Horseback riding and Mayan ruin visit on the mainland?

Hi Folks. First time ever on a msg board. Am coming down with my 11 yr old daughter last week of March. Can anyone recommend a jungle lodge that provides horseback rides and is near enough to a Mayan ruin to sponsor/oversee a day trip to the ruin. My daughter wants to ride a horse in a rainforest like her parents did years ago, as well as explore some Mayan ruins. I've checked out online the Banana Bank Lodge near Belmopan, as well as the Pine Ridge Lodge between Belmopan & Caracol, and am leaning toward the BB Lodge.

We're making reservations at the Corona Del Mar hotel south of San Pedro for 26-28 Mar and 31 Mar - 2 Apr. Has anyone had or heard of any bad experiences re guests at this hotel? Will appreciate any response.

Darren

look at www.maruba-spa.com. I considered going there while on a cruise. People on Ambergris Caye recommended it highly. Looks nice and will go someday while in Belize.

Pine Ridge, do you mean Mount Pine Ridge? If so, I have heard very good things from friends who live here about it.

Pine Ridge Lodge, located inside the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve, is an OK spot. Given, the choice, I'd go with BB. John & Carolyn will do you right.

BB has great horses & riding but is not really near enough to ride to any major ruins. Crystal Paradise does rides to Cahal Pech Ruins I believe. Chaa Creek has riding and does have some smaller ruins on their property but I don't think they are excavated. if you don't need to get to the ruins on horse, any of these jungle lodges would be great. BB and CP are probably the most kid friendly. duPlooys has horses too and is a very nice place. Pine Ridge Lodge is nice as well but I don't think they have horses on site.

Are you going to Corona del Mar, then to the mainland and then back to Corona del mar?????? Sounds like a lot of running around. Any particular reason you are setting it up that way?

You may also want to try The Belize Jungle Dome which is right next door to Banana Bank. I stayed at the Jungle Dome and the owners and staff are wonderful. They have access to the facilities at Banana Bank as well as being able to organise all of the great trips to caves and ruins. Belize Jungle Dome is at http://www.greendragonbelize.com

The Jungle Dome is much smaller than Banana Bank, has a huge swimming pool and to be honest...I found Banana Bank just a bit odd, particularly as I am not a fan of keeping wild animals as captive pets. The riding is good there though.

Yes, good idea. And actually the Dome sells the same rooms at BB for less than the prices BB charges! They also have their own rooms in the dome building.