Belize
Belize
Our route is specifically designed to take in the best Mayan ruins, jungles and cultural experiences that Belize and Guatemala have to offer.
Schedule
Day:
1/2
Arrive and transfer to the beautiful jungle river Black Orchid Resort. A great riverside pool [river crocs prevent a river swim as inviting as it looks, never trust a smiling croc] and bar to relax for 1 1/2 days. Optional day ride to warm up to a baboon sanctuary
Day:
3
We will transfer about 15 miles out before starting along Belize’s Western Highway, we visit the charming villages of Roaring Creek, Teakettle and Georgeville before bedding down outside of San Ignacio near San Jose at the Trek Stop.
The day has nice paved rolling roads-75-80kms- a nice warm up day. Across the road is access where you’ll have the opportunity to visit the superb Xunantunich Mayan ruin that is accessible via a hand-cranked ferry. This can be done only if time permits. Tikal awaits the next day anyway.
Camping or Cabins
Day:
4/5
From here we ride our way over to the Guatemala border and the magnificent Tikal-95-100 kms or ride in truck for part of it. It will take maybe 30 minutes to get visas but is an easy process and we arrive there early. The road to Tikal is a gain a rolling road and nothing to tough with maybe a few steeper hills than first day. We’ll spend two nights at Tikal, giving you plenty of opportunities to soak in the mighty ruins and the surrounding wildlife filled jungle. A highlight will be watching the sunrise on top of Temple IV and then the whole morning to enjoy this spectacular site.
From our campsite[optional hotel] you can hear the Howler monkees primal roar. This tiny monkey has the loudest voice of any animal in the world. It may sound like Jurassic park in the dark forest but no worries. Often can hear them when riding as well. Tikal is a must as is a lot less crowded then its famous counter parts in Mexico and with a jungle setting, is more spectacular. If tired of temples i found a cool dirt road from the camp site to a remote village and small ruined temple--this can be an optional afternoon ride or rest and hit Tikals temples again as this site is huge. OR we will include a great Canopy tour in the afternoon with zip lines up to 150 meters long. Let us know your choice
Camping on site but there is options for 3 hotels on the Parks grounds at extra cost. Jaguar Inn is the cheapest and has a pool.
Day:
6
Road to Caracol
I personally love this days ride.
Early transfer back to San Ignacio in Belize, we take you down a 80km isolated jungle road to Caracol. This is the most remote we will get and a gorgeous peaceful ride as well as the hilliest. Only the last 10kms are paved and only dirt road of the tour. On route we stop for lunch at the Rio On Pools and waterfalls for a dip.
Caracol is Belize’s most impressive Mayan archaeological site and as well the most remote so the least visited. It’s here where Off Beat Roads has obtained special permission to camp right at the site. This means you have the unique opportunity to watch both a stunning sunrise and sunset on top of the ruins. This is subject to government permission ever year and if do not get will camp by the Rio Pools. Caracol for me is more spectacular than Tikal because of the intense jungle and remote setting around it. Lots of colorful birds and monkey sounds[Hey I'm a Believer] add to the aroma.
Day:
7
From Caracol we transfer back to the highway and a short ride as the tour makes it’s way to the edge of the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. Here is where the fabulous Actun Tunichil cave system is found. On arrival we will have lunch and then a 45 minute hike in the jungle and 3 river crossings takes us to our remote campsite near the cave.
Enjoy the camp used by archeologists when they are doing research. Even more so enjoy the peace and remoteness and jungles natural music.
If time can swim in the pool by the nearby cave entrance
Day:
8
Up early and after breakfest we spend about 1 1/2 hours exploring the Actun Tunichil Muknal cave system. Incredibly, the caves still contain significant Mayan pottery and skeletal remains[possible Mayan sacrifices as caves were thought to be where the Gods creAted the Mayan people].
You enter the cave by swimming and water levels range from that to ankle deep and in some levels are dry cathedrals where you can enjoy the stunning stalagmites/tites. By being their early we are in the cave system alone, no other tour groups, the way it should be seen. Lunch and the walk back to our trucks. Really short ride[or hop in the truck] to Blue Hole National Park in the afternoon. Swim in this magnificent jungle pool.
We will camp here or across the road at Jaguar Paw.
Day:
9
Morning swim/breakfest and season permitting, we will enjoy a river tube cave tour at Jaguar Paw. Float through part of the huge array of caves that dot this river. If river low we cannot do this.
Afternoon short ride to Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary.
This is a great days ride even though short as we cycle down Belize’s most beautiful road – the Hummingbird Highway. No worries as this highway has very little trafic and can be enjoyed in peace. Filled with incredible lush mountain scenery, this is riding at its best. The accommodation for the night is the Cockscomb Wildlife Sanctuary – a 155 square mile jaguar-filled jungle. Also famous for its hiking trails and bird watching. If time take a short hike and enjoy.
Camp or optional cabins at extra cost of 15-20$ pp
Day:
10/11
PLACENCIA and our destination.
Finish we an easy 80km ride that eventually takes us along the sandy blue watered coast that Placencia is famous for.
Our tour then concludes in the sleepy beach village of Placencia, where you’ll have two days to snorkel, scuba dive, fish or simply just laze around on the beach working on fixing those cycling tan lines.
Day:
12
Up early for transfer back to Burrell Boom and Black Orchid Resort, pack up bikes and off to airport. If do not want to do this, we can arrange more nites here to relax or anywhere else, as you may want to stay longer. Doug from Black Orchid can arrange whatever else you may want to do in Belize.
Our route is specifically designed to take in the best Mayan ruins, jungles and cultural experiences that Belize and Guatemala have to offer.