8 Day Land Of Belize

Hello! Welcome to Belize. Located where the Belize River meets the Caribbean Sea, this bustling former capital is full of history and culture. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm where you'll meet your tour leader and fellow travellers. Belize City is an interesting place, divided by the world's only remaining manual swing bridge. On the north side is the coastal and maritime museum, housed in the beautifully restored former fire station.

Also in the north is the Image Factory, displaying contemporary Belizean artists, and the National Handicraft Centre. The oldest Anglican church in Central America, St John Cathedral, was built in 1812 with bricks brought as ballast in European sailing ships. Opposite is Government House, a preserved colonial mansion. Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America, which will make chatting with locals much easier. The Belizeans are known for their relaxed and easy-going way of life. You will be amazed by how many different cultures coexist harmoniously here.

Special Information:

• It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
• Belize City isn't the most beautiful place we visit in Central America but it is the best option as the starting point of this tour. Like any big city in this region, Belize City has some issues with street crime and we advise visitors to take every precaution when you're outside the hotel. Don't take any valuables when you go out and keep your camera safe. At night, always try to go out in a group and stay on the main streets. If you have some extra time and want to explore the city, we recommend you take a taxi, even when travelling relatively short distances. You can organise for a taxi to pick you up at the hotel and wait for you at each stop. This might be a little more expensive.

Take a private vehicle to Crooked Tree (approximately 1.5 hours). Crooked Tree is an inland wildlife sanctuary full of lagoons, marshlands and creeks, making it one of the best destinations for wildlife spotting. Enjoy your free afternoon exploring the sanctuary by foot or by boat, hoping to spot Jabiru stalks, yellow-headed parrots, Mexican black howler monkeys and Central American river turtles (locally known as the Hicatee).

The Crooked Tree village also has some notable and historical sights, having been established around 1750 during the logwood period and thought to be the oldest non-indigenous settlement in Belize. The village is also famous for its locally grown and processed cashews. In the evening, settle into your lodge with an included group dinner.

Wake up early and embark on a birdwatching excursion around the sanctuary, travelling by boat on the lagoon. Some 250 resident or migratory neotropical birds inhabit this reserve, among them the Jabiru stork – the largest flying bird in the Western Hemisphere.

Then drive to the San Ignacio area (approximately 2.5 hours). Once arrived and checked in to the hotel, head to Cahal Pech Ruins, a Mayan site near the centre of town. This archaeological site was a royal palace of a ruling Mayan family, consisting of 7 plazas and over 30 structures including temples, buildings and ball courts. Afterwards, the afternoon is yours to spend as you please.

Included Activities:

• Crooked Tree - Birdwatching lagoon boat tour
• San Ignacio - Cahal Pech Ruins entry

You have a free day to take on any of the many optional activities available in San Ignacio. Perhaps take a day trip to Xunantunich, an impressive Mayan ceremonial centre located with panoramic views over the countryside. The east side of one of the temples has a unique molded wall surface and the central plaza has three carved stelae (stone slabs). Getting to the site is half the fun as you'll need to take a hand-cranked ferry to cross the river. Otherwise, head to the caves of Actun Tunichil Muknal – a living museum of Maya relics.

Wade through the water until you reach the ceremonial site. Here you will find ceramic pots and crystallised skeletons, preserved by the natural processes of the cave for over 1400 years. If Maya ruins aren’t your thing, consider a trip to the Mountain Pine Ridge area to visit waterfalls and warm swimming holes, a visit to a butterfly garden, or a canoe down the Barton Creek cave reserve.

Travel by local bus to Belize City (2 hours) where you’ll board a water taxi (1 hour) to Caye Caulker. The Belize Cayes are a group of islands a short boat ride away from the coast. There are a number of these islands to choose from, but the tour bases itself on Caye Caulker as this is one of the more popular islands with travellers. From here it is possible to arrange day trips to other Cayes, to the best reefs for snorkelling, or simply to take a local boat out to the reef of Caulker itself.

Each island has its own particular character, but all of them have the unmistakable Caribbean pace and charm. Once you’ve arrived on Caulker, the group leader will give you an orientation walk to get your bearings around the island.

Included Activities:

• Caye Caulker - Leader-led orientation walk

If your idea of paradise is white sand, blue waters and palm trees then you’re going to dig Caye Caulker with the next couple of days to explore, relax and get active. Relax on the beach with a book, or head out to Hol Chan Marine Reserve, home to the magnificent Blue Hole and the world's second-longest barrier reef. Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters among colourful corals and see tropical fish, sharks, and the occasional manta ray, or spend a half-day taking a sea kayak adventure around the nearby reefs and atolls.

Your time in Caye Caulker is all about taking it easy, so do as much (or as little) as you want with another day here. After a day of swimming and lazing on the beach, you’re sure to get hungry. If you're interested in sampling local cuisine, Belize is famous for its barbequed food, with some of the best meals cooked on the roadside. Caye Caulker is famous for its lobster – not the cheapest meal you'll ever buy, but so (so) good.

Always make sure that you respect the season: the lobsters can only be caught between June and February. If you’re out of season, how about some grilled shrimp and a lovely rum and coke made with the local firewater?

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time following check out. If you would like to spend more time in Caye Caulker, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).

Special Information:

• An open-dated round-trip water taxi ticket is included on your trip. To take the water taxi from Caye Caulker back to Belize City you will need to arrive at the ferry terminal 1 hour prior to departure. Your hotel can provide the ferry schedule. The journey takes around 1 hour and transfers from the port to our Belize City Hotel or the airport can be booked in advance. Please contact your booking agent should you require transfers or additional accommodation.