"The people were fantastic. I've never felt so welcome as a tourist in any country. Everyone in Belize says ‘hello and how are you’ even though we're clearly tourists. Mike and Adolpho were extremely knowledgeable guides for snorkeling. They were also great at sharing various aspects of Belizean culture with the group.
The weather was great. SO hot, but a perfect breeze to keep me happy!"
Susan Wiens
Glover's Reef & River of Caves
April 13, 2009
"Living on a wooden floored tent, on an island made from coral, in a beautiful sea, under waving palm trees, surrounded with beautiful starry skies, must be a little bit of heaven on earth. Nature at her finest. No electricity, no loud boom boxes, no tv, or newspapers to blare negatives at their audiences. Gentle breezes touching wings of birds flying by, waves splashing on the sand and great people to communicate with. Thanks to one and all."
Wilma Rebick
Glover's Reef & River of Caves
Jan 19, 2009
"It was a top class trip. All your employees were top notch, very respectful, caring & professional. Every inter connection happened flawlessly."
Ewan Wilson
Glover's Reef & River of Caves
Mar 9, 2009
"Excellent organization, excellent trip, great country, outstanding knowledgeable guides and outstanding food. I really enjoyed the fact that guides and us clients were really just one big happy group. Very knowledgeable staff re the country, culture and coral biology. I would highly recommend this trip and this company. We will be back in the future to try your other destinations!"
Greg Oconnor
Glover's Reef & River of Caves
Mar 2, 2009
"All in all, a true adventure to be reviewed, relived, relieved, rejoiced, and remembered."
Hilary Clark Cole & Alex Tilley
(Of Tilley Endurables) www.tilley.com
Glover's Reef & River of Caves
Jan 13, 2006
The professionalism of the guides was incredible. The care for safety also top notch! Your staff went out of their way to put together a wonderful trip ... I enjoyed more of Belize than originally anticipated. Thanks to all the guides and behind the scenes staff who made this dream of 3 years in the making come to fruition!
Johna Abrams
Glover's Reef & River of Caves
Dec 27, 2011
I couldn't have asked for a better vacation. I loved Belize and did not want to come home. The staff and the people that I met were just simply amazing and friendly. The weather was a little hit and miss with the rain, but it made the sunny days just that much better.
Alison Russell
Glover's Reef & River of Caves
Mar 21, 2010
" Selected as one of the top adventure
trips by Outside Magazine in 2000 "
Glover's Reef & River of Caves - 7
Nights:
Float rainforest caves, zip high above the rainforest canopy, then out to the white sand cayes of Glover's Reef Atoll
On
arrival in Belize, before heading out to Glover's, we
have an opportunity to experience the diversity of the
rainforest and the rich Mayan culture of the interior.
Working with guides from the Belize Tropical Education
Center, our itinerary includes a rare chance to view
the nocturnal wildlife of Belize and then, in the jungle,
we enjoy a leisurely float down a rainforest river with
inner tubes, exploring a fantastic limestone cave.
Thirty
six miles offshore of the Belize mainland lie a group
of tropical islands cradled within a turquoise lagoon
and surrounded by a living coral reef. Glover's Reef
Atoll is considered to be one of the richest tropical
marine environments in the entire Caribbean Sea. Our private
island base of over 13 acres is perched on the southern
edge of the atoll with a dramatic view facing east over
the main reef crest and the open Caribbean Sea. Based from
our comfortable Basecamp we are fully equipped to
spend five and a half days sea kayaking and kayak sailing,
snorkeling, diving, and fishing. After
our adventures each day we like to reward ourselves
with a bounty of fresh seafood, island baking, tropical
fruits, and yes, even rich decadent deserts! Glover's
is ideal for those who wish to enjoy the comforts of
a well-appointed field camp yet want an active and flexible
day-to-day schedule.
A very well organized vacation; great suggestions to use Continental airlines - flights down and back were on time and good connections; guides adapted to weather, provided lots of options for activities each day, allowed us to make decisions about what we wanted to do, and provided alternatives each day; staff throughout the trip were very pleasant, and skilled at their jobs. I really appreciated their understanding of the information they shared with us and their obvious enthusiasm for their job.
