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Snorkel with sea turtles

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Example 11 Day Tour
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An extraordinary sea kayaking and jungle trip in Belize, packed with adventure and excitement! You'll sea kayak, snorkel, windsurf, climb into the rainforest canopy, explore Maya ruins and ceremonial caves, and descend an incomparable tropical river through canyons and lush rainforest.
Pottery shards inside the ATM caveKayaking Boom Creek Kayak and snorkel in clear blue watersTube coral we saw while snorkeling around Turneffe FlatsStarfish at TurneffeWalking through the jungle at Pook's Hill Snorkeling at Hol Chan Marine ReserveThe coral is full of wildlifeKayak the tranquil tropical waters of BelizeKayaking in the CaribbeanGlimpse an underwater worldSnorkel the clear, tropical watersHiking along the Roaring River at Pooks HillExploring the Actun Tunichil Muknal caveWe made it!Snorkeling at TurneffeLeaving the cathedral of the Actun Tunichil Muknal caveAll smiles exploring a cave in the Belizean jungleSnorkel with sea turtles
Highlights
  • Discover the Mayan underworld as you venture into the ATM cave
  • Get a kayaking refresher and spend the next days exploring Glovers Reef
  • Relax on the beach or choose from optional activities
  • Spend three days on the Moho River, take on the rapids and camp on the bank
Places Visited
Activity Level: Moderate
Activities that provide a reasonable level of physical challenge and elevate the heart rate. Focused on more active pursuits including multisport tours. Travelers may be active 5-7 hours total each day. Recommended for travelers with active lifestyles.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive Belize City

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 checking into our accommodations we enjoy a welcome dinner and have a chance to meet our fellow travelers. We are able to experience the surrounding tropical pine savannah habitat through a network of trails and raised wildlife viewing platforms. We also have a unique and exclusive nocturnal tour of the Belize Zoo with one of the senior zookeepers, which helps us understand the diverse ecology of Belize, and is an ideal starting point for the adventure ahead. This day is your day to arrive before the trip starts, meet your fellow travelers and acclimatize to your new tropical environment. Transfers from the airport and lodging are included.

Day 2: Maya Underworld

We rise early to start today's extraordinary journey, with a visit to the Actun Tunichil Muknal - the Cave of the Stone Sepulcher. We will travel deep into the Mayan underworld known as Xilbalba (shil-balba), a mythical realm inhabited by spirits and powerful gods, an underworld of untold fears and dreams where Maya shaman, in supposition to the gods, ventured into darkness to conduct their secretive rituals. As we venture underground into the caves, we learn from our guides how the caves played an important role in the ancient Maya civilization and about ongoing archaeological research taking place underground in Belize. After our cave visit, we travel the Hummingbird Route to meet up with our motor charter, on the coast by the town of Dangriga. We head out to Tobacco Caye and arrive at our lodge in time to settle in, have dinner and plan our next two days on the barrier reef.

Day 3: Kayaking Instruction

We rise early for a breakfast on the beach. We then focus on our introduction to sea kayaking and get comfortable with the gear. We start by teaching and reviewing the fundamentals of sea kayaking and introduce everyone to ocean touring techniques. We test our new found skills with a paddle out to the main reef to snorkel along the inner reef wall or patch reefs. Depending on sea conditions, a snorkel along the outside reef edge may be possible. Our paddle back to our camp takes us past mangrove ranges and protected lagoons. Out on the reef, our guides share their knowledge of Belize, the marine environments and local culture.

Day 4-5: Glovers Reef Atoll

After breakfast and a morning of paddling and snorkeling, our motor charter returns to take us 20 miles east of the main Barrier Reef to Glovers Reef Atoll, a National Marine Park and designated World Heritage site. We land at park headquarters on Middle Caye, with boats rigged and ready to sail. We sail our kayaks along the eastern reef wall to our base camp at Southwest Caye at the southern end of the atoll, surrounded by rich coral reefs and beautiful turquoise waters. Tonight, we enjoy an island feast of mixed grill of fresh seafood and vegetables topped with Belizean coconut baking and tropical fruits.

