Belize
Overview:
Few destinations on the planet offer the rich diversity of activities, landscapes, and cultures that encapsulate the country of Belize. Where rainforest meets reef, Belize is steeped in history, culture, wildlife, and natural beauty. Belize is believed to have been the center of the Mayan civilization, a culture that thrived for thousands of years before the current era and a thousand years into it. As an ex-British colony, English is the official language yet the Garifuna and Mayan roots hold strong with about 10 spoken languages blending Caribbean and Central American heritage. Belize is also a conservation success story with the recent commitment to protect 30% of its ocean territory comprised of important carbon-sequestering mangroves, numerous offshore islands, the world's second largest barrier reef, and one of the most extensive seagrass areas in the Caribbean. It is such diversity of available experiences that makes Belize a destination for divers, nature lovers, adventurers, romantics and is a great choice for families of all ages.
Itinerary Summary:
Days: 1 – 5 Inland Belize
Day: 5-12 Barrier Reef / Atoll Belize
Day 12: Depart
The Essentials:
Seasonality: Year Round – Best time would be January through May for the drier, cooler time of year, or late July – August for the “little dry.”
Accommodation: Combination of Boutique 3 & 4 star resorts, all meals, complimentary resort activities, diving or snorkeling tours, and transfers included
Cost: from $$$
Itinerary:
Inland Belize – 4 Nights
Welcome to Belize! Landing into Belize City Airport from one of serval US gateways, you’ll have a simple process through immigration. A two-hour drive will transport you deep into the western interior of the country where the mountainous terrain of pine forest and river basins of tropical rainforest are filled with waterfalls, native birds, plants and animals, including the endangered jaguar. Scattered remains of the once mighty Mayan civilization can be explored in such archaeological sites as Caracol, Xunantunich and the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave.
Your base for exploring Belize’s inland treasures is a private reserve of over 7000 acres filled with creeks, waterfalls and beautiful vistas traversed with over 90 miles of maintained hiking and biking trails. You are welcome to explore on your own - where else can you have a waterfall all to yourself for the day? - or with one of Belize’s best guides who love to share their holistic knowledge of the area, wildlife, history, conservation and lore. It is also a birder’s paradise with an estimated 50% of all of Belize’s avifauna found on the reserve, including rare species known as the valley’s “Big Five”: Orange Breasted Falcon, Stygian Owl, Solitary Eagle, Black & White Hawk and the King Vulture.
The reserve is home to a boutique, intimate sustainable and award winning resort catering to only a handful of guests. There are many complimentary activities available and many off property tours also available: some of which include Mayan ruins, cave explorations, river kayaking or tubing, ziplining and horseback riding.
Your 4-night stay is all-inclusive of accommodation, all meals, choice of activities/tours, and airport transfers.
Barrier Reef / Turneffe Atoll – 7 Nights
Returning to Belize City, you will connect on a boat transfer to the Turneffe Atoll for your 7-night reef diving / snorkeling adventure. Turneffe Atoll was designated a marine reserve in 2012. It is located about 20 miles from mainland Belize and your transfer will be about 1.5 hours by boat. It is one of three atolls off the coast of Belize and is the largest and most accessible with multiple dive sites a short distance from your resort. A stay at Turneffe will also offer access to neighboring Lighthouse Reef, another one of Belize’s atolls, which is home to famous dive sites like the Blue Hole, Half Moon Caye and Long Caye.
Resorts in the Turneffe Atoll offer a choice of cabana styled accommodations and all-inclusive packages catering to divers, snorkelers and anglers. You can also book a vacation package and plan a week of R&R, birding and the use of complimentary non-motorized watersports like paddle board and kayaks. Divers will enjoy 3 dives a day, a night dive and a day trip to Lighthouse Reef.
You will return by boat to Belize City and a transfer to the airport will be provided at the end of the week to check-in for your return flight home or onward adventures.
Please call us on +1 720 494 1530 or email us at the link below to discuss this trip further with a travel expert. We would be happy to discuss ways to tailor this itinerary to your personal preferences.
