Itinerary
- Day 1
Belize City to Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary
You'll arrive in Belize and head to Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, which gets its name from the crooked cashew trees scattered around the lagoon. Around 6pm you'll meet your tour leader and other travelers for the first time. Your leader welcomes everyone with dinner at the hotel.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner at hotel)
Included Activities
- Welcome dinner at hotel
Optional Activities
- Pre-tour hotel nights available for early arrival
Landmarks/POIs Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary - Day 2
Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary
Bird songs wake you up in the morning. You'll join your guide on the on-site hiking trails to look for birds and wildlife. The wetland areas here have around 286 bird species including the famous migratory jabiru stork, plus crocodiles, monkeys, otters and freshwater turtles. After lunch back at the lodge, you'll take a three-hour guided sunset boat trip on the lagoon to spot migratory birds and resident species.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided hiking trail exploration
- Three-hour guided sunset boat trip on lagoon
Landmarks/POIs Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary - Day 3
Crooked Tree to Lamanai
You'll take a boat to the Mayan temple of Lamanai (meaning Submerged Crocodile) on the shores of the New River Lagoon. It's the largest Mayan ceremonial site in the region with more than 800 structures deep in the jungle. You'll climb the High Temple 125ft/38m to the top for views of the complex. During the cruise, your guide points out resident bird species, spider monkeys and crocodiles.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Lamanai
- Guided exploration of Lamanai site
- Ascent of High Temple
Landmarks/POIs Lamanai High Temple, Lamanai - Day 4
Lamanai to San Ignacio
Heading west to San Ignacio, you'll stop at the Community Baboon Sanctuary, a grassroots conservation project protecting endangered black howler monkeys. The reserve has an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 resident monkeys. After a short river ford and hike, you'll float down the Caves Branch River through caves in an inflatable tube. Your local guide talks about ancient Mayan beliefs regarding life after death. You'll finish the day in San Ignacio, a laid-back multicultural town.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit to Community Baboon Sanctuary
- Guided river float through Caves Branch River caves
- Local guide interpretation of Mayan underworld mythology
Landmarks/POIs Community Baboon Sanctuary Caves Branch River - Day 5
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve
You'll check out the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, established in 1944 to protect the unique Caribbean pine forest habitat. On a nature walk you'll see the Rio Frio Cave, whose entrance is 65ft/20m tall and opens into an immense chamber. After a picnic lunch overlooking the Rio on Pools with its mini-waterfalls and granite pools, you'll swim to cool off. Later you'll visit a Butterfly Farm and then learn about craft coffee using Mayan harvesting and preparation techniques.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Picnic lunch overlooking Rio on Pools)
Included Activities
- Nature walk to Rio Frio Cave
- Picnic lunch at Rio on Pools
- Swimming in Rio on Pools
- Visit to Butterfly Farm
- Craft coffee experience with Mayan techniques
Landmarks/POIs Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve Rio Frio Cave Rio on Pools - Day 6
San Ignacio
This is your free day to enjoy San Ignacio and the surrounding area at your own pace. You can relax, explore the town, or take one of several optional activities. The resort has a pool and hill-top views overlooking the river valley.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Actun Tunichil Muknal cave tour (ATM) - full-day cave tour viewing the Crystal Maiden
- Chocolate tour
- Walk amid the Mayan ruins at Cahal Pech
Landmarks/POIs Cahal Pech Actun Tunichil Muknal - Day 7
San Ignacio to Tikal, Guatemala
You'll visit Xunantunich, one of the most important Maya sites in Belize, with six major plazas surrounded by more than 25 temples and palaces. Climbing the largest pyramid, El Castillo, rises 130ft/40m above the main plaza and gives impressive panoramic views over the Mopan River valley and into Guatemala. You'll cross into Guatemala where you meet a local guide and driver for the transfer to Tikal Jungle Lodge.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided exploration of Xunantunich
- Ascent of El Castillo pyramid
Landmarks/POIs Xunantunich El Castillo, Xunantunich - Day 8
Tikal
Rising early, you'll enjoy a sunrise tour of UNESCO-listed Tikal, nearly 20 square miles of classic ruins surrounded by dense jungle. You'll visit main temples, palaces, squares, tombs and religious monuments. The area once supported 90,000 Mayans at its peak with some 3,000 separate buildings. Tikal is great for jungle wildlife, where you'll regularly see howler monkeys, spider monkeys, toucans, weaver birds and coatimundis. After a full morning with your guide, you'll have lunch and return to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Early sunrise tour of Tikal ruins
- Guided exploration of temples, palaces, squares, tombs, residences and religious monuments
Landmarks/POIs Tikal Tikal National Park - Day 9
Tikal to Caye Caulker
You're leaving Guatemala and heading back to Belize City. You'll visit Travellers Liquors (home of the One Barrel Rum) for a heritage center lesson on rum-making, including the bottling process, product sampling and Belizean cocktail-making tips. From there you'll head to the Belize City water taxi station and take a high-speed boat to Caye Caulker, a Caribbean island home to the delicate coral of the Belize Barrier Reef teeming with tropical fish, manatees and turtles.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Rum heritage centre tour at Travellers Liquors
- Rum product sampling and Belizean cocktail-making demonstration
Optional Activities
- Rum purchasing (vintage-edition)
- Sea-view room upgrade
Landmarks/POIs Belize Barrier Reef Caye Caulker - Day 10
Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Just off the southern part of Ambergris Caye is the Hol Chan Marine Reserve (meaning Little Channel in Mayan), a few minutes' boat ride from Caye Caulker. This important marine habitat provides refuge for huge numbers of fish, coral, sea turtle species and West Indian manatees. You'll join a full-day snorkeling tour to see a wide selection of marine life. Bring your waterproof camera.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Full-day snorkelling tour in Hol Chan Marine Reserve
- Visit to Shark Ray Alley
Landmarks/POIs Hol Chan Marine Reserve Shark Ray Alley - Day 11
Caye Caulker
You have a free day to enjoy the laid-back spirit of Caye Caulker at your own pace. Relax by the pool or beach, take a stroll to explore the charming island town, or use the free paddleboards and kayaks from the hotel. Don't forget to grab a cold drink and watch the sun set on your Belizean adventure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Free use of paddleboards
- Free use of kayaks
Landmarks/POIs Caye Caulker - Day 12
Caye Caulker to Belize City
You'll say goodbye to island paradise and return to Belize City by water taxi to begin your return journey home. Your tour concludes here, though you can arrange to extend your stay in Caye Caulker with your sales representative if you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Extended stay in Caye Caulker
