Reefs and Cayes Kayaking

Day 1 Arrive Belize (D)

Arrive at the Belize International Airport where you will be met by an Island Expeditions representative and transferred to the Tropical Education Center, adjacent to the Belize Zoo. After settling into your forest cabanas you have a chance to meet you fellow travelers over dinner. At the Tropical Education Center, you can explore the surrounding savannah forest through their network of interpretative trails and wildlife viewing platforms. There is also an interpretative center, which details the diverse ecology of Belize, and is an ideal starting point for the adventure ahead.

Day 2 Tobacco Caye (B,L,D)

Waking up to the sounds of the tropics is a pure delight with the chatter of parrots and parakeets flying overhead, the fresh morning air scented with tropical blossoms and the expectation of an exciting adventure-filled day ahead. After breakfast you will travel the Hummingbird Route through the Maya Mountains to meet up with a motor charter waiting to take you to our first island on the southern Barrier Reef. We’ll introduce you to safety in a tropical marine environment and then begin with teaching the fundamentals of sea kayaking, including safety, group and self rescues and touring techniques. Enjoy a swim, explore the island shoreline and then after a tasty Belizean lunch, begin our journey paddling over top submerged coral reefs , turtle grass beds and through narrow mangrove channels to reach our first nights accommodations. Land your kayak right in front of the lodge settle into your accommodations and then enjoy drinks and dinner.

Day 3 Southwater Caye Marine Reserve (B,L,D)

Situated right on the barrier reef in the heart of the Southwater Caye Marine Reserve you are ideally positioned to explore the surrounding reefs and cayes. Start with a steaming mug of coffee and fresh tropical fruits then enjoy an early morning swim or paddle before breakfast Our focus for the morning will include a brief instruction and then snorkeling at the Tobacco Caye cut and the outer reef walls. In the afternoon you will paddle to nearby cayes to explore the sheltered lagoons and mangrove channels returning in the evening to Tobacco Caye.

Day 4 Southwater Caye (B,L,D)

Looking south with our gaze following the line of breaking waves along the barrier reef crest you can see the next island you'll be traveling to today– Southwater Caye. Start the day with an introduction to kayak sailing. From here paddle and sail your kayaks along one of the most beautiful sections of the entire reef system, Southwater Caye. The waters are shallow and clear, and we’ll see a tremendous variety of marine life including southern stingrays, eagle rays, grouper, nurse sharks and more. This afternoon land the kayaks on the beach, check into your room, enjoy an ice cold drink and explore the island before dinner, then maybe try a little bone fishing action on a fly rod, or even a nighttime snorkel on Southwater cut.

Days 5-6 Southwater Caye Exploring (B,L,D)

Enjoy plenty of time to kayak snorkel, fish and enjoy the scenery and marine life of Belize. Explore different regions of the reef including the inner and outer walls, patch and fringing reefs, mangrove ranges and protected lagoons. For divers you can arrange dives as requested and for those who’d like to try out diving you can arrange discover Scuba courses with prior notice. As you explore by kayak, the routes often cross those of the fishermen who make their living from the sea and with this inter-action we gain good company and an insight into a way of life that is very different from your own.

The last day you may opt to paddle to Twin Cays , the future site of the new Marine Reserve Interpretive Center. Celebrate the final night with a seafood feast and island festivities.

Day 7 Return Home (B)

After an early breakfast your water taxi carries us back to the mainland and the town of Dangriga where the trip finishes. Any extra luggage that you have stored at the operations base, will be made available to  you to repack and taxis can be arranged to your connecting flight to the Belize International Airport, or local bus stations to continue exploring Belize.