Glover's is one of only four atolls in the Caribbean Sea and is truly one of the most spectacular marine environments in Belize. Due to its isolation from the mainland the waters are exceptionally clear with an incredibly rich reef system that offers some of the best kayaking, snorkeling and diving in the Caribbean. Our days are flexible in order to respond to both group and individual desires and abilities. Activities include: sea kayaking, snorkeling the inner and outer walls of the reef, kayak sailing and windsurfing. For those who are certified divers, we can also arrange dives on the outer walls. If all this sounds a little busy, you always have the choice of just kicking back in a hammock and relaxing with a good book and a cold drink.

Day 6: Return to Mainland

On the afternoon of Day 6, we transfer back to the mainland and continue south to our jungle lodge in Toledo district of Belize to begin the next leg of our journey. The Lodge at Big Falls is situated on the banks of the Rio Grande River in Belize's southern Toledo District, a region of isolated villages lying amongst an unspoiled tropical wilderness. Our location is superb. The lodge property is located on a meander of the river with almost a mile of river frontage. There are views towards the Maya Mountains to the north west while the south eastern bank faces the small village of Big Falls.

Day 7-9: Into the Jungle

  • 3 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 3 Dinners
In the afternoon, we drive further south from Big Falls to our put-in point on the Moho River, stopping for lunch along the way and visiting either the Mayan ruins of Lubaantun or the traditional Maya village of Santa Theresa. Once on the river, our guides provide a brief boat and river orientation and we take as much time as we need to learn and practice our new boat-handling skills, enabling us to safely navigate the rapids and pour-overs. We then begin our journey along one of Belize’s most beautiful rivers through some pristine rainforest to our first river camp.

For these next days we break contact completely with the outside world and become a part of the mist-shrouded rainforest as we follow the Moho River through canyons and lush rainforest. Each bend reveals the dynamic nature of the river-from calm, meandering water that reflects the intense green of the jungle to stretches of rapids, pour-overs and spectacular waterfalls as the river descends from the Maya Mountains to the sea. Depending on water levels, some days we may reach our bush-camp by mid-afternoon and switch to land-based activities. Hiking through the forest, birding, plant and animal identification, and photography are some of the many activities we engage in. During the trip with our Maya guides and North American leaders, we emphasize understanding the ecology of the rainforest, learning about the habits of the wildlife and gaining an appreciation for the rich Mayan folklore which adds so much to our experience in the jungle.

Day 10: Return Belize City

We continue paddling downstream and arrive to the river pull out in the afternoon, where we are transported back to Dangriga and onto a Maya Airways domestic flight to our hotel accommodation to enjoy a hot shower.

Day 11: Return Home

  • 1 Breakfast

Accommodations

Best Western Plus Belize Biltmore Plaza

Biltmore Bar
Biltmore Plaza, Patio
Deluxe Room

Tanager Rainforest Lodge

The lodges and grounds at the Lodge at Big Falls
The Lodge at Big Falls
The Restaurant at Tanager Rainforest Lodge

Tropical Education Center

The Jungle Lodge
Double Forest Cabana
Abundant wildlife

Glovers Reef Basecamp

Tent accomodations at Glovers Reef Field Camp
Glovers Reef Field Camp
A view from inside one of Glovers Reef Field Camp tents

Tobacco Caye Paradise

Tobacco Caye Paradise
Tobacco Caye Paradise
Tobacco Caye Paradise

Dates & Prices

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This itinerary is no longer available. For other trip ideas, please visit Belize Tours, Trips & Lodges.

Notes

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Please note that because of inclement weather and the risk of hurricanes, we don't offer this Belize trip from June through the end of October. Ask about our other great trips during these months!
Included
  • 10 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches, 9 Dinners
  • 10 Nights Accommodations
  • 10 Days Locally Hosted Guide Service
  • Arrival Transfers are included.
  • Gear Rental
    • Camping and sea kayaking gear included
  • Internal flight
Excluded
  • Departure Transfers are excluded.
  • International Flights
  • Optional Excursions
  • Snorkel gear rental
  • Meals not Included
  • Airport Departure Tax

Map

When to Go

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.
Typically not offered during this period because of weather conditions.

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Our guide and driver were very good with their knowledge and were very helpful with our questions. It was a very pleasant visit that would have been impossible to do on our own. Hotels and restaurants were fantastic. The special places we got to go to, like the kitchens, were great. Enjoyed the entire trip!
Meyer Smolen

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