Nohoch Che’en Cave Tubing from San Ignacio
Travel from San Ignacio to the Nohoch Che’en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve, commonly known as Jaguar Paw, for guided cave tubing on the Caves Branch River. After gearing up, walk through the rainforest to the river, then float through the cave system with your guide. Transport, reserve admission, equipment, lunch and water are included.
US$125 PP • 7–8 HOURS • 10:30 AMWhat Is the Nohoch Che’en Cave Tubing Experience Really Like?
Cave tubing at Nohoch Che’en begins with a guided walk through the reserve toward the Caves Branch River. Once on the water, the experience moves between open-river sections and cave passages. As you enter the caves, natural daylight gives way to the beam of your helmet light while your guide leads the group through the river environment.
This is a river-based cave experience: the transition from the forest and open water into darker, headlamp-lit cave passages is a central part of the tour. The exact route and time on the water can vary with river levels and current conditions, so the experience may not follow exactly the same sequence on every departure.
Your Nohoch Che’en Cave Tubing Itinerary from San Ignacio
Your cave tubing day begins in San Ignacio and follows a clear sequence: pickup, travel to Nohoch Che’en (commonly known as Jaguar Paw), gear fitting, a rainforest walk, guided cave tubing on the Caves Branch River, time to change, lunch, and the return drive. Plan for about 7–8 hours in total. Times are approximate, and river conditions can affect the route and pace.
Pickup & Travel from San Ignacio
We typically pick you up from your hotel in San Ignacio at about 10:30 AM and arrive at Nohoch Che’en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve at about 11:30 AM. However, we are open to your timing. Nevertheless, this gives you a practical idea of how the day is paced before the cave tubing begins. Traffic and operating conditions can shift the timing, so use these times as a guide rather than a fixed schedule.
Gear Fitting & Rainforest Walk
After arrival, we fit you with your tube, life vest, helmet and headlamp, then begin the rainforest walk toward the river. The walk usually takes about 20–45 minutes depending on the group and conditions. A life vest and helmet with light are required for the activity. We do not present the trail as a fixed route because conditions can change, and details such as exact crossings or tube-carrying arrangements can vary.
Guided Cave Tubing on the Caves Branch River
We usually begin the cave-tubing portion at about 12:30 PM. From there, you float with your guide through a mix of open-river sections and darker cave passages where your headlamp becomes part of the experience. To take part, you must be at least 40 inches tall and able to swim; a life vest is worn during the activity. River levels and site conditions can change the route and the amount of time spent on the water, so we do not promise a fixed cave count, passage sequence or exact float time.
Exit, Change & Belizean Lunch
We usually finish the water portion and change at about 2:30 PM, followed by lunch at around 3:00 PM. The reserve has restrooms and showers available for visitors. Your tour includes a Belizean lunch with a main dish and drink, along with cold bottled water and an energy bar. Bring a towel and a dry change of clothes so you are comfortable for the ride back.
Return Drive to San Ignacio
We normally leave Nohoch Che’en at about 4:00 PM for the return to San Ignacio. The complete tour takes about 7–8 hours door to door, but we do not promise an exact hotel arrival time because traffic, group pace and river conditions can affect the schedule. This itinerary is designed to help you plan your day without pretending every departure runs to the exact minute.
What’s Included in Your Nohoch Che’en Cave Tubing Tour
The US$125 tour is sold as a complete San Ignacio package rather than an on-site guide-only float. Round-trip town transportation, reserve admission, a licensed guide, required cave-tubing equipment, lunch, water and an energy bar are currently included. Here’s exactly what the booking covers—and what remains extra.
Included
Not Included
Is Nohoch Che’en Cave Tubing Right for You?
Cave tubing is less strenuous than ATM Cave, but it still involves a rainforest walk, wet or uneven footing, river entry and exit, and time inside darker cave passages. NICH guidance says visitors should be able to swim. If you cannot swim or are not confident in the water, that does not automatically rule you out with us - please tell our staff before the tour so your guide can prepare the additional support and safety arrangements you may need.
NICH publishes the reserve’s safety guidance. We also need to know about any concerns before the tour so our guides can prepare appropriately.
NICH publishes a minimum height of 40 inches for cave-tubing visitors.
NICH guidance says visitors should be able to swim. If you cannot swim or are not confident in the water, please tell our staff before the tour so your guide can prepare additional support and safety arrangements.
You should be able to manage the rainforest walk, wet footing, and getting into and out of the river with assistance where needed.
NICH also requires a guide, life vest, and helmet with light. Our guides can provide closer assistance and make additional safety arrangements for guests who cannot swim or who feel less confident in the water. Please let us know before the tour so we can prepare.
This is not a pass/fail test. Your answers simply help identify anything our staff and guides should know before the tour.
We’ll highlight anything our staff should know before the tour.
Ask us about cave tubing →Planning guidance only — not a medical or safety clearance. If you have a swimming, mobility, health, balance or sensory concern, please tell our staff before the tour so we can explain what to expect and prepare any additional assistance that may be appropriate.
What to Bring & Wear for Nohoch Che’en Cave Tubing
Come dressed to get wet. We provide your tube, life vest, helmet and headlamp, so you do not need to bring cave-tubing gear. Wear secure footwear and quick-dry clothing for the rainforest walk and river, then bring a few dry essentials for after the float.
Wear
Secure water shoes or closed footwear
Choose shoes with good traction that can get wet. Avoid loose flip-flops, which are a poor choice for wet or uneven ground.
Swimwear
Wear your swimsuit under your clothing so you are ready for the river portion of the tour.
Lightweight quick-dry clothing
Wear comfortable clothing that can handle the rainforest walk, river water and changing weather without staying heavy when wet.
Bring
Towel & dry change of clothes
You will get wet during the activity. Bring a towel and dry clothes so you can change before lunch and the return drive to San Ignacio.
Sun & rain protection
Bring simple protection for exposed portions of the day, such as a hat or light rain layer, depending on the weather.
Necessary personal medication
Bring any medication you may need during the 7–8 hour tour and let our staff know before the tour about any relevant health needs.
Nohoch Che’en Cave Tubing FAQs
Here are five practical questions that are easy to miss when comparing cave tubing tours from San Ignacio.
Are Nohoch Che’en and Jaguar Paw the same place?
Nohoch Che’en Caves Branch Archaeological Reserve is the official reserve name. Jaguar Paw is a familiar tourism name commonly used for the cave-tubing area. Our tour goes to Nohoch Che’en; we use “Jaguar Paw” as a recognition cue so travelers know they are looking at the same cave-tubing area, not a separate attraction.
How much of the 7–8 hour tour is actually spent cave tubing?
Our current schedule begins with pickup in San Ignacio at about 10:30 AM, arrival at Nohoch Che’en around 11:30 AM, and gear-up and the rainforest walk at about 11:45 AM. The cave-tubing portion begins around 12:30 PM, with changing around 2:30 PM, lunch around 3:00 PM, and departure from the reserve around 4:00 PM. The complete day is about 7–8 hours. Exact time actually floating can vary with the route, river level and group pace, so we do not promise a fixed number of minutes on the water.
NICH says visitors should be able to swim. What if I cannot swim or feel nervous in the water?
NICH guidance says visitors should be able to swim, and a life vest is required for the activity. If you cannot swim or simply feel nervous in the water, please tell our staff before the tour. That does not automatically rule you out with St. Leonard’s. Our guide can prepare closer assistance and additional safety arrangements while following the current reserve rules and conditions.
Will we always follow the same cave-tubing route?
Not necessarily. River levels and site conditions can affect which sections are accessible, the route used and the amount of time spent on the water. That is why we do not advertise a guaranteed cave count or an exact passage sequence. Your guide follows the route that is available and appropriate for conditions on the day.
Why do Nohoch Che’en cave tubing prices vary so much online?
Not every advertised cave-tubing price includes the same things. Our standard San Ignacio package currently includes round-trip transportation from San Ignacio Town, reserve entrance fees, a licensed guide, tube, life vest, helmet and headlamp, Belizean lunch with a drink, bottled water and an energy bar. Some lower-priced offers are on-site experiences or leave out transport, admission or meals, so it is worth comparing what the price actually covers rather than comparing the headline number alone.
More Ways to Explore from San Ignacio
Want to add Maya ruins to your cave tubing day, choose a more demanding cave expedition, or spend another day focused on Maya history? These three tours are the most natural next choices.
Xunantunich Ruins & Cave Tubing
Combine a guided visit to Xunantunich with the Nohoch Che’en cave-tubing experience in one full-day tour from San Ignacio.
ATM Cave Tour
Choose Actun Tunichil Muknal for a more physically demanding cave expedition with rainforest hiking, stream crossings, swimming, climbing and Maya archaeology.
Xunantunich & Cahal Pech
Prefer a day focused on Maya history? Visit Xunantunich and Cahal Pech with a guide, exploring two distinct archaeological sites in one outing from San Ignacio.
Ready to Go Cave Tubing at Nohoch Che’en?
Book your cave tubing day from San Ignacio with us. The current US$125 tour includes round-trip transportation from San Ignacio Town, reserve entrance fees, your guide, tube, life vest, helmet and headlamp, Belizean lunch, bottled water and an energy bar. If you have a question before the tour, message us directly.