Belize Paradise Islands: 5 Days… (trip)

Belize Paradise Islands: 5 Days / 6 Nights

  • Airport near Belize City, Belize
  • Boats, Barges & Small Ship Cruises
Belize, North America

from $1,686* per person6 DaysJanuary-May
Comfort accommodations Exertion level: 3
Operator: Canadian River Expeditions and Nahanni River Adventures 12 people max
If you’re looking for the adventure and excitement of a sea kayak journey with the comforts of a lodge, our Paradise Islands Journey is a great choice.

This trip is for the sea, sun and snorkeling enthusiast looking for an active and adventurous trip. We’ll travel with top-of-the-line expedition sea kayaks, paddling between small cays in the newly formed Southwater Caye Marine Park. Each day we’ll kayak and snorkel (scuba divers can also dive at select locations on our route), explore uninhabited islands, pristine coral reefs, rich fishing grounds and labyrinth like mangrove channels. Imagine a day of amazing adventures and then checking into your lodge by kayak, as we land on one of the little-known cayes that dot the southern barrier reef. While your guides and our Belizean hosts are preparing a delicious dinner, you can check into your comfortable seaside room and with a cold drink in hand enjoy the friendliness and warmth that are the hallmark of these small, yet-to-be-discovered lodges. Each trip begins with a thorough introduction to sea kayaking and snorkeling, so no previous kayak experience is required.

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Locations visited/nearby

Belize, North America

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Itinerary

Day 0 : Arrive at the Belize International Airport where you will be met by an Island Expeditions representative and transferred to the Tropical Education Center, adjacent to the Belize Zoo. 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.

Accommodations: (Lodge)
Meals: Dinner

Day 1: Waking up to the sounds of the tropics is a pure delight with the chatter of parrots and parakeets flying overhead, the fresh morning air scented with tropical blossoms and the expectation of an exciting adventure-filled day ahead. After breakfast we travel the Hummingbird Route through the Maya Mountains to meet up with our motor charter waiting to take us to our first island on the southern Barrier Reef. We’ll introduce you to safety in a tropical marine environment and then begin with teaching the fundamentals of sea kayaking, including safety, group and self rescues and touring techniques. Enjoy a swim, explore the island shoreline and then after a tasty Belizean lunch we begin our journey paddling over top submerged coral reefs , turtle grass beds and through narrow mangrove channels to reach our first nights accommodations. We’ll land our kayaks right in front of our lodge settle into our accommodations and then enjoy drinks and dinner.

Accommodations: (Lodge)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 : Situated right on the barrier reef in the heart of the Southwater Caye Marine Reserve we are ideally positioned to explore the surrounding reefs and cayes. Start with a steaming mug of coffee and fresh tropical fruits then enjoy an early morning swim or paddle before breakfast Our focus for the morning will include snorkelling at (our first snorkelling session begins with a thorough instruction and demonstration and beginner through to advanced skills are taught) at the Tobacco Caye cut and the outer reef walls. In the afternoon we’ll paddle to nearby cayes to explore the sheltered lagoons and mangrove channels returning in the evening to Tobacco Caye.

Accommodations: (Lodge)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Looking south with our gaze following the line of breaking waves along the barrier reef crest we can see the next island we ‘ll be travelling to today– Southwater Caye. After packing our kayaks with our personal gear bag, wishing fond farewells to our hosts we’ll start our day on the water with an introduction to kayak sailing. From here we’ll paddle and sail our kayaks along one of the most beautiful sections of the entire reef system. The waters are shallow and clear, and we’ll see a tremendous variety of marine life including southern stingrays, eagle rays, grouper, nurse sharks and more. As we make our way to Southwater Caye with it’s coconut palms swaying in the wind, this is a day you’ll wish could go on forever. We’ll land our kayaks on the beach check into our accommodations, enjoy an ice cold drink and explore the island before dinner, then maybe try a little bone fishing action on a fly rod, or even a nighttimes snorkel session on Southwater cut.

Accommodations: (Lodge)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 : We have plenty of time to kayak snorkel, fish and enjoy the scenery and marine life of Belize. We explore different regions of the reef including the inner and outer walls, patch and fringing reefs, mangrove ranges and protected lagoons. For divers we can arrange dives as requested and for those who’d like to try out diving we can arrange discover Scuba courses with prior notice. As we explore by kayak, our routes often cross those of the fishermen who make their living from the sea and with this inter-action we gain good company and an insight into a way of life that is very different from our own.

Accommodations: (Lodge)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Our last day on the cays we’ll have the choice to paddle to Twin Cays , the future site of the new Marine Reserve Interpretive Center and explore the diversity of the islands or you can choose to stay and enjoy the island setting and snorkelling. This evening we celebrate our final night together with a seafood feast and island festivities.

Accommodations: (Lodge)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6 (fly-home day):
(fly-home day):After an early breakfast our water taxi carries us back to the mainland and the town of Dangriga where the trip finishes. Any extra luggage that you have stored at our operations base, will be made available to you to repack and taxis can be arranged to your connecting flight to the Belize International Airport, or local bus stations to continue exploring Belize.

Meals: Breakfast

More information from Canadian River Expeditions and Nahanni River Adventures: