Travelers exploring solo can follow a self-guided trail that leads a short distance into St. Herman’s Cave. If you want to venture any further—either on foot or on an inner tube—you’ll need to go with a guide. Spelunking excursions into Crystal Cave, which features examples of Maya pottery and glittering calcite crystals, are only possible with a guide and are typically more physically challenging and claustrophobic.
Tours of the park depart from San Ignacio, Belmopan, Hopkins, and Belize City. Itineraries typically include a guided excursion into one of the cave systems, as well as a short jungle hike, and a refreshing dip in the park’s eponymous freshwater pool. If you’re a fan of bird-watching, bring binoculars; keen-eyed visitors can spot many different species perched on branches and vines, including Rufous-tailed jacamars and keel-billed toucans—the national bird of Belize.
Find the visitors center just off the Hummingbird Highway, about 11 miles (18 kilometers) from Belmopan. From the center, trails lead to St. Herman’s Cave. The Blue Hole is about a 45-minute hike from the visitor center.
Mosquitoes are more prevalent during the rainy season (between May and mid-November) and heavy rains can make the water of the Blue Hole murkier than usual, so it’s better to visit in the dry season (mid-November–April) if possible.
