Itinerary

Day 1      Cayo, Here We Come

Upon arrival in Belize City, you will be met at the airport and transferred (about 2 hours) to a rainforest lodge in the Cayo District where you will spend the next four nights. Arrive at the lodge in  time to freshen up before having a delicious Belizian dinner.
    
Meals: Dinner    

Day 2      Ruins and River Canoeing or Tubing

 Xunantunich, Belize’s most accessible Mayan site of significance that is reached via ferry crossing at San Jose Succotz, is your destination today. The main structure, El Castillo, rises 130 feet above the jungle floor. The views from the top are superb, with forest stretching out all around you and the rest of the ancient city mapped out just beneath you. Then in the afternoon, relax as you coast down the Macal River in a canoe or rubber tube. Listen for the sounds of the howler monkeys or watch for hidden iguanas basking in the treetops.
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner    

Day 3      Cave Canoeing and Horseback Riding

Travel to the small Mennonite Community of Upper Barton Creek to the river and Barton Creek Cave. Used by the ancient Maya for ceremonial purposes and a burial site, this cave is an amazing display of crystal formations.  Gently paddle through the cave system in your canoe and with wour spotlight view the magnificent stalactites and stalagmites. You may even come across some Mayan artifacts. Then enjoy a two hour morning horseback ride through the rainforest’s stunning scenery. Teak trees, iguanas and many species of birds will catch your eye. (*Routes are available for all levels of riding experience*). Stop for lunch at the ranch lodge. This is not a day to forget your camera!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner    

Day 4      Tikal: the Mayan Marvel

Tikal, once the grand capital of the Mayan world, may be the most impressive site in all of the Americas. In Guatemala, just two hours from your Belize lodge, these famous ruins lie in a vast rainforest sanctuary rich with bird and animal life. Wonder at the Great Plaza, the 200-foot temple pyramids, the mazes of courtyards and tiny rooms and extensive areas of ruins still under jungle cover. Fifteen hundred years ago, the population here was 100,000; by 900 AD, the civilization collapsed. Some of you may choose to hike or climb, others may want to explore the nature and wildlife. All will learn a tremendous amount, and leave you pondering the same questions that engage archaeologists and scholars. Return to the lodge in the evening for your last night in the rainforest.
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner    

Day 5 - 7      Southwater Caye: An Island Paradise

Head to the coast this morning along the magnificent Hummingbird Hwy. En route, stop for a swim at Blue Hole National Park. Once you arrive in Dangriga, you'll transfer by boat to Southwater Caye where you will spend the following three nights. A coral island paradise, small enough to walk around, Southwater offers snorkeling opportunities right from shore in one of the best areas of the Caribbean Reef. This is a rare island where accommodations are lovely and unassuming, service is superb, and development has, thankfully, been kept to a minimum. Spend these days at your leisure, exploring all that the area has to offer. Optional boat excursions and scuba diving are available at extra cost.
    
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Lodging: Pelican Beach Resort    

Day 8      Departure Home

After breakfast, return by boat to the mainland. Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Belize City and connecting flight home.
    
Meals: Breakfast

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