Nancy Robinson and Andrew Tucker
Glover's Reef & River of Caves
Feb 28, 2010
Trip
Summary:
Begin
from: Belize City End in: Dangriga Duration: 7 Nights Trip Departures & Prices: See Trip Schedule at bottom of this
page Group Size: 6-20 Guides: 2-4 North American and Belizean guides
Accommodations: Tropical Education Center, Glover's Basecamp, Belize Biltmore Hotel.
Activities: Rainforest Hiking, Caving, River Float Trip, Rainforest Canopy Zip Lining, Sea Kayaking (Paddling & Sailing), Snorkeling, Scuba
Diving (optional - cost not included in trip price), Fishing,
Birding, Photography, Natural and Cultural
History Interpretation, and now Yoga!
New - Detailed trip itinerary
in
Google Maps & Google Earth!
Click on the map below to open a new window.
Then follow the trip elements along the left hand menu through the day to day details.
Trip
Route
Scuba
Divers... There are some great opportunities to scuba dive
at Glover's Reef. Optional diving is available for certified
divers on certain days of the trip. Single tank dives
are available from approximately $75US, with further discounts for
multi-tank dives. For first time divers we can offer
a Discover Scuba for a subsidized rate or you may be
able to take your Open Water Referral course. Please
let us know in advance. We can also arrange a variety
of dive packages before or after your trip. For further
information please contact our office.
Scuba
Diving Rates
BCD
and Reg. Rental
$15 US
Single
Tank Dive
$75
US
Two Dive Package with BC and Reg.
$125 US
Three Dive Package with BC and Reg.
$165 US
Blue Hole Park Fee
$30 US
Discover
Scuba...
Discover
Scuba Course
$150
US
I particularly liked the extra effort Sam made to recommend and book accommodations for us before our IE adventure began. The added touch of personal contact and emails were also greatly appreciated. I felt valued and in good hands as customer. Thank you
The kindness, generosity, and wholesome people of Belize is certainly what has touched me the most. The weather was great: hot, with a breeze at times and welcomed "cold front" at the conclusion of our expedition. Belize is a beautiful destination I plan to visit again in the future and will certainly recommend to friends and family.
Amanda Wirth-Pothier
Glover's Reef & River of Caves
Mar 7, 2010
The
Setting...
One
of three atolls offshore of Belize, Glover's Reef was
named after the pirate John Glover who used this remote
offshore ring of islands and coral reefs as a base from
which to raid Spanish merchant ships. The shallow waters
offshore of Belize with innumerable coral reefs, mangroves,
and small islands were ideal waters for pirates and
buccaneers to hide their raiding ships after plundering
Spanish galleons laden with riches destined for the
Old World. Today, the attractions found within the atoll
(20 miles long by 7 miles wide) are the clarity of the
water and the remarkable profusion of marine life. In
1993 the atoll was declared a marine park and 25%
of the area and lagoon was protected from fishing and
harvesting. To continue the conservation efforts to
preserve this extraordinary environment the site was
designated as a World
Heritage Site in 1996. We travel and explore this
area by sea-kayak, paddling and sailing the shallow
82 square mile lagoon with an unequaled variety of over
700 patch reefs. The reefs of Belize have long been
known as the richest in the Caribbean, and Glover's is
the best in Belize!
I learned more during this trip than in any week of my life before. I came for the snorkeling but got so much more. Your staff are phenomenal. Everything runs smoothly and the guides were knowledgeable and extremely fun to be around.You packed so much into the trip and yet I never felt like it was too much. Just have to figure out which trip to take next and who deserves to go with me! It was a privilege to experience Belize with Island Expeditions!
Sally Hare
Glover's Reef & River of Caves
Nov 30, 2009
Typical
Daily Itinerary:
"Loved the daily yoga with Heidi. She was a very encouraging teacher. We now do yoga at home because of our experience with you!"
