Canoeing on the Macal, Mopan & Belize Rivers

See the Photo Gallery for more or watch the Belize Rivers and Pools Slideshow

Paddle around near the beach, work your way upstream and drift back, head for San Ignacio Town or kayak on the Mopan. You will enjoy the sites along the Macal, Mopan and Belize Rivers so make sure you sign up for some canoeing, tubing or kayaking.

Interested in canoeing at duPlooy's? See our rates, or include canoeing in one of our packages.

Macal River: San Ignacio by canoe

You can do this either combined with Cahal Pech, Xunantunich, Tropical Wings or El Pilar or on your way out to the airport on your last day (flight time permitting). Depending on the season (dry or rainy) and your canoeing skills this will take you about 1 ½ - 3 hours. It is downstream so it's a nice way to spend the day if you are tired of driving around bumpy roads. The Macal is fairly lazy river(except when flooded) and there are only a couple of rapids so even those without canoe experience can enjoy the trip.

Macal River: Natural History Center and Butterfly Farm by Canoe

A fun and informative half-day canoe trip, best of all - no driving. Look for a large concrete landing, this is Chaa Creek where you can tie up and follow a path up to the resort, from there ask someone to point you in the direction of the Butterfly farm and Natural History Center. Canoe back up when you're ready. You can also go there by innertube, just arrange a pick up time beforehand.

Macal River: Flour Camp Cave by Canoe You can drive to Flour Camp Cave (see Caves section for details), explore the cave, picnic and then set off for home (aka duPlooy's) by canoe. This is a 2-3 hour canoe trip downstream. This area of the Macal is a lot rockier so it is a bit more challenging than the drift to San Ignacio. During the dry season it dries up quickly making a canoe ride down more walking than canoeing so we do not recommend this trip when the river is too low or too high, otherwise it is a lot of fun on a pretty section of river plus you can combine canoeing and with a beautiful cave in one great trip. It is not exactly a hair raising adventure but it offers some rapid thrills.... (get it?) (see other caves)

Belize River: Canoe Trip

The Mopan and the Macal Rivers meet just out of San Ignacio and form the Belize River. If you think two rivers must be better than one you may want to try a trip on the Belize River. This is a guided canoe trip and offers a lot in the way of wildlife sighting, you will usually see monkeys, crocodiles, lots of birds and possibly even a tapir.

You meet at duPlooy's office and travel to More Tomorrow village where you will set off downstream with a guide who will point out the scenes and creatures you encounter along the way. It is a downstream journey so you will be picked up and driven back to duPlooy's at the end of the day. If you are feeling really wild, arrange for an overnight camping trip. (For overnight try to give us 2-3 days notice though we may be able to arrange it in less time).

Jaguar Paw: Cave Tubing

This is a fun and relaxing day. Spending 4 hours floating in an innertube down a river in and out of caves with a headlamp on. Pretty darn neat. The one drawback to this trip is the dreaded cruise ship people. Yes, when cruise ships come in you can find yourself sharing the cave with about 100 or more other people, not so darn neat.

PS: Cruise ships and ecotourism DON'T mix!

Mopan River: Clarissa Falls Tubing or Kayak Trip Another good relaxing/not much driving trip. About a 1.5 hours kayak or 2-hour tube trip. You can do Xunantunich (see Ruins) or Tropical Wings Nature Centre (see Nature Centres and Butterfly Farms) before setting off on this trip. You will board your vessel of choice in the picturesque town of San Jose Succotz and begin the float. The Mopan River is a bit racier than the Macal River, still, unless there is flooding; all levels of tubers (including yams) and kayakers should be fine on this float. Disembark at a resort and restaurant located beside about a 4-6 foot drop know as Clarissa Falls. You can choose to 'shoot' the rapids or get off the river before them and watch the alarmed expressions of those who do. Some excellent cooks run Clarissa Falls so if you brought some spare change order some enchiladas before we pick you up and return you to duPlooy's or your next destination.

Interested in canoeing at duPlooy's? See our rates, or include canoeing in one of our packages.