Price
Sale
Share this with a friend
From
From Discovery and CruisingTo Advanced Mountaineering Expedition
Start with an inland adventure into the mystical realms of the ancient and modern Maya and explore the broadleaf tropical rainforest of Belize. