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Planning & Packing for Belize

Water, Facilities, Sunscreen & Plastics

Essential Information that you need to review prior to your departure

Essential Information that you need to review prior to your departure

Water + Facilities

Drinking

  • The water system in Belize is normally potable and safe to drink
  • Bring a re-usable water bottle and we will make drinking water available throughout your trip with us
  • Bottled water is also readily available throughout the country

Washing and Bathing

  • Fresh water is at a premium out on the Cayes, so conservation is very important
  • Most of the fresh water is from rain catchment systems 
  • Each place you stay will have slightly different water systems. Some places will have on-demand hot water and some will have water that's been warmed exclusively by the sun.
  • Everything we do from washing to cleaning is done in a way to conserve fresh water

Facilities

  • Many of the lodges we use have a mixture of ensuite and shared bathroom facilities 
  • Toilets on the islands are generally flushing
  • Island Expeditions basecamps use composting toilets with private stalls, running tap water, and private showers.
  • Island Expeditions Moho River Expedition uses low-impact pit toilets with thatch walls

Soaps, Shampoos, and Sunscreen

Soaps + Shampoo

  • Biodegradable soaps and shampoo are highly recommended as a way to help the delicate areas we operate in
  • There are many all-in-one solutions on the market. "Camp Suds" is a popular product
  • Our lodges and basecamps provide biodegradable hand-soap

Sunscreen

  • The use of buffs, neck gaiters, SPF clothing, sun hats, and rash guards is our first line of protection against the sun
  • Research has shown that certain sunscreen chemicals are harmful to a variety of marine and coral life
  • Biodegradable and "Reef Safe" sunscreen is mandatory. 
  • The best place to find these products are at outdoor stores like MEC, REI, and health food stores
  • Even "Reef Safe" can be misleading. Especially in the use of "nano particles" of otherwise safe ingridients 
  • The chemicals that you want to avoid are
    • Oxybenzone
    • Octinoxate
    • Nano-Zinc oxide (not to be confused with regular zinc oxide)
    • Nano- Titanium oxide
    • OD-PABA
    • Benzophenone-8
    • Benzophenone-1
    • Octocrylene
    • 4-Methylbenzylidene camphor
    • 3-Benzylidene camphor

Learn more about how sunscreen chemicals affect ocean ecosystems on the NOAA website.

Ocean Plastics and Marine Debris

  • The worlds oceans are full of plastic and marine debris. Belize is no exception
  • Wind and currents can cause excessive build up of sea-garbage along our beaches and shorelines
  • We do our best to clean it up as it comes in; however, this is a worldwide issue that is getting worse each year
  • Island Expeditions organizes clean up crews throughout the year to clean up the areas we operate in and beyond

Learn more about marine plastics and ocean debris on the NOAA website.