Our rainforest to reef expedition is, for many, the adventure of a lifetime. On this itinerary, we head inland to follow a river through the world renowned Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Reserves, then turn towards the sea and sail, paddle and snorkel our way along the wild southern Barrier Reef, camp on idyllic tropical islets and explore underwater coral reefs.

Photographic opportunities are exceptional as we journey from verdant rainforest of the Maya Mountains to the turquoise blues of the Caribbean. Hiking and paddling through Belize’s largest wildlife sanctuary, our Mayan guides teach us how to recognize the life that is all around us. Along the river, a citreoline trogon is a flash of brilliant color against the green foliage. What at first glance is a partially decayed leaf, on closer inspection, miraculously transforms into a butterfly, and not far from camp, a distinctive, musky odor tells us that a drove of wild peccary are close by.

On the river, our two-person inflatable kayaks combine the responsiveness and maneuverability of a kayak with the stability and comfort of a raft, enabling you and your paddling partner to easily captain your own boat (even with no previous paddling experience) as we follow the river through this spectacular rainforest wilderness.

We change from the rainforest, to the equally lush underwater world of the Belize Barrier Reef. We paddle among dolphins, sea turtles and eagle rays; raise sails to the northeasterly trades and feel the thrill as your kayak skims over the sea with the energy of the wind. And each day on our journey, we snorkel from our kayaks, exploring remote coral reefs where few people ever get to go; marvelling at brilliantly colored tropical fish and fantastic looking marine creatures. At times, we float quietly over sea grass beds with eyes peeled for the queen conch or swim along a reef wall and peer into holes and coral crevasses searching for spiny lobster. If we are lucky, there will be plenty of fresh lobster and conch for a seafood feast. At camp, after a delicious dinner, we listen as our Garifuna and Creole guides weave a tapestry of stories from their native Belize.

The ecology of the Belizean coast is a complex combination of coral reefs, sand flats with extensive turtle grass and mangrove ranges. The Barrier Reef shelters the Belizean coastline from the rougher open waters of the Caribbean sea. It acts as a huge break water, holding in the sand, resulting in the beautiful islands forested with coconut palms, sea grape and coco plum, and in the remarkable protected reef structures. The 'breakwater' action also enables the diverse ecosystems of the mangrove and turtle grass to flourish. These tangled partially submerged “forests” provide essential feeding and nursing habitat for hundreds of species of fish, shell-fish, reptiles, marine mammals, and birds.

As we travel into the Cockscomb Basin, we are traveling through the magical world of the tropical rainforest. The broadleaf rainforest covers approximately 70% of Belize's wooded area. The year-round growing season, huge amounts of moisture, and generations of evolution have yielded this area with a highly complex and diverse range of plant life species. The forest floor is a spongy mass of roots, fungi, bacteria and microorganisms, which is broken down with the assistance of insects and chemical decay.

Each plant fulfills its own ecological niche, as the continuous recycling of the decayed plant matter fuels new growth.

While traveling along the Barrier Reef, paddling from cay to cay among the many “patch” reefs, we will have the opportunity to view a diverse range of sea-life and tropical birds, such as: bonefish, angel and parrot fish, stingrays, conger, moray eels, goatfish, just to name a few.

Trailing a line from our kayaks, we also may get a chance at a tug from barracuda, grouper, tarpon, or snapper. Over our heads, we may see various birds including osprey (the billy hawk), sea gulls, brown-footed and white-footed boobies, frigate birds, hawks, mangrove warblers, and white crowned pigeons. Throughout the reef and along the coast are nesting sites for loggerhead, green and hawksbill turtles. If we're lucky, we may see them while out snorkeling .

We will definitely have a chance to see and sample the main staple for Belizean fishermen - the spiny lobster (when in season) and the queen conch.

While traveling in the Cockscomb Basin, we have great opportunities to view all sorts of animals. Whether we are catching a glimpse of a spiny-tailed iguana perched on a tree branch, or being startled by the tiny red-eyed tree frog jumping from limb to limb, we are totally immersed in a strange and wonderful world. We will more than likely be visited by keel-billed toucans, sitting high above us and watching our every move. Or we may see a flash of the Scarlet Macaw, with its brilliant red and blue plumage. There are also an assortment of raptors, falcons, and hawks that are scavenging and hunting through the rich forest floor. The southern Belizean rainforest hosts a number of unique mammals, the largest being Belize's national animal, the Baird's
Tapir, or Mountain Cow.

