Preparing for our 25th Season Specializing in Belize Vacations

Posted on August 23, 2010 by islandexpeditions

2010/2011 Belize Season Preparations…

Over the last 8 weeks my team has been working hard to get the trip pieces in place for our upcoming 2010/2011 Season in Belize, and now Mexico. All group lodge and special site reservations have been confirmed by our suppliers. We are now receiving our new equipment orders and preparing them for container shipment to Belize ahead of the season opening. Over the next 3 to 4 weeks, guide and yoga instructor schedules will be finalized.

This year our first trip begins earlier so I am scheduled to arrive in Belize the last week of October, right at the end of the tropical storm season. Once I arrive our Belize crew will open up our various store rooms. Vehicles, kayaks and motor boats get their first of many tune-ups for the season and then we will begin moving kayaks and trip gear into their required place around the country. The first base-camp to go in is at Glovers Reef Atoll Marine Reserve, a process that takes 12 people about 3 to 4 weeks to complete. Then we begin the process again at Lighthouse Reef Marine Reserve, later in the month. While that is happening our Southwater Caye Marine reserve crew will receive the first wave of lodge to lodge kayak and snorkel guests on the www.ParadiseIslands.travel adventure. The first four trips around the US Thanks Giving time are almost full and the space won’t last long. Check out our trip specials pages to qualify for a $100 off the early season trips beginning before mid December.

Fast approaching the end of summer and it is becoming apparent that this season is shaping up to be a busy one. Easter falls unusually late this coming year – April 22 to 25, 2011 and this means that March breaks across the US and Canada are spread out over the whole month of March. Some trips in March are already half full, so anyone planning on traveling during this traditionally busy period, I would suggest contacting us for details and availability.

I am in the office (800-667-1630) answering phones until I leave, so give me a call. When you are planning your trip to Belize there is nothing more helpful than first hand, one on one, information right from the source . . . and for me there is nothing I like more than talking about Belize.

Join us in Belize on our 25th season, exploring this remarkable country!

Denver Willson-Rymer
Expedition Director
denver at islandexpeditions dot com

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Great Flight Deals to Belize…

Posted on August 17, 2010 by islandexpeditions

We have some great tools to help you with research to get to Belize.  Recently, we found some great fares from a few different points of departure, which include:

  • Seattle to Belize City – SEA-BZE –  $565 USD
  • Dallas to Belize City - EWR – BZE - $670 USD
  • Los Angeles to Belize City – LAX – BZE – $608 USD
  • San Fransisco to Belize City – SFO – BZE – $608 USD
  • Denver to Belize City – DEN – BZE – $583 USD
  • Toronto to Belize City – YYZ – BZE – $506 CAD
  • Calgary to Belize City – YYC – BZE – $1019 CAD
  • Vancouver to Belize City – YVR – BZE – $800 CAD – (overnight required)
    - NOTE:  Vancouver or Victoria, BC residents can also fly out of Seattle, and return to either Vancouver or Victoria for $500 cn and avoid an overnight!

Call our office at 1-800-667-1630 or email us at info@islandexpeditions.com for details and exact flight fares from your point of departure, and let us help you find the deal from your city!

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Great News! New Jaguar Wildlife Sanctuary, recently created in Belize.

Posted on August 11, 2010 by islandexpeditions

Here is a great article from National Geographic regarding the newly minted Labouring Creek Jaguar Corridor Wildlife Sanctuary, located between Belize City and the capital Belmopan.  A 7,000 acre piece of crown land has been set aside for these great cats.  Click here for more details….  http://bit.ly/9kkpxm

Jaguar in Belize

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No Oil affects in Belize, Yucatan, Mexico and the Western Caribbean

Posted on July 26, 2010 by islandexpeditions

We are all saddened by BP oil disaster in the Gulf and have been following the developments with  great concern. Our hearts go out  for the people and the marine life in the region that have been so critically affected.

 The prevailing ocean currents have been pushing the oil along the Gulf Coast States and north towards the Atlantic. In Belize and the Yucatan Peninsula we are fortunate in that the currents and prevailing winds will ensure that the oil will not come our way. No one knows what the longer term cumulative effects will be of this unprecedented environmental disaster. We do hope that this event will be the catalyst that will push us to make fundamental changes to energy policy and how we regulate offshore oil development in the US, Canada and elsewhere around the world.

Click here for an interacive map of the effected areas…

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New Mapping Technology Bringing the Ancient Mayan Cities in Belize to Life!

Posted on May 21, 2010 by islandexpeditions

A really great article on brand new laser mapping technology being used on the ancient Mayan site of Caracol in Belize! With this new technology, they are still discovering new things about the ancient Maya, and their cities. Great read!

http://nyti.ms/czLDrj

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Dangriga, Belize listed in Emerging Destinations of the World

Posted on May 7, 2010 by islandexpeditions

Dangriga, Belize, recently listed 2nd in Trip Advisor’s Top 10 Emerging Destinations in the World!

