Altun Ha & The Olde Belize River
Altun Ha & The Olde Belize River
Altun Ha & The Olde Belize River
4.5
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
386 reviews
Excellent
243
Very good
115
Average
19
Poor
7
Terrible
2
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SeniorTraveler500
Fort Worth, TX17 contributions
Jan 2023
The Mayan Ruins are easily accessible from the cruise port with a tour. The 45-minute drive to the site allows an opportunity to see some of the city and the countryside. The ruins themselves are fun to explore, to climb, and are very picturesque. Between the entrance to the ruins there are clean, accessible restrooms, and a nice little shopping area with a great atmosphere. There are a couple of open-air cafes, too, to get a beer and light meal. Overall, this is a fun experience.
Written 9 February 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yvonne R
3 contributions
Aug 2023
My family and I visited this Mayan Temple on our recent trip to Belize as a part of our cruise stop. I personally loved how well kept and maintained the property is. Also our tour guide told us a wealth of information regarding the ruins and its preservation. Highly recommend this tour.
Also, there is a restaurant on site and the local food was amazing and given the summer's heat, water and soft drinks and snacks are also accessible for purchase after the tour.
Also, there is a restaurant on site and the local food was amazing and given the summer's heat, water and soft drinks and snacks are also accessible for purchase after the tour.
Written 15 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Roslyn138
Wrexham, UK1,201 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
We booked a tour to visit the site, and we’re fortunate to receive a great deal of information regarding the site, it’s history, the loss of material for local building as well as the Amber find they made the site an area of importance.
We had a couple of hours on site which was ample to walk up the various buildings. You really do appreciate the site from the top of the largest building and only guess what it was like in centuries past.
Worth a visit to get you away from the beach and the commercial areas.
We had a couple of hours on site which was ample to walk up the various buildings. You really do appreciate the site from the top of the largest building and only guess what it was like in centuries past.
Worth a visit to get you away from the beach and the commercial areas.
Written 17 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
toya h
Texas934 contributions
Mar 2022 • Couples
This Mayan ruin is about 45 minutes from Belize City. Make sure you bring water, wear sun screen and if you are walking to the pond wear bug spray. The flat walk to the pond is about 10 minutes and the mosquitoes are vicious. We saw a crocodile in the pond. There is a little open air museum and bathrooms before you enter the ruins. You can walk up the ruins and it’s very scenic. The steps are very steep so be cautious. For the best pictures, get there early before the cruise ship tourists arrive. The “gift shop” was a bunch of locals selling trinkets.
Written 15 March 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jenesaisquoiV
Las Vegas, NV211 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We were on a cruise when we came to Belize. Rent your own car and drive here! The car rental is right next to the cruise dock. It’s a super easy drive here. You can hire a tour guide here for a small amount and they can give you some history. It’s nice that you can walk all around and see everything. I did see a lady fall down the stairs at the top of one of the ruins. There are some vendors with things for sale outside that can be aggressive.
Written 9 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BrakiWorldTraveler
Belgrade, Serbia20,038 contributions
Jan 2020
We didn't book any tour from our ship, but rather explored on our own.
When finished the Belize City "sightseeing" which took us only 2 hrs, as there's nothing to see nor do there, we opted for this trip.
The decision was made as we had nothing to do for the remaining 6 hrs when our ship was departing. We haggled with a taxi driver around the port and managed to reach a price of US$ 60 for a return trip (he started with a 100).
TIP: BEWARE of what $ you're speaking !!! The Belize $ is double lower (2 B$ = 1 US$), and the locals will always speak in the Belize one. Not knowing that, as tourists are used to US$ they'll often get extra double money.
The ride to the ruins took slightly under an hour and the entrance was around 10$ if I remember correctly. The site is interesting, but pretty much the same as Chacchoben in Mexico we visited the day before. Here, you can climb the ruins top which we weren't allowed anywhere in Mexico.
Count on around 1-1,5 hrs to visit the site, and again an hour back to the port.
When finished the Belize City "sightseeing" which took us only 2 hrs, as there's nothing to see nor do there, we opted for this trip.
The decision was made as we had nothing to do for the remaining 6 hrs when our ship was departing. We haggled with a taxi driver around the port and managed to reach a price of US$ 60 for a return trip (he started with a 100).
