Cayo is where most people visit for their first taste of the Belize jungle, often because they want to try a specific jungle activity, such as cave tubing, or have heard of a specific jungle lodge, such as Chaa Creek, or want to see a specific site, such as the Xunantunich Mayan ruins. 

And, it's true, that the Cayo District offers lots to see and do, and a wide variety of places to stay.

For example, in addition to the Xunantunich Mayan ruins, Belize vacation visitors can also tour Cahal Pech, Caracol (the largest Mayan ruins in Belize - and an ancient Mayan city-state that rivaled Tikal) and El Pilar, which includes the El Pilar Archaeological Reserve for Maya Flora and Fauna.

For cavers, there's cave tubing in the Cave's Branch area, canoeing through Barton Creek Cave, Flour Camp Cave, and the magnificent Actun Tunichil Muknal, which some visitors say comes close to a spiritual experience.

Then there's jungle horseback riding, mountain biking, rappelling, jungle river canoeing and kayaking and beautiful waterfalls in the Mountain Pine Ridge area of the Cayo District.

Cayo also offers a wide variety of lodging options from which to explore and enjoy all that Cayo offers - Chaa Creek and Blancaneaux Lodge at the top of the luxury resort end of the spectrum, to more moderate options such as Black Rock Lodge, perched over the Macal River in the Black River cliffs, Pook's Hill Lodge, within hiking distance from Actun Tunichil Muknal, with a small Mayan ruin near its cabanas, Cave's Branch, specializing in caving, Banana Bank, specializing in jungle horseback riding, and a variety of other small, boutique and budget accommodations. 

(Take a look at our Cayo Accommodations Page for recommendations on Belize jungle vacation lodging in the Cayo District.)

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