Xunantunich and Cahal Pech from San Ignacio
Description
7:30am - 8am pickup from hotels in SAN IGNACIO Town for 2 great Maya sites: Cahal Pech & Xunantunich, unique places to get yourselves familiar with Maya history. Climb, explore and fascinate yourselves with extraordinary structures built by mysterious Mayan people who continue to captivate our full attention and never ending questions as to who, where and what happened to them. Let yourself be pampered by the cool jungle settings, towering structures, let the Maya land whisper to you many of its secrets through your knowledgeable local guide, let time come to a standstill, while you admire breathtaking views of the forest-covered neighboring sites of Actuncan and San Lorenzo Valley before enjoying lunch at a local Restaurant. TOUR STARTS from SAN IGNACIO town UNLESS arrangements are made with local provider PRIOR to tour date. SPECIAL DIETS or ALLERGIES must be informed at time of booking. EXTRA FEE (payable cash at pickup time) for any pickups & drop offs OUTSIDE SAN IGNACIO TOWN.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Enjoy this tranquil & unique maya site: 1 - 2 hrs almost to yourself. Cahal Pech gives you a perfect start to maya history before heading to a bigger site - Xunantunich. Cahal Pech and Xunantunich both share an interesting history during the same time periods yet so different in setting.
You will explore the majestic Xunantunich maya site ( 1-2 hrs) hike, climb maya structures, enjoy amazing views of the countryside.
Enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant. (Lunch may change venue/location only if necessary)
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
NB: pickups & drop offs OUTSIDE San Ignacio Town need to be confirmed with local provider prior to tour date, since some may incur a minimal EXTRA FEE. Pickups anywhere in Belize City, Belmopan are ONLY available when arranged with local provider prior to tour date. THIS TOUR is not available for any cruise ship guest, this due to duration of tour plus distance from cruise ship terminals (approx 2 - 3 hours depending on location for docking of ship)
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- REQUIRED: min of 2 people, Children must be accompanied with one paying adult
- LOCAL PROVIDER must be informed of any vegetarran, vegan, gluten free or any other FOOF ALLERGY
- Wheelchair accessible; please advise at time of booking if wheelchair assistance is required
- Operates in all weather conditions; please dress appropriately as per local weather on day of tour
- REQUEST FOR car seat must be done at least 24 hours before tour date
- TOUR NOT AVAILABLE for CRUISE SHIP passengers due to duration of tour plus driving distance to & from cruise ship terminals
- PICKUP time starts 7am OR EARLIER for any hotel outside of San Ignacio town as per arrangement with local provider - before tour date
Reviews(35)
Great tour with and an excellent guide. Peter was knowledgeable in the rich history of the Mayan culture. The ruins are well preserved. We went in a week day and it wasn’t busy at all. Lunch was a tradition belizean meal at a local restaurant and probably one of our best meals on the trip. Highly recommend this tour.
Thank you for sharing about your time with your time with St Leonard's and Peter. We are so glad you were able to enjoy the site largely on your own and learn about the world of the ancient Maya. We are so happy you also enjoyed your grub to cap off a wonderful day.
Rod was very knowledgeable. We started at 8am and with the early start there was almost no one there at Cahal Pech which made it very intimate and unlike Chichen Itza which felt more like a tourist trap in Mexico. This felt off the beaten path and hard to believe that it was just us there. Rod was an excellent host and I would recommend this tour. He also took us to a nice local restaurant after.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience and for choosing St Leonard’s for your adventure. There’s something truly special about exploring Cahal Pech in the quiet of the early morning, and we’re so glad Rod was able to create that intimate, meaningful atmosphere for you. Avoiding the crowds and feeling like you’ve discovered something hidden and authentic is exactly the kind of memory we hope our guests take home. Rod takes great pride in making history feel personal and unhurried, and we love that you felt so well cared for throughout the day. We’re honored to have been part of your Belize experience and hope we can welcome you back for another unforgettable journey
Rod (Rudolph) was an amazing guide, perfectly combining his experience as an educator and his passion for sharing the Mayan culture and his beautiful hometown. So knowledgeable and kind, I highly recommend Rod and his staff for any and all tours you want to do in the San Ignacio are
Thank you for your wonderful review! At St. Leonard's, we are proud to have passionate guides like Rod, who bring history and culture to life with their knowledge and dedication. If you too are looking for an enriching and memorable tour experience in San Ignacio, we would love to share our beautiful home with you!
