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Wild South - 5 Days / 6 Nights:

"one of the greatest trips I have ever been on; Island Expeditions did an incredible job putting this trip together"
Brian Goldstein - January, 2001

 For the adventurer, the Wild South of Belize offers an opportunity to explore one of the last remaining undisturbed rainforests in all of Central America.  Our journey begins by charter plane from Belize City, flying the length of the country over a mosaic of mountains, rivers and rainforests before landing in the small southern town of Punta Gorda.

From here we travel into the Maya Mountains and for the next two days are based from our jungle lodge within the Blue Creek Wildlife Sanctuary.  We are located in the heart of Belize's richest primary forests - an area far off the tourist path, considered the homeland of the Kekchi and Mopan Maya.  Within the Sanctuary is a unique canopy walkway which enables us to walk through the treetops, over 80 feet above the forest floor.  In the surrounding jungle are the Hokeb Ha Caves, with fantastic flowstone formations, delicate cave pearls, and translucent draperies of calcium carbonate. Here we gain a sense of why the caves were held sacred by the Maya as a gateway to the netherworld.  The next stage of our journey takes us deeper into the wilderness. Using inflatable kayaks, we spend 3 days on the upper Moho River. Traveling on the river through the rainforest in the wild south of Belize is an experience to remember and talk of for years to come.

Trip Description...


Begin from:
Belize City
End in: Belize City
Duration: 5 Days / 6 Nights
Cost: $1299 USD (For Canadian dollar pricing please call)
Trip departures: See Trip Schedule at bottom of page

Group Size:
6-14
Guides: 2-3 North American & Belizean Leaders.

Activities:

  1. Hiking
  2. Caving
  3. Mayan Ruins Exploration
  4. Rainforest Sky Walk
  5. River Travel
  6. Whitewater
  7. Birding
  8. Photography
  9. Natural History Interpretation

Accommodations: Field Camp, Camping, Lodge/ Biltmore Hotel


" Selected as one of the top adventure trips in the world by Outside Magazine in 1997. "

The Setting...

  Where the roads end in Belize, we continue with packhorse and inflatable river kayaks to gain access to the most spectacular regions of the country. Primary high canopy rainforests, unique riverine environments, extensive networks of caves and hidden Mayan ruins are just a few of the treasures found off the beaten path.
  We fly from Belize City to the staging area of the trip to keep the travel time to a minimum. This adventure begins with a unique opportunity to walk, high above the forest floor, amongst the rainforest canopy on Belize's only suspended walkway, at the Blue Creek Wildlife Sanctuary. From this same point we have the opportunity to explore the cathedral-like caves of the Hokeb Hah Caves. Our local Mayan Guides, introduce us to this dark-as-night underworld, revealing to us beautiful caverns, arches and sink holes. From this point, we begin Belize's only multi-day whitewater paddle on the spectacular Moho River. We are using two- person inflatable kayaks which offer superior stability and ease of handling and are a great way to explore this pristine rainforest. Traveling the full length of a river from source to finish gives us complete immersion in the life-cycle of this diverse environment. Our adventure combines an exciting and challenging river-run with a rich cultural experience. We travel into the heartland of the Maya people with Kekchi and Mopan Mayan Guides. Here, we have a rare opportunity to experience both ancient ruins and their contemporary village life.

A Note About the Ecology...

Flora...
  We begin our trip into the inland of southern Belize, immersing ourselves into the magical world of the tropical rainforest. The broadleaf rainforest, covers approximately 70% of Belize's wooded area. The year-round grow season, huge amounts of moisture, and generations of evolution have yielded this area with the most complex and diverse range of plant-life. The forest floor is a spongy mass of roots, fungi, bacteria and microorganisms, which is broken down with the assistance of insects and chemical decay. Each plant fulfills its own ecological niche, as the continuous recycling of the decayed plant matter fuels new growth. This rich soil, in turn, feeds the diverse range of plantlife, from the huge buttressed trunks of the Ceiba trees to the smallest of fungi. High above the forest floor is the enchanted world of the broadleaf canopy. This system has its own unique infrastructure, which supports the forest's bird life and a diverse range of mammals. The canopy ranges from the tree tops of Cecropias and Gumbo Limbo trees to the many species of Epiphytes (air plants). This complex and diverse plant and animal life produces powerful biological compounds that are just recently being discovered and understood by the scientific community.

