#5 of 13 Boat Tours & Water Sports in San Ignacio

Historical & Heritage Tours • Zipline & Aerial Adventure Parks • Nature & Wildlife Tours • Kayaking & Canoeing

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Pacz Tours

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.

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4.5

626 reviews

Excellent

502

Very good

55

Average

28

Poor

20

Terrible

21

mmuntner

New York City, NY142 contributions

Great ATM Tour with Pacz!

Jul 2021

Went with Pacz Tours for the ATM Tour. We were picked up from the San Ignacio Hotel. Rates were fair and comparable to the other tour companies (I negotiated a bit, though we were in Belize in the off season July). It was just the two of us and our guide, Oscar. He was professional, knew the cave well, and kept us safe!

This tour is intense, fun, and doable if you are able to climb and swim and also sometimes climb with only socks on. You need water shoes for this, and I don't recommend Keens, because they are terrible shoes, and little pebbles and rocks get under your feet, and the water stays there, and then it's just slopping around as you walk, and is slippery and you will fall. I recommend cheap Amazon hiking water shoes with little holes at the bottom to let the water drain. I also recommend a water shirt.

The cave is exciting. Where else will you see skeletal remains of Mayan sacrifices? Sadly no photos, no cameras, no pictures. So just word of mouth. But in reality, some of the climbing is a bit hairy, and I can't even imagine taking a camera or phone with me. You will fit through tight spaces, water will be up to your neck, you will think you are almost done, but will then do a lot of climbing with only your socks on. You will climb up a ladder deep in the cave.
Bring a change of clothes and a towel.
Lunch is provided and was honestly, pretty good!

This is a once in a lifetime trip. Maybe it won't be around forever? Who knows? Go while you're young and mobile.
As you are deep inside, and it is dark you can't help but imagine what it was like when the Mayas were there.

Highly recommend, Highly recommend Pacz Tours too!

Written August 8, 2021

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

alvinbz501

Thank you for the great reviews, Oscar is surely a great guide.

Written November 25, 2021

This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.

Heather M

Las Vegas, NV10 contributions

Epic!

Jan 2023

Epic! I had high expectations for the ATM Cave Tour. We've traveled extensively across Belize and this was our last bucket-list item and it was everything I expected and more. My husband and I are avid hikers so I can't really fairly describe the ease or difficulty of the experience. For us, it was a simple walk to the cave. The river was high and we're both tall, so that took a little more effort to cross. Once inside it was dark (obviously), wet and slick at times. Our water shoes from amazon worked great. There is a point where you are required to remove your shoes to climb into the cave.. I have tender feet so it was a bit more tricky. But, our guide Oscar was amazing. He told us exactly where to step. Which hand to put where, etc. It was very easy to navigate the darkness (with a headlamp) and his expertise. I am glad I had a helmet though, haha! Being 5'10" meant a couple head knocks on the rock. Oscar was not only helpful in the experience, but a wealth of knowledge. He told stories, related things from his childhood since he grew up in San Ignacio and often instructed us to turn off our headlamps to really soak in the experience. EPIC! Truly. Then, to finish it off.... Justin brought lunch that was homemade by his mom and absolutely delicious. Overall, great experience. I am so glad we got to see something so old, so unique, so full of history. Oscar even pointed out where past tourists had dropped phones and broken skulls and bones, hence why cameras are no longer allowed. It made it all the more apparent that our footprint is ever present. I may not have the pictures, but I have the memories which will last a lifetime.

Written February 3, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Deborah F

Boston, MA13 contributions

Quality tour operator providing excellent service

Apr 2023 • Couples

We used Pacz Tours to go to Caracol and Barton Creek and enjoyed excellent guiding by Pedro on both occasions. Emilio was very helpful in accommodating us at the last minute and taking all of our needs into account. Highly recommended if you need a tour operator in the San Ignacio area.

Written April 25, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

harobed1a

Newton, MA147 contributions

Private tours at reasonable prices

Apr 2023

We used Pacz tours to go to Barton Creek and Caracol and were guided by Pedro on both occasions. Emilio was extremely helpful and able to accommodate us with less than 24 hours' notice on both occasions. Pedro was professional and knowledgeable and conversed with us rather than lecturing. We thoroughly enjoyed both our outings and highly recommend this company.

Written April 29, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Regan B

5 contributions

Knowledgeable, Local tour guides

Mar 2022

Our family (parents, 14 year old son) did two tours with Pacz: Xunantunich and ATM. Both were excellent. Our guide for ATM was Oscar. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and professional. The tour was challenging, and he successfully guided 8 guests (all with different ability levels) through the day. Our Xunantunich guide was Jonathan. He was informative about Mayan history and culture, enjoyable to be around, and allowed us plenty of time to just take in the sights. Overall, both tours were great experiences.

Written March 28, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

J L

West University Place, TX2 contributions

Tikal and ATM tours

Jan 2020 • Friends

Pacz tours did a great job on both tours. We stayed a night in San Ignacio area and then they transported 4 of our group to Guatemala to Tikal and we did the overnight trip. 3 of our group were delayed due to a medical issue but Pacz coordinated later transportation to reunite us all and really went above and beyond to ensure the late comers could see as much as possible. We did a day long tour, broke for lunch and then an evening tour to view the sunsetting standing atop one of the temples which was awesome. Our guide Hugo was so patient and knowledgeable about Mayan history and culture as well as the flora and fauna. We rose to depart before dawn for the sun rise view from Temple 4. The hike in the pitch dark through the jungle was an adventure due to hearing but not seeing the howler monkeys, birds and other creatures all around. After returning to Belize we found the ATM caving tour is not to be missed. Our guide Emilio has guided over 4000 groups since he was one of the first certified guides in the 1990’s. But he made the tour fresh and exciting for us. It is a strenuous tour. Be sure to wear or take thick socks for the part where shoes must be removed when walking around the calcified skeletal remains and artifacts. It starts with a plunge in a cool river swim for around 30 feet. Then a a 45 min hike (which was another great educational experience - got to see leaf eater ants at work and eat termites). then another swim to to entrance of the cave. You will slosh through ankle to waist deep water for around 2 hours and see beautiful formations of stalagmites and stalactites while learning about both the geology of the cave and history of its use by the Mayans for sacred ceremonies and rituals to the rain god. Lots of climbing over rock boulders and through narrow crevices. It’s quite chilling to know that the human sacrifices included young children. A very rewarding experience and adventure made safe using the logistics experience and great knowledge of Pacz tours.

Written January 10, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Matt

Boston, MA20 contributions

Awesome!!!!

Apr 2022 • Family

The ATM Cave Tour with PacZ couldn't have been better! Just an incredible experience! We arranged for a ride to Belize from Tikal Jungle Lodge in Guatemala. It took 3 hours each way (including time at the border) which made for a long day but it was totally worth it. Justin and Lenny were great: very kind, knowledgeable, spoke perfect English, and were really accommodating. The cave tour itself was just bananas! Indiana Jones experience from swimming though the mouth of the cave, to climbing up steep sections, squeeeeeezing through others, and finally reaching the place where there's fully intact pots next to fully intact skeletal remains?!!?! Just incredible. Worth the effort and highly recommend PacZ!

Written April 25, 2022

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ladspdx

Portland, OR10 contributions

Unique cooking class and lively conversation

Jan 2020

Our group of four adults signed up for Pacz Tours cooking class on-line and paid the day of the class. We met the guide/cook Jamaal in the morning and walked to the San Ignacio Saturday farmer’s market—highly recommended! Jamaal showed us some of the unique fruits and vegetables at the market and offered us tastes. He was very engaging. We purchased ingredients for the dinner we would cook later. We spent the rest of the day exploring on our own then went to his home at 4:30 pm to cook the meal. Jamaal and his wife cooked with our involvement. We fixed a lot of food including Belizian seasoned rice and beans, Belizian potato salad and cheese dip, habanero pepper sauce and compiled different mixes of seasoning for grilled vegetables, fish, lobster and meat. It was a lively evening as extended family members, a grandmother, friends, cousins, kids, etc. showed up and we had the opportunity to see how the locals live and to learn about life in Belize. Dinner was a big family affair! We all enjoyed the evening more because of the opportunity to chat with the extended family rather than sitting by ourselves in a more formal cooking class setting. Overall a fun and interesting experience.

Written February 23, 2020

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Carrie S

1 contribution

Extraordinary day, awesome team!

Jan 2023 • Couples

So, so happy we booked with Pacz to do the ATM Cave Tour! I cannot begin to describe how extraordinary the cave was, and getting to explore it with such an experienced and cool guide was the best. Shout-out to Justin for making the day extra great with lots of knowledge to share and fun conversation. (The team also make it super easy to reschedule when our original date got cancelled due to washout conditions.) Highly recommend!

Written January 13, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ann G

3 contributions

Must do experience with a truly expert guide!

Mar 2023

Truly once in a lifetime type experience. I cannot say enough about this amazing tour and our extremely knowledgeable guide Oscar! I can't imagine coming to Belize and missing out on this. I was a little nervous when I booked about the swimming and water crossings but don't be. Oscar made us feel so safe and comfortable that any worries I had quickly went away. I was also a little concerned about some of the small spaces you had to squeeze through since my husband is a big guy, 6'2" but again, no problem. The Belizean lunch served at the end of the day was the icing on the cake!

Written March 24, 2023

This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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