4 to 5 hours ashore
Altun Ha ruins
- Tender ashore early; lines grow through the morning.
- Drive about an hour north to the Mayan ruins of Altun Ha.
- Back to the Tourism Village with time for the tender line.
Rather book it? A half-day Altun Ha tour.
Belize City shore excursions
A gateway to cave tubing, Mayan ruins, and the Belize Barrier Reef. The tender ride means less time ashore than the schedule suggests.
Getting ashoreShips have traditionally anchored offshore and carried passengers to the Fort Street Tourism Village by tender. New docking facilities have been in development, so check whether your ship tenders or docks.
Belize City port day essentials
read this before you book
Getting ashore
Anchored offshoreThe water is too shallow for cruise ships to dock, so ships anchor about 2 miles out. Tenders take about 15 minutes.
Fort Street Tourism VillageWhere tenders land, with shops, restaurants and tour desks. The rest of Belize City starts at its gates.
Taxis
Taxis wait outside the Tourism Village. There are no set rates, so agree on the price before you get in, and use marked, registered taxis only.
Short rides around the city have been about $10 to $30.
Money
Belize dollars, fixed at 2 to 1 with the US dollar. US dollars are accepted almost everywhere; change may come back in Belize dollars.
Language
English is the official language.
Back on board
All-aboard is usually 30 minutes before sailing; your ship's daily planner has the exact time. Tender lines back to the ship get long in the afternoon. Cave tubing and ruins tours are an hour or more inland, which is why most people book them through the ship or with a return guarantee.
Be aware
- New cruise piers are being built near Belize City but weren't open as of late 2026. Expect to tender until they are, and check your planner in case that has changed.
- In rough seas, ships sometimes skip Belize because tendering isn't safe.
Last checked November 2026. Prices change; confirm before you pay.
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Plan your day in Belize City
pick by your time ashore
6 to 8 hours ashore
Cave tubing in the jungle
- Drive about an hour inland to the Caves Branch river.
- Hike through the jungle, then float through the caves on a tube.
- Many tours add a zip line or lunch.
Rather book it? A cave tubing tour; most cruisers book with the ship or with a return guarantee.
9 hours or more
The barrier reef from Caye Caulker
- Water taxi to Caye Caulker, about 45 minutes to an hour.
- Snorkel the barrier reef with a local boat.
- Lunch on the island before the ride back.
Rather book it? A reef snorkel trip from Belize City.
Times are approximate. Whatever you choose, plan to be back at the pier an hour before all-aboard. Compare tours for each idea below.
Compare Belize City tours
Start times and meeting points vary by tour. Check them against your ship's schedule before you book.
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Belize City tours from GetYourGuide
GetYourGuide's own search results for Belize City, in GetYourGuide's order. Check each tour's start time and meeting point against your ship's schedule.
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Belize City tours from Shore Excursions Group
Shore Excursions Group sells tours built around cruise ship schedules, backed by their guarantee to get you back to the ship. Their tours aren't listed on this page; browse them on their site.
See Belize City excursions on Shore Excursions Group
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Scout's notes on Belize City
Short port days
Snorkel trips to the barrier reef and nearby cayes run by boat from the waterfront and fit shorter windows. The tourism village itself has shops and restaurants.
Long port days
Cave tubing through river caves and the Altun Ha ruins are the signature trips. Both are a drive inland and take most of a port day, and some tours combine them.
Getting back on time
The tender ride is long and the last tenders back fill up. We budget extra time for this, and inland trips are worth booking with a return-to-ship guarantee.
tender port: boats can run slow
From fellow cruisers
Tips from people who've been, read by us before they go up.
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