Day 1 - Your trip begins in Belize City, Belize. A group transfer from the Belize City airport to our hotel will be arranged for trip participants arriving into Belize today. Dinner included.
 Day 2 - We rise early to start today’s extraordinary journey, which takes us deep into the Mayan underworld known as Xilbalba (shil-balba), a mythical realm inhabited by spirits and powerful gods, an underworld of untold fears and dreams where Mayan shaman, in supposition to the gods, ventured into darkness to conduct their secretive rituals. As we venture underground into the caves, we learn from our guides how the caves played an important role in the ancient Maya civilization and about ongoing archaeological research taking place underground in Belize.
Day 3 & 4 - After breakfast and a leisurely morning at our lodge, we connect with our motor charter that takes us offshore to our basecamp at Lighthouse Reef Atoll arriving in time for lunch. To begin, the guides provide instruction in the fundamentals of sea kayaking, snorkeling and safety in the tropics.
 Due to its isolation from the mainland, the waters of Lighthouse Reef Atoll are exceptionally clear with inspiring scenery and a fabulously rich reef system that offers some of the best kayaking, snorkeling and diving in the Caribbean. Over the next couple of 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, rusted landmark is one of many shipwrecks in the area that serve as a constant reminder of the hazards of navigating these waters. We also have ample opportunities to learn from our guides about the marine reef ecology and the island’s mangrove and interior forest habitat spread over the park’s 45 acres. Many species of birds nest on the island, including a colony of 4,000 red-footed boobies for which the Audubon Society has built a series of viewing platforms to intimately observe the many nesting sites. And, of course, we always have the option of hanging out in a hammock with a good book and a cold drink! All meals included.
 Day 4 - The "aquarium" is today’s big adventure. We pack a hearty lunch and our snorkel gear in our kayaks and paddle with motor support. This dive spot is known for its profusion of fish and towering coral formations. We return home, stopping at the Halfmoon Wall for a spectacular drift snorkel over the undersea cliff of the atoll. All meals included.
Day 5 - Today, we paddle along the protected waters of the southern reef to Long Caye where we have a chance to snorkel some of the atoll’s best patch reefs. After a full day of exploring, we return just in time for a wonderful seafood dinner prepared by our cooks. All meals included.
Day 6 - For our last morning 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 comb the beaches before the motor charter arrives for the return trip to the mainland. We transfer to the Birds Eye View Lodge in the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. All meals included.
 Day 7 - After a nice breakfast, the group departs for the Mayan Ruins of Lamanai. This day of exploration includes a complete guided tour, visiting the many temples, plazas, palaces and museums within the park boundaries.
Once we have a chance to tour the ruins, we depart Lamanai by boat for a scenic ride into the Crooked Tree area where we have tremendous birding and wildlife viewing opportunities; iguanas, parrots, toucans and even Morlette Crocodiles can be seen along the banks of the new River Lagoon. Overnight at Birds Eye View Lodge. All meals included.
Day 8 - An early morning coffee and binoculars in hand, we enjoy the waking wilderness and many hundreds of birds feeding along the shores of the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary Lagoons. The protected area was created in 1984 primarily to preserve resident and migratory birds, and consists of a network of inland lagoons, swamps and waterways that shelter one of the world's largest flying birds, the jabiru stork (jabiru mycteria.). After breakfast we have time to relax and gather our bags before departing to the Mayan site of Altun Ha, enroute to Belize City. Considered one of the major Mayan ceremonial centres of Belize, Altun Ha also functioned as an important trading center between the interior and the Caribbean during the classic period (250-900 A.D.) However, Altun Ha has been dated as far back as 600 B.C. Within the site, there are more than 275 structures and there are up to 250 to 300 unexcavated mounds. After we tour the site, we continue to Belize City to catch our flights home. |
Our
Trips in Brief
Glovers Reef & River of Caves
Coral Islands & Mayan Caves
Coral
Jaguar Expedition
Paradise
Islands
Maya
World Extension
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary – Located 33 miles northwest of Belize City and just 2 miles off the Northern Highway, the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary consists of a large network of inland lagoons, wetlands, and rivers. The sanctuary provides both the abundant food sources and the safe resting areas necessary to support a large and diverse population of birds. There are literally hundreds of species within the sanctuary, including, snail kites, tiger herons, snowy egrets, ospreys, black collared hawks, and the reserve’s most famous resident, the massive jabiru stork. The best time for viewing resident and migrant birds is December until May, during Belize’s dry-season. Those visiting in the later months of the dry season (Feb.- JMay.) are treated to a unique concentration of wildlife, which congregate in the park’s shrinking lagoons, as freshwater resources across the country dry-up.
