August: A Great Month To Explore Belize

For solo travelers, friend groups, couples, and families, August is an excellent month to visit Belize. During this time period, daytime temperatures tend to sit around 89F (31C), while nighttime temperatures usually clock in around 78F (25C) - perfect vacation temperatures. Aside from the beautiful weather, the nation is also packed with fun and exciting things to do during the entire month.

For instance, if you feel like going on an adventure, you can take a trip out into one of Belize's lush jungles or rainforests. There, you will be able to marvel at the vast array of unique animals that call the region home. If you get tired, you can take a seat beneath one of the many cascading waterfalls that are dotted throughout the landscape.

Of course, no trip to Belize in August would be complete without going on an excursion to the Belize Barrier Reef. This natural wonder is the second-longest of its kind in the world and is home to more than 500 species of fish. It is, quite simply, the perfect spot to go snorkeling or scuba diving.

If you are interested in learning more about Belize's storied past during your August vacation, you can take a trip to one of the country's many ancient Maya sites. During your time there, you will be able to gain first-hand knowledge of how the great Maya civilization once lived and worshipped. Xunantunich and Tikal in Guatemala should be near the top of your list of spots to visit.

Having seen the Maya ruins, you may also be interested in exploring one of their sacred caves. If so, plan on taking an excursion to Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave, near San Ignacio. This historic site was once used for religious ceremonies and human sacrifices. In fact, when you visit today, you can still see the skeletal remains of people who died in the cave.

No matter what you plan on doing during your August vacation in Belize, you can book it all through Untame Belize. Our amazing team can help you arrange tours of the jungle, trips to ATM cave, excursions to the Maya ruins, and just about everything else you might want to do during your time in Belize. We can even provide you with airport transfers and shuttles. To learn more about Untame Belize and our impressive service offerings, visit www.UntameBelize.com.

Belize Shuttles: What To Know About Booking Shuttles

Trying to figure out how to navigate Belize when you should be having fun? You need a trusted shuttle service.

If you’ve ever waited around for a van hired to collect a bunch of travelers at an airport or stood in line to grab an expensive cab or limousine, you know that the value of a good shuttle service is priceless in terms of saving time and cutting back on travel stressors.

In Belize, Untame Belize Shuttles is the name to remember next time you travel to this Central American nation because this service could make the difference between a so-so vacation and one that is exceptional.

10 Reasons to book a shuttle when visiting Belize

1. You don’t have time to arrange for transport every time you turn around. You’re on vacation!
2. Who wants to travel a new country juggling a road map or focusing on a GPS device?
3. The money you save by choosing Belize over neighboring nations will justify the expense.
4. You feel more comfortable putting your in-country travel into the hands of certified professionals.
5. You’ve never tried relying upon a shuttle service before and your friends insist it’s awesome.
6. Shuttles are faster than buses and no bus transfers are necessary to get you where you’re going.
7. You can be half-awake, barely sober or in any other shape that means you shouldn’t be driving.
8. Because you get lost. A lot. And that’s no fun when you’re in a foreign country.
9. Belize buses are not air-conditioned and rental cars could blow your budget out of the water.
10. Because a shuttle driver knows shortcuts you would never find.

Why Untame Belize?

It’s no secret that it’s better to use a resource founded and staffed by people who make their homes in Belize rather than patronizing one owned and operated by an outside entity. Belizeans know the lay of the land and Untame Belize has built a reputation as the nation’s premier licensed, private tour company.

Travel everywhere in one of the Untame Belize’s modern, spacious, air-conditioned vehicles. Stay connected, too (every vehicle has Wi-Fi connectivity). And since safety is of the utmost importance, Untame provides free child car seats if requested by travelers in advance.

Whether you need international airport transfers or in-country transport, wouldn’t you rather use a hometown company staffed by people who add a personal touch to every excursion? Untame Belize prides itself on excellence and you can rely upon this company’s reputation to deliver on friendly service and safety, too.

Getting to Tikal from Placencia, Belize

 
Belize is home to many important Maya ruins, but one of the greatest is Tikal which lies just over the border in Guatemala. Discover why you should plan a day trip to this amazing Maya site while you're in Belize.

Maya Heritage

The ancient Maya ruled a vast expanse of present-day Belize, Mexico, and Guatemala. The Maya were an incredibly advanced civilization who were known for their feats in engineering, farming, artwork, athletics, and building.

During their reign, they cleared acres of jungle and built powerful city-states. Tikal is one of the most important of these settlements.

Why You Need to See Tikal Maya Ruins

Tikal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It's an amazing display of Maya civilization at its peak. Over 90,000 people lived in Tikal. Now, you can see over 3000 Maya temples, pyramids, homes, athletic fields, shops, city walkways and more.

