Epic Belize Adventure Itinerary 7 Days / 6 Nights

Epic Belize Adventure Itinerary

7 Days / 6 Nights

“From sacred caves and Mayan ruins to remote island reefs, explore Belize’s natural and cultural wonders in one unforgettable journey!”

Duration: 7 Days – 6 Nights

Starts: Belize City

Finishes: Belize City

Seasonal Trip: December to April

Habitats: Caribbean Pine Savannah – Pine Ridge – Broadleaf Tropical Rainforest – Barrier Reef – Lighthouse Atoll Activity level: ..00 [3] No experience required Activities: Caving, Mayan Ruins Exploration, Wildlife Viewing, Sea kayaking (paddling and sailing), walk in snorkeling, handline fishing, stand-up paddle boarding Optional: Scuba diving -fees apply

Group Size: 6-13
Guides: 2-6 leaders

Activities: Caving, Mayan Ruins Exploration, Wildlife Viewing, Sea kayaking (paddling and sailing), walk in snorkeling, handline fishing, stand-up paddle boarding Optional: Scuba diving -fees apply

Accommodations: Crystal Paradise Resort, Lighthouse Reef Basecamp on Half Moon Caye

Package includes:

3-night at Crystal Paradise Resort
3-night safari-style “basecamp” accommodations
Meals (as per itinerary)
Boat transfers Belize City/Half Moon Caye Guided activities and equipment (as per itinerary)
Park fees and taxes

Package does not include:

Airfare
gratuities,
medical/travel insurance
snorkel/scuba gear, additional activities (scuba)
costs incurred by flight delays

Trip Highlights: Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave, Caracol Mayan ruins, swim the Rio Frio pools, fantastic birdwatching and wildlife, the Great Blue Hole, paddling in crystal clear waters, glamping on a private island, fishing for dinner, explore the magnificent frigate bird rookery and redfooted booby colony

Recommended for: solo travelers, couples, thrill seekers, off-grid adventurers, digital detox

Please find PRICE and DATES Here (Belize Main Page)

The Adventure

Journey west to explore the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) sacred caves and a full-day expedition into the Chiquibul Forest Reserve to swim the Rio On pools and to explore the ancient Mayan city of Caracol. Over three nights, we enjoy the intimate hospitality of the Tut family at their Crystal Paradise Resort near San Ignacio overlooking the Macal River in the beautiful Cayo District. Next, travel to Belize’s most remote island group at Lighthouse Reef Atoll – a marine protected area and UNESCO world heritage site, located fifty-six miles off the shore of the Belize coast. Stay on Half Moon Caye, where you will spend four memorable nights. Managed by the Belize Audubon Society, Half Moon Caye is the perfect base to go out and explore the wonders of the coral reef system.

“Basecamping” involves sleeping in wall-tented cabanas. These spacious safari-style tents have ample headroom to walk around, are on raised wooden floors, and have real wood-framed beds (6-inch foam mattresses). Tents can be configured with either double or single beds. All bed linen is provided.

Typical Daily Itinerary:

	Day 1: Rendezvous with your driver in Belize City, and transfer west to the village of Cristo Rey. From here, we follow meandering road to Crystal Paradise Resort, which is in a picturesque setting and perched on a hill above the Macal River. You have time to settle in and explore the property. Accommodation: Crystal Paradise Resort Meals: Dinner
Glovers and Caves Day 2	Day 2: After an early breakfast, the drive deep into the most remote rainforest location in Belize, to the ancient Mayan city of Caracol. Today’s drive takes us through breathtaking scenery through the Mountain Pine Ridge, over a series of creeks and rivers, and descending into the lush tropical rainforest of the Chiquibul Rainforest Reserve. The ancient Mayan city of Caracol dates back to the classic period and is believed to be one of Belize’s largest Mayan settlements of that era. The city walls contain over 35,000 known structures, including five plazas, four palaces, three temples, 24 stelae, two ball courts, reservoirs, causeways, and an astronomical observatory. Upon our return from Caracol, we stop at Rio Frio Caves and a refreshing dip into the Rio On Pools for a swim. Here, you can immerse yourself in the refreshing waters, swim in the serene pools on the edge of the mountain pine ridge. Accommodation: Crystal Paradise Resort Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
venture inland caving stalactites	Day 3: Today’s extraordinary adventure takes us deep underground and into the Mayan underworld known as Xibalba, a mythical realm inhabited by spirits, powerful gods and sacred rituals. We hike, wade, ford, swim, and climb into the sacrificial chambers to witness first-hand artifacts deep in the Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) caves system. We find evidence of ceremonial offerings, and sacrifice. As we climb the underground river system to the high chamber, it ends at the top with the Crystal Maiden, skeletal remains that have been calcified into the flowstone. Accommodation: Crystal Paradise Resort Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
	Day 4: We rise early to get a quick breakfast and head to Belize City, make a quick stop at a local shop and head to our waiting motor boat charter. We travel by boat 56 miles out to sea, passing through mangrove ranges, white sand cayes, arriving at Belize’s furthest island group, on Lighthouse Reef Atoll. Upon arriving at Half Moon Caye, your guide team will orient you to the island and camp to settle you into your accommodations. You will then enjoy a late lunch and then a session of sea kayak and snorkeling instruction before heading out on the water. Accommodation: Half Moon Basecamp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
	Day 5 – 6: Due to its isolated location from the mainland, the waters of Lighthouse Reef are exceptionally clear with the most abundant fish populations and colorful coral reefs in Belize. This rich ecosystem offers access to some of the best sea kayaking and snorkeling (as well as scuba diving) in the Caribbean. You will have ample opportunities to learn from our guides about the marine reef ecology, the local flora and fauna, as well as the island’s coconut and littoral forest (more common to the interior of the mainland). Half Moon Caye is a beautiful and rich 45-acre nature preserve, hosting a red-footed booby colony as well as a magnificent frigate bird rookery. We tour the viewing platforms built by the Belize Audubon Society to observe the many nesting sites on the island. Over the next few days, you will have many options to explore, including a quickly disappearing shipwreck just north of the caye. The guides will present activities each day based on the weather conditions, and the group’s desires. And of course, we always give you the option of hanging out in a hammock with a good book and a cold beverage! We also travel to the world renowned Great Blue Hole. A huge collapsed sinkhole formation that was discovered and made famous by ocean explorer, Jacques Cousteau. We motor boat or paddle the 6-mile journey to this perfectly circular formation bejeweled with soft and hard corals of many different colors. After a fullday of exploring, you’ll return just in time for a wonderful dinner prepared especially for you by our cooks. After dinner, we have a cultural presentation of drumming and dancing to celebrate the last night at Half Moon Caye Accommodation: Half Moon Basecamp Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7:

The choice is yours for your last morning at Lighthouse Reef Atoll. Snorkel your favorite patch reefs, walk the island trails, and swing in a hammock or beach comb along the island beaches. After lunch, a motorboat charter picks everyone up for the return trip to the mainland. This return journey takes you through Turneffe Atoll across the Great Barrier Reef, and you’ll arrive at the Belize City Biltmore Hotel, usually by late afternoon.

Accommodation: None Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Travel Notes: For travelers leaving Belize after this trip, we also strongly suggest spending a night in Belize City. International connections out of the country require a departure the next day.

On Arrival in Belize: The Belize International Airport (BZE) is easy to navigate. After immigration, you collect your bags and move through the customs area. Once you clear customs, proceed to the departures terminal of the airport and locate the Maya Island Air desk. Provide them with your passport for identification and they’ll get you on to your domestic flight to Dangriga. Here you are met by company representative and shuttle you to your first night’s accommodation.

Departure from Belize: You will stay on the cayes for the last night of your trip. The following morning after breakfast, our charter boat will bring you back to the mainland – usually arriving around 12 noon. On your return to Dangriga the group will be taken to our Operations Base. Here you can pick up the luggage, change, and then make your connections for further travel in Belize or your international flight home.

Travel note: For those making connections home on this last day, international connections departing Belize should be booked after 3pm. You will require a 20 minute flight from Dangriga to the International Airport at a cost of approx. $115USD per person and we are happy to make this reservation for you in advance. We will have a vehicle waiting to take you to the Dangriga airstrip. If you are unable to find a return flight after 3pm on the departure day, we have Flight & Hotel Packages available.

For those departing Belize the following day we offer a Dangriga to Belize City Flight & Biltmore Hotel Package. Package Cost: Single – $260 USD, Double – $190 USD per person, Triple – $170 USD per person, Quad – $155 USD per person.

Note: This is one of our most adventurous trips. It takes place in a remote wilderness region of Belize. Participants need to be in good physical condition and ready to handle the unexpected. Weather conditions can greatly affect water levels and hiking trails into the river and may increase the level of difficulty. We also believe that the remoteness and variability of conditions are what make this trip the best of its kind in Belize. Trip itineraries may vary significantly depending on water levels.

Equipment…While at our base-camp on Half-moon Caye, our guests have unrestricted use of the following equipment: Double Kayaks (outfitted with special sails), Single Kayaks, Stand Up Paddle Boards, Complete Research Library, On the island, we are in communication with the mainland via satellite phone and VHF Marine radio.

1. Comprehensive Pre-trip Information package
2. All meals, accommodation, and transfers described in the itinerary
3. Professional Guiding Services
4. Unlimited use of our Equipment and facilities
5. Government Fees & Taxes

1. Gratuities
2. Fishing Licenses
3. Scuba Diving
4. International Flights and Airport Departure Tax
5. Extra costs due to late arrivals, lost baggage, and other circumstances beyond our control

Transportation…Rendezvous with your driver in Belize City, and transfer west to the village of Cristo Rey. From here, we follow a meandering road to Crystal Paradise Resort, which is in a picturesque setting and perched on a hill above the Macal River. You have time to settle in and explore the property.

Fly-Fishing… The best fishing is done right from where we stay, particularly if there are accessible sand flats, mangroves or abrupt drop-offs. When paddling or sailing your kayak you can troll a weight forward or sinking line. This is a good way to catch barracuda, grouper or snapper. --Read More--

For bonefish you want to have a 7, 8 or 9 weight rod, nine foot or slightly longer depending on the size of the fish and the flies you are using. A 5 or 6 weight stream fishing rod will do for smaller bonefish and can be great fun, but you will wish you had heavier gear if you hook into a 3 or 4 pound fish. Effective bonefish flies are Crazy Charlies #4, #6, #8 in gold, tan & pink; Horror’s # 4, 6, 8 in orange, and Snapping Shrimp # 4, 6 in tan. A heavier tippet of 10-12 lb will hold up well in the shallow coral and rubble strewn waters. The heavier rod weights will work for jacks and barracuda as well. If you plan to fish for tarpon we suggest 10, 11 or 12 weight rods.

Apart from matching the right reel to the type of fish you are going after, the most important thing is a reel that can handle the harsh saltwater conditions. You need to be religious about washing your reel in fresh water each day, particularly if you are using the reel you bought for trout fishing at home. Many of the fish you will hook are fast and unbelievably strong, therefore your reel should hold a minimum of 150 yards of backing, and 20 to 30 pounds test or more for tarpon. A weight-forward tapered floating line is good for bonefish – you will want a sinking line as well for tarpon. If you are serious about your fly-fishing you should bring an extra line with you. Nine to twelve foot leaders are fine – heavier and shorter leaders are easier to use within the difficult, windy conditions that are often encountered on the Belize reef. 2X & 4X for calm conditions in shallow waters and 1X, 0X, or 02X are also okay.

Barracuda, grouper, jacks, snapper, mackerel and tarpon are some of the more prized fish we catch with spin-casting gear or simple bait-trolling rigs. Fly-fishing for bonefish is best at Glovers Reef. It is catch and release only and you will need to bring your own gear. Our Lighthouse Reef trips are not as well suited for flats fishing, as there is a 1 mile square “no fishing / no take” zone on Halfmoon Caye. We do Belizean handline fishing at both basecamps, where we travel outside park boundaries to fish for the pot.

However, for people that love fishing, here are some suggestions on what to bring:

Tackle

The type of tackle that you bring with you will depend on what type of fish you want to catch and how serious you are about fishing. With many hundreds of miles of fishing grounds, Belize is a superb sport-fishing destination. In Belize, bonefish, tarpon, barracuda, jacks and king mackerel are most common. Permit are also a prime catch but can be very difficult to find.

