Epic Belize Itinerary 10 Days / 9 Nights

Belize Ultimate Adventure Itinerary

10 Days / 9 Nights

“I was very impressed with the guides/staff for several reasons.  I am on a severely restricted diet due to food allergies & they were all able to feed me well & safely. The time & energy put into this undertaking was phenomenal & I truly appreciated this personalized care. Being able to do this kind of foreign adventure travel is now available to me!

I was also very impressed with how very well the guides attended to the needs of non-swimmers / non-paddlers in our group on the very high Mojo River. Truly professional care!

I loved going into the homes in Pedro’s village. The people there felt truly glad to see us & were very welcoming, wanting to interact with us. Having Pedro on the river with us sharing his traditional knowledge of the Mayan plants/ life was a wonderful plus. He was the very best!!!!

I highly recommend this company to anyone looking for this kind of adventure. 

Thank you!” Susan Dowell

Belize Ultimate Adventure Trips Departure / End Dates 2024-25

Jan 17-26,  Feb 7-16,  Feb 28-Mar 9,  Mar 21-30,  Apr 4-13

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

Activities: Sea Kayaking (paddling & sailing), Snorkeling, Mayan Ruins, Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUP), Scuba Diving (optional, not included in trip fee),  Whitewater Paddling and Waterfall,  Repelling, Photography, Natural History and Interpretation, Hiking, Birding, Fishing.

Accommodations: Bocawina Rainforest Resort, Expedition River / Jungle Camping, Glover’s Reef Basecamp.

Please find PRICE and DATES Here (Belize Main Page)

The Adventure

From Belize International Airport you will board a domestic flight to the coastal Garifuna town of Dangriga and then onto the Bocawina Rainforest Resort in Mayflower Bocawina National Park in the foothills of the Maya Mountains.

Leaving our jungle eco-lodge in Mayflower Bocawina National Park, we travel by van and four-wheel drive to our river put-in. We begin our river journey by teaching river safety and paddling techniques before kayaking into some of Belize’s most remote and pristine wilderness. Once on the water, we are immersed in the experience of traveling by day and camping at night in the tropical rainforest for the next 3 days. As we continue our river journey, we leave the Maya Mountains and enter the coastal plains where the river slows and meanders through the jungle. 

On day 6 we drive north to the coastal town of Dangriga. Here we board a charter boat to our private Basecamp on Southwest Caye, Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Over our 4 days here our itinerary is flexible in order to accommodate individual and group preferences. Activities include paddling sea kayaks, snorkeling the inner and outer walls of the reef, stand-up paddle boarding, traditional Belizean handline fishing and learning to sail a kayak. In the mornings and evenings our guides share their knowledge of Belize, its unique marine environments and cultures of the Caribbean with a focus on the Garifuna people of Belize

On day 10 our boat charter departs mid-morning to take you back to the mainland, arriving at approximately noon. Your trip finishes in the Garifuna town of Dangriga, and our staff will assist you with connecting to the next leg of your journey.[/read]

The Setting…

Thirty-six miles offshore lie a group of tropical islands, cradled within a turquoise lagoon and surrounded by a living coral reef. Glover’s Reef Atoll, considered one of the richest tropical marine environments in the entire Caribbean is protected as a Marine Reserve and is a designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Atoll is 32 km long by 12 km wide, encompassing a turquoise clear shallow lagoon with an estimated 850 coral heads and pinnacles rising to the surface. On the eastern edge of the atoll, five postcard perfect sand cayes fringed with coconut palms, lie atop the reef crest. The prevailing Northeasterly Trade winds blow across hundreds of miles of open sea before reaching the atoll where the swells break and dissipate in foaming white surf.

This east wall of the atoll is breached in three places by channels, allowing for a tidal flow of water into the lagoon that sustains one of the most diverse coral ecosystems in the Caribbean.--Read More--

Bocawina Reserve – The year-round growing season, plentiful precipitation and millennia of evolution has yielded the area with a tremendous biological diversity and rare beauty. This rich nutrient cycle supports a diverse range of plant life, where huge buttressed Ceiba trees to the smallest of fungi thrive. High above the forest floor is the enchanting world of the broad-leafed canopy. The canopy may tower 100 ft or more, with massive hardwoods like Santa Maria, Mahogany and Sapodilla trees forming a broad canopy, and in turn supporting many species of Epiphytes (air plants). This habitat provides for a unique community of wildlife, with many species spending most of their life inhabiting the roof of the rainforest.--Read More--

Maya Mountains and Peten Lowlands – Just hours away from the sun-bright Barrier Reef, some of the richest rainforests in all of Central America thrive.

Tropical rainforests cover only 7% of the planet, yet harbor over 50% of the earth’s species and are considered the oldest intact ecosystems on earth. Once you enter the forest – wildcats, toucans, flocks of scarlet macaw, and troupes of howler or spider monkey may be encountered at any time.  Small wonders are everywhere, like delicate orchids that bloom for only a few hours in the year.--Read More--

A Note About the Ecology…The Flora

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 breakwater, 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, shellfish, reptiles, marine mammals, and birds.

The Fauna

On our journey to the Maya Mountains, we travel through broadleaf, semi deciduous forest. All around us are signs of life, from the tropical birds high in the canopy like the keel-billed toucan and mot-mots to the many wild mammals that inhabit the forest floor, including Belize’s largest herbivore, the Baird’s Tapir.

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.--Read More--

Typical Daily Itinerary:

	Day 1 Accommodations: Bocawina Rainforest Resort Meals: Dinner is included on this night. Upon arrival at the International Airport, you connect for a scenic 20-minute flight to the town of Dangriga and then travel overland to Bocawina Rainforest Resort in Mayflower Bocawina National Park in the foothills of the Maya Mountains.  Tonight we dine in the rainforest at the acclaimed Wild Fig restaurant.
	Day 2 Accommodations: Jungle Camping   Meals: B, L, D From Bocawina we travel south, into the Mayan homeland of Belize, an area of rich indigenous culture and stunning scenery. Your guides teach the skills you need to confidently paddle your inflatable kayak in moving water before starting our journey down Belize’s most beautiful rainforest rivers.
	Day 3 Accommodations: Jungle Camping  Meals: B,L,D Wake to a tropical rainforest setting in the Moho River Valley that feels straight out of a storybook. Today we break contact completely with the outside world as we follow the Moho River through canyons and lush rainforest.  Each bend reveals the dynamic nature of the river with calm meandering sections and stretches of exciting rapids and chutes. Our evenings along the river include storytelling and night walks in the jungle.
	Day 4 Accommodations: Bocawina Rainforest Resort   Meals: B, L, D In the morning, as we descend out of the Maya Mountains the river changes its nature, widens, and begins to meander into the coastal plains. On route back to Bocawina we stop for lunch at the ancient Mayan city of Lubaantun, a beautiful ridgetop site overlooking the Columbia River Valley. Settle into your room and pamper yourself with all the amenities of our boutique lodge. We’ll gather at the bar before enjoying dinner at the Wild Fig restaurant.
	Day 5 Accommodations: Bocawina Rainforest Resort   Meals: B, L, D Even though we’ve changed from a riverside camp to a comfortable lodge, we’re still in the midst of a pristine rainforest. Today we’ll hike to hidden waterfalls with astounding views all the way to the Caribbean Sea, you can choose to rappel down a waterfall and, one of the special attractions of Bocawina Lodge, a thrilling two and a half mile rainforest canopy zipline course on the lodge property.
	Day 6 to 9 Accommodation: Glover’s Reef Basecamp   Meals: B, L, D Today we drive north to the coastal town of Dangriga and board a charter boat 36 miles offshore to our private Basecamp on Southwest Caye, Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arrival, we receive an introduction to your new tropical marine environment and then settle into our ocean view tent cabanas.--Read More-- Our guides will then conduct professional instruction to teach you the fundamentals of sea kayaking, snorkeling, and tropical water safety. After the workshop, enjoy a paddle to a nearby patch reef and start exploring some of the 700 snorkel sites Glover’s Reef Atoll has to offer. Over our 4 days here our itinerary is flexible in order to accommodate individual and group preferences.  Activities include paddling sea kayaks, snorkeling the inner and outer walls of the reef, stand-up paddle boarding, traditional Belizean handline fishing and learning to sail a kayak. In the mornings and evenings our guides share their knowledge of Belize, its unique marine environments and cultures of the Caribbean with a focus on the Garifuna people of Belize.  There are many different activities that you can choose from and always for those looking to add down time into their adventure there is no better place in Belize to kick back in a hammock and relax with a good book!
	Day 10 Accommodations: N/A   Meals: B, L  (Dinner is NOT Included in this night) Choose to wake early on our final morning, grab your coffee and watch the sunrise over the atoll. Our boat charter departs mid-morning to take you back to the mainland, arriving at approximately noon. Your trip finishes in the Garifuna town of Dangriga, and our staff will assist you with connecting to the next leg of your journey. or to the international airport. For travelers leaving Belize a departure after 3:00 pm is required.

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.

	On Day 1 we will be spending the night at the Bocawina Eco-Resort
	On Days 2 and 3 Jungle camping along the Moho River.
	On Days 4 and 5 we will be spending the night at the Bocawina Eco-Resort
	On Days 6 to 9 on Glovers Reef, we are “base camping” in tent-walled cabanas. These spacious safari-style tents have ample headroom and are outfitted with wood floors and wood-framed beds. On the island, we have a fresh-water collection system for drinking water, access to fresh-water showers, modern composting toilets, a fully-equipped kitchen

Transportation…At the start of the trip we pick you up on arrival at the Belize International Airport on Day 1. On the last day of the trip we drop you off in Dangriga. All transportation by land, air and water from Day 1 to Day 10 on the trip is included.

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 – $450 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.