Horseback Riding, Xunantunich and Maya Chocolate Tour from San Ignacio
Begin with an approximately 1.5-hour guided horseback ride on St. Leonard’s family farm, then travel by vehicle to Xunantunich for a guided Maya site visit, Belizean lunch and a short AJAW cacao tasting. The horses do not travel to Xunantunich on this combination tour.
US$160 PP • 6–8 HOURS • 7:30 AMA Farm Ride, Xunantunich Visit & Maya Cacao Tasting in One Day
This full-day combination begins with pickup in San Ignacio and a guided horseback experience at St. Leonard’s family farm, San Lorenzo Farm. After the riding briefing and horse matching, the horseback portion spends approximately 1.5 hours on farm and countryside terrain. When the ride ends, the horses remain at the farm and guests continue by air-conditioned vehicle toward Xunantunich near San José Succotz. This is not the separate St. Leonard’s tour where riders travel to Xunantunich on horseback and take the horses across the ferry.
At Xunantunich, the day shifts from horseback riding to Maya archaeology, with approximately 1.5–2 hours for a guided visit before a Belizean lunch. The final cultural stop is a short cacao tasting at AJAW Chocolate in San Ignacio—not AJAW’s separate one-hour chocolate-making class. In one day, the experience brings together a family-farm ride, Xunantunich, Belizean food and cacao culture while keeping the time spent on each part clear for travelers deciding whether this combination fits their interests.
Your Horseback, Xunantunich & Maya Cacao Tour Itinerary
Follow the full-day combination from San Ignacio pickup to San Lorenzo Farm, an approximately 1.5-hour horseback ride, vehicle transfer to Xunantunich, Belizean lunch and a short AJAW cacao tasting. Open each stage to see how the day fits together. Times are approximate and can vary with pickup location, group pace, ferry waits and site conditions.
Pickup in San Ignacio & Prepare at San Lorenzo Farm
The current itinerary begins with pickup in the San Ignacio area at about 7:30 AM before continuing to St. Leonard’s family farm, San Lorenzo Farm. The ride is scheduled to begin around 8:00 AM. Before setting out, guests are matched with a horse and receive a riding briefing so the guide can establish a comfortable pace for the group. Pickup time can vary by accommodation and operating conditions.
Ride Through the Farm & Cayo Countryside
The horseback portion lasts approximately 1.5 hours on farm and countryside terrain. St. Leonard’s current materials describe matching horses to rider comfort and experience, with the guide setting the pace for the group. This is the riding portion of the combination: when the farm ride ends, the horses remain at the farm and guests continue in an air-conditioned vehicle. The advertised 6–8 hour tour duration therefore does not mean six to eight hours in the saddle.
Travel to Xunantunich & Explore the Maya Site
After the farm ride, the group travels by air-conditioned vehicle toward Xunantunich. Access to the archaeological reserve is via the hand-cranked ferry across the Mopan River at San José Succotz. On this combination, the horses do not travel to Xunantunich. The guided visit is planned for approximately 1.5–2 hours, allowing time for the plazas, archaeological interpretation and walking through the site. Access to particular monuments or climbs depends on the rules and conditions in effect on the day.
Belizean Lunch & a Short AJAW Cacao Tasting
A Belizean lunch is included after the Xunantunich portion of the day. The itinerary then continues to AJAW Chocolate in San Ignacio for a short cacao tasting. St. Leonard’s current materials describe this stop as about 10 minutes. AJAW separately offers a longer one-hour bean-to-bowl class, so this combination should be understood as the brief tasting experience, not the separate full chocolate-making class.
Return to San Ignacio
After the AJAW stop, the tour returns to San Ignacio. Current St. Leonard’s information places the complete experience at approximately 6–8 hours. The exact return time can vary with pickup location, group pace, ferry waits, time at Xunantunich and lunch. If you are planning another activity or transfer on the same day, allow some flexibility after the tour.
What’s Included in the Horseback, Xunantunich & Maya Cacao Tour?
The standard combination covers the core riding experience, transportation from San Ignacio, Xunantunich visit, lunch, water and the short cacao tasting. Here is what the published tour currently includes, and what is separate.
Included
Not Included
Is This Horseback, Xunantunich & Maya Cacao Tour Right for You?
This is a moderate combination tour, not an all-day horseback ride. Expect approximately 1.5 hours in the saddle, followed later by walking at Xunantunich over rugged archaeological terrain and stairs, often in Belize heat and sun. Current St. Leonard’s materials and traveler reviews indicate that first-time riders are accommodated, but guests with questions about riding ability, age, weight, pregnancy, medical conditions, mobility or accessibility should confirm the current direct-booking requirements before reserving.
Suitability depends most on your comfort with time in the saddle, basic riding balance and instructions, and walking Xunantunich’s uneven terrain.
The riding portion takes place at San Lorenzo Farm and through surrounding countryside before the tour continues by vehicle.
Riding requires sitting astride, maintaining balance and following the guide’s directions. If mounting, balance or mobility is a concern, ask St. Leonard’s before booking.
The archaeological-site portion includes rugged paths and stairs, with heat and sun exposure. Climbing a particular structure should never be treated as guaranteed.
Rider age, weight, pregnancy, medical and accessibility rules should be confirmed directly with St. Leonard’s if any may affect your participation.
Select one answer for each statement. Your choices stay on this page and simply help identify anything worth discussing with St. Leonard’s before you book.
We’ll point out anything that deserves a closer look before booking.
Ask St. Leonard’s about this tour →Planning guidance only — not medical, riding or accessibility clearance. St. Leonard’s makes the final rider/horse matching and safety decision for the tour.
What to Wear & Bring for Horseback Riding and Xunantunich
This full-day combination includes approximately 1.5 hours on horseback at San Lorenzo Farm, followed by walking over rugged archaeological terrain and stairs at Xunantunich. Dress for time in the saddle, secure footing, Belize heat and changing weather, and keep what you carry light enough for the riding and site-walking portions.
Wear
Long pants for the horseback ride
Current tour guidance recommends long pants. They are the practical choice for about 1.5 hours in the saddle and help reduce rubbing and contact with vegetation along the riding portion.
Secure closed-toe shoes with good grip
Choose comfortable shoes that stay firmly on your feet for riding and can also handle Xunantunich’s rugged paths, stone surfaces and stairs. Avoid loose footwear that can shift while riding or walking.
Lightweight sun-protective clothing
Expect warm conditions during the farm ride and exposed parts of Xunantunich. Pair your long pants with a lightweight top and sun protection that remains comfortable through both the riding and walking portions.
Bring
Sun & insect protection
Bring sunscreen and insect repellent for a day that combines open farm terrain and an outdoor archaeological site. Follow your guide’s instructions about when and where to apply products around the horses.
Light rain layer
Weather can change during a full day in Cayo. A compact rain layer is useful if showers develop, especially because trail and archaeological surfaces can become wet or muddy.
Small daypack & refillable water bottle
Keep personal items compact so they are easy to manage between the farm ride, vehicle transfer and Xunantunich walk. Water is included with the tour, but a refillable bottle is useful if you prefer to carry your own.
Important Horseback Riding & Xunantunich Notes
Keep camera gear simple
Personal photography is possible at Xunantunich, but NICH rules restrict drones and certain support equipment. A phone or compact handheld camera is easier to manage across both the horseback and archaeological portions.
Dress for both saddle time and rugged walking
The day combines two different physical environments: approximately 1.5 hours on horseback and later uneven paths and stairs at Xunantunich. Choose clothing and footwear that work comfortably for both.
Follow current Xunantunich access rules
Stay on marked trails and use handrails where provided. Access to particular structures or climbs can change, so treat any monument climb as optional and subject to the rules in effect on the day of your visit.
Horseback Riding, Xunantunich & Maya Cacao Tour FAQs
Straight answers to the questions travelers ask most about riding time, the route to Xunantunich, first-time riding and the AJAW cacao stop.
How much time is actually spent horseback riding?
The horseback portion of this combination is approximately 1.5 hours at San Lorenzo Farm and through the surrounding countryside. The advertised full-day duration includes pickup, the farm experience, vehicle transfer, Xunantunich, lunch, the AJAW cacao stop and return travel. It should not be interpreted as six to eight hours in the saddle.
Do we ride horses to Xunantunich or take the horses across the Succotz ferry?
No. On this documented combination, the horseback ride takes place at the farm and guests continue toward Xunantunich by vehicle. Xunantunich is accessed across the Mopan River at San José Succotz, but the horses do not cross the ferry on this tour. St. Leonard’s has a separate horseback-to-Xunantunich tour where the ferry journey with the horses is part of the experience.
Can first-time riders join this horseback tour?
Current St. Leonard’s materials and traveler reviews indicate that first-time riders are accommodated, including horse matching based on rider comfort and experience. The formal experience, age, weight, medical and mobility requirements should still be confirmed directly before booking if any of those may affect your participation.
Is the AJAW chocolate stop a class or a tasting?
The combination currently includes a short AJAW cacao tasting. St. Leonard’s materials describe the stop as about 10 minutes. This is different from AJAW Chocolate’s separate one-hour bean-to-bowl class, so travelers should expect a brief tasting or demonstration rather than a full chocolate-making workshop.
Other Tours from San Ignacio
If you like part of this combination but want a different balance of riding, archaeology or adventure, compare these three alternatives by saddle time, activity style and how much of the day is built around Xunantunich.
Horseback Ride to Xunantunich
Choose this shorter tour if horseback riding is the main event. It has roughly three hours of total saddle time, includes the distinctive Succotz ferry crossing with the horses, and continues with a guided visit to Xunantunich.
San Lorenzo Farm Horseback Ride
Choose the standalone farm ride if you want a shorter horseback experience near San Ignacio without committing to a full-day archaeological and cacao combination.
Xunantunich & Cave Tubing
Choose this non-riding combination if you want Xunantunich plus a guided river-cave float instead of horseback riding and a cacao tasting.
Ready for the Horseback, Xunantunich & Maya Cacao Day?
Book directly with St. Leonard’s Tours for a full-day combination from San Ignacio that begins with approximately 1.5 hours of horseback riding at San Lorenzo Farm, then continues by vehicle to Xunantunich, a Belizean lunch and a short AJAW cacao tasting. If you would like to confirm current rider requirements, weather, pickup details or availability, message us before booking.