Journey to the furthest edge of Belize's reef system to Lighthouse Reef Atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage site for this incredible 4-night small group adventure. Relax into your tropical tented camp and prepare for a variety of activities and adventures. Based on Half Moon Caye, your days will be filled with kayaking, snorkeling, and learning about marine ecology from expert naturalist guides. There's plenty of wildlife to watch for on land as well! Climb up a series of viewing platforms to observe the nesting sites of the numerous bird species, including the strong red-footed booby colony. There are options each day to join exceptional guides and explore the many treasures of the area.
Highlights
Discover the rich marine ecosystem with abundant fish populations and colorful coral reefs
Visit renowned Great Blue Hole or a full day of exploration
Allow your expert naturalist guide to teach you the ecology of the island
Relax in a hammock or beach comb along the island beaches
Moderately active but not overly strenuous. This level includes activities like casual cycling, yoga, or excursions/activities that typically last 3-5 hours total each day.
In Belize City, meet the Islands Expeditions representative at the Biltmore Plaza Hotel lobby early in the morning. After a quick stop at a local shop, you'll board a motorboat charter. Your journey will take you 56 miles out to sea, navigating through mangrove ranges and white sand cayes, ultimately arriving at Lighthouse Reef Atoll, the most distant island group in Belize. Once you reach Half Moon Caye, your guide team will introduce you to the island and camp, helping you get settled into your accommodations. Following a late lunch, you'll receive instructions for sea kayaking and snorkeling before heading out on the water.
Please note:
"Basecamping" involves sleeping in wall-tented cabanas. These spacious safari-style tents have ample headroom to walk around, are on raised wooden floors, and have real wood-framed beds (6-inch foam mattresses). Tents can be configured with either double or single beds. All bed linen is provided.
Because of the early morning check-in time, we recommend arriving in Belize City one day before starting your adventure.
Due to its remote location, the waters around Lighthouse Reef are exceptionally clear, teeming with abundant fish and vibrant coral reefs. This rich ecosystem offers some of the best opportunities for sea kayaking, snorkeling, and scuba diving in the Caribbean.
You will have many chances to learn from our guides about the marine reef ecology, local flora and fauna, and the island's coconut and littoral forest. Half Moon Caye is a stunning 45-acre nature preserve, home to a red-footed booby colony and a magnificent frigate bird rookery. We will visit the viewing platforms built by the Belize Audubon Society to observe the nesting sites on the island.
Over the next few days, you'll have various exploration options, including a rapidly disappearing shipwreck just north of the caye. Each day, the guides will suggest activities based on the weather and the group's interests. Of course, you can always choose to relax in a hammock with a good book and a cold beverage.
In the final days, we will visit the world-renowned Great Blue Hole, a massive collapsed sinkhole discovered and made famous by ocean explorer Jacques Cousteau. You'll either motorboat or paddle the 6-mile journey to this perfectly circular formation, adorned with soft and hard corals of various colors. After a full day of exploration, you'll return just in time for a delicious dinner prepared by our cooks. In the evening, enjoy a cultural presentation of drumming and dancing to celebrate your last night at Half Moon Caye.
Due to the remote location of the Lighthouse Reef Basecamp, the activities on the reef portion of this trip are weather- dependent and are subject to change.
Day 5: Depart Lighthouse Reef
1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
On your final morning at Lighthouse Reef Atoll, you have several options. You can snorkel your favorite patch reefs, walk the island trails, relax in a hammock, or beach comb along the shores.
After lunch, a motorboat charter will pick everyone up for the return trip to the mainland. The journey will take you through Turneffe Atoll and across the Great Barrier Reef, typically arriving at the Belize City Biltmore Hotel by late afternoon.
For travelers leaving Belize after this trip, we strongly recommend spending a night in Belize City. International connections out of the country require a departure the following day. Talk to your Adventure Life Trip Planner about hotel reservations in Belize City or extending your Belize itinerary by combining this trip with another adventure.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
Initial deposit is $400, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 70 days (10 weeks) prior to departure by bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
We are so glad that we chose Adventure Life. The service is top-notch. Everything is well taken care of and we just have to print the documents and go. Franny even gave us timely updates on possible airport strike.
Jess was so helpful in talking me through some of the trip options I'd told her I was interested in, and then also bringing up similar alternatives with more flexible dates. Now that everything is booked I realize all the extra things she figured out for us as well, besides booking the transfers from and to each location, she realized that we wouldn't make it to my desired flight time on three departure date and was able to easily add another day so that even our departure day is stress free!
Wendy
2 months ago
Good candid advice and suggestions; prompt replies.
Ken Johnson
2 months ago
Thoughtful and highly responsive service.
Robert Shwab
4 months ago
The trip planner understood what we wanted to do and see, and found what we hope to be a great match for our interests and style of travel.
Karen
6 months ago
Basically everything. The transfers from lodge to lodge were all timely and smooth (even though we arrived 3 hours late!) with great drivers. The lodges and food were all top notch. The guides were excellent and very knowledgeable about local history and wildlife. Chaa lodge stands out as exceptional. I ended up with an infection leaving Chaa, but they arranged for driver to stop at doctor, and he even got us to a pharmacy for prescription and a great drive to coast.