Caracol Maya Ruins Tour Including Rio On Pools, Rio Frio Cave And A Picnic Lunch

We had a great, full day at the ruins. The pick-up was early, but it sure beat having to get to the tour office by ourselves. Our guide Edioni (? spelling) was very knowledgeable; it was awesome that he provided information about the country all throughout the bus ride to the site. We also appreciated having a stop on the way to and from the ruins to break up the drive and fill out the day. The ruins themselves were fantastic to see and explore. Be prepared to climb if you're interested in a great view! We also wanted to highlight that our driver Eric demonstrated skill handling some tough inclines and roads and Sadia (? spelling) provided an amazing lunch for us! Thank you for a wonderful experience.

Great tour - really knowledgeable and patient guide, lots of great information about ancient Mayan culture. Delicious lunch! Would recommend for any age of travelers! Moderately taxing in terms of walking/climbing, though the guide is happy to work with whatever level of exertion you would prefer.

What an unforgettable day! As a couple from Spain, we were delighted that Leo effortlessly switched to perfect Spanish, making the experience even more enjoyable. His knowledge of Maya history and culture was simply outstanding. He didn’t just explain the ruins, he brought Caracol to life through fascinating stories, historical context, and an obvious passion for Belize, its people, and its heritage. Every question we asked was answered with incredible depth. We were also amazed to learn that he had personally participated in the excavation of Caracol. What a privilege to explore such an extraordinary place with someone who helped uncover its history! The stop at Big Rock Falls was the perfect ending, absolutely gorgeous. Thank you, Leo, for an experience we’ll never forget

Tour was amazing! Isael was very friendly, patient and knowledgeable. Him along with the driver and food staff made the entire tour very enjoyable. Drive was comfortable and we are very pleased with the experience. Definitely recommend it.

Great experience. Our guide Eddy was well informed and answered any questions. The lunch was delicious as well.

I'd made a reservation for this tour months in advance to coincide with a trip to Guatemala. I flew from Guatemala City to Belize City, hired a van to drive 2 hours to San Ignacio, checked into my hotel, and stopped by the MayaWalks' office just before it closed that same evening -- only to learn that my Caracol tour, scheduled for the following morning, had just been cancelled since I was its only customer. I explained that I had traveled to Belize specifically for this tour and was returning to the USA the day after the tour. MayaWalks offered , for a slightly higher price, its Tikal tour or, if I really wanted to go to Caracol, I could pay and additional $150 (for a "second customer"). I responded that I'd already been to Tikal and that it would have been far easier and cheaper for me to travel directly to Flores while I was in Guatemala . IStill interested in Caracol, I asked if they could lower the $150 "surcharge" by eliminating all of the Caracol Ruins' "extras" (lunch, visits to the caves, etc.) since I was ONLY interested in the ruins themselves. The response was no. Left with little choice, I accepted the Tikal Tour offer although it took extra effort to convince them to waive the "extra cost." Again, I understand that it was off-season -- but I think MayaWalks could have been far more accommodating for a customer who'd traveled far, paid for transportation to and from San Ignacio, booked a hotel for 2 nights, and ended up returning to Guatemala to visit a site he'd already seen. Very disappointing (to say the least).

Our trip to Caracol and Rio On Pools was wonderful. Our guide has extensive knowledge of the native birds and animals. He also ensured that we had ample opportunities for pictures and gladly offered to take our photos. One of the highlights of our trip was our chance to witness a family of Howler Monkeys up close at Caracol. Rio On Pools was also fun, especially after spending all morning in the heat. We enjoyed the natural swimming pools, which provided a perfect spot to cool off and unwind. The delicious lunch provided after exploring Caracol was also a delightful addition to our overall experience.

Did 4 Mayan ruins on trip, Caracol was the only one I did as a tour. Very glad I did so. It is a very long drive, so let someone else do it. Loved Rio cave to start. Isreal was my guide and very knowledge about this site and his culture. They allow solo bookings (others require at least 2 people just to book) - as a solo you are dependant on others also doing the tour. Definitely recommend MayaWalk tours!

An impressive site. The enormous number of visible structures not yet uncovered was almost as intriguing as those that were.

Today, we had an incredible experience visiting the Caracol Mayan Ruins with MayaWalk Tours. Since no other tourists had booked it that day, we ended up with a private tour. This allowed us to explore the entire site on our own, creating a truly magical experience. We’ve visited other Mayan sites in Guatemala and Honduras during this trip, but Caracol was equally beautiful. Adding visits to Rio Frio Cave and Rio On Pools made the trip even more memorable. Everything was well-organized, and our guide, Isael (Issy), was incredibly knowledgeable and professional. The picnic lunch was also top-notch.

