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Trip
Summary |
Begin
from: Belize City
End in: Belize City
Duration: 3 Days / 2 Nights
Trip Dates & Prices:See Trip Schedule at bottom of this
page
Group Size: 6-20
Guides: 2-4 Belizean Guides & North American Leaders.
Accommodation: 2 nights Halfmoon Caye Basecamp (tent-walled Cabanas)
Activities: sea kayaking instruction (first-time to advanced),
sea kayak sailing,
snorkeling, beaches and swimming,
inter-tidal exploration, reef and mangrove ecology,
sport fishing
history, optional scuba diving, beachcombing, and cultures of Belize
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Trip Route |
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Lighthouse Reef Short - 3 Days / 2 Nights
A jewel of white sand cayes encircling Belize's richest Coral Reefs
The Setting…
Our Journey to Lighthouse Atoll takes us 60 miles offshore to Belize’s most remote
and spectacular atoll. On our way to Lighthouse we weave our way through channels and
picturesque islands within Belize’s Barrier Reef. Then, after crossing the reef wall, we enter a
keyhole passage and wind through narrow mangrove-lined channels to reach the eastern
Coral Wall of Turneffe Atoll and then continue another 20 miles to the world renowned
Lighthouse Reef Atoll and Half Moon Caye. One of only four coral atolls in the Caribbean,
Lighthouse is home to the famous Blue Hole. In 1972 Capt. Jacques Cousteau and the intrepid
crew of the Calypso explored and filmed this incredible atoll, exposing its amazing
underwater diversity to the world for the first time.
In partnership with the Belize Audubon Society Island Expeditions Co. has established
an Adventure Camp within the Half Moon Caye Marine Reserve, opening up for the
first time this spectacular wilderness to kayakers, snorkelers, and adventurers. |
"For my family this was a special trip. It was much more than an organized tour, it was truly an eco-adventure on an island close to paradise. What was most special was the warmth and sense of family. Truly extraordinary - one of our best trips ever - right down to the surprise birthday cake made by philip!"
Susan Ormiston
Lighthouse Reef
Mar 18, 2009
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Typical Daily Itinerary:
Day 1: We meet at the lobby of the Belize Biltmore Plaza at 8:00am and transfer to our motor charter at 9:00am. Then we travel through white sand cayes and mangrove ranges, through the heart of Turneffe Atoll and
past the main Barrier Reef to Lighthouse Reef Atoll at the furthest edge of the Belize
Reef System, 60miles offshore of the mainland. On reaching Halfmoon Caye your guide
team will orient you to our new island setting and settle you into your accommodations
and camp, after which you enjoy your first lunch on the island. To begin our activities
the guides provide instruction - teaching the fundamentals of sea kayaking, snorkeling, and
water safety on the sea.
Accommodation: Half-moon Basecamp Meals: L, D
Day 2: Perhaps an early swim or participate in a sunrise yoga session with
our resident yoga instructors (yoga is not available on all departures - please check our
website or call the office for a current schedule of trips with yoga instructors). After a
healthy Belizean breakfast we gather to plan the day's activities. From this point we venture forth into a world that most of us
can only dream of; turquoise waters, solitary beaches and a remarkable abundance of
marine life surrounds us wherever we are. Over the next few days we have many options to explore, including a shipwreck that looms just north of the caye. In 1971, a ship named the Ermlund lost
power during a storm and was deposited on the reef by a large wave. This 4000 ton wreck sits silent as Due to it’s isolation
from the mainland, the waters of Lighthouse Reef Atoll are exceptionally clear with a fabulously rich reef system
that offers some of the best kayaking, snorkeling and diving in the Caribbean.
Accommodation: Half-moon Basecamp Meals: B, L, D |
Day 3: For our last day at Lighthouse, the choice is yours. Don a mask, snorkel, and fins for a visit to a favorite patch reef, enjoy walking the island trails, or beachcomb along the island beaches. After our afternoon activities our motor charter arrives to pick us up for the return boat trip back to the mainland. We transfer to the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel where the trip finishes.
Meals: B, L
*NOTE: Due to the remoteness of the Lighthouse Basecamp the activities on the reef portion of this trip are weather dependent and the following itinerary is a ’guide’ and will remain flexible and open to changes at the trip leaders’ discretion. |
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Scuba Divers...
There are some great opportunities to dive at Lighthouse Reef. Optional diving is available for certified divers on certain days of the trip. Single tank dives are available. Please let us know in advance if you are considering diving during the trip as we often need to make special arrangements in advance. We can also arrange a variety of dive packages before or after your trip. For further information please contact our office.
Equipment...
While at our private Basecamp on Half-Moon Caye our guests have unrestricted use of the following equipment: Double Kayaks (outfitted with special sails), Single Kayaks, Complete Research Library, and Field Marine Lab and Weather Station. On the island we are in communication with the mainland via Satellite phone.
What's Included...
- All meals (fully catered) while you are at our Half Moon Caye Basecamp
- Unlimited use of our equipment and facilities
- Professional guide and sports instruction services with
- Belizean and North American leaders
- Accommodations described in the itinerary
- Half-moon Caye Marine Park user fee
- Comprehensive Pre-trip Information Package
- Financial Support for Conservation and Education
programs in Belize
- 12.5% Belize Sales Tax
What's Not Included...
- Gratuities
- International Flights & Airport Departure Tax
- Snorkeling or Dive Gear & Scuba Diving fees
- Extra costs due to late arrivals and other circumstances beyond our control
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Accommodation…
We are "base camping" - sleeping in tent-walled cabanas. These spacious safari-style tents have ample headroom to walk around and are on raised wooden floors with double or single beds.
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3
Days / 2 Nights |
$60 Off - Now $499.00
incl $95 Gov't Fees & Taxes
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Day
1 -
Trip Start Date |
Day
3 -
Trip End Date
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16-Dec-11
28-Jan-12
11-Feb-12
*25-Feb-12*
*10-Mar-12*
24-Mar-12
*07-Apr-12*
21-Apr-12
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18-Dec-11
30-Jan-12
13-Feb-12
*25-Feb-12*
*12-Mar-12*
26-Mar-12
*09-Apr-12*
23-Apr-12
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Family Travel
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 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...
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