   It seemed like an agonizing few minutes wading through the cold water but we made it.

Belize cavetubing crossing the river

Luckily, our guide told us we didn’t have to cross it again since we were floating in our tubes back down this river.  During our hike, we learned about the various medicinal and herbal plants native to Belize.  There was even a small cave we had to walk through which gave a good preview of what was to come.

Belize cave tubing outside caves system

The cave system goes on for miles. There were options to go on a longer hike to visit other caves and spend a longer time at the river.  Since we already made plans for the Belize Zoo with the kids later that day, we opted for the shorter trail and one cave.  We came upon the river by the cave entrance with a flurry of activity and groups getting ready.

Belize cave tubing

In order to stay together as a group, the inflatable tubes have to be interconnected.  Not by any rope or another mechanism though but with our bodies.  That’s right, folks – body parts.  My son was at the front of the group.  My daughter who was behind him hooked both her feet into his underarms.  I had my husband’s feet under my arms and my daughter had my feet under hers.  I was very skeptical with the set-up but this proved to be quite effective since we actually didn’t get separated during that journey.

Belize cave tubing with kids
Ready to go…

When we first started floating down the river to the mouth of the cave, we all felt the surge of excitement and anticipation.  The kids were having fun already, letting their fingers trail on the water and using it as oars.  The only thing they were a bit worried about was the darkness inside the cave but those headlamps eased their fears.

We’ve seen water temperatures posted as a refreshing 70 degrees Fahrenheit.  I’m from Southern California so the water to me was cold but not enough to make it uncomfortable or unbearable.  It may be comfortable for some people used to cold weather.

Belize cave tubing

Once inside and we turned on our headlamps, we saw the rock formations in various shapes and sizes. We didn’t get an overall picture but spotlights from here and there.  Some of them were quite remarkable and to think they’ve been here for thousands of years.  There was a sense of eeriness inside the cave.  At one time, we turned off our headlamps and only heard the sounds of the water and the hollowness of the cave with echoes of the other groups in the background.  It was definitely a different way to see any cave system.

In some points, we floated in calm waters and was quite refreshing as our guide navigated us through the cave.  He warned us that he would occasionally say “Butt’s Up” when we were nearing shallow water.  It wouldn’t have been fun being poked by sharp rocks on our behinds.

Inside Belize cave tubing

Once we exited the cave we floated down the river in warmer waters.  Floating down the calm part of the river, with just the sound of the water and the birds chirping, was one of the most relaxing experiences of my life.  I could have stayed on that river for a long time, laying back on the tube and just admiring the beautiful scenery surrounding us.

Belize cave tubing river float

In between our tours, we were treated to a nice lunch at the owner’s family residence for some Belizean chicken stew, rice and beans and cold beverages under a large bamboo palapa (all included with the tour price).  Overall, it was an a amazing experience we would gladly do again if we find ourselves in Belize.

Belize Cave Tubing with kids Thoughts and Tips:

  • Keep bugs away. Bring and generously spray the family with Insect repellant. You’re hiking through a jungle and are on a river in a tropical island that could have a lot of mosquitoes depending on the weather.
  • Dress for the water.  Even though your behind may be the only thing getting wet, be sure to dress accordingly and wear bathing suits or west suits.  My son was very comfortable having his long sleeve rash guard and I wish we had brought my daughter’s rash guard too.
  • Bring water shoes or old sneakers.  It was a bit rough walking with water shoes on the hike but definitely worth having when crossing the river.  If you don’t have one, water shoes could be rented for $3.
  • Dry up.  Don’t forget to bring the towels to dry off after the cave tubing tour.
  • Protect your skin.  Bring sunscreen and apply before going on the tour.  Despite portions of the tour inside the cave, the hike is through the jungle with some wide open spaces plus the float down the river afterwards.

Belize cave tubing river

  • Keep it dry.  If there are items you simply must carry with you, get a dry bag or sack to carry them.  We left most of our items in the locked van.
  • Capture memories.   Be sure to bring a waterproof camera or a waterproof case for your camera.  Granted you really can’t take any pictures inside the caves, the before and after shots still make for memorable photos.  Also bring a good, tight leash with your camera.
  • Quench the thirst.   We only brought along one container filled with water.  The hike on a tropical rainforest can easily make one thirsty and cold water would have been ideal.
  • Potty Breaks.  Let everyone use the restroom before leaving.  The overall trip with the hike and going into the cave and back took almost two hours.  There were no restroom facilities anywhere there unless you go primeval in the jungle.

Belize cave tubing

 *Would you go cave tubing?  Have you gone cave tubing in Belize or anywhere else? 

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Cave tubing in Belize with kids

31 thoughts on “Belize with kids: Cave tubing to hell and back”

  1. It sounds like the cave tubing was a great experience. I have only visited Belize for a day ona cruise, I enjoyed it and hope to return.

    1. Cave tubing was an amazing time. Belize surprised us too during our one day stop but we’d love to go back for a land-based vacation. Thanks Lisa!

  2. We snorkeled when we were in Belize, but I wish we’d have had time to do a cave tubing tour. That looks like you had SO much fun! My fave photos are of your son and the sleeping giant. ;)

    1. Thanks Courtney! Belize was so fun with so much more activities that I wish we had more time to do other things. I guess that’s why you get a preview of it and decide if you’d want to go back and we’d definitely go for a vacation.

  3. What an incredible experience! This would be one that I would only be doing because the kids were pushing me too though – I’m terribly nervous around water and having to cross that river and floating in dark caves would put me on edge! Were you worried about the kids floating away on you?

    1. This was not as nerve-wracking as zip lining. If give the chance, you should definitely do it. The floating on the river afterwards will make up for the dark cave. I was so nervous crossing that river with the kids but they were troopers and hung on pretty tight.

  4. This really looks like fun and went on my list. I snorkeled into an area like that along the Mexican Caribbean and wore a lycra suit the second time. Also had to walk almost 40 mins through jungle and was told to check for ticks afterwards. Looks like a lot of people on the bank yet once on the river spread out a bit.

    1. Thanks for stopping by Gaelyn. I wish I had a lycra suit too. They didn’t tell us to check for ticks so maybe it wasn’t around or in season? Yikes! There was always a bottleneck at the river banks especially with people nervously and slowly crossing the river.

    1. Thanks Pauline. It was very exciting. Belize had a lot of adventure tours from ATV to zip lining to this. It would make for a great vacation with a lot of activities.

  5. I’d definitely go – this looks like a lot of fun. We did some caving in Belize – in a minor way – but I think I would have enjoyed this a whole lot more! Your kids have done so many wonderful things already!!

    1. Yes, they are lucky kids and we let them know it =) It was so much fun and it was scary yet freeing. Hope you make it to Belize back soon.

  6. Wew! Great shots… I have read your “about me” section, Pinay ka po pala :) We do have this cave tubing in Puerto Princesa, nakapunta na kayo? Happy travel :)

    1. Thanks Gelai! Yes, I am a proud Pinay :) UnfortunaI ditely, I haven’t been back to the Philippines since I left when I was little. I didn’t know there was cave tubing in Puerto Princesa. I would love to visit and try it when we go back. Thanks for stopping by and safe travels to you too.

  7. Wow, what a wonderful blog! I found you searching for cruising info, and I am so amazed with all your travels and your site. Thank you for sharing. I think you’ve been everywhere on my bucket list, and I really appreciate the emphasis on kids.
    Could I ask you about the Belize excursion (we are doing the same cruise itinerary). If you had it to do over again, would you split your time between the cave tubing and zoo? I was thinking of doing the same, and then we decided to do a monkey park type of botanical gardens place in Roatan, so now I’m wondering if we should skip the zoo and have longer tubing. Would you say more tubing would have been too much for them? Was the zoo a real highlight? Thank you!

    1. Hi Denise! Thank you and I’m glad the blog was helpful. I would have done the exact same thing and split it between cave tubing and the zoo. The zoo didn’t take very long and it was quite an experience. I don’t know how old your kids are or if they’re animal lovers, but mine loved the zoo. If your kids are a little older (10+) then I would go with longer cave tubing. We saw some monkeys in Roatan too but was quite different from the zoo. The cave tubing was more of a highlight than the zoo for us. I hope this helps with your questions. Please let me know if you have any more questions.

      1. I think we’ll keep the plan to do the zoo as well. Thanks for your advice, and thanks again for sharing all your adventures! I will be visiting here for my travel planning!

  8. Sounds like a great thing to do. We went white water rafting in New Zealand which is awesome too though we had to abseil into the cave and climb out.

  9. We love Belize and spent 10 days there a few years ago. We’ve done to cave tubing more than once but prefer the less crowded areas. We rented a 4 wheel drive jeep and took to the back roads. I felt very safe and we visited Mayan temples in the jungle, swam in waterfalls, and spent some time in a mountain lodge with tame spider monkeys They feed the birds every morning and the toucans, macaws and more are amazing. They are quite cocky and will often land on your table begging for fruit scraps. I’ve also spent time on the beaches of San Pedro and the smaller keys. Snorkeling is well worth your time. Belize is a great place for a family vacation. I’m not a cruiser. I like to go and stay.

  10. This looks like fun. I’ve been kayaking, but never cave tubing. Just wondering, what if one of you guys had turned over. Would all of you have turned over? Or does the system prevent you from being tossed into the water?

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