Belize independent tour operators

[julie aka social director]

We are arriving in Belize on the Miracle on Thursday, August 3. On our last visit to Belize we did nothing other than go to the pier where all the shops are. I would like to participate in the cave tubing experience, but after reading several posts, I have come up with three different guides, recommended by other cruise critic members. How do you decide which one is the best and most reliable to take advantage of?

[yst347]

We are arriving in Belize on the Miracle on Thursday, August 3. On our last visit to Belize we did nothing other than go to the pier where all the shops are. I would like to participate in the cave tubing experience, but after reading several posts, I have come up with three different guides, recommended by other cruise critic members. How do you decide which one is the best and most reliable to take advantage of?

 

If several people have posted positive experiences with a given operator, you will probably have a simular experience. The only way I can think of to answer your question well would be to take a tour with all three and share your results. I realize this isn't practical.

 

Take reviews at face value. Look for details in reviews that help make a clearer picture in your mind of what is being offered and consider whether any differences make one more your speed.

 

I've done the cave-tubing twice with different operators. Both tours were so similar it made no difference to me. The biggest difference I see between most operators is lunch or no lunch.

[kcscrapper]

If mine was a review you read about Reggie's Cave Tubing, please feel free to email me with any questions I might be able to answer. In my opinion posted earlier this morning, I found his web site and pasted the URL into my message as well.

If you can't just click on my name to email me, leave a message and I'll check back.:)

[salty dingo]

Yhony runs a good outfit, I was very happy with my cave tubing experience with him.

[julie aka social director]

Which two operators did you take?

[Bunkie103]

You might also want to check out Coral Breeze. We used them in November and were extremely satisfied. Small groups, FANTASTIC lunch and a great guide.:D

[yst347]

Which two operators did you take?

 

The first trip in nov. 2003 we booked in advance with Reggie-tours. I think we payed $65 and it included 3 cave systems and a lunch stop, bar-b-cue.

 

The second trip was early feb 2005. As the Legend was the only ship in port and it was a family reunion cruise we made no reservations as several family members couldn't make up their minds. We haggled with a guy named Marvin just outside the port shopping area to take 5 of us for $200. We went through just 2 cave systems and had no lunch but we didn't have time for all 3 anyway. We were back at the port in time for a Belkin Dark at the bar before taking one of the last tenders.

 

I would recommend them both.

[Bunkie103]

When you return to the tender dock be sure to take time for a Beliken Beer at the Wet Lizard! They have a cute little souvenier shop also that sells neat shot glasses.

[julie aka social director]

I've been doing more research. Has anyone after done the cave tubing with Xstreme cave tubing?

[caribbean dreams]

which companies take the smallest groups, i would like to be in a group of 15 or 20 people at the most.

[MDavis23]

I agonized over who to go with on our cave tubing, but ended up with Yhony at Cave-Tubing.com. I was worried because we took our 4 year old with us (as I did not want to leave her on the ship) and had read posts about the terrain and how she might not be able to make it. It was not a problem at all. She walked the whole way. The guides were attentive to making sure that she was ok. I would recommend them to anyone. The experience was great mostly because of the people who took us. THANKS!

[KAWS]

I'm posting it here because everyone has taken the cave tubing excursion. Hubby and I wear glasses and I can't see a thing (clearly) without them and sure wouldn't be able to walk 30 minutes without them without falling on my face.

 

Will I have a problem tubing if I leave them on?

 

Kim

[julie aka social director]

I've read that wearing glasses is not a problem. Just make sure you wear eye glass holders around your neck. Already purchased mine to secure the sunglasses that I can't live without.

[queeni]

We went with cave-tubing.com the end of May and it was a great experience. One big plus the other tours didn't have was Lenny the guy videoing our tour. We bought the reasonably priced DVD and we just got it yesterday. It was worth the wait! The day we went cave tubing was my husbands 40th birthday and having the DVD to share with friends and family is priceless. We loved watching it! I've read some reviews that said Lenny wasn't on their tour. If you're going with cave-tubing.com and you want to buy the video I would email Yhony and make sure he'll be there because the video is well worth it!

[Breezzy]

Hi,

 

I was in Belize last month and we did the cave tubing tour with belize shorex.com. We had a great experience with our guide he make sure that we were all ok, at all times. After our cave tubing we had a nice B.B.Q dinner at the cave tubing site, that was excellent and a couple of belizean beer I can't remember the name. If you want to try the beer, just ask your guide for the belize beer.

 

Belize shorex take out same groups we only had 16 people in our group, that makes our tour more enjoyable for us. We meet up with some larger group in the cave and they were going very slow, because of the size group they had to handdle. Our guide Mr. Rager got us back at the dock an hour before we were ready to go back to the ship. So we had time to do our gift shopping at the dock where they had live music playing.

 

I will go with belize shorex.com again the guys was very nice and they know there country.

