Xunantunich Mayan Ruins Tours

Climbed El Castillo before the crowds arrived — their group was the second vehicle through the gate, so the plazas were empty and the photographs came out clean. Their guide Jose walked them through the site in detail and pointed out the trees on the way round.

Timed the whole day out: fifteen minutes from San Ignacio to the site, two hours on the ruins, then an hour and a half over to the caves. Advises bringing walking shoes for the ruins and separate water shoes for the tubing — the site is hot and the cave walk is wet.

Seventy-five years old and not, by her own account, in the best shape — but Leo stayed with her the whole way up the hill and talked her through it. She rated the float afterwards the highlight of her trip to Belize.

Brought pre-teens and expected a fight. Their guide Henry pitched the Maya material at them rather than over them, and they were still talking about it that night. They climbed several structures for views across into Guatemala.

Liked the Airbnb pickup and thought it worked well as a half-day, but felt the information could have been delivered in a more organised order. Rated it a solid half-day adventure rather than a standout.

Went on the afternoon departure and found seven people on the entire site, including their own group. Recommends the later slot for that reason, and good walking shoes.

The hand-cranked ferry was the part she flagged — she describes it as adding a layer of adventure before you even reach the ruins. Her guide Abner made the day memorable.

Carla knew the archaeology cold and was, in this reviewer's words, small but mighty on the river. Their only note: the ruins portion assumed some prior knowledge of Maya culture, and a beginner's overview first would have helped.

Their guide Pedro set the pace and let the slowest member of the group take the temple at their own speed. Warm day, and they had the site largely to themselves.

The ferry was out of service the day they went, so they only got the cave tubing. St Leonard's refunded the portion of the tour affected. Their guide Jose still made the cave leg worth it.

Rudy ran late on pickup — which they took in stride — then held the group with his storytelling through the ruins and tied the tubes together on the river so nobody had to work at it. Lunch included and, they say, good.

Booked a group tour and ended up with Jose to themselves. Arrived by eight with only a handful of others on site, and climbed roughly fifty metres to the top — steep, but broken into enough stages that it wasn't hard.