Altun-Ha and Belize City Overview

Altun Ha Mayan Ruins Excursion near Belize City
Price: $55.00
Choose Options My Cruise Itinerary
Summary
Shore Excursion Size ? Standard
Shore Excursion Type Cultural
Shore Excursion Duration 4 Hours
Activity Level ? Moderate
Shore Excursion Leaves From ? Cruise Ship Tender Pier
Food/Beverage Provided Beverage Included
Recommended Dress We recommend comfortable clothing and sensible walking shoes or sneakers, which are required for walking through the ruins. Sunglasses and sunscreen are also suggested.
Restrictions Guests must be able to walk over packed dirt and grass terrain with inclines. There are uneven steps at the site. This tour is not recommended for children 3 and under. Please be aware that the road from the highway to the site is in poor condition and the ride is bumpy. Guests with neck, back, or hip ailments, and pregnant women should not participate in this tour.

Explore Altun Ha Mayan Ruins

Escape the large buses and the crowds that come on them on the Altun-Ha and Belize City excursion. As you drive for approximately 1 hour through the countryside to reach the site, your Belize tour guide will tell you of the mysterious and mystical Mayans.

The Altun-Ha (Mayan for stone water) area was first populated in 1000 B.C. and the city was expanded in A.D. 700. It is believed to have had a population of 3,000. Many high-status items, including jade recovered at the site, indicate the city was home to many wealthy citizens. Structure B4 revealed a richly furnished tomb of one of Altun-Ha's rulers, and among its contents is the largest jadeite sculpture yet found. It represents Kinich Ahau, the Mayan sun god. Weighing in at almost nine pounds, this has been Belize's most valuable find to date. Other tombs contained jadeite objects as well.

Excavations indicate that this center was part of a trade network that reached from the Caribbean coast to the central lowlands of Guatemala. The site covers an area of about five square miles. The central square mile of the site has remains of around 500 structures, the largest of which, the Temple of the Masonry Altars, is 54 feet high.

After your Altun-Ha tour, you will travel back to Belize City where you will see historical sites such as St. John's Cathedral, where Kings from the Mosquito Coast were crowned, and the colonial mansion once occupied by British governors. This Belize excursion concludes at the Belize Tourism Village.

4.5 Stars4.6 / 5  |  157 ReviewsReview This Tour
First Ruin Excursion
February 23, 2023
The process and directions to our meeting place were very clear. Our guide was very knowledgeable and passionate about his culture. He was very accommodating for our special needs son. All in all, a great tour!!
Reviewer: Heather Johnson
5 Stars
Altun Ha
January 28, 2023
We were able to see many of the sights in the city, then traveled to the ruins. Our guide (a Mayan ancestor) used a conch shell horn to receive permission from the gods to be in the area. That was really interesting to see. He was very knowledgeable, and even other guides were interested in hearing him speak. When we left the ruins area, we were able to stop at a rum factory prior to going back to the ship.
Reviewer: Jennifer Buchanan
5 Stars
Wonderful tour of Mayan Ruins and Belize City
January 30, 2022
Excellent guide and van driver. We enjoyed this site better than Pachu Micchu in Peru. The grounds are beautiful and we did not encounter any large groups of people. Our guide provided us with a ton of history and associated information. We highly recommend this tour!
Reviewer: Jack and Kris Boheim
5 Stars
Great excursion experience
December 07, 2021
I guess because of Covid our group was only 5 but our tour guide was most informative and easy to talk to. Our ride was an hr to the Ruins and that too wasn’t filed with too much chatter and you could enjoy the scenery. Overall wonderful experience
Reviewer: Bridgette Jardine
4 Stars
Outstanding!
March 28, 2020
Informative... Great small tour without the crowds who arrived as we were leaving! Altun-Ha was impressive.
Reviewer: dp
5 Stars
Altun- Ha
March 25, 2020
Our driver was very knowlegible and lots of fun. It was a hot and day and she provided cold bottled water. Mu husband had a little trouble walking so she took extra care and time with him.
Reviewer: carol lazo
4 Stars