Yucatan to Belize Overland & Sea Crossing
Travel from Tulum and Bacalar to Belize by boat, exploring the islands before heading inland to Maya caves.
A classic southbound route popular with backpackers, utilizing buses and ferries instead of driving, allowing for a one-way crossing without backtracking. Pass through the Tulum ruins, cenotes, Lake Bacalar, the barrier reef, and the ATM Cave. This is a longer itinerary with four hotel changes, perfect for independent travelers with plenty of time. It skips Chichen Itza and Tikal to minimize transit times.
Sargassum seaweed is common on east-facing shores in summer, and September and October are the peak of the storm season.
Day by day
Day 1 · Cancun Airport South to Tulum
Riviera Maya (Playa del Carmen & Tulum)
Take an ADO bus from the airport to Playa del Carmen (about 1 hour), then transfer to another bus to Tulum (about 1 hour).
Stay: Tulum Pueblo
Day 2 · Tulum Ruins and Beach
Riviera Maya (Playa del Carmen & Tulum)（Tulum Archaeological Site、Playa Paraíso, Tulum）
Ride a bike or take a taxi from town to the ruins. Visit the ruins in the morning and head to nearby Playa Paraiso in the afternoon.
Arrive early at the ruins to avoid crowds. Credit cards may not be accepted at the entrance, so bring cash.
Stay: Tulum Pueblo
Day 3 · Turtle Bay and Cenotes
Riviera Maya (Playa del Carmen & Tulum)（Akumal Bay、Cenote Dos Ojos、Gran Cenote）
Join a tour or charter a car north to Akumal, stopping at Cenote Dos Ojos and Cenote Grande on the way back. The round-trip drive takes about 1 hour.
To see turtles in Akumal, it is best to go with a licensed guide. Do not chase or touch them.
Stay: Tulum Pueblo
Day 4 · Bus South to Bacalar
Bacalar（Bacalar Pueblo Mágico Centre、Fort of San Felipe）
Take an ADO bus from Tulum to Bacalar (about 3 hours). Walk around the town and the fort in the afternoon.
Stay: Bacalar Town Centre
Day 5 · Sailing on Lake Bacalar and Cenote Azul
Bacalar（Bacalar Lagoon、Pirates' Channel、Cenote Azul）
Take a half-day sailboat tour of Lake Bacalar from the town dock, then take a taxi to Cenote Azul in the afternoon (about 15 minutes).
Some sources state that the lake is closed on Wednesdays; confirm this before booking your boat tour.
Stay: Bacalar Town Centre
Day 6 · Chetumal Boat Crossing to Belize
Bacalar（Museum of Maya Culture, Chetumal） → Ambergris Caye
Travel to Chetumal (about 1 hour), then take a ferry to San Pedro (about 2 hours) and clear immigration on the island.
Arrive at the dock at least 2 hours early. Schedules can change, so book your tickets a day in advance.
Stay: San Pedro Town
Day 7 · Snorkeling in Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Ambergris Caye（Hol Chan Marine Reserve、Shark Ray Alley、San Pedro Town）
Take a snorkeling boat from the town dock to the reserve for a half-day trip of about 4 hours, with the afternoon free.
You can rent a golf cart to explore the town in the afternoon. Do not touch the coral or marine life.
Stay: San Pedro Town
Day 8 · Water Taxi to Caye Caulker
Take a water taxi from San Pedro to Caye Caulker (about 30 minutes). Walk or bike around the island.
There are no cars on the island, so choose accommodation close to the dock. Head to The Split for a swim in the afternoon.
Stay: Caye Caulker
Day 9 · Great Blue Hole Day Dive
Ambergris Caye（Great Blue Hole）
Depart early in the morning on a dive shop speedboat to Lighthouse Reef (about 2.5 hours one way), returning to Caye Caulker in the evening.
Tours do not run every day and require an advanced certification. Non-divers can opt for a manatee snorkeling tour instead.
Stay: Caye Caulker
Day 10 · Transfer to San Ignacio
Ambergris Caye → San Ignacio（Cahal Pech）
Take a morning water taxi to Belize City (about 45 minutes), then take a bus west for just over 2 hours.
Take a taxi from the dock to the bus station. You can head up the hill to visit Cahal Pech in the evening.
Stay: San Ignacio Downtown
Day 11 · ATM Cave Adventure
San Ignacio（Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM Cave)）
Hotel pickup and drop-off by the tour agency. The full-day tour takes about 8–9 hours, including trekking, wading, and walking through the cave.
A licensed guide must be booked in advance. Cameras are prohibited inside the cave, and you must know how to swim.
Stay: San Ignacio Downtown
Day 12 · Xunantunich and the River Valley
San Ignacio（Xunantunich、Belize Botanic Gardens）
Take a taxi or join a tour to the hand-cranked ferry (about 20 minutes). Visit the ruins in the morning and tour the botanical gardens in the river valley in the afternoon.
Stay: San Ignacio Downtown
Day 13 · Return to the Airport via the Belize Zoo
Take a shuttle east to the airport (about 2 hours), stopping at the Belize Zoo if time permits.
For morning flights, you must book an early shuttle; afternoon flights allow for a stop at the zoo.