| country: | Belize |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2008: 23 Nov |
| price: | From US $1656 (7 days) excluding flights based on double occupancy. Minimum group size 4. Tailor made options also available for tours of any length or budget |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This exhilarating multi-sport itinerary takes you off the beaten path to explore Belize like few can! The tour takes you into the Belizean jungle and white sand islands to stay in unique lodges and explore lost Maya archaeology sites, river cave systems, rainforest scenery on foot, by bike, in canoes and on inner tubes! Explore the beautiful rainforest and the largest reef in the western hemisphere as well as the famous sites of Xunantunich, Cahal Pech and the Actun Tunich Macnal Cave system.
This is a responsible way to visit all the key sights that Guatemala has to offer and at the same time benefit the local communities both on and off the tourist trail.
Tailor made options to select your own style of hotel or activities are also available.
This is a responsible way to visit all the key sights that Guatemala has to offer and at the same time benefit the local communities both on and off the tourist trail.
Tailor made options to select your own style of hotel or activities are also available.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrival and transfer to lodge (D). We will pick up clients from Belize City and transfer them to the lodge. For different arrival times we will provide separate transfers. Upon arrival, enjoy a warm welcome dinner at the lodge and on continuation a creatures of the night walk thought the nearby jungle. Overnight & welcome dinner at Pooks Hill lodge (3N) |
| Day 2: | Actun Tunichil Mucnal – Bike, Hike & Caving (B,L,D). Today guests will explore the most famous and adventurous cave in Belize, Atun Tunich Macnal Cave. We start the day by mounting our mountain bikes and enjoying an adventurous ride through the jungle and savanna. After an hour we reach the edge of the Tapir reserve and start our jungle hike towards the entrance of the cave. Once inside this unique mixture between a dry and water cave we will witness Maya pottery, stalactites and stalagmites as well as the remains from ancient Maya ceremonies. This cave holds an amazing surprise right at the end of the visit! After an adventurous day we get back to our lodge in time for sunset. |
| Day 3: | Temples and canoeing (B,L,D). We transfer to the heart of the Cayo district this morning. First we visit the impressive Maya site of Xunatunich, 'Stone Maiden', which has a picturesque setting on the shores of the river and offers lovely views from the top of the main temple. After our tour and a short drive we arrive at the put in point for our canoe adventure, either on Moan or Macao River depending on water levels at different times of the year. Our river canoeing adventure takes us downstream through rainforest scenery and farmlands. At the end of the trip, after lunch in a local restaurant, we visit the small but highly interesting Mayan site of Cahal Pech and transfer back to the lodge. |
| Day 4: | Jaguar Paw Cave Tubing & Transfer to Ambergris Caye Island (B,L,D). This morning we transfer to Belize Airport. On the way guests will stop to enjoy the famous cave tubing tour at Jaguar Paw where you float downriver on inner tubes through caves and rainforest scenery. From Belize Airport you will fly to Ambergris Caye Island over the blue waters of the Caribbean. Once at the island you are transferred to your beachfront hotel. Your hotel has an onsite dive shop where dive, snorkel & other tours can be booked. It is also centrally located for the shops and nightlife of San Pedro and itself has a great bar & restaurant. Overnight at Journeys end resort or similar |
| Day 5: | Shark Ray Alley & Hol Chan Marine Park (B,L,D). After breakfast you can enjoy the famous Shark Ray Alley and Hol Chan Marine park snorkel trip where you get to see a variety of marine life including sting rays and harmless sharks. Then you can have a free afternoon to relax or book another trip – payable locally. |
| Day 6: | Free day to relax (B,L,D). Today you can just relax on the beach, have some Spa Treatments or we can help to arrange another trip, windsurfing, snorkeling, diving etc – all payable locally. |
| Day 7: | Transfer out (B). After breakfast we will transfer clients to the international airport in time for their international flight out. |
how this holiday makes a difference
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We operate a carbon neutral office and offers guests the option of making their tour carbon neutral for an additional cost of $1 per person per day which includes covering internal flights. We have started a recycling program and encourages all suppliers and visitors to take part in the recycling program. We recycle paper, plastic, glass & aluminium. We are a partner with Rainforest Alliance and are the #1 Sustainable Tourism provider in Guatemala (2007) with the highest level of certification. For every visitor on this itinerary a donation is made to the foundation which then donates money to various grass roots organizations working in poverty alleviation, conservation & cultural protection. The foundation is our company foundation and we donate a set amount of money per person per day of their tour into the fund and also collect funds from other company clients and suppliers. We then distribute the money to a selection of grass roots charities that we have selected in the areas of education, poverty relief, micro credit and conservation.
All of the tours in this itinerary involve local people from the surrounding communities in each area visited. We use local guides in different areas of the country so that people from all areas can benefit from tourism not just guides from the capital or main towns. Where possible we include visits to local community tourism programs and craft cooperatives so that guests can impact in a positive way on the lives of the local communities. Entrance fees to Mayan sites and National Parks contribute towards their conservation & development. Everywhere you travel on this trip a large amount of the costs involved in the trip will remain in that area with the local people. All profits from this trip stay within Guatemala, Belize or Honduras. The local operator offering this trip is a top sustainable tourism certified operator with commitment to sustainable / responsible travel who works with all their suppliers to encourage & train them in responsible tourism best practice at all times on a tour. Travelers on this trip will be advised by literature in the welcome pack and also by their guides on how to reduce their impact on the environment and encouraged to use local services and buy local products from small local providers and cooperatives. We will collect all water bottles and other materials from tours to go into the recycling program. We welcome feedback from travelers on how we can continually improve our sustainable policies and actions. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |