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. Here we are able to explore the surrounding savannah forest through their network of interpretative trails and wildlife viewing platforms. There is also a great Interpretive Center which details the diverse ecology of Belize and is an ideal starting point for the adventure ahead. After checking into our rustic accommodations we are greeted with a Belizean dinner where we have a chance to meet our fellow travelers. 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 are included. Accommodation: Forest Cabanas Meals: Dinner
Day 1:Today begins with short drive along the Hummingbird Highway toward the River of Caves area of Belize. We begin with an interpretive trail through lush Rainforest to the cave entrance and then, using inner tubes, we embark on an enjoyable 2 hour float underground through a limestone cave system rich with classic formations including soda straw, flow stone, stalactite, and stalagmite. After lunch we head into the Rainforest Canopy for a unique opportunity to travel by a series of treetop platforms and zip-lines through the rainforest . In the evening we return to the Tropical Education Center to enjoy the evening in our beautiful tropical pine forest setting. After dinner we have a rare opportunity to have an exclusive nocturnal tour of the renowned Belize Zoo for an up close experience with the wildlife that inhabits the forests, wetlands, and mountains of Belize. (please note this activity is by donation to the Belize Zoo and Conservation - we suggest $10US) Accommodation: Forest Cabanas Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
2 - 6: We depart early in the morning by charter boat out past the main Barrier Reef to our private Basecamp at Southwest Caye on Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve. We are introduced to our new environment and get settled into our accommodation. Once settled, the guides provide instruction - teaching the fundamentals of sea kayaking, snorkeling, and safety in the tropics. Then we paddle out to a nearby patch reef and start to explore some of the 700 snorkel sites that Glover's Atoll has to offer.
Glover’s is one of only four atolls in the Caribbean Sea and is truly the most spectacular marine environment in Belize. Due to its isolation from the mainland, the waters are exceptionally clear with inspiring scenery and a fabulously rich reef system that offers the best kayaking, snorkeling, and diving in the Caribbean. We spend the days exploring the atoll with both single and double kayaks (rigged for sailing!). Our itinerary is flexible in order to respond to both group and individual desires and abilities. Activities include: sea kayaking, snorkeling the inner and outer walls of the reef, and learning to sail a kayak. In the mornings and the evenings we host informative sessions on a range of topics, providing an opportunity for guides to share their knowledge of Belize, the marine environments, and local culture. Perhaps a high stakes game of Hermit Crab racing to finish the day! If this all this sounds a little too busy you always have the choice of just kicking back in a hammock and relaxing with a good book and a cold drink. Accommodation: Tent-Walled Cabanas Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day
7:Many choose to rise early this morning, enjoy a coffee on the dock and, for the last time, watch the sunrise over the atoll before enjoying a hearty breakfast. Our boat charter departs mid-morning back to the mainland with an estimated arrival around noon. Trip finishes in Dangriga. Accommodation: N/A Meals: Breakfast, Packed Lunch
Important Travel Note: This trip ends in Dangriga late morning on the last day of the trip. If you are flying out of Belize on this day (Sunday), please be sure to book your flight departing Belize after 2pm. We can book you a domestic flight from Dangriga to the International Airport to coincide with your international flight. The cost is $75US per person. For those departing Belize the following day (Monday) we offer a Dangriga to Belize City Flight & Biltmore Hotel Package. Package Cost: Single - $139US, Double - $99US per person, Triple - $86US per person, Quad - $79.00US per person.
Island Expeditions can be listed as one of the great adventures! I will definitely repeat this trip but for a longer period. I appreciated the attentiveness during my booking and welcoming approach from the staff in Belize. Great job Island Expeditions!
Andrea Jantoska
Glover's Reef & River of Caves
Dec 21, 2011
Equipment...
For the inland portion of the trip all caving and zipline safety gear is provided. While at our Basecamp on Southwest Caye, guests have unrestricted use of the following equipment: Double Kayaks (outfitted with special sails), Single Kayaks, Sit-on-Top Dive Kayaks, Complete Research Library, Field Marine Lab including microscope and Hand Lenses, and Weather Station. On the island we are in communication with the mainland via VHF marine radio.
What's
Included...
All meals (fully catered) while you are at our Southwest Caye Basecamp
Unlimited use of our equipment and facilities
Professional guide and sports instruction
All accommodations including Lodge on 'Day 0'
Glover's Reef Marine Park fees of $15US per person
Belize 9% Hotel tax
12.5% Belize Sales tax
Cave Entrance Fees
Comprehensive Pre-trip Information Package
Financial Support for Conservation and Education programs in Belize
What's
Not Included...
