Though not rigorous, IE trips can be physically challenging. Please remember that you are responsible for consulting a medical professional prior to trip departure regarding any health considerations you may have. An IE medical questionnaire must be completed prior to your trip departure. If you have a medical condition for which you are taking medications then a doctor’s signature may be required.
The following are recommendations for your protection. Please contact your local physician for specific advice.
Tetanus - A current tetanus inoculation is required to participate in any IE trip. Tetanus shots are usually good for ten years. If you are unsure of your last inoculation please check with your doctor.
Hepatitis A - We recommend a vaccination to protect you against Hepatitis A because you can get Hepatitis A through contaminated food or water, regardless of where you are eating or staying. Havrix* a series of two inoculations: the first covers you for a year and the second is administered a minimum of 6 months later and is good for up to 20 years. There is also another option which covers you for Hepatitis A & B, called Twinrix.
Typhoid & Polio - Consult with your physician about precautions and appropriate vaccinations. These are not considered a problem in Belize.
Malaria - When traveling in Belize, you should avoid mosquito bites to prevent malaria. Your exposure will depend on your travel plans, such as where you are going, when you are traveling, and if you are spending a lot of time outdoors or sleeping outside. For those participants on the Epic Belize, Maya World Extension, or Rainforest Canopy Extension, taking anti-malaria pills (Chloroquine) is an option. A program usually starts two weeks prior to the commencement of your trip and five weeks after you return home.
Dengue Fever - An illness transmitted by mosquitoes, with flu-like symptoms. It is becoming more prevalent in rural and even urban areas in the tropics. The most important preventative measures are to wear pants, socks, and a long sleeve shirt in the evening hours or early morning when mosquitoes are out. Also use liberal amounts of insect repellent on your clothes.
Zika Virus - Zika is a developing issue in South America. Cases have been identified on four continents. It has been detected in more than 20 countries in the Americas including the United States. Symptoms can include mild fever, rashes, conjunctivitis, muscle or joint pain, and general feeling of illness that begins 2-7 days after infection. Four out of five people who are infected have no symptoms at all.
Chikungunya - Is a viral infection transmitted to humans thought the bite of infected mosquitos. Travellers should take measures to prevent mosquito bites both indoors and outdoors, especially during the daytime. There is no preventative vaccine against Chikungunya.
Web Resources
USA - http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/clinician/none/belize
Canada - http://travel.gc.ca/destinations/belize#health
UK - https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/belize
Note: If you experience any unusual symptoms after returning home from your trip please call our office and let us know what’s happening as we may have information that will be helpful to you.
Traveling with a CPAP Machine
Most mainland accommodations in Belize will have 110V power in the rooms. We do not have power in our tent cabanas at our camps. If you are staying with us at Glover's or Lighthouse Reef Basecamps you will need to make arrangements with us in advance for an overnight power source to supply your CPAP machine. In our camps we can supply you with a 12 volt car style battery with standard terminal poles. During the trip, as needed, we will connect the battery to our solar array and charge it back up for the next evening.
Check your machines power supply for the technical specifications and the required voltage. Most CPAP machines operate in the 2 to 5 Amp range, or require at least 100W-200W capacity. If your system is not 12V you will need to bring an inverter to switch the current from 12V to 110V. These inverters range in price from $25 to $60 and vary in capacity. You will need to make sure you have the appropriate connections to attach your power supply to these 12V terminals using alligator clips.