Although Belize is best known for its gorgeous beaches, lush rainforests, majestic waterfalls, and world-class snorkeling and diving on the Belize Barrier Reef, one of the most ubiquitously Belizean experiments is the unique sport or adventure option known as cave tubing.
The geology of Belize has created thousands of caves, many of which were used as sacred ceremonial sites by the ancient Maya that once ruled the country in the long centuries before the arrival of Europeans. The ancient Maya believed that the natural limestone formations of caves were sacred nexuses that connected the upper world of humans with the underworld of the gods.
Some of the caves in Belize are home to underground creeks and rivers. Cave tubing is the uniquely Belizean sport of floating on inner tubes through a series of subterranean labyrinths, many of them still containing artifacts, weapons, pottery, and even skeletons of the humans who were sacrificed by ancient Maya priests.
Although cave tubing is a very safe sport, transitioning from the bright saturation of jungle foliage to the inky darkness of a cave can be quite daunting to some visitors. Some of the enormous mineral formations inside the cave have not seen light for centuries, reflecting strange and eerie flashes in the light of a head torch or flashlight. Experienced guides ensure that participants can safely enjoy the experience while offering educational insights about the geology and long history of the caves.
Cave tubing is often marketed as a sport or adventure experience, but many participants find it has a meditative or deeply spiritual effect. Gently floating down a stream or river on an inner tube, passing from the world of light and noise into a world of utter darkness, silence, and enormous monolithic structures that go on for miles before once again returning to the light of day leaves many participants with a sensation of being reborn.
Because the ideal rivers for cave tubing are located deep in the jungle, many participants enjoy combining cave tubing with other complementary activities including zip lining through the canopy or spelunking one of the many sacred caves in the country, including ATM (Actun Tunichil Muknal) Cave that still hosts the complete skeletons of young children sacrificed to Maya gods more than 1,000 years ago.
Chabil Mar resort located on the Placencia Peninsula offers guests Belize jungle and sea packages that include cave tubing, zip lining, and other exciting activities.
For more information about cave tubing in Belize, feel free to chat with our Concierge at: concierge@chabilmarvillas.com or contact our Reservations Manager at: reservations@chabilmarvillas.com. Or perhaps you would like to call toll free from the US or Canada: 1-866-417-2377.
