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Summary
Belize attractions include a large number of Mayan ruins in addition to its famous cave tubing. It also is one of the few locations to promote caving as a tourist attraction. So visitors who do not have an interest in cave tubing can try other caves for a more normal experience. The barrier reef is 185 miles long; islands lie between the reef and the mainland, creating numerous opportunities for water sports, especially diving and snorkeling.

Altun Ha Mayan ruin; © Caribeez.com, BigStockPhoto.com

Altun Ha

Cave Tubing
The seven-hour trip is one of the top excursions in the Caribbean. Visitors will take a somewhat lengthy ride into the country, followed by a hike through rain forest to reach the Sibun River Cave Branch. Once there, they jump into uniquely beautiful lime green water, pop through a tube and float down the river and through dark caves for about 1.5 hours.

Belize City
Museum of Belize, built as a colonial prison in the mid-1800s, has a permanent exhibit of ancient Maya pottery as well as displays on the history of Belize City and Belize's Maya history. Baron Bliss Lighthouse Monument at Fort George Point, standing over the harbor entrance, was built from money donated to the country by the 5th baron of Portugal. Baron Bliss was entombed in front of the lighthouse, which he designed himself prior to his death. St John's Cathedral is the oldest building in Belize as well as the oldest Anglican Church in Central America. Slaves built the cathedral in the 1800s from bricks brought to Belize as ballast in the hulls of ships sailing from Europe. After the church was the site for coronation of several Indian Kings of the Mosquito Coast.

The Blue Hole
The most famous dive site in Belize is The Blue Hole in the center of Lighthouse Reef Atoll, about fifty miles east of Belize City. The hole is a nearly perfect circle 1,000 feet wide and 412 feet deep that was formed when the roof of a cave fell in about 10,000 years ago. The Blue Hole is so large it is visible from outer space.

Caracol
Caracol is the largest-known Maya center in Belize. The largest pyramid in Caracol is 143 feet high and the tallest man-made structure in the entire country. The site is located in the Chiquibul Rain Forest.

Xunantunich
This major ceremonial center has six large plazas and is surrounded by more than 25 temples and palaces. The most prominent structure located at the south end of the site is a pyramid 130 feet tall. "El Castillo" was the tallest man-made structure in Belize until the discovery of "Canaa" at Caracol. "El Castillo" also is noteworthy for the reconstructed frieze on the temple.