Itinerary

Day 0 :
Arrive at the Belize International Airport where you will be met by our representative and transferred to the Tropical Education Center, adjacent to the Belize Zoo. After checking into our accommodations we enjoy a welcome dinner and have a chance to meet our fellow travelers. We are able to experience the surrounding tropical pine savannah habitat through a network of trails and raised wildlife viewing platforms. We also have a unique and exclusive nocturnal tour of the Belize Zoo with one of the senior zookeepers, which helps us understand 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 and lodging are included

Accommodation: (Lodge)
Meals: Dinner

Day 1 : We rise early for a breakfast on the beach. We then focus on our introduction to sea kayaking and get comfortable with the gear. We start by teaching and reviewing the fundamentals of sea kayaking and introduce everyone to ocean touring techniques. We test our new found skills with a paddle out to the main reef to snorkel along the inner reef wall or patch reefs. Depending on sea conditions, a snorkel along the outside reef edge may be possible. Our paddle back to our Tobacco Caye takes us past mangrove ranges and protected lagoons. Out on the reef, our guides share their knowledge of Belize, the marine environments and local culture.

Accommodation: (Island Lodge)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 : We rise early for a breakfast on the beach. We then focus on our introduction to sea kayaking and get comfortable with the gear. We start by teaching and reviewing the fundamentals of sea kayaking and introduce everyone to ocean touring techniques. We test our new found skills with a paddle out to the main reef to snorkel along the inner reef wall or patch reefs. Depending on sea conditions, a snorkel along the outside reef edge may be possible. Our paddle back to our camp takes us past mangrove ranges and protected lagoons. Out on the reef, our guides share their knowledge of Belize, the marine environments and local culture.

Accommodation: (Camping)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3 : After breakfast and a morning of paddling and snorkeling, our motor charter returns to take us 20 miles east of the main Barrier Reef to Glovers Reef Atoll, a National Marine Park and designated World Heritage site. We land at park headquarters on Middle Cay, with boats rigged and ready to sail. We sail our kayaks along the eastern reef wall to our base camp at Southwest Caye at the southern end of the atoll, surrounded by rich coral reefs and beautiful turquoise waters. Tonight, we enjoy an island feast of mixed grill of fresh seafood and vegetables topped with Belizean coconut baking and tropical fruits.

Accommodation: (Base Camp)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 & 5 : Glover’s is one of only four atolls in the Caribbean Sea and is truly one of the most spectacular marine environments in Belize. Due to its isolation from the mainland the waters are exceptionally clear with an incredibly rich reef system that offers some of the best kayaking, snorkeling and diving in the Caribbean. Our days are flexible in order to respond to both group and individual desires and abilities. Activities include: sea kayaking, snorkeling the inner and outer walls of the reef, and kayak sailing. For those who are certified divers, we can also arrange dives on the outer walls. If all this sounds a little busy, you always have the choice of just kicking back in a hammock and relaxing with a good book and a cold drink. On the afternoon of Day 5, we transfer back to the mainland and continue south to our jungle lodge in the Toledo district of Belize to begin the next leg of our journey.

Accommodation: (Field Camp / The Lodge at Big Falls - www.thelodgeatbigfalls.com)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6, 7 & 8 : The Lodge at Big Falls is situated on the banks of the Rio Grande river in Belize's southern Toledo District, a region of isolated villages lying amongst an unspoiled tropical wilderness. Our location is superb. The lodge property is located on a meander of the river with almost a mile of river frontage. There are views towards the Maya Mountains to the north west while the south eastern bank faces the small village of Big Falls. In the afternoon, we drive further south from Big Falls to our put-in point on the Moho river, stopping for lunch along the way at the traditional Maya village of Santa Theresa. Here, we get a chance to meet your Mayan guides, tour their homes, and experience the life of the modern Maya people.

Once on the river, our guides provide a brief boat and river orientation and we take as much time as we need to learn and practice our new boat-handling skills, enabling us to safely navigate the rapids and pour-overs. We then begin our journey along one of Belize’s most beautiful rivers through some pristine rainforest to our first river camp.

For these next days we break contact completely with the outside world and become a part of the mist-shrouded rainforest as we follow the Moho River through canyons and lush rainforest. Each bend reveals the dynamic nature of the river-from calm, meandering water that reflects the intense green of the jungle to stretches of rapids, pour-overs and spectacular waterfalls as the river descends from the Maya Mountains to the sea. Depending on water levels, some days we may reach our bush-camp by mid-afternoon and switch to land-based activities. Hiking through the forest, birding, plant and animal identification, and photography are some of the many activities we engage in. During the trip with our Mayan guides and North American leaders, we emphasize understanding the ecology of the rainforest, learning about the habits of the wildlife and gaining an appreciation for the rich Mayan folklore which adds so much to our experience in the jungle.

Accommodation: (Camping)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 9 : We continue paddling downstream and arrive to the river pull out in the afternoon, where we are met by IEC staff ready to transport us back to Dangriga and onto a Maya Airways domestic flight to our hotel accommodation to enjoy a hot shower.

Accommodations: (Biltmore Plaza Hotel— www.belizebiltmore.com)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner is NOT Included in this night

Accommodation...

On 'Day 0', we will be spending the night at the Tropical Education Center, in cabanas set amongst the pine forests. The Education Center and Belize Zoo harbors Belize's largest collection of tropical animal, a fantastic interpretative center, and has a great network of trails and wildlife viewing platforms, perfect for exploring the pine savannah setting.

On Days 1 and 2 we stay at Paradise Lodge, on Tobacco Caye, a small Belizean owned lodge with a beautiful view over the central Belize barrier reef. These rustic cabanas are clean and comfortable with ensuite bathrooms. Each cabana is perched over the waters edge, giving you unobstructed views of the Belize Barrier Reef, and unparalleled access to kayaking and snorkelling.

On Days 3 and 4at Southwest Caye on Glovers, 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 including refrigeration, with a large dining area complete with resource library and a field marine lab including microscope and hand lenses.

On Day 5 we will be staying at The Lodge at Big Falls, located at the gateway of the Toledo District in the deep south of Belize. (www.thelodgeatbigfalls.com) This spectacular resort is nessled in a unique bend in the Rio Grande River, and houses a restaurant / main lodge, and a number of small cabanas. Our accommodations for the evening are beautifully furnished, thatched, roofed cabanas, outfitted with ceiling fans and hot water showers.

On Days 6, 7, 8 we are camping in the remote wilderness of the Upper Moho River, on the western boarder of the Toledo District. We will be keeping our weight and volume to a minimum, carrying our gear in the kayaks from camp to camp. We stay in three-person Mountian Hardwear tents, which provide ample room for two people and gear. As we travel down the river, we use established bush camps, but give ourselves the flexibility to adjust our schedule for different conditions.

On the final night, we will spend the night at the Biltmore Hotel (www.belizebiltmore.com). This is a clean and comfortable hotel outside the city center. You have a chance to get a good night’s sleep after your adventure, maybe take a dip in the pool and prepare to fly out or continue on independently.

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