Had a great experience on this tour. Very knowledgeable and friendly guide. The rest of the team staff is very professional and friendly as well. Highly recommend this company and this tour. The site is beautiful with a fascinating history.

We visited Caracol Archaeological site, which was just spectacular. I have been to many here in Belize, and this one was right at the top. Plus, our guide, Iseal, was extremely knowledgeable with his Mayan background, Caracol history, and overall Belize devotion. The extra stops at Rio Frio cave and the river swimming spots topped off the experience.

We went during the slow season and were fortunate to get a private tour. Our guide, Alex, was absolutely amazing and shared sooo much knowledge with us. He was a great teacher, drawing diagrams on the ground with sticks, teaching us the number system, cracking open nuts on the ground to show us the seeds, lighting nature’s incense from a tree - it was very hands on and interactive. He knew all the answers to our questions and was also very personable, making the tour incredibly educational and fun. He was also very understanding about my fear of heights and even held my bag for me so I could concentrate more when walking down. The stop at the cave on our way there was enlightening and he took really nice pics of us. Also, the stop at the Rio On pools was very refreshing too. Our driver, Alex, was very nice as well and drove very responsibly and kept us safe. They also made a special stop for us when they spotted a Tapir on the side of the road. We also saw howling monkeys at the ruins. Lunch was also very tasty and super chill. Alex and the Mayawalk staff made the experience incredible.

Eddy our guide was so incredibly knowledgeable. Not just on the site but all of Belize culture. It’s fascinating. You can tell when you are out there that Mayawalk tours is a big step up from all the other tour companies. Better bus, lunch, guides, everything. This is a must do experience

We had a great time! There was a lot to learn and our guide was very knowledgeable. While we could have done a self guided trip, we would not have been able to learn as much about the Mayan culture or understand the significance of the various structures as we did. Also, having the tour bus allowed us to ask more questions and see more of the beautiful landscape and various towns along the way.

Great time. Guides were sensitive to help our grand children have a good time too. They took time out to help us spot a rare bird and did not make us feel rushed. Very informative throughout the trip. Good jokes.

This trip was an excellent experience. The hike to the cave was a beautiful walk in the forest where our guide showed us many cool plants and birds. We learned so much about the history of Caracol while walking around it, and got to see more cool wildlife. The lunch was deliciously prepared and served hot. They were very generous with the portions. The swimming at the pools felt a little bit rushed but we were tired from a long day anyway. There are facilities to change at the pools but they weren’t the cleanest. The van we traveled in was very clean, and the driver was very capable. Note that you will not have cell service for most of the trip, plan accordingly. Overall an excellent full day trip filled with lots of different adventures. Very informative and fun, I would recommend for anyone.

Beautiful Experience from start to Finish. Our Guide was Mayan descent and we received an incredible perspective of the Mayan Ruins of the Past and the Current Mayans of the “Mayan Mundo” Food was great and everything was well organized. N Gomez

The company itself was easy to work with, and they were very communicative. They have great reviews and decent pricing. My tour guide was knowledgeable and answered all my questions. I would not really recommend caracol though. The experience was definitely cool, but I think you can get that same experience from any of the other ruins that are much closer. I didn’t feel like it was worth the driving an extra time spent. We did also visit a cave and waterfall, but we didn’t spend a lot of time there. A good amount of time was spent in the car, unfortunately

Great guide, great lunch, great sights, great country

Really good day, small group, not busy at the site, caves or pools. Isael was a knowledgeable guide, and Eric drove us safely.

We had Ed as our tour guide and he was so knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. The tour was small- only four of us- he had a perfect mix of educating us and letting us explore. He not only provided insight into ancient Mayan culture but also current Belizean agriculture, customs, and wildlife. He also was expert at spotting Tucans! I absolutely recommend!

There are several Mayan sites that can be explored in Belize (and in nearby Guatemala); I chose to visit Caracol because I understood it was an important and vast site during the Classic Period, and because of its location it was less touristed than some of the other sites. I chose MayaWalks because they are an experienced tour operator in Belize, and the company gives some of its proceeds back to habitat conservation in Belize This was one of two tours I took with MayaWalks – both had excellent quality guides who held a wealth of knowledge. Our guide for Caracol provided a good primer on what to know about Caracol to enhance the experience – things like the role of math and astronomy in the culture, agricultural practices, Mayan spiritual rituals, the rise and fall of the habitation of the site, and the current thinking on the reasons of this decline, well before the arrival of Europeans. While visiting the site on ones own would still be worthwhile, I felt that our guide really provided the context to appreciate the site more fully. I learned a lot about the culture of the people who once inhabited this large metropolis – the gods they communed with, the games they played, the food they ate, how they built these cities. What the ascent and fall of Caracol teaches us is very relevant to the world today. On the day we visited Caracol, there were just a handful of other tour groups, and while Caracol during the Classic Period would have been full of people, I appreciated seeing the site in the present day without it being overrun with tourists. Reaching the top of the Sky Castle way above the treetops, and looking over the lush landscape almost devoid of people, with a heavy mist and the songs of Toucans in their air, lent a kind of spiritual feeling to the experience. This tour included two other stops at Rio Frio and Rio On – both quite picturesque, making for a full and varied day. Also included is a delicious lunch. MayaWalks, on both tours I took during my stay in Belize, demonstrated an excellent level of professionalism, from their pre-tour organization, to their promptness the day of, the great drivers, and the knowledgeable guides. Highly recommended.

Very well organized tour. It started with free coffee at the office of the tour company. Good tour guide and skilled young driver. We were accompanied by a lady from a local restaurant who served us lunch at the picnic area after we visited the ruins. Caracol is a must see Mayan complex. Drive was good, there is a new road to the ruins from San Ignacio. The cave and the Rio Frio pools were nice breaks during the tour, especially in hot days.

Our guide, Jesar, was great. His passion and diverse knowledge made this a trip not just about Mayan archaeology, but also about birds and Belizean culture.

Highly recommend this tour! Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about a wide range of topics. He was also friendly and professional. It is definitely a packed day but all the sites and activities were great.

This was an amazing experience. I wish we got more time at the Rio on Pools but our guide Isael was so knowledgeable and was engaging with the kids. Great tour!

Very good trip. 6.45am pickup was probably too early. Only 4 of us in our group. I dont recall the guys name but I had him for two tours. Comfortable drive to Rio Frio Cave, Caracol, and Rio On Pools. It was too cold to swim. Caracol is an interesting large site. it was not too hot or crowded and plenty of time to explore. All the tours offer the same lunch rice-beans and chicken. Well run tour company, I also did Barton Creek with them.

We recently toured the Caracol ruins with Mayawalk Tours, and we truly could not be happier with the experience. From start to finish, the guide, driver, and server were exceptional on this full-day adventure. Our guide, Isael, led us through Caracol with thoughtful explanations about the history and cultural significance of what remains of this remarkable ancient city. We also visited Rio Frio Cave and Rio On Pools, both of which were beautiful additions to the day. Isael was knowledgeable not only about Mayan history but also about local plants, wildlife, and the surrounding landscape, which made the experience even more meaningful. We enjoyed a delicious picnic lunch of chicken, rice and beans, and coleslaw, which was the perfect way to refuel. Getting around the ruins was more physically demanding than we expected, especially with all the stairs, but it was manageable and absolutely worth it for the views and the history. We are very grateful to Isael and the Mayawalk team for making our visit such a memorable and special experience.

The tour was outstanding and made so by our very knowledgeable guide Iseal. As a bonus we saw many many bird species including quite a few of the Keel billed toucan. What a gift. The explanation of Carocal was very enlightening and made it more meaningful.

Guide Ed, driver Alex were excellent. Patient, it was a very unrushed tour. Quite fun, food was good. Highly recommend them.

Very good small group tour to the ruins, cave, and waterfall. Knowledgeable guide. Will pick/drop at any points in town. Lunch included but avoid the juice diluted in local tap water.

Really informative tour of the Caracol site, its discovery, importance, and restoration along with a nice overview of Mayan history and culture. Added bonus were sightings of howler moneys, toucans, hawks and collection of Montezuma Oropendola nests. Our tour guide Isael was awesome and took great care of us in the caves and up the temple steps (amazing views!) and also shared a bit about the native flora and fauna in addition to the rich cultural history. Partway through, we enjoyed a delicious, hearty Belizean lunch of seasoned chicken, rice, beans, juice and a chocolate mini-muffin. A wonderful experience and totally worth the time and effort!

A fantastic day with a great guide in Alex. Well worth the stop at the caves as it gave us chance to walk through the forest too. The site at Caracol was very interesting and exceeded our expectations. We had added bonus of seeing a group of howler monkeys. Alex as our guide was very knowledgable & passionate about Belize, Caracol and nature which we really appreciated. Alex looked after us really well especially as I was a little unwell. The lunch was really tasty too. Thank you for all. Totally recommend.

We recently used Maya Walk Tours from San Ignacio for 2 tours. One was to Caracol Maya Ruins . Great guides, both very informative and made the experience safe and fun. Great meal provided.

Jory, the guide for Caracol was very knowledgeable and a well versed story teller. I thoroughly enjoyed the informative trip.