We had a wonderful guide (2/1/2025), who was able to give us interesting background, respond to all our questions, and make the trip just what we wanted. Cannot recommend this company and trip enough
Thank you for your kind words! At St. Leonard’s, we believe that every tour should be more than just a journey—it should be an unforgettable experience filled with history, connection, and adventure. Rod’s passion and amazing insights about all things Maya and love for sharing Belize’s rich culture and landscapes truly makes each trip special, and we’re thrilled he made your experience exactly what you wanted. To all future guests, if you’re looking for a guide who brings history to life and a tour that feels personal and meaningful, we can’t wait to welcome you!
Both sites were quite different in a good way Peche Cahal more compact but had some interesting passageways. Xuanantich was larger and had a larger central pyramid. Our guide, Jose, was incredibly knowledgeable and had a great personality. I would go on any tour he was guiding.
Thank you for taking time to write a 5 Star review. We really appreciate it!! We are so glad you had a great experience with St Leonard's and Jose.
We loved this combo tour! Go in the morning, when it's a bit cooler and less crowded, and a must is to wear comfortable walking/hiking shoes because I was immensely glad I packed good shoes, if only for this specific tour; I don't think my Teva strap sandals would've sufficed. It's a steep climb at both sites, and slippery from the moss, but worth making it to the top of these structures to feel like how the Maya royals felt surveying their land! The sites are beautiful, but mostly we want to praise our tour guide with San Ignacio Resort, Cruz!!!!! Absolutely lovely man who is so incredibly knowledgeable about everything at these sites. He told us he has over 20 years experience and it shows! He gave us indepth insights and information, and is genuinely passionate about the history and recovery efforts at these sites. Gave us information about surrounding areas during our drive, information about Flora/fauna of the area. We can not say enough how much we loved this tour guide. Ask for him when you book this tour or any other! You will have zero regrets!
Rod and Carla were the best most knowledgeable tour guides on earth. They are incredible and we connected with them. We learned a lot and enjoyed the tour. We highly recommend.
We're so happy to hear that you had such a fantastic experience with Rod and Carla on our tour! Their expertise and knowledge made for an unforgettable journey, and we're delighted that you connected with them. Learning and enjoyment often go hand in hand, and it's wonderful to know that you found the tour both educational and enjoyable. Thank you for your glowing recommendation; it means the world to us. We look forward to welcoming you back for more memorable adventures in the future!
Our guide was very knowledgeable and pleasant and helpful to plan for the next adventure. The view was spectacular!
It sounds like you had an incredible time! Having a knowledgeable and accommodating guide can truly make an adventure unforgettable. And with a spectacular view to complement the experience, it seems like the perfect combination for a memorable journey. Thanks for sharing your positive feedback!
Incredible Mayan sites, we had a great day with Karla, she was very professional, friendly and she knew all the history and answered all our questions. Lunch was also delicious! Thank you so much Karla for the excellent service!!
Thank you for your glowing review! We're delighted that Karla provided such a fantastic experience, sharing her expertise and making your visit to the Mayan sites memorable. It's wonderful to hear that you enjoyed both the historical insights and the delicious lunch. We'll make sure to pass on your kind words to Carla. We look forward to hosting you again for more incredible explorations!
We had a marvelous time. Our guide Rod was so knowledgeable, he took the time to help us understand not only the Mayan culture at the time, but the people of Belize. As well, we learned of the plant life. Then we had the most incredible lunch. A truly amazing day.
Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful experience! We really appreciate hearing from you. It sounds like you had an incredible day with Rod as your guide. It's fantastic to hear that he not only provided insightful information about the Mayan culture but also took the time to share his knowledge about the people of Belize and the local plant life. A guide who goes the extra mile to offer a holistic and enriching experience can truly make a trip memorable. And, of course, a delicious lunch is always the cherry on top! Thank you once again!!