TIP: BEWARE of what $ you're speaking !!! The Belize $ is double lower (2 B$ = 1 US$), and the locals will always speak in the Belize one. Not knowing that, as tourists are used to US$ they'll often get extra double money.
The ride to the ruins took slightly under an hour and the entrance was around 10$ if I remember correctly. The site is interesting, but pretty much the same as Chacchoben in Mexico we visited the day before. Here, you can climb the ruins top which we weren't allowed anywhere in Mexico.
Count on around 1-1,5 hrs to visit the site, and again an hour back to the port.
Written 3 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mr_Small144
Courtice, Canada78 contributions
Mar 2024 • Couples
We took the Altun Ha tour with lunch and a city tour attached. The tour was fine, but the lunch was beams and rice in a small shack with folding tables. I made the mistake of paying for the tour in cash. Don't do that. The guide just put it into his pocket, called it a tip, and billed my credit card for the full amount.
Written 13 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Inna_Toni
Gruenheide, Germany3,355 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
We booked this excursion as part of our cruise with Mein Schiff. Altun Ha is very beautiful to look at, not overly big, but you can also climb up two buildings and photography enthusiasts can take some great pictures here. The complex is clean. You should make sure you get here pretty early, as it is very hot and the sun burns mercilessly. It also gets increasingly crowded and then it is no longer possible to take good photos... All in all, a nice excursion...
As always, this is our purely subjective opinion and may differ from that of other guests.
As always, this is our purely subjective opinion and may differ from that of other guests.

Written 16 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Monty
26 contributions
Jan 2022
Frederick gave us a guided tour of the ruins. He was extremely pleasant and informative. Very much enjoyed hearing the history of the ruins and other details you just can't get from a book or by walking around by yourself. He even pointed out different types of trees and fruits found around the property.
Written 31 January 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Maureen McCool
Almonte, Canada25 contributions
Jan 2020
We had our best Belizian friend Auner guide us throught the ruins and he gave us a very informative talk on how & what the Mayans got up to in these temples. He also covered the history of events that uncovered these ruins that had been covered over by the jungle. Very insteresting to see some of the places that we learned about when we were in school.
Written 3 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
They're many excursions to choose from on TripAdvisor. Which one is the one to choose?
Written 4 April 2017
They are all wonderful, if booking with the cruise line. We have found all to be great, safe, and
Very enjoyable.
Written 11 April 2017
Is there a tour of Altun Ha, and Belize City? We are coming in on a Royal Caribbean cruise, Anyone know what they may charge for the tour or can we do it cheaper once we are in Belize?
Written 17 January 2017
I would for sure, and did, book with Royal. It's is safer, you done and secured for the excursion, and sometimes it is cheaper! If you require meds or snacks, take a few with you. The bus ride is beautiful but long. There are a few vendors on site with native treats, but sometimes you just need a snack on the bus! Great trip. Make sure all electronics are fully charged.
Written 17 January 2017
Has anyone just done an olde river tour and not Altun Ha?
Written 19 August 2015
Yes, upon arrival go inside the terminals, There are many independent companies. The best tour in Belize is the one going through the caverns on the river. The cavern was a sacred site for the Mayas.
Written 17 January 2017
Sorry for the tardy response... I was out of town. My cost was $50. I was NOT on a cruise. Used the hotel booking service on site.
Written 22 June 2015
Is there a website for prebooking, rates, etc., separate from the cruise lines?
Thanks,
Diana
Written 30 March 2015
Not that I know about. But booking with the cruise line will keep the ship in port until you return. Independent booking, running late, and the ship will leave without you. We saw it happen to a couple on our cruise, they had to rent a boat, chase down the ship and JUMP from boat to ship. All while boat and ship were moving.
Written 31 March 2015
How difficult/far a walk is it from the boat landing to the ruins at Altun Ha? My wife broke her ankle about 6 weeks ago and still may be on crutches when we go.
Tod655
Written 22 March 2015
Altun Ha is about a 45-60 minute taxi ride from the cruise ship stop. The taxi stand we used is just behind the port, about a 50 meter walk. When you arrive at
Altun Ha the taxi parks about 50 meters from the site. To walk around it on flat land is an easy walk, the equivalent of walking around the circumference of a football field.
Written 22 March 2015
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