This is an animal unique to the neo-tropical rainforest with a large hippopotamus-like body and a long prehensile snout, much like the fabled aardvark. This, along with the white-lipped peccary, the jaguar, and the puma are some of the larger mammals found within the 100,000 acre wildlife sanctuary we are traveling through.

After settling into our forest cabanas we have a chance to meet our fellow travelers over dinner. At the Tropical Education Center, we have a chance to explore the surrounding savannah forest through their network of interpretative trails and wildlife viewing platforms. There is also an interpretative center, which details 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, dinner and lodging are included.

This day is your day to arrive before the trip starts, meet your fellow travelers and acclimatize to your new tropical environment.

Accommodation: (Lodge) Meals: Dinner is included on this day

After breakfast our guides take us on a morning walk along the wildlife viewing platforms at the center, and then we travel across the road to the Belize Zoo to participate in the Problem Jaguar Program. This has recently been setup by the Director of the Belize Zoo to address the growing number of Jaguars that are predating on cattle and pets on farms and in villages across Belize. The program live-captures Jaguars, exposes them to people as part of their rehabilitation, and gets them used to captivity. Eventually these animals will be available to high quality zoos around the world instead of being exterminated. This trip helps fund this new program, and gives people a once in a lifetime chance to spend time face to face with the master of the neo-tropical jungle.

After lunch at the TEC, we meander down one of Belize’s most spectacular drives, the Hummingbird Highway, into the Maya Village of Maya Center. Here we are greeted by a local Mayan family that hosts us for the night, and talks to us on how the village helps manage the park and about the life of the modern Maya. Here we enjoy a traditional Belizean dinner with our Belizean guide, discuss how to pack for the river portion of the trip, and talk details of the next days hike into the river.

Accommodations: (Lodge) Meals: B,L,D

Early in the morning, we leave the lodge and head to the Cockscomb Park headquarters, where we tour the small interpretive center, load our backpacks, and begin our journey into the river put-in and our first camp in the Cockscomb. Stopping along the way to learn of the many plants and animals of the rainforest, we travel down a wide trail through the center of the park before veering off the main path into the Mexican Branch junction of the South Stann Creek River.

For this portion of the trip, we use two-person inflatable kayaks which combine the stability of a raft with the maneuverability of a kayak. We begin by traveling slowly, learning different paddle strokes and getting a feel for how the boats handle on the water. Traveling downriver we experience all the luxuriance and beauty of the tropical rainforest. Each bend in the river holds the promise of something new. As the trip progresses, we learn how to navigate through small rapids becoming proficient with reading the water and choosing the right channels. Arriving at our established bush-camps in the afternoon, we have time to explore and learn more about the plants and wildlife in the surrounding forest, and can take advantage of the afternoon light for photography. At night, we have the chance to go for a night-walk to try and see some of the nocturnal animals. This is the premier trip for encountering wildlife in the rainforests of Belize.

At night, we have the chance to go for a night-walk to try and see some of the nocturnal animals. This is the premier trip for encountering wildlife in the rainforests of Belize.

Accommodation: (Jungle Camping) Meals: B,L,D

Our last morning in the rainforest we travel downstream through an exciting boulder garden and rapids section, before we are met by IEC staff at the pull-out point. After lunch in Maya Center, we drive overland to the coastal town of Dangriga, where we take a motor to our first camp on the Belize Barrier Reef. Moving from the green, lush jungle to the waving palms and turquoise waters of the Caribbean is a exceptional contrast. And throughout we will gain an appreciation of the similarities of the ecosystems on the coral reef and that of the rainforest. We begin with the fundamentals of sea kayaking; we learn and practice paddle strokes, as well as self-rescue and group-rescue techniques, before heading out in the evening for a paddle. Time permitting, we can also enjoy some snorkeling and exploration at one of the nearby patch reefs.

Accommodation: (Camping) Meals: B,L,D

Day 6-9:

Expect an adventure of a lifetime as we explore south and east of Dangriga along this wild section of the Barrier Reef.

Our days are a blend of paddling and sailing our kayaks, swimming and snorkeling in the turquoise waters and camping amongst the hundreds of tropical islands along the reef.

We engage in a variety of activities as we travel each day. We learn new paddling skills, hone our kayak-sailing skills and try our hands at navigating with a marine chart and compass. A big part of each day is spent exploring the many coral reefs encountered along the way.

We also travel through productive fishing grounds with bonefish, tarpon, snapper, grouper and barracuda providing excellent sport fishing, as well as a wonderful variety for the dinner table. For those who savor the simple pleasures of life, you can master the art of relaxing in a hammock with a good book while your guides prepare a fresh seafood dinner

Accommodations: (Beach Camping) Meals: B,L,D