Most days on the island belong to the reef. Still, plenty of visitors want one day in the rainforest, and cave tubing and zip line from Ambergris Caye is one of the inland tours White Sands Dive Shop lists on our Maya and rainforest tours page. It is a full day off the island, floating through caves on a jungle river and riding zip lines above the trees.
This guide is for travelers based in San Pedro who are weighing up a mainland day. It explains what the two activities are like, who they suit, what to bring and how to book through the shop.
Can you do cave tubing and zip line from Ambergris Caye in one day?
Quick answer: Yes. White Sands Dive Shop lists Cave Tubing and Zip Line through the rainforest as a full day tour from Ambergris Caye. The caves and zip lines are on the Belize mainland, so plan a whole day away from the reef. A park fee applies on top of the tour, so ask us about it when you book.
What cave tubing and zip lining in Belize are like
Cave tubing means sitting in a large inflatable tube and drifting along a river that flows through limestone caves. You wear a headlamp, because the light from your lamp is often the only light inside. The current does most of the work, so it feels more like a slow float than a water ride.
The Belize Tourism Board describes the best-known site, Nohoch Che’en in the Caves Branch area, in its piece on floating through the underworld at Nohoch Che’en. It sits about an hour from the capital, Belmopan. The board writes about clear water, crystal stalactites, fruit bats and a swim in the river once you come back out into daylight.
Zip lining is the fast half of the day. You wear a harness clipped to a steel cable and glide from platform to platform above the forest. The tourism board calls the pairing of a zip line run with a cave float the most popular combination in the country, which is why so many tours sell the two together.
Cave tubing from San Pedro, Belize: how the day works
Ambergris Caye is an island, and the caves and rainforest are inland on the mainland. That is the main thing to understand before you book. Any cave tubing trip from San Pedro is a full day, because getting there and back takes time on top of the activities themselves.
Our Maya tours page lists the tour simply as “Cave Tubing and Zip Line through the rainforest, Full Day.” The exact plan for your date, such as departure time, how you reach the mainland and what is included, is something Elbert confirms with you directly. Email him with your dates and group size and he will give you the details for that day.
The park fee
Cave tubing in Belize runs through protected areas such as the Nohoch Che’en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve, and a park fee applies on top of our tour. Ask us about the current fee when you book, so there are no surprises on the day. For tour prices, see our Maya tours page or ask Elbert.
Is a cave tubing and zip line day right for you?
Travelers who try it tend to fall into two camps. Some love the calm of drifting through the dark and the rush of the zip lines. Others find a slow float a little tame, especially if they came to Belize for big reef dives.
The table compares the main day trips our shop lists from the island, so you can see where this one fits. It compares the feel of each day and who it suits, not cost.
| Day trip | What you do | Pace | Time needed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cave tubing and zip line | Float a river through caves and ride zip lines above the rainforest | Relaxed float, then a fast and active zip line run | Full day | Families, mixed groups and non-divers who want a jungle day |
| Lamanai river trip | Jungle river trip to Maya ruins in the rainforest | Steady, with walking around the site | Full day | History lovers and birdwatchers |
| Local reef dive or snorkel | Dive or snorkel the barrier reef close to San Pedro | Easy, close to the island | Morning, leaving at 9:00 | Divers and snorkelers who want time on the beach too |
| Great Blue Hole | Three dives on the outer atolls | Long boat day with deep diving | Full day | Experienced certified divers |
If ruins appeal more than rivers, read our guide to the Lamanai river trip from San Pedro. Divers chasing the deep blue should see our page on the Great Blue Hole dive trip, and anyone happy close to home can start with our guide to scuba diving on Ambergris Caye.
What to wear and bring
The tubes, headlamps and zip line harnesses are tour equipment, and we will tell you what is supplied when you book. What you bring yourself makes the difference between a comfortable day and a soggy one.
- A swimsuit worn under quick-drying clothes.
- Water shoes or sandals with a heel strap, since the path and riverbed can be rocky and wet.
- Closed shoes for the zip line if your sandals are loose.
- Insect repellent and reef-safe sunscreen.
- A dry bag for your phone, a towel and a change of clothes for the trip home.
- Cash for the park fee and for tips, unless we tell you the fee is covered.
Tell us when you book about anyone in your group with back or neck problems, a pregnancy or a fear of heights. Zip lining puts strain on the body that tubing does not. We can then advise whether the whole day makes sense or whether another tour would suit better.
When to go
Rivers rise after heavy rain, and high water can close parts of a cave to tubing. If your dates fall in the rainy months, keep a flexible day in your plan. Ask us about conditions as your day gets closer.
Booking with a licensed local shop
White Sands Dive Shop is a 5 Star PADI Dive Facility on the beach in San Pedro, licensed by the Belize Tourism Board. It is owned and operated by Elbert Greer, a PADI IDC Staff Instructor, and you can read more about Elbert Greer, owner of White Sands Dive Shop.
Guests often mention that personal care. Bryan Nelson wrote to thank Elbert “for all the personal and professional attention you gave to our group of divers.” You can read more letters from Elbert’s students and guests in their own words.
Elbert also writes about the island’s wildlife in his guide to birdwatching on Ambergris Caye, told by Bubba, his Labrador and self-appointed bird expert. If you are mixing reef and rainforest, browse every trip on our Ambergris Caye diving and travel guides page.
Cave tubing and zip line from Ambergris Caye: your questions answered
How long is the cave tubing and zip line tour from Ambergris Caye?
It is a full day tour. The caves and zip lines are on the mainland, so plan to spend the whole day away from the island.
Is there a park fee for cave tubing?
Yes, a park fee applies on top of the tour. Ask us about the current amount when you book.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer to go cave tubing?
No. You sit in a tube and the river current carries you. Tell us when you book if anyone in your group is nervous in water.
Can non-divers join this tour?
Yes. No diving is involved, so it is a good day for non-diving partners, friends and family.
What should I bring for cave tubing and zip lining?
Bring a swimsuit, quick-drying clothes, water shoes with a heel strap, insect repellent, a dry bag, a towel and a change of clothes.
Plan your rainforest day with Elbert
Send us your travel dates, how many people are coming and their ages, and Elbert will confirm the details for your day. Email elbertgreer@fastmail.fm or call 011 (501) 226 2405.