Tiny
Belize big on history and adventure trips
 Saturday,
October 12, 2002
by Catherine George
Reprinted from the Toronto Star
BELIZE,
FORMERLY British Honduras, is a must for anyone with an interest
in the Mayan culture. I had the opportunity to visit several
of the Maya cities several years ago and was fascinated with
what the tiny Central American country has to offer. Rainforests,
one of the world's best diving reefs and many hundreds of
Maya ruins that have yet to be explored. And, though Belize
City may not be the most attractive capital in the world,
it only serves as an arrival and departure point for visiting
the worthwhile attractions in the rest of the country.
One
company that has taken advantage of the adventure tourism
potential of Belize is Vancouver-based Island Expeditions.
It takes groups from six to 18 participants and its packages
include guides and equipment, transportation within Belize,
meals and lodging at base camps, rainforest camps and jungle
lodges. Return airfare to Belize costs extra. Here's a sampling
of its December programs.
An
eight-night journey visits Glover's Reef Atoll, one of the
Caribbean's richest tropical marine areas. It involves a six-day
stay on the private island with plenty of water-based activities
including snorkelling, diving, sea kayaking, windsurfing and
kayak sailing. It also includes a day in the rainforest exploring
Maya caves, horseback riding or rafting in a rainforest. Package
price is $1,659 per person, double.
Another,
dubbed the Ultimate Adventure, is a 10-night program that
includes exploring Maya ruins, travel on rivers through canyons
and rainforest and sea kayaking, diving, and snorkelling.
Cost for 10 nights is $2,599 for each of two. Or you might
opt for an eight-day expedition that involves sea kayaking
along the southern barrier reef, exploring the Maya cave of
Actun Tunichil Muknal and snorkelling on the barrier reef.
Cost is $1,449.
A
12-night adventure with departures Dec. 16 and 24 includes
snorkelling, sailing and paddling along the southern barrier
reef, exploring coral reefs and camping on tropical islets.
Heading inland, participants will follow a river through the
Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Reserve. Cost is $2,199 per person.
Three-night extensions, priced at $499 per person, based on
double occupancy, take in the Maya cities of Lamanai, Altun
Ha and the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. For further information
and Island Expedition's 28-page Belize Adventure Guide, call
1-800-667-1630 toll-free or www.islandexpeditions.com.
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