Barton Creek Caves
Been there recently?
Barton Creek Cave, located near San Ignacio in the Cayo District, is one of Belize’s most popular cave attractions and a significant Maya archaeological site. This stunning cave system is explored by canoe, allowing visitors to glide peacefully along its crystal-clear stream while admiring towering rock formations and ancient Maya artifacts hidden within the caverns.
Barton Creek Cave is a single-passage resurging stream cave known for its impressive length and ongoing exploration. By 2002, surveys documented over 6,400 m (21,000 ft) of mapped passages, with dye tracing suggesting an additional 6 km (3.7 mi) beyond the terminal sumps. Continued exploration by the Xibalba Mapping and Exploration Team expanded the mapped network to 8 km (5 mi) by 2005, highlighting the cave’s vast and mysterious underground system.
With its serene canoe journey, archaeological significance, and expansive cave passages, Barton Creek Cave offers one of Belize’s most unique and memorable cave experiences.
-
Departure Time
8:00 AM -
Return Time
1:00 PM -
Dress Code
Comfortable clothing and foot wear (preferably water shoes like keens, tevas or chacos). Optional: Sun block, repellent, hats. Do not forget your cameras!
Tour Plan
Experience one of Belize’s most peaceful and fascinating cave adventures with a Barton Creek Cave canoe tour. Located about 20 miles southeast of San Ignacio—approximately a 1 hour and 20 minute drive—this tour takes you through beautiful orange orchards, open farmlands, and the traditional Barton Creek Mennonite (Amish) community before reaching the archaeological reserve.
Upon arrival, we gear up for an unforgettable canoeing journey inside the Barton Creek Cave system. As you glide along the underground river, you’ll see hundreds of stunning stalactites and stalagmites, dramatic rock formations, and evidence of ancient Maya rituals once performed deep within the cave.
We canoe approximately one mile into the cave, a tranquil and immersive experience lasting about 1.5 hours. After the cave tour, we drive back to the resort.
This half-day adventure is perfect on its own and can also be combined with other tours for a full-day Belize experience.
Tour Location