Some of the Activities & Tours to local area attractions offered at
Windy Hill Resort.

CARACOL - Discovered in 1938 and later explored in the 1950's, Caracol was thought to be little more than a Maya ceremonial center. It was not until more extensive excavation efforts began in 1985 that the importance and expanse of Caracol became known.

In 1986, a round, elaborately carved altar stone was uncovered which described a victory by Caracol over Tikal, once considered to be the most powerful Maya metropolis. More about Caracol.

MOUNTAIN PINE RIDGE FOREST RESERVE - Located in the Cayo District of Belize, about 30-40 minutes from San Ignacio, the reserve covers an area of over 300 square miles. Here you will find a scenic combination of cool pine forests, tumbling streams, lush river valleys, caves and waterfalls. The most popular of the waterfalls is the Hidden Valley Falls, a spectacular fall that drops 1500 feet to the valley below.

The Rio Frio Cave is the largest cave in Belize and the Rio On pools are a must for an afternoon swim before heading out of the reserve.
More about the Mountain Pine Ridge.

ACTUN TUNICHIL MUKNAL CAVE- "Cave of the crystal sepulchre" A very early morning departure is required as this tour is a long and challenging adventure- a good level of physical fitness is required and the ability to swim is a plus. We suggest you wear shorts and tee shirt with tennis shoes or hiking boots. You will also want to bring a change of dry clothes as you will surely get wet and need dry clothes for the trip back to the resort. The adventure entails hiking steep jungle trails and crossing a river in chest-high water. Once you reach the cave only the light from your headlight will guide you through the Mayan underworld. You will see burial chambers with intact calcified remains, Mayan artifacts and two slate stelae in front of which Maya elites cut themselves with obsidian blades to collect blood and offer it to the gods. More about Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM Cave).

TIKAL - The largest and most spectacular of all the Mayan sites in Meso-America is located in the Peten area of Guatemala, deep in the high canopy jungle. Tikal is about 1 ½ hours from San Ignacio. The flora and fauna in this area is almost as breathtaking as the Mayan ruins themselves. More about Tikal.

 

HORSEBACK RIDING - We will leave Windy Hill Resort and ride rainforest trails, open savannas, and cross small subsistence farms to the un-excavated site of Buena Vista. This is believed to have been the private estate of a Maya king, K'ul Ahau K'ak Til (Lord Smoking Squirrel). After exploring the site, we will ride down to the Mopan River for a refreshing swim. You might want to wear your bathing suit under your clothes. We suggest long pants and closed-toe shoes for the ride. The tour requires about 4 hours and is available in the morning or in the afternoon.
More about Horseback Riding.

BARTON CREEK CAVE CANOEING - Barton Creek Cave was an ancient Maya Indian burial site. The cave is only accessible by canoe. The formations of stalactites and stalagmites are beautiful. The trip to the cave is very scenic and passes through the Barton Creek Mennonite community. You will get a glimpse of the Mennonites as they go about their daily routines. After the cave canoe trip, you will want to take a swim in the crystal clear Barton Creek. More about Barton Creek Cave.

JAGUAR PAW CAVE TUBING - Learn about the local flora and fauna as your guide leads you on a 30-40 minute hike along the Caves Branch River to the Jaguar Paw cave systems. When you get to the water, you will strap on your headlight and your life vest and take a seat in your tube. You will be propelled by the gentle currents through underground caverns carved through the mountains. Your guide will educate you about the natural formations found in the cave and the flora and fauna you encounter along the way. This is an awesome trip and something you will always remember. More about Cave Tubing at Jaguar Paw.

EL PILAR - This site is located partially in Belize and partially in Guatemala.
El Pilar dates back to 250 B.C.
Dr. Anabel Ford of the University of California, Santa Barbara, has been working at the site for many years. Her dream is to transform the area and the ruins into a Maya community with Mayas living and working there as they did 2000 years ago. El Pilar is also one of the great birding areas of Belize. More about El Pilar.

XUNANTUNICH- Xunantunich in Maya is "The Stone Maiden". The site is about 30 minutes from San Ignacio and is only accessible by taking a hand-cranked ferry across the Mopan River. Xunantunich is one of the most popular Maya sites in Belize and was one of the first to be excavated and opened to the public. Standing atop "El Castillo", the largest pyramid at the site, you will have a panoramic view of western Belize and eastern Guatemala. More about Xunantunich.

CHECHEMHA POTTERY CAVE -
The unassuming entrance opens into a vast array of winding limestone passageways and tall, narrow rooms filled with ancient Maya pottery dating back 1500-2000 years. A ladder allows access to the upper areas of the cave and in some cases ropes are used for narrow passages. At the end of the cave is a large room believed to have been used for sacrificial ceremonies. Evidence of a sacrificial altar is still evident. More about Che Chem Ha.

THE BELIZE ZOO - The Belize Zoo is located approximately 30 miles west of Belize City on the Western Highway. The zoo is home to over 100 species of native Belizean animals and birds including the tapir, howler monkeys, spider monkeys, jaguars, ocelots, margays, scarlet macaws, toucans, and many, many others. You will have the opportunity to see these unique creatures in their natural habitat.
More about the Belize Zoo.

MACAL RIVER CANOEING - The Macal River originates in the Maya Mountains of Belize and flows down to the town of San Ignacio. In San Ignacio, the Macal and Mopan River conjoin to form the Old Belize River that flows to Belize City and empties into the Caribbean.

We begin the canoe trip at Negroman Farm about 14 miles upstream from San Ignacio. The trip is all downstream and therefore is not a very strenuous paddle. Along the way you will see huge iguanas and many species of birds. You may even see a troop or two of howler monkeys. More about Macal River Canoeing.