Gratuities
Donation for Belize Zoo Tour
International flights and airport departure tax
Snorkeling or dive gear and scuba diving fees
Extra
costs due to late arrivals and other circumstances beyond
our control
Charter flight from Dangriga to Belize City after the trip
Never expected to dine so well! Better than some 4 star hotels we have been in. Can't say enough good things about the food! Loved the friendly attitude of all the cooks who were only too happy to explain what they were doing.
Roberta and Jim Hickey
Glover's Reef & River of Caves
Jan 10, 2010
Accommodation...
On Day 0 to 1 we spend the night at the Tropical Education Center. The Education Center has comfortable, rustic accommodations in a beautiful pine savannah setting. The Center has a fantastic interpretative center and harbors Belize's largest collection of tropical animals, with a great network of trails and wildlife viewing platforms, perfect for exploring this rare forest environment.
On Day 2 to 6 at Southwest Caye we are "base camping", sleeping in tent-walled cabanas. These spacious safari-style tents are have ample headroom to walk around and are on raised wooden floors with double or single beds. On the island we have a fully equipped kitchen, fresh-water collection system for drinking water, access to fresh-water showers, and modern composting toilets, We also have a large dining area, resource library and lounge.
On Day 7: This trip ends in Dangriga late morning on the last day of the trip. If you are flying out of Belize on this day (Sunday), please be sure to book your flight departing Belize after 2pm. We can book you a domestic flight from Dangriga to the International Airport to coincide with your international flight. The cost is $70US per person. For those departing Belize the following day (Monday) we offer a Dangriga to Belize City Flight & Biltmore Hotel Package. Package Cost: Single - $139US, Double - $99US per person, Triple - $86US per person, Quad - $79.00US per person.
A
Note About the Ecology...
Flora...
The Mesoamerican Coral reef stretches from Cancun, Mexico through Belize to Honduras. It is the largest reef in the western hemisphere and second largest in the world. In Belize this reef is a well formed wall and extends 185 miles (300
km) along the coastline. Nineteen miles seaward from the
eastern border of the Barrier Reef lies Belize's most
spectacular atoll - Glover's Reef. The oval shaped reef
walls of the atoll climb from the ocean floor and surround
a central lagoon. The surrounding reef is primarily made
up of two kinds of coral, the hard hydro-coral (reef-
forming coral), such as brain coral or elkhorn coral,
and the soft corals, such as sea-fans and feather plumes.
The sheltered lagoon at Glover's Reef harbors one of the
world's most diverse sea environments with an extensive community
of fish, shellfish, and patch reefs. One mile off the
eastern shore of the atoll the reef wall quickly drops
2600 feet to the ocean floor below. The interaction between
the deeper open waters of the Caribbean Sea and the sheltered
lagoons of the atoll results in a diversity and abundance
of marine life which is unsurpassed for sea kayaking,
snorkeling, and diving.
Fauna...
From our base on Southwest Caye we will have the
opportunity to view a diverse range of sea-life and tropical
birds. While exploring and snorkeling the atoll and the
many patch reefs there are opportunities to see grouper,
bonefish, angel and parrot fish, stingrays, eagle rays,conger,
moray eels, goatfish, just to name a few. Some of the
bird-life includes osprey (the Billy hawk), sea gulls,
brown-footed and white-footed boobies, frigate birds, hawks,
mangrove warblers, and white-crowned pigeons. Around the
atoll and the Barrier Reef there are nesting sites for
loggerhead, green, and hawksbill turtles. If we're lucky
we may see them while out snorkeling or kayaking. We will
definitely have a chance to see and sample the main staple
for Belizean fishermen, the queen conch and (in season)
the spiny lobster.
Getting
back to Belize City... This trip ends in Dangriga late morning on the last day of the trip. If you are flying out of Belize on this day (Sunday) we can book you a domestic flight to the International Airport. Please be sure to book your flight departing Belize after 2pm. Cost is $70US per person. For those departing Belize the following day (Monday) we offer a Dangriga to Belize City Flight & Biltmore Hotel Package. Package Cost: Single - $139US, Double - $99US per person, Triple - $86US per person, Quad - $79.00US per person.