Tikal sits in the middle of the 23-acre Tikal National Park in the Peten district of Guatemala. You have probably seen images of Tikal in movies, travel guides and music videos. Now, you can see this amazing place yourself.

A tour of Tikal takes you back in time. You'll learn the history of this great city and of the proud, indomitable Maya empire.

Getting to Tikal

Visiting Tikal takes a full day. If you're leaving from Placencia, the drive to the border takes about five hours. You travel along the scenic Hummingbird Highway through the Cayo District.

If you choose to drive, remember to bring cash only. You must also be prepared to show your passport and other paperwork at the border with Belize and Guatemala.

This can be time-consuming. The best way to arrange a trip to Tikal is by using a full-service tour company like Untame Belize. We arrange all the fees, paperwork, passes and driving. All you have to do is sit back and relax.

The Best Belize Guides

A big part of visiting Tikal is learning the history of the Maya and exploring their daily lives. If you book your Tikal trip with Untame Belize, you get an experienced, knowledgeable guide who can make the ancient world come alive for you.

The Untame Belize tour leaves at 5:00 am and gives you a full day to explore Tikal. At the end of your day, we drive you back. To learn more about this and our other great Belize adventures, contact us today. 

Ready For the Big 3? Maya King Waterfalls, Zip lining & Tubing Adventure

Given the fact that every waterfall Mother Nature created tends to be described as breathtaking, dramatic and spectacular, is it fair to all waterfalls to pronounce just one the King of them all? If you’ve seen or heard about Maya King Waterfalls in Belize, your answer is probably yes.

Recently opened to the public after decades of being a prime destination for people from across the globe, the former “rustic” tourist site has been spruced up to become a landmark. Stairsteps and rails are just two of the improvements travelers find and loos have been installed, too.

As if the drama of the Maya King Waterfall weren’t enough, the Belize Tourism Board has given this icy water world thumbs up because visitors can pair their visits with other experiences that range from tranquil river and cave tubing to the ultimate challenge: ziplining over jungle canopies that guarantee heart rate spikes.

Whether you’re an excitement junkie or you just like to push a few boundaries while on vacation, you would be hard-pressed to find a collection of adventures that rival this trio of thrills, but you’ll need a resource to make arrangements, so you’re not bogged down with details when your intention is pushing your limits.

Untame Belize is your ticket to paradise. Staff has been in the business of getting tourists to destinations safely and effortlessly for a decade and since this company is known as the adventure tour company in Belize, you’ll be in good hands when you let these folks get you where you want to go.

Which experiences are your best bets?

Visit the waterfall if you’ve got kids over the age of five and want to sit at the edge of the pool while they burn off energy splashing in the water. If heights don’t bother you, scale the waterfall on your own or with friends taking advantage of the improvements that make this site safe and sound.

Go river tubing if you like the feeling of floating effortless down a river with like-minded drifters. Explore caves from your floating perch. Even non-swimmers are eager to try this fun activity out because flotation vests are available, and you can paddle around with your arms at a brisk or slow rate.

Add zip lining if it’s on your bucket list, you’ve been challenged to try it or you’ve just reached a point in life where playing it safe 24/7 has caused you to say, “Is that all there is?” Nothing’s safer than zipping over tree canopies thanks to state-of-the-art harnesses and other gear, so muster your courage and take the risk.

By putting your arrangements into the capable hands of Untame Belize professionals, sorting these experiences is a piece of cake as staffers make sure the sites you choose to test your mettle are compatible with your physical condition and wishes. Some say that our tour company specializes in diverse experiences. Travelers who wouldn’t think of choosing another resource for their sightseeing needs say our specialty is caring for vacationers, so you can be confident that you’ll have the time of your life!

Actun Tunichil Muknal Tour From Placencia Belize

The Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave, popularly known as ATM Cave, is one of the best-preserved ancient Maya sites in the world. Abandoned by the Maya more than 1,000 years ago, the ATM Cave lay undisturbed and forgotten until it was accidentally rediscovered in the 1980s.

It's easy to see why this magnificent underground site was never defiled by European colonizers. The only way to get inside the cave is by hiking through the dense jungle and then swimming across a spring-fed pool. Once inside, visitors will have to wade through a subterranean creek for several hundred feet before reaching the first chamber.

Once inside the cave proper, the space opens up into a magnificent underground cathedral complete with gigantic stalactites and stalagmites, some of them elaborately carved by ancient Maya priests. There are a number of artifacts on display, including ceramic pots, obsidian weapons, and other religious items.

But there's far more that awaits the intrepid traveler far to the rear of the cave. After an extensive hike and a climb up to a ledge nearly hidden from site, visitors will arrive at a strange chamber where bones litter the floor. In the local Mayan tongue, "Actun Tunichil Muknal" means "Cave of the Crystal Maiden," so named because of the remains of a young woman whose bones have fused with minerals in the cave that eerily glitter in the flickering light of a headlamp.

