About 18 kilometres southeast of Belmopan along the Hummingbird Highway, this national park combines two distinct attractions: a cool jungle swimming hole and a series of caves with intact Mayan pottery. St. Herman's Cave is the most accessible, with a boardwalk trail leading inside. The Blue Hole itself — a turquoise pool in a collapsed cavern — is a short hike further along.
The water is strikingly clear and cold by Central American standards, making it an excellent mid-day stop on a drive south. Bring a torch (headlamp) if you plan to go deeper into St. Herman's Cave. There is an admission fee and a ranger station at the entrance. The park is popular at weekends but rarely overwhelming on weekdays.