Fauna...
  While traveling in the remote regions of Belize's southern rainforest, we have great opportunities to view all sorts of animals. Whether we are catching a glimpse from a spiny-tailed iguana perched on a tree branch, or get startled by the tiny red-eyed tree frog jumping from limb to limb, we are totally immersed in a strange and wonderful world. We will more than likely get a visit or two from Toucans, sitting high above us and watching our every move, or a flash of the Scarlet Macaw, with its beautiful plumage. There are also an assortment of raptors, falcons, and hawks that are scavenging and hunting the rich forest floor. There are also a number of unique mammals in the southern Belizean rainforest, the largest being Belize's national animal, the Baird's Tapir, or Mountain Cow. This is an animal unique to the tropical rainforest with a large pig-like body and a long prehensile snout, much like an aardvark. The tapir, along with the white-lipped peccary, the jaguar, and the puma are some of the larger mammals unique to the area.

Typical Daily Itinerary:

   Day 0 : Arrive at the Belize International Airport where you will be met by an Island Expeditions representative and transferred to the staging area of the trip. This day is your day to arrive before the trip starts, meet your fellow travelers and acclimatize to your new tropical environment.
Accommodation: (Lodge/Hotel)
Meals: Dinner is not included on this Day

   Day 1 :With an early start to the day, our adventure begins with a drive south along the Hummingbird Highway through the savannah and into the rainforest of the Maya Mountains. Before lunch, we embark on an exploratory trip into the Tiger Hill Cave system. Our guide takes us deep into the ceremonial caves of the ancient Maya giving us insight into practices and the cultural significance of the dark underworld. Our trip continues along the Hummingbird Highway to the coastal town of Dangriga, to catch a plane to the southern village of Punta Gorda. During the flight we gain a spectacular vista of the country - to the east, the turquoise waters of teh Caribbean and to the west, the expansive wilderness of the Maya Mountains unfold beneath us. The far south of Belize is a region of isolated villages lying amongst a tropical wilderness. This is Mayan country, the homeland of the Kekchi Maya. We are surrounded by pristine rainforest with clear, cool natural swimming pools at our doorstep.

Accommodation : (Lodge)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Day 2 : We begin the day exploring in and around the Blue Creek Sanctuary. We climb into the tree tops along the Canopy Walkway. This walkway (constructed by the Jason Foundation for Education), is secured by stainless steel cables some 90 ft above the forest floor. The canopy is a very different environment from the forest floor below, up here you can feel cool breezes and hear the rustling of the leaves, see epiphytes (air plants) and insects that are rarely, if ever viewed from the forest floor. While half the group is up in the canopy, the others follow Blue Creek upstream into the cathedral-like opening of the Hokeb Ha Cave. Our guides, from the village of Blue Creek, know the caves better than any, and lead us through a network of large caverns connected by narrow passageways; each turn revealing new chambers and intricate flowstone formations. After lunch, we transfer through Blue Creek Village to the river put-in. Using two-person inflatable kayaks we begin our river and rainforest journey into one of the most spectacular watersheds in Belize. We begin by traveling slowly, learning different paddle strokes and getting a feel of how the boats handle. On this, our first day on the water, we take as much time as we need practising and learning new boat handling skills that will enable us to safely navigate the rapids and pour-overs we will encounter further downstream. Our first camp on the river is only a couple of miles from the starting point.

Accommodation: (Camping)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Di nner

   Day 3-4 : For the next days we break contact completely with the outside world and become a part of the mist-shrouded rainforest following the Moho River as it flows through canyons and lush rainforest. Each bend reveals the dynamic nature of the river - from calm, meandering waters that reflect the intense green of the jungle, to stretches of rapids, pour-overs and spectacular waterfalls as the river descends from the Maya Mountains to the sea. Depending on water levels, some days we may reach our bush-camp by mid-afternoon and switch to land based activities. Hiking through the forest, birding, plant and animal identification are some of the activities we engage in. During the trip with our Mayan guides and North American leaders, we are emphasizing the ecology of the rainforest. We are learning about the habits of the wildlife and gaining an appreciation for the rich Mayan folklore, which adds so much color to our experience in the jungle.
Accommodation: (Camping)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Day 6 : On this, our last day on the river, after dropping into the last few pools and navigating the last of the rapids, we reach our takeout at Big Creek. We complete our adventure with a visit to the nearby Mayan ruins at Lubaantun. This ancient city is unique within the Mayan world in that the temples were built without mortar; using thousands of masterfully carved and fitted stones. This site is also home to the controversial finding of the "crystal skull". Froom here, we return to Punta Gorda to a well-deserved shower and evening festivities. For those returning home, a fllight is included to Belize City on the following morning. For those continuing with a sea kayaking adventure we will be traveling to Dangriga to meet up with the rest of the group.

Accommodation: (Lodge / Hotel - Punta Gorda or Belize City)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner is not included on this day .

Note:
  This is one of our most adventurous trips. It takes place in a remote wilderness region of Belize. Participants need to be in good physical condition and ready to handle the unexpected. Weather conditions can greatly affect water levels and hiking trails into the river and may increase the level of difficulty. We also believe that the remoteness and variability of conditions are what make this trip the best of its kind in Belize. Trip itineraries may vary significantly depending on water levels.

What's Included...

  1. All meals, accommodation, and transfers described in the tour
  2. Unlimited use of our Equipment
  3. Use of waterproof bags for the river portion of the trip
  4. Accommodation on the day before the trip ('Day 0') and the night after the trip ends
  5. Professional Guiding Services (both North American Leaders and Local Guides)
  6. Transportation back to Belize City after the trip

What's Not Included...

  1. Meal on 'Day 0'
  2. Alcoholic Beverages
  3. Gratuities
  4. International Flights and Airport Departure Tax
  5. Personal Equipment
  6. Extra costs due to late arrivals, lost baggage and other circumstances beyond our control

Accommodation...
  On ' Day 0 ', we will be spending the night at the Tropical Education Center, approximately an hour outside of Belize City. The Education Center has comfortable, rustic accommodation in a beautiful pine savannah setting. The Center has a fantastic interpretative center and harbors Belize's largest collection of tropical animal specimens with a great network of cut trails and wildlife viewing platforms, perfect for exploring this rare forest environment.

  On Day 1 , we will be spending the night at the Blue Creek Wildlife Sanctuary, located in the foothills of the Maya Mountains. The accommodation consists of a number of small cabins and a central dining, and meeting area, built along the banks of Blue Creek. Although our accommodations in the jungle are rustic, our location is superb. This is a great jumping off point for adventure as we have easy access to the Rainforest Canopy Walkway, the Hokeb Ha cave system, and the Mayan ruins of Lubaantun.

  On Days 2 to 4 , we will be camping in the remote wilderness of the Toledo District. We are practicing minimum impact camping, to ensure the pristine state of the wilderness remains for future visitors. We will be keeping our weight and volume to a minimum, carrying our gear in our kayaks from site to site. We will be staying in three-person Walrus Zia tents, which provide more than enough room for two people and our gear. As we travel down the river, we use pre-determined camping areas to minimize our impact on the forest floor. However, we also give ourselves some flexibility to adjust our schedule to different conditions.

  The final night of the trip is spent in the village of Punta Gorda, at the Sea Front Inn. This is a clean and comfortable hotel onthe waterfront in Punta Gorda. Here, we have the comforts of air conditioning and a private bathroom and shower. This is a great place to end our adventure, in preparation for your journey home or a great staging point to discover other parts of Belize.

Thinking about seeing other parts of Belize with Island Expeditions Co?
  The Wild South combines very well with a trip exploring the Barrier Reef and atolls. The Glovers Reef & River of Caves gives you a flexible itinerary, with a "luxury" base-camp, from which you will explore the atoll. The Coral Islands & Mayan Caves, offers a 7 day classic sea kayaking tour, traveling from cay to cay, exploring the many patch reefs and the inner and outer walls of the barrier reef. Or, travel inland to Guatemala, with the Tikal Extension, where we visit one of the world's largest excavated Mayan ruins site.

Thinking About Traveling Independently, Before or After Your Trip?
  With almost two decades of exploration in Belize, our knowledgeable office staff can offer you a wealth of travel information. However, we do recommend that you read up on Belize and find what interests you. Once you find an area of interest, give our office a call, and we can help you plan the best vacation possible!


5 Days / 6 Nights
$1299.00USD
*Canadians Call for Pricing*
2002 / 2003 Season
Day 0 -
Arrival Date
Day 1 -
Trip Start Date
Day 5 -
Trip End Date
Day 6 -
Fly Home Date
Please call 1-800-667-1630 for availabiltiy

When Planning Your Trip...Think of "Day 0"
  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. So 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 to 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 and your accommodation on this night are included in the trip cost.

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