Thinking
about seeing other parts of Belize with Island Expeditions Co.? The Glover's Reef and Mayan Caves combines well
with an inland adventure. The
Maya World Extension is a popular addition to the Glover's
trip. Explore the ancient world of the Mayan people and
the wildlife-rich habitats of the interior and enjoy a great opportunity to visit some of the ancient ruins of Belize and the Crooked Tree Bird Sanctuary. Or, experience both of Belize’s spectacular Atolls in one trip to Belize! The Lighthouse Reef trip itinerary takes you even further offshore on beautiful Half-moon Caye National Monument.
Thinking
About Traveling Independently, Before or After Your Trip? With over 25 years of exploration in Belize our very knowledgeable and experienced office staff can offer you a wealth of travel information to help you plan the best vacation possible! However, we do recommend that you read up on the country and find what interests you. Once you find an area of interest give our office a phone call.
Hey Teachers & Parents! Did you know Island Expeditions Co. has been operating custom educational trips for high schools and colleges for over a decade! For more information, please call our office. www.educationaltrips.org
What
about adding a 2 night weekend at Glovers Reef to other trips? Contact
us at 1-800-667-1630 for details.
Weekly
departures starting on
Sundays (Day 0) from Nov to April
2011 / 2012 Season
** Departing International flight reservations should be made for after 2:00pm on the last day of the trip (Departure Date). Hotel Packages are available for those departing on the Optional Fly Home Date.
Nov 20-11
*Nov 27-11*
Dec 04-11
Dec 11-11
Dec 18-11
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Jan 01-11
Jan 08-12
Jan 15-12
*Jan 22-12*
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*Feb 19-12*
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*Apr 08-12*
*Apr 15-12*
*Apr 22-12*
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*Nov 28-11*
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*Jan 29-12*
Feb 05-12
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*Feb 19-12*
*Feb 26-12*
Mar 04-12
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Apr 01-12
*Apr 15-12*
*Apr 22-12*
*Apr 29-12*
Nov 28-11
*Dec 05-11*
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*Jan 30-12*
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At
IEC we enjoy traveling with families. Children lend a refreshing
perspective to the experience which adults sometimes take
for granted. Knowing that travel budgets are especially important
we offer a price break to families with children. Not all
trips are suitable for younger children however, we find
age is not a definite restriction - rather the size and weight
of your children as well as their experience and ability are the main determining
factors in choosing which trip is right for your family.Click here for our Children's pricing policy...
With
Island Expeditions Co. a seven day trip means seven days in the field - not 2 days
of airline travel and 5 days of vacation. With the exception of our "short trips", on all IEC adventures we meet you
the day before the trip is scheduled to begin. This is "Day 0" and has
been conceived for your convenience and comfort. "Day 0" is your day
to arrive in Belize before the trip starts, meet your fellow travelers, and
acclimatize to your new tropical environment. From there, be it a short flight
or a boat charter, your transportation to meet up with your group on this day, your dinner,
and your accommodations on this night are included in the trip cost.
On the "short trips" we meet you on the day that trip begins at a pre-scheduled time and location coordinated by our sales and reservations office. Whether we meet you at the boat dock or in the lobby of a local hotel at a specific time, our reservation staff will make sure you have our contact information and appropriate rendezvous details. To see a list of IEC " short trips" simply click here to find out more information
Thirty
six miles offshore of the Belize mainland lie a group
of tropical islands cradled within a turquoise lagoon
and surrounded by a living coral reef. Glover's Reef
Atoll is considered to be one of the richest tropical
marine environments in the entire Caribbean Sea. Our private
island base of over 13 acres is perched on the southern
edge of the atoll with a dramatic view facing east over
the main reef crest and the open Caribbean Sea. Based from
our comfortable Basecamp we are fully equipped to
spend five and a half days sea kayaking and kayak sailing,
snorkeling, diving, and fishing. After
our adventures each day we like to reward ourselves
with a bounty of fresh seafood, island baking, tropical
fruits, and yes, even rich decadent deserts! Glover's
is ideal for those who wish to enjoy the comforts of
a well-appointed field camp yet want an active and flexible
day-to-day schedule. 
