Lamanai or Ruins wth David & Ivan

[Casey2]

We will be in Belize and Costa Maya in December. DH & I are very interested in the ruins ( not real big on water sports). I have heard very good things about the Lamanai excursion in Belize and David & Ivan's tour in Costa Maya. Are they both worth doing or is it too repititious. If we were to do ony one, which would you recommend?

[FRANKM]

I did both tours last August while on Explorer. Loved them.

 

The Lamanai tour was a whole day affair with the river

tour and ruins. Your would need to do this through the ship

because of the time. Lots of walking through jungle trails to

the sites. We had a nice lunch while at the site and the

tour guides were excellent explaining the history of each

site. The trails get quite muddy if it rains (which it did) and

the mosquitos were ferocious but maybe not bad in December.

Need to bring repellent. The ruins were spectacular and we

could can climb each. Be careful though. They are steep and

narrow and can get slippery. The speed boat rides there and

back was interesting. Saw lots of wild life.

 

The ruins in Costa Maya were also great. The tour of Chacchoben

is more laid back and only took several hours but enough to

see everything. Ivan our guide was terrific. He gives a very historical

and personal perspective of the area since he was born there. It's a

slower paced tour and well worth the visit.

 

I would do both again. They both offer a unique experience.

[Casey2]

Thank you for your response. We will also be on the Explorer. I'm glad to hear that the tours are different, because we are leaning towards doing both of them.

[Dennislee2]

I did both tours last August while on Explorer. Loved them.

 

We are looking at doing Xunantich (SP) and the Costa Maya tours in August.

 

How is the heat? I hear it's terrible, but I would like to see the ruins?

 

Thanks in advance for any advice on anyone going in August.

 

Thanks,

[Zeno]

We will be in Belize and Costa Maya in December. DH & I are very interested in the ruins ( not real big on water sports). I have heard very good things about the Lamanai excursion in Belize and David & Ivan's tour in Costa Maya. Are they both worth doing or is it too repititious. If we were to do ony one, which would you recommend?

 

I have done both tours (not on the same cruise though). The sites and the experience are VERY different - so I don't think that you would find it too repetious. Both were GREAT experiences - especially if you love ruins.