The Crystal Maiden is just one of the dozens of people who were sacrificed by ancient Maya priests in order to satisfy Chaac, the bloodthirsty Maya god of rain, during one of the most troubled times in their civilization's history. Children as young as infants and several adults were apparently sacrificed by blunt clubs as part of the ancient rituals. Nearby are several ceramic vessels that still contain the remains of food offerings.

In order to preserve this important historical site, visitors to ATM Cave can only visit the area with a licensed tour guide. Cameras and video recording equipment are strictly forbidden. Visitors must also remove their shoes before entering the final chamber in order to prevent damaging the fragile bones and artifacts.

If you're interested in exploring the mysterious ATM Cave, be sure to book your tour with Untame Belize. Untame Belize also offers great day trips from Placencia like ATV tours of the jungle and visits to ancient Maya sites like Cahal Pech and Xunantunich.

How to Tour the ATM Cave from Hopkins, Belize

If you're staying in Hopkins, you're in the perfect location to tour the famous Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave. Set aside a full day for this outing. You'll spend the day deep in exploration of Belize's jungles, wildlife, and history as you tour this legendary cave.

 

This is a very popular tour that fills up quickly so make sure you book it early.

Why the ATM Cave is Special

National Geographic has classified the ATM as one of the most important sacred caves in the world. The ancient Maya venerated caves. They considered them portals to the underworld and performed their most important ceremonies in these underground chambers.

Today, the ATM is a treasure trove of Maya artifacts, treasures and skeletons. You'll walk, climb and swim through several miles of secret, sacred passages.

What to Expect When You Tour the ATM

The ATM cave is not for beginners or people who want to take it easy. It's a tough adventure that will test you physically. Be prepared to get wet and to do some serious hiking.

There are also strict rules for viewing the cave. Leave your shoes and your camera behind. You'll have to tour the cave wearing socks and cameras are prohibited in order to protect the artifacts.

You can only tour the cave if you're accompanied by a specially licensed cave guide.

Getting to the ATM from Hopkins

Hopkins isn't one of the major tourist spots in Belize. It's slightly off the beaten path, but it's a hub of activity for travelers who appreciate adventure.

Your ATM adventure begins with a two-hour drive along the scenic Hummingbird Highway. This takes you to the Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve. Your 45-minute hike through this untouched jungle reserve gives you three river crossings and the opportunity to view Belize's natural wildlife.

Once you're at the cave, you must swim into the entrance. Now, your tour of the cave starts. Your guide will tell you about its history and point out important artifacts and artworks. Once your tour is finished, your guide drives you back to Hopkins in time for dinner.

Untame Belize is Your Ideal ATM Guide in Hopkins Belize

At Untame Belize, we're the experts in every wild adventure that Belize has to offer. Our experienced, fully licensed guides know every twist and turn of the ATM Cave. We provide round-trip transportation and we will make your ATM tour an unforgettable Belize adventure.

Best Travel Experiences, Tours and Activities in Belize

If you have been searching for a vacation destination that offers ample sunshine, beautiful scenery, and tons of unique things to do, Belize is a fantastic option. This stunning Central American paradise offers a wide variety of tours and travel experiences that are unlike anything you will find elsewhere.

One of the best ways to experience Belize's natural beauty is by taking a tour of its jungles and nature reserves. If you'd like to get an up-close look at the country's native black howler monkey population, a visit to Monkey River is in order. For jaguars and other exotic animals, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is the perfect destination. The Belize Zoo also offers a wonderful collection of native wildlife.

If you are more at home on the water than on land, you can take a tour of the magnificent Belize Barrier Reef - the second longest of its kind in the world. The reef is home to more than 500 different species of fish making it the perfect spot to go snorkeling or diving. It is also possible to go fishing and island hopping nearby.

Of course, Belize also has a long and storied history. If you would like to immerse yourself in it, all you need to do is take a tour of one of the country's many Maya ruins or caves. On these tours, you will learn everything there is to know about the lives and rituals of the more than 2 million Maya people who once resided in the region. Xunauntich, Cahal Pech, and Actun Tunichil Muknal cave are all particularly special.

For an even deeper dive into Belizean culture, you can take a Garifuna tour. On this tour, you will enjoy lots of delicious Garifuna food, listen to traditional music, and make memories that will last a lifetime. If you still haven't had your fill of culture, you can also take a chocolate making tour or a Marie Sharp factory tour.

No matter what you would like to experience during your time in Belize, there is one company that can arrange it all for you - Untame Belize. Our experts can find you the perfect tours and excursions to suit your tastes and ensure that you have a memorable vacation. In fact, the Untame Belize team even offers round trip airport transfers from the international airport to just about anywhere in Belize. To learn more about our services, just visit our website.