Water + Facilities
Drinking Water
- Bring a re-usable water bottle, which you can refill.
- Safe drinking water we will be supplied to you on your Island Expeditions trip.
- The water system in Belize is normally potable and safe to drink in large towns and cities.
- Bottled and bagged water is readily available to purchase throughout the country while you're on the road. Most hotel and facilities will have filtered water to refill your water bottle.
Washing and Bathing
Each place you stay will have slightly different water systems and rules.
- 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, 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
- Island lodges generally have flushing toilets, with some exceptions.
- Glover's and Lighthouse 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" and "Dr.Bronners" are both popular products.
- Our lodges and basecamps provide biodegradable hand-soap.
Sun & Sunscreen
Protection form the sun & sunscreen are important considerations for your trip.
- The use of buffs, neck gaiters, SPF clothing, sun hats, and rash guards is our first line of protection against the sun.
- Certain sunscreen chemicals are harmful to a variety of marine and coral life.
- Biodegradable and "Reef Safe" sunscreen is mandatory. Please check your other skincare products as well.
- 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 ingredients.
- 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-1 & Benzophenone-8
- Octocrylene
- 3-Benzylidene or 4-Methylbenzylidene camphors
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.