Grab your tube and water shoes and get ready for a true wet ’n’ wild adventure — a journey that starts with a mostly uphill jungle trek hauling your own professional-grade inflatable tube and includes fording a portion of the beautiful, green Caves Branch River.

The vigorous hike through the untainted rainforest followed by an exhilarating tube-cruise through the ancient river caves is one of my favorite things to do and available in few places other than Belize.

Along the way, you can take in exquisite examples of flora and fauna indigenous to the Central American rainforest while listening to a guide recounting the fascinating history of the region.

Around 40 minutes into the hike, your sweat-drenched body is rewarded with the refreshing sight of the entrance point where you will plunge into the depths of the chilly river to explore the cave system.  The Branch River Cave was carved out of the foothills of the Maya Mountain by the powerful force of water over thousands of years.  Gliding in a human chain through currents intermittent with small rapids, you’ll meander lazy-river style, dip and swish, and lunge through an underworld of interconnecting limestone caves with only your tube beneath you and a headlight to illuminate your path.  Your guide will point out waterfalls, ancient ritual chambers, myriad stalagmites and stalactites, and unique cave formations. But no matter how awed, be sure to keep your mouth closed because there are bats hanging above your head!

Expect to lay prone in your tube to pass through low cave openings, and if you hear your guide yell “Bum!” make sure you immediately lift your derrière to avoid making contact with the rocky riverbed.

The highlight comes deep within the cave bowels when the guide instructs everyone to turn off their headlights.

Cave tubing Belize was a hoot!

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Another fun place for cave tubing in Belize is the ATM (Actun Tunichil Muknal).

[Read more cave tubing adventure in Belize in Travel Post Monthly]

You may also be interested in:

Belize Diving: Great for Beginners

Costa Rica: The Cure for Boredom

Tikal Mayan Ruins in Guatemala

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About the Author

Patti Morrow is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and the southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.

She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the new few months.

Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.