The Institute of Archaeology, National Institute of Culture and History (IA/NICH) is working closely with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Belize Tourism Board (BTB) and is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all employees and visitors on the archaeological reserves.

The following are guidelines to receive and manage visitation to the archaeological reserves.

  1. Upon arrival at the archaeological reserve, tour groups will be subjected to the instructions of the tour guide with guidance provided by the archaeological reserves staff.
  2. Where possible, it is recommended that tour guides and tour operators conduct all financial transaction for ticketing at an approved NICH ticketing location prior to arrival on site.
  3. All ticketing transactions on the reserve shall be handled only by the tour guide. 
  4. Tour guides and guests are required to have minimal interaction with park rangers.
  5. In an effort to prevent congregation of visitors in restricted spaces, visitors’ centers will remain closed and climbing will be monitored on certain temples.
  6. No tour guides are allowed to loiter within the archaeological reserves with the exception of the Nohoch Che'en Archaeological Reserve. In the case of Nohoch Che'en a maximum of ten freelance tour guides will be allowed at any given time.

Actun Tunichil Muknal

  • The new ratio of guest to guide shall now be 6:1
  • There shall be a five-minute interval between groups of guest within trails and cave.

Nohoch Che’en

  • The guide to guest ratio remains at 8:1

Barton Creek

  • There shall be a five-minute interval between the canoes entering the cave.
  • Each canoe shall maintain a distance of six feet from each other.

All other Terrestrial Sites

  • The guest to guide ratio shall now be 10:1

Please note that the adjustments to the guidelines come into effect on April 1st, 2021.

For more information, kindly contact the Institute of Archaeology at [email protected]