[julie aka social director]

Thanks for all your replys. I've booked with cave-tubing.com and looking forward to having a great time. If anyone is going to be on the Carnival Miracle on July 31, we are looking for a few more participants to join us. These boards are a great source of information.

[fireboat]

If you like these boards, then don't stop here. Go to the Roll Call section find your ship/cruise date and start posting. If not post yet, start one.

 

DW and I were on a company cruise. No thinking we find many people. We found one couple from CC and met on board. It was nice having a friend before even meeting.

[julie aka social director]

Thanks Fireboat. Still trying to navigate this website. Will take you up on it and maybe we will get lucky.;)

[ShyGuy215]

We are arriving in Belize on the Miracle on Thursday, August 3. On our last visit to Belize we did nothing other than go to the pier where all the shops are. I would like to participate in the cave tubing experience, but after reading several posts, I have come up with three different guides, recommended by other cruise critic members. How do you decide which one is the best and most reliable to take advantage of?

 

Hello:

 

We just got off the Miracle which sailed on July 2 and did cave tubing with Yhony from cave-tubing.com. Others have given equal praise to other operations as well, but have to say that I would chose Yhony again in a heartbeat. He has a great personality. He is very casual, yet professional and he is passionate about what he is doing. There were about 40 people on our tour. Yhony and his other leaders had groups of about ten people linked together. Each of these smaller groups had at least one tour guide assisting as we went through the caves. Other tour groups I observed just sent each individual down the river on his/her own. One man was walking up river without his tube with panic on his face and he yelled out that he could not find his wife. Individuals on their own would bump into logs or rocks, but we had a tour guide taking us through the dangerous parts. Bottom line, I highly recommend Yhony and his cave tubing operation. If you don't go with Yhony, still chose an individual tour company. You will get much more for less money. None of them will allow you to miss the cruise ship which is one of the "scare tactics" the cruise lines use to get you to sign up for their overpriced excursions.

[babyclaytonmom]

Comment about Reggie's-

 

We did his tour recently and because he seems to be a smaller operation that Yhonny's and some of the others it may have its pros and cons. His guide was great but not well liked by the owner of the resort by which you cave tube and zip line. (He was great to us though). The negative we had was we had to wait nearly 2 hours for the other couple to arrive at the pier before we could leave! They'd prepaid. It wouldve only been our small group and obviously not as profitable if they left without the other group. Our tubing was cut short and we were left to fend for ourselves to get to the zipline because the other group with us didnt want to do it.

[julie aka social director]

Thanks ShyGuy215. As a matter of fact we've already booked with Yhonny. Were the group of people all from the Miracle? Did you have to wait at the dock until all the people were there? Were you able to get off the ship ok without taking a ship excursion? What did you think about the Miracle? Thanks

[ShyGuy215]

I'm posting it here because everyone has taken the cave tubing excursion. Hubby and I wear glasses and I can't see a thing (clearly) without them and sure wouldn't be able to walk 30 minutes without them without falling on my face.

 

Will I have a problem tubing if I leave them on?

 

Kim

Hello:

 

I went cave tubing with Yhony when we were in Belize a few weeks ago. There should not be any problem whatsoever wearing glasses. I wear them and got concerned when Yhony said many people lose sunglasses. In the caves it is is dark and most people prop their sunglasses up on their heads. It is very easy for glasses to fall off from this position. I wore mine properly the whole way and they were securely on the entire time. There are not really any rapids in the caves and your guides (at least Yhony and his staff did) should make sure you don't go slamming into rocks which could jar them lose.

 

Hope that helps.

[ShyGuy215]

Thanks ShyGuy215. As a matter of fact we've already booked with Yhonny. Were the group of people all from the Miracle? Did you have to wait at the dock until all the people were there? Were you able to get off the ship ok without taking a ship excursion? What did you think about the Miracle? Thanks

 

Sorry. I accidently posted a different response to this thread.

 

To answer your questions, most of our group was from the Miracle, but I think there were a few who were not. We were on the first tender off the ship and met Yhony right away. He told us to use the rest room as the bus did not have rest rooms, then come back out. We did have to wait for a group who did not make the first tender. But rather than waste the time, Yhony had his guides drive us around Belize City and give us a short narration about the history of the country and the people. It was a very informative and a nice addition which we did not expect. We booked all of our excursions through independents and did not have any problems at all getting off the Miracle. I think there are some excursions that leave earlier than others and one morning, people had gotten stickers with numbers on them that were supposed to indicate when they could get on a tender, but by the time we ate breakfast, they announced that anyone could get on a tender regardless of whether or not you had a sticker. We loved the Miracle. The cabin was nice and spacious. The casino was great. The staff was fantastic. Some of the rooms have some gaudy decor, but if you go intent on having a good time, you will have a good time. We loved it and our only argument now is how long we are going to wait before cruising again. My wife says 3 or 4 years; my daughter and I say next year. Hopefully, we will get the majority rule this time. :)

[julie aka social director]

What time did you actually go to get off the ship?