Details can be found here… http://bit.ly/chQ18t

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Great Video on some of the conservation Efforts being made at Glovers Reef in Belize

Posted on April 27, 2010 by islandexpeditions

Here is a great article on Glovers Reef Marine Reserve in Belize, published recently in the NY Times. Also, there is a great video on some of the conservation efforts being made at this very important protected area in Belize.

http://nyti.ms/cD6Y6r

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Invasive Lionfish sighted on the coral reefs of Belize

Posted on March 5, 2010 by islandexpeditions

We have had many recent sightings of the invasive Indo-Pacific Lionfish on the coral reefs of Belize. We have seen them in great numbers at Glovers Reef as well out at Lighthouse Reef. We are asking that if you see these species, while out snorkeling or diving, please let your guides know, and they can pass it on to the fisheries department.

These fish have no natural predators in the Caribbean, so their numbers have increased dramatically over the last few years. According to the NOAA website, “due to their population explosion and aggressive behavior, lionfish have the potential to become the most disastrous marine invasion in history by drastically reducing the abundance of coral reef fishes”.

Click here for more information on this ongoing issue…

http://www.oar.noaa.gov/spotlite/archive/2009/articles/lionfish_invasion.html

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New Flickr Group Created to Share Photos on their Belize Vacation Experiences

Posted on March 2, 2010 by islandexpeditions

New Flickr Group for Sharing Belize Travel Photos. If you use flickr already, please join our group. Details can be found at

http://www.flickr.com/groups/belize_vacations/

Here are some of the photos uploaded already…

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Sun Protection and Hydration in the Tropics of Belize

Posted on February 17, 2010 by islandexpeditions
Tropical vacations appeal to many travelers because of the outstanding climate and beautiful scenery that tropical countries have to offer. While warm weather and plenty of sunshine provide excellent conditions for outdoor adventures and enjoying gorgeous beaches, the same combination can also lead to sunburn and dehydration when travelers are not careful. Fortunately however, simply by preparing yourself for such conditions and taking certain precautionary measures, you can protect yourself from the sun and heat so you will be able to enjoy every moment of your tropical getaway.

Whether you will be lying on the beach, going on hikes or kayaking through clear blue waters, you will need to take steps to prevent the dehydration of your skin and your body as a whole. Dehydration and dry skin can be caused not only by warm weather but also by salt in high salinity environments such as the Caribbean Sea. To prevent dry skin, simply use a moisturizing lotion on a daily basis. Also, if you will be taking part in activities such as sea kayaking, it’s a good idea to wear gloves to protect your hands, as drier skin will be more susceptible to developing blisters. As for the dehydration of your body, the best preventative measure is to drink plenty of fluids throughout the day.

While people with fair skin and hair are generally more likely to burn when exposed to sunlight, everybody should protect themselves from UV radiation to help prevent premature wrinkling of the skin as well as more dangerous conditions such as eye and skin cancer. While the best way to reduce exposure to UV radiation and to prevent sunburn is to avoid being out in the sun between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., that is not always possible or realistic. In such cases, the best protection will be achieved through wearing a wide-brimmed hat, good quality sunglasses, long-sleeve shirts and sunscreen.

To ensure that you receive adequate protection, sunscreen with an SPF value of at least 30 is recommended. People with really fair skin may want to go with a much higher SPF value more like 40-60 range. Also, a higher SPF is usefull on the nose and lips, when spending much time on the water. There are many zinc-based creams that offer a much higher SPF protection for these areas. We have found that baby diaper rash creams are an inexpensive alternative. Sounds funny, but works great.

Also, if you will be spending time in the water or participating in sports or other forms of physical activity, waterproof sunscreen is best. By using a waterproof variety, you won’t have to worry about your sunscreen getting washed away by sweat or water and leaving you unprotected against the sun’s radiation. You will, however, require re-applying your sunscreen at lease 3-4 times a day, when being active and jumping in and out of the water. Even the waterproof variety needs to be re-applied.

The above steps and precautions are really very simple to follow and yet can make a world of difference to your health and to your comfort level during your tropical vacation. It is expecially important to apply and re-apply during the first 3 to 4 days of your holiday. There is nothing worse that getting a severe sunburn at the beginning of your holiday. Also, there are areas that require particular attention when snorkeling, including the backs of your legs, the backs of your arms, and of course your back and neck region. Please make sure that you have someone help you applying sunscreen in these areas before snorkeling.

So before you set off on your next trip to the equatorial regions, be sure to prepare yourself for the climate and conditions as doing so will keep you happy and having fun throughout your active Belize vacation.
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