If you are bringing your own equipment the following list of items may be useful:

Small spin-casting rod and reel (6-12 1b test)
100 yds of 20-50lb test fishing line for hand- line fishing
5-10 wire leaders
A small assortment of single hooks and a very large hook for trolling bait
Silver/pink/green trolling and casting spoons, large Rapalas, or Tomic plug.
A variety of weights

Scuba Divers…
There are some great opportunities to scuba dive at Lighthouse Reef including diving the Great Blue Hole if your are a PADI certified Advanced Open Water Diver or have a equivalent certification.

Optional diving is available for certified divers on certain days of the trip.

Please let us know in advance.--Read More--

Single Traveler Policy:

Many of our guests travel on their own. Our style of trip is ideal for single travelers combining the benefits of group camaraderie and group security with lots of individual flexibility in what you want to do each day. Single supplement options vary by trip style. Standard trip pricing is based on double occupancy. Solo guests can request either to share twin accommodations with another traveler or request single accommodations for an additional fee. If you are willing to share and we are able to match you up – no problem and no extra cost. If we cannot match you up then we have a simple, affordable $225 USD supplement fee for trips of 6 nights and longer. Please Note that the shared accommodation option is not available during Covid. Please see the Private Room Rare below.

Should you prefer private accommodations, we can provide you with your own room and the following charges apply:

Private Room: Epic Belize – $475 USD

Note: The number of single rooms available on most departures is limited, and may not be available at each location. If we are not able to provide your own room throughout the trip, we will pro-rate the supplement fee.

Recommended Tour-books:
Eltringham, Peter. 2002. Belize: The Rough Guide .London. Penguin Publishers. Perottet, Tony. 2000. Belize: Insight Guide Singapore. Houghton Mifflin Publishers. -Great photographs and written by a Belizean!

Recommended Reading:
Rabinowitz, Alan. 2000 Jaguar, One Man’s Struggle to Establish the First Jaguar Sanctuary New York. Island Press.

GETTING TO BELIZE

Direct Flights from Canada to Belize

Direct non-stop seasonal (Nov to Apr) flights to Belize are available with Air Canada from Toronto, and with WestJet from Toronto and Calgary.

Direct Flights from USA to Belize

Direct non-stop flights to Belize are available with United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Airlines.
Direct non-stop seasonal (Nov to Apr) flights to Belize are available with Sun Country Airlines and Southwest Airlines.

Direct Flights from Cancun to Belize

Tropic Air has 2 daily flights from Cancun to Belize International that offer good connecting opportunities.

Seamless Flight Connections from the UK and Europe to Belize

American Airlines also offers a flight that does not require an overnight connection. This flight departs London Heathrow and has a short connection in Miami before landing in Belize City.

Tips on Searching for the Best Flight Deals to Belize

Be sure of your flight dates. Call or email us to check trip availability and to confirm your arrival and departure dates. Being flexible within one to two days each way is often a good way to find the best prices.

The internet is the main place to find the best prices and routes for airfare. Google Flights is a great place to start, it is non bias and produces all available routes and prices. Online Travel Agents (OTAs) such as Expedia and Orbitz are also popular.

Airline Website Directly: We find that searching the airline websites directly will give you the best possible fare. Here are links to the major airlines that fly directly into Belize City (airport code BZE). All other cities route through these gateways.

Air Canada – Departs & Returns Toronto on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays
WestJet – Departs & Returns Toronto on Wednesdays and Saturdays and weekly on Fridays from Calgary
American Airlines – daily via Miami, FL or Dallas, TX
United Airlines – daily via Houston, TX and Newark NJ
Delta Airlines – via Atlanta GA and weekly from Los Angeles CA
Southwest Airlines – via Houston Hobby TX, Ft. Lauderdale FL, Denver CO
Sun Country Airlines – via Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
Avianca Airlines – via San Salvador, El Salvador
Copa Airlines – via Panama City, PA
Tropic Air – via Cancun, Merida, Roatan, San Pedro Sula, Flores MX and Belize In-Country Flights
Maya Air – Belize In-Country Flights

We recommend you purchase flight cancellation insurance. Almost all flights purchased these days are considered non-changeable/non-cancellable so please consider coverage.

Still have questions? Please give us a call toll free in North America at: 1-866-383-9453 or email us at wildernessadventures1@gmail.com

Booking: The booking requires a 30% deposit by Visa or MasterCard with the balance due 60 days prior to trip departure.

The trip dates do sell out so please book early to get the trip dates you want.

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