from $2,498* per person | 8 Days | December-April, July |
Comfort accommodations
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Exertion level: 3
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Operator: Wild Planet Adventures |
12 people max
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Located just south of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, Belize boasts the second largest barrier reef in the world. The first 4 days of our Belize Ultimate Wildlife eco-tour focuses on this exquisite maze of coral reefs set in clear turquoise waters. The highlight of this segment is a visit to Lighthouse Reef Atoll to visit the Blue Hole made famous by a Jacques Cousteau. The last 4 days of your adventure take you deep into the jungle to visit the howler monkeys at the Community Baboon Sanctuary and the Mayan Ruins at Lamanai. We'll end by boating out to Swallow Caye, a nursery for manatees. A final thrill is to snorkel the nearby islands frequented by dolphins.
Wild Planet Adventures has formed an exclusive partnership with the Oceanic Society to give you access to the Oceanic Society’s field station on remote Blackbird Caye. This quiet tropical island paradise on the eastern side of Truneffe Atoll normally caters to scientists and researchers, and allows Wild Planet unparalleled access to Half Moon Caye National Monument, Lighthouse Reef, and Blue Hole.
Our location on Blackbird Caye gives you a distinctive advantage over nearly all other Belize tours which are based out of Ambergris Caye, Caye Calker, or Placencia, which are heavily populated commercial centers located much farther from Half Moon Caye, Lighthouse Reef and the Blue Hole. A special Oceanic Society marine biologist guide will guide the coral reef snorkeling. This expedition is one of the best ways for non-divers to discover Belize’s spectacular coral reef systems.
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Locations visited/nearby
Belize, Central America
0 testimonials about this trip.
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Reviewer: Cal Boudreaux
located in
Costa Rica
"Fodors is absolutely right - your Costa Rica Ultimate Wildlife EcoTour
is a "Top 10 Must-Do Trip". My family and I thoroughly enjoyed the
extremely well planned itinerary. Our local naturalist guide, who took
care of our wants every step of the way, was exceptional. The food was
delicious. We all returned home with many wonderful and thrilling
experiences and memories. I truly feel that we have fully experienced
Costa Rica in its natural beauty and pristine splendor. This was an
expedition of a lifetime!"
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Reviewer: Rafael Rovirosa
located in
Costa Rica
“Once again everything was perfect on our Peru trip, especially the
Amazon segment, which was spectacular. Our guide was a biologist who
truly loved the rainforest and knew a lot about the plants and animals
we saw. The lodges were excellent, and the service was remarkable.
Just like our Costa Rica trip with Wild Planet two years ago, this trip
was an incredible experience!”
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Reviewer: George & Judy Martin,
located in
Thailand
"Exciting is an understatement! We searched for and found wild
elephants, ate delicious Thai food in the jungle, snorkeled in the
waters at Talu island, rode an elephant into the River Kwai and more!
There were so many remarkable moments. The highlight for us was, of
course, the tigers!
Itinerary
Day 1 Belize City / Blackbird Caye
Blackbird Caye's warm, shallow water and thriving reef offers exceptional snorkeling, relaxing beaches and lazy island life. Arrive in Belize City and transfer to the Princess International Hotel and Marina. Afternoon boat transfer to Blackbird Caye (about 90 minutes). Evening trip briefing and welcome dinner. 4 nights in comfortable beachfront cabanas.
Day 2 - 4 Turneffe Atoll, Lighthouse Reef, the Blue Hole
START YOUR ADVENTURE with four days on the most coveted part of the barrier reef, right by the Blue Hole and far away from the crowds. Enjoy daily snorkeling trips to nearby islands and reefs chosen for their shallow waters and easy access. Explore the spectacular underwater playground of brilliant sponges, rich corals, and colorful tropical fish. Blackbird Caye’s warm, shallow water and thriving reef offers exceptional snorkeling and serve as a feeding and resting area for dolphins, which we often spot enroute to our snorkeling sites on
Turneffe Atoll and Lighthouse reef, including the world-famous Blue Hole.
Lighthouse Reef Atoll is one of Belize's three coral islands. The reef's shallow walls, beginning at depths of only 25 feet, provide spectacular snorkeling in relatively shallow depths. Massive yellow sponges festoon the reef walls.
Half Moon Caye Natural Monument is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its clear turquoise water, unspoiled coral reef and prolific sea life. The Caye is divided into two distinct ecosystems: the western region has dense vegetation supporting approximately 4,000 breeding red-footed boobies and frigatebirds; the eastern half of the Caye is composed primarily of coconut palms.
The Blue Hole is a magical sinkhole was made famous by a Jacques Cousteau documentary which revealed its unique underwater stalagmites and abundant marine life.
Day 5 Blackbird Caye / Community Baboon Sanctuary<br>
Highlights: Canoeing, hiking, wildlife viewing, bird watching, swimming.
Wildlife: Howler monkeys, tapir, coatimundi, agouti, otter, iguanas and “Jesus Christ lizards” that walk on water. Exotic parrots, trogons, and toucans.
Return to the mainland and head deep into the jungle where wildlife is plentiful and undisturbed. This afternoon visit the renowned Community Baboon Sanctuary where howler monkeys abundant and easy to see in the magnificent jungle trees. Explore the river and its wildlife by canoes and boats from the lodge at your leisure.
Day 6 Lamanai Mayan Ruins.
Highlights: Indiana Jones-style adventure up a jungle river to ancient Mayan archeological ruins, hidden deep in the jungle.
Wildlife: Boat up a remote jungle river teeming with monkeys, agouti, paca, crocodiles, and over 200 species of tropical birds to one of the most amazing and remote Mayan ruins in Belize. Lamanai is an archeological treasure house, hidden in the jungle and frequented as much by monkeys as by humans!
Day 7 Swallow Caye Manatee Sanctuary
Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary was established for the protection of manatees. It’s clear turquoise water is a nursery for young manatees and is the best place in Belize to observe these incredibly gentle and curious creatures. We’ll float silently around the caye observing manatees. Later, we’ll snorkel at one of the offshore islands, where dolphins abound and manatees sometimes approach us underwater!
Day 8 Belize City
Return to Belize City for your flight home.
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