Wonderful shore excursions with Nacho and Cynthia (cave tubing, zipline, zoo, & more)

[pondst302]

We spent the last week on the Grand Princess and one of our ports was Belize City, Belize. We spent the entire day with Ignacio (Nacho) and Cynthia who own Belize Adventure Tours (NCQadventuretours.com). They met us at the dock and escorted us everywhere and we were amazed as we bypassed the long, long lines of our fellow ship passengers. The organized cruise excursions only had time for one adventure due to the long lines and time constraints of so many people on big buses....in fact, several times we overheard people grumbling and asking why we were getting to go past them....however, there were 6 of us in our own minivan and following a city tour we first went to the Belize Aerial Trek and ziplined thru the rainforest canopy with great guides, excellent equipment and it was fun, fun, fun! Next, we went around the corner to Jaguar Paw Resort and tubed thru 3 cave systems and saw amazing caverns with bats, stalactites, etc. Again, we had 2 guides (Cynthia was one of our guides) that stayed with just the 6 of us whereas the cruise excursions had 35-40 people and only 2 guides....they couldn't seem to keep up with their people and looked completely disorganized. The cruise excursions had lunch under a shed while we were escorted inside the Jaguar Paw Resort restaurant for a terrific lunch and a tour of the resort including the resident howler monkey who looked in the window while we ate(he dropped down out of a tree about 4 inches from my nose when we walked outside and I wanted to touch him but Cynthia said no....his bite could be ferocious), the butterfly farm, pool, cabanas and just amazing tropical rainforest flora and fauna!!!! Following lunch we went to the Belize Zoo for up close (I mean way, way up close)views of Belizean wildlife including howler and spider monkeys, jaguars, macaws and so much more. Then Cynthia and Nacho escorted us downtown for shopping at a Belizean grocery store (Cynthia recommended several items) and a souvenir shop. They kept a constant watch on our time so that we wouldn't miss the boat and were so warm and friendly. Nacho and Cynthia pointed out many things and gave us the history of Belize as we drove thru both Belize City and the countryside. You could never find better tourguides anywhere! Thank you guys for a wonderful time and we hope to see you both again!

:)

[Mrs. Gump]

I'm also booked with nacho and cynthia for the zipline/cave tube combo tour in feb. (also sailing the grand). What time did you get off the ship to meet them? I'm assuming you weren't on the FIRST tender as it's "reserved" for those on princess tours. Did you get on the 2nd or 3rd? Any tips of getting off early? When I booked with nacho, he instructed me to get off as early as possible (suggested I try to mingle in with those on the ship's tours) but I booked with him BEFORE the change in port times. Just wondering if I really need to push to get off ASAP or not. What time did you tender back? Thanks in advance!

[cruizinrican]

I was really curious of a few things. What were the hours your ship was in port in Belize and what did you wind up paying for this excursion with them?

 

It sounds like you all had a fabulous time!

 

Thank you in advance.

[pondst302]

We did get off very early....around 8:15 and we were supposed to get a tender ticket, however, everyone in your party had to be present but when we were all together there was no one in line ahead of us and the attendant said to just proceed to the disembarkation area no ticket required....the earlier the better if you want a really full day with shopping also! No one asked us about shore excursions we had booked at all but I think it got busier after 9. Have fun!

[pondst302]

The port times have been permanently changed 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Nacho charged us $140 pp for the zipline, caving, zoo, and shopping! (we had to pay $8 pp at the zoo but it was well worth the hour we spent there) Have fun?

[Mrs. Gump]

I thought the new times in Belize were 6:30 - 6:00??