This was the perfect excursion to kick our trip off! Abner was an amazing guide.
We were supposed to go kayaking, but the current was too strong in the river, so we ended up going tubing instead. Since we hadn't dressed for tubing, Abner took us back to our hotel so we could change and waited for us to get ready.
We went tubing first, and Abner got us all outfitted with helmets and life jackets. A lot of people we saw there were carrying their own tubes, but with this tour, your tubes are delivered to the launch site, so you don't have to carry anything. It's a decent walk through the rain forest to get to the cave. You have to cross the river on foot, so make sure to wear clothes that can get wet and a decent water shoe. Abner stopped and explained the trees and animals we saw along the way. We tried different plants and even ate a termite (minty with a hint of celery, if you were curious). Abner also lured out a tarantula for us to hold. He was a wealth of information, and was super patient as we meandered through the rain forest.
When we got to the caves, Abner navigated us like a pro. He explained the different rock formations and pointed out waterfalls and bats. Once we exited the cave, we let the river take us back to our starting point.
From there, we ate lunch at the cave (not included, but $10 US for chicken, rice, and beans). Abner told us it was a little more expensive to eat at the cave as they have no electricity there, so everything has to be brought in each day. He gave us the option of going somewhere else to eat, but we were enjoying the area and wanted to stay. There are also vendors at the cave, and he gave us some time to shop around before we left for Lamanai.
From the cave, we drove to Lamanai. The ruins were amazing. Abner hiked up to the top of the ruins with us, took pictures, and explained the Mayan culture. He was so informative, pleasant to be around, and passionate about Belize. He never rushed us and even helped my mother in law up the stairs to the ruins when she was having trouble.
Make sure to wear your swimsuit and good water shoes, a hat, sunscreen and bug spray! Thank you for an awesome adventure, Abner!