Caracol is a beautiful Mayan site with so many buildings and a lot to offer. Rio Frio is interesting, and if it's the only cave you see certainly worth a visit. Rio On would have been an excellent way to end the day except it poured rain making the pools unnecessary :). Picnic lunch was very tasty. Our group was about 10 people, and in a ruin so large and a challenging climb to the top, I realize it's hard for a guide to accompany everyone, but I think he was unfortunately the difference between 4 and 5 stars. It felt like a check list rather than actually engaged in the work, and he had no interest in climbing with us to explain what we were seeing along the way. Although he was very mindful of our safety, particularly at the pools where it was very slippery.

Our guide O'Neill was fantastic - he safely drove us to the site filling us in on local sites and history and then provided excellent information about the Mayan ruins, the history and the archaelogist efforts in the area. Without the guide the site would have been significantly less interesting.

It was the best tour I could have gone on. The ruins were fantastic and Israel was the best guide ever! He was patient, kind and easy going. I was relaxed and had such a good time exploring. The information given was informative and very interesting. The pick up at the hotel made it easy for me. The lunch of chicken and rice was delicious and plentiful. Everyone was so nice and helpful. I would highly recommend this tour to travelers, especially first time in Belize travelers.

I highly recommend this tour! It was beautiful. Ed, our tour guide was awesome! The ruins were out of this world. We got to see a crocodile and howler monkeys! We met a couple of tarantulas too. It was a full day and Ed brought a delicious lunch. The stilas were pristine. Caracol is worth seeing, it's a step into the past and glimpse of a brilliant ancient civilization.

A great day out with fascinating experiences of Belize's history and nature. A well organised tour. Maya Walk Tours always responded promptly to emails and messages. I was able to work out pick and drop off arrangements since I was staying along the route to Caracol. Rio Frio Cave was worth the long walk. An enormous cavern with water flowing through it and steps that take you up to a vantage point inside. Caracol was an amazing insight into Mayan life. The climb to the top of the temple/palace was well worth the effort. There was a short cut to the left of the lower level which made for a much quicker and easier descent but need to be mindful of the broken hand rail. The guide was very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. Rio On Pools was a very scenic spot in spite of the rain. I wasn't game to brave the cold water but others enjoyed it!

Great day at Caracol with a knowledgeable guide. The day was broken up well with a hike to a cave, then the ruins and then a dip in the Rio On pools. Lunch was decent and served on time. I would use MayaWalk tours again for other trips. Well organized and well executed.

Wow. There are few cultural sites of this significance where you don’t feel crowded by other visitors. Our guide, Neri, booked through Maya Mountain Lodge, was delightful and knowledgeable about everything we asked — Mayan history, wildlife, birds, insects, plants — and engaged our 9- and 12-yr olds in all we were doing. We felt truly privileged to be there.

Excellent and very skilled Driver Excellent Tour Guide. Very knowledgeable. Answered many questions. He was Patient and informative. Delicious food and drinks, enough for a second serving

We had a wonderful experience with this tour and was our favorite in Belize! I highly suggest this company and want to give a shoutout to Izzy, whom was so knowledge - we were very impressed by him and the service given. We would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone!

My tour today with Ed/ Eric was fantastic, great first day in San Ignacio. The booking agents are also extremely friendly, helpful and not pushy. They let me know in advance that they would check in early morning as to whether or not my original tour would be on given the water levels. Turned out it was canceled, so I went on this one instead, and no complaints here! Ed is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to the history of the Mayan and belizean cultures, you can tell he loves what he does. The bus was well kept, cool, and good suspension. The only two pieces of constructive advise 1) Make sure guests know that they should have a hefty and full breakfast before the tour. Lunch is after many hours hiking in the sun, and you really work up an appetite. I didn’t realize we were picnicking at the actual archaeological site, which was so charming and cute. The food was great, but protein portions extremely small, it was mostly rice and one small piece of chicken leg or a small thigh with mayo coleslaw. 2)Recommend the team put their WhatsApp on their website for those that don’t have local lines. Cooling down at the Rio Pools was so lovely and a great way to end the trip. Highly recommend! Don’t forget to tip your crew, they’re too humble to ask which is so refreshing honestly.

So happy that I chose this tour. The experience is much more intimate than any other Mayan ruins. Not crowded at all’ at times, we have the place all to ourselves. Out guide Leo was excellent. He is experienced and knowledgeable, made this tour much more worthwhile.

So great! Thank you Ed, that was the highlight of san Ignacio. The meal was delicious, the trip so insightful, everything was 10/10

Caracol was definitely an impressive site. Lots of great temples and structures that you are still able to fully explore while you're there. The Rio Cave was beautiful but there was a 30 min hike to get to it for reference. Not super challenging, just felt really long in the heat. DEFINITELY bring a large bottle of water. The pools were beautiful but the rock was very slippery where it was in the water so I recommend a good set of shoes that you don't mind using in the water here. Great guide with great information and stories that really fleshed out what we were seeing around us. MayaWalk takes good care of it's tour groups and man their picnic lunches are tasty!