Can't begin to say enough about Dennis Perez and his great crew at Explore Belize Caves. Our family of 5, including 3 boys ages 7-14, just got back from a Carnival cruise that was a great time for all, but this cave tubing/ zip line excursion was by far the highlight. My boys can't stop talking about it, and my wife and I agree that it was an amazing experience. The rainforest/ cave environment is just spectacular, but doing the tour with Dennis is the only way to go. He is courteous, organized, funny, and knowledgable -- ask him about Belize history/ economy/ wildlife etc. and he'll know the answer! But most importantly, he has 12 years experience at this, and really knows what he's doing.
My family was his only client on this trip, and we got the royal treatment. Dennis and his 2 assistants guided us down the river, paddling and steering and pointing out cool rock formations while we just sat back and enjoyed the view!! Contrast this to the cruise ship excursion group, where about 50 hapless souls were "guided" by a few people who yelled out instructions on how to avoid rocks or dangerous areas -- and yet we paid less than they did, AND got to go zip lining as well (an unbelieveable adventure swinging 100 feet above the forest floor), still making it back to the dock with hours to spare before departure. You have to take this tour if you get the opportunity -- just make sure Dennis will be your leader. His assistants are great guys, and very capable, but Dennis is what puts this experience over the top!

We just returned from our July 2008 cruise on RC Enchantment of the Seas. We booked our zip line & cave tubing with Dennis Perez. As promised, he met us outside terminal one & we had a pleasant ride to the site. His assistant was extremely knowledgeable about Belize's history and it was wonderful to learn so much about their country in such a short period of time.

On arrival, we took a short walk to the zip line and waited less than ten minutes before our adventure began. The personnel operating the zip lines were professional & very helpful. This was the first time zip lining for all of us & it was GREAT. When we completed the zip line, we found a very long line waiting for their turn (& I mean a VERY long line)!!!

I'm guessing that these people had booked either through the cruise line or through someone other than Dennis - If I was in that line, I would have turned around - It was hot & humid - In a jungle, what can you expect (plus the bugs!!!)

After our zip line, we returned to the parking area, grabbed our tubes & took a beautiful walk through the forest (approx. 40 minutes - just as Dennis had said). We were fortunate to have a small group of 7-8 and it was apparent that safety was a priority with Dennis & his assistant. They provided us a wonderful trip through the caves and down the river.

Dennis had said it would be a small group, that we would be ahead of the crowds, etc. & it was all true. The experience exceeded my expectations.

I would definitely recommend Dennis & his team for all future travelers to Belize - Thanks for a great & memorable trip Dennis!!!

----------Dan, Linda, Ryan & Cal (San Diego, CA)

Just returned tonight from a cruise w/a stop in Belize City. We booked an excursion with Dennis Perez and Explore Belize Caves based on the reviews here. Also, I was traveling with my 2 daughters (ages 4 & 10) and the cruise line wouldn't let them do this excursion.

We were completely and totally pleased by this excursion. Not a worry in the world! Dennis and Edgar (our guide for the day) met us at the port and we promptly piled into one of their 15-passenger Ford Econoline vans. Van was in fine shape. Clean and safe.

Edgar was an AMAZINGLY helpful guide - helped carry my 4-year old's tube AND the 4-year old herself when she got a bit tired. The tubing was so much fun and Edgar's guiding hands kept us on a good path down the river.

We decided to stop for the lunch - what a bargain! A HUGE plate of chicken, rice and beans, cole slaw, fried plantains & soda. Where in the US can you get all that for 5 bucks, including the tip?!

If you are considering Cave Tubing in Belize, definitely book w/Explore Belize Caves. Our tour group was small (only 12 people, compared with the cruise line groups of at least 30 and probably more) and our guide was helpful, attentive and informative. Both of my daughters had a GREAT time and I would definitely do this excursion again.

Can not even begin to explain how happy and satisfied I was with Dennis Perez and his team! This was a thrill of a lifetime. My 2 teenager daughters finally were able to convince me to do this tour and I have must say that I will never forget this experience! We had an awesome time.

I admit I was leery about booking this tour and giving my money to a complete stranger. i usually book all my tours thru Royal Caribbean Cruiselines. I e-mailed Dennis about a month and half prior to my trip with a few questions and HE CALLED ME FROM BELIZE within 5 minutes after I hit the send button. He was extremely polite and professional. He assured me that everything would be wonderful (he was right) and he sent me some additional information. He requested a $30 deposit which he did not even charge me for until like 3 days before my trip.

He explained to me PRECISLEY where I should meet him. ..and there he was, just as he said he would be, holding up a sign with my name on it. We sat down right in front of him and waited
approximately 5 minutes for the rest of our group to arrive. They were 11 of us in total plus 3 guides. The van was CLEAN, air conditioned and nothing was broken as stated in a previous review. Dennis did NOT drive recklessly and I am the epitome of a really bad back seat driver!! The ride was about an hour. Dennis and his brother were very informative about their country and what we were seeing on the drive.

When we got to the park Dennis dropped of 4 of the people in our group, along with his brother, and got them set up for their cave tubing tour. Then we drove to the zip lining site. We hurried along because we did not want to get stuck behind MASSIVE lines, which were already starting to build up. When we got to the site, we waited 5 minutes to get geared up. And then we all walked up the mountain and began our adventure. Like I said, it was thrilling!!!! Please bring bug spray and money to tip these guys who work SO hard on the platforms!

When we finished there was a line that must have been at least an hour wait. We saw a lot of people from our ship waiting in the line. Not my idea of fun, standing in the rain-forest getting eaten alive by mosquitoes!!!

After zip-lining we drove to the cave tubing site. I'm really bad with measuring distances, but I would say it was about 1 1/2 miles that we walked. It was so refreshing to get in the water. One of the guides took mine and my daughters tubes and carried them, including his own and other equipment the entire walk. The 7 of us got in our tubes and connected our selves together and sailed down the river. Dennis and our other guide (I can not remember his name, but he was wonderful!) explained things to us and did all the work for us. We did nothing except relax. We saw other large groups with as many as 30 people in them that were coming unlatched from each other, floating around, trying to get reattached. They also were too loud and so they could not hear their guide. NOT US! We were able to hear everything Dennis said, and we always stayed together.

After the tubing we went back to the car, changed our clothes and had a rum punch supplied by Dennis, (with and without alcohol) We were all pretty tired on the ride back. Again, Dennis drove safely. He dropped us off at the pier and DI NOT attempt to ask for tips like so many of these operations do. But please bring additional money for a tip for him and his group. They truly deserve it!

Bring bug spray, water shoes, dry sak for money and camera, and additional money for tipping, water and souvenir t-shirt.

This is truly an excursion I will always remember!