Maya World Extension

Upon arrival at the Belize International Airport, rendevouz with your driver and transfer north-west to Bird's Eye View Lodge in the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. Expect the drive to take approx. 30 minutes. This area is renowned for its extensive wetlands, and four main lagoons which are home to hundreds of species of birds and other fauna. After checking into your accommodations, we meet for dinner. This evening, explore the nearby Creole village of Crooked Tree (the local name of the cashew tree).

After breakfast, you will have a full day of exploration as you travel north by road, then west by river to the Mayan ruins of Lamanai. We travel down the New River by riverboat, making stops to view wildlife along the way. Iguanas, Parrots, Toucans, Aracaris, and Morelet's Crocodiles are frequently seen. Once we reach the shores of Lamanai you'll go on an extensive guided tour, visiting the many temples, plazas, palaces, and museums within the park. After lunch, we continue deeper into the abandoned colonial sugar mill. In the afternoon, we depart Lamanai by riverboat, and return to toast a spectacular sunset over the lagoon at Bird’s Eye View Lodge.

With an early morning coffee and binoculars in hand, enjoy the waking wilderness and hundreds of birds feeding along the shores of the Crooked Tree Lagoons. Created in 1984, the sanctuary was primarily established to preserve a network of inland lagoons, swamps, and waterways that shelter a huge population of resident and migratory birds, including the jabiru stork. After breakfast, enjoy a morning boat birding tour of the lagoons to add species to your bird list.

After lunch, you'll have time to relax and gather your bags before departing for the Mayan site of Altun Ha. Altun Ha dates back to 600 BC, where it functioned as an important ceremonial and trading center between the interior and central Maya people. Within this site are the remains of more than 275 archaeological structures and 250 to 300 un-excavated mounds.

We return to  Belize City at approximately 4 pm to to link up with your next IE trip and can also drop off at the Belize International Airport or the Belize Biltmore Hotel.

If you are flying home on day 3, the transfer time from Crooked Tree to the Belize International Airport can be coordinated to connect with your international flight. 

Travel Notes: If you are adding this trip extension to an existing IE trip, transportation will be arranged to one of the rendezvous points in Belize City. If you arrive late or leave early, we'll accommodate the activities in this itinerary.

Contact our Trip Planners for hotel reservations in Belize City, Flight & Hotel Packages or to extend your Belize itinerary by combining this trip with another Island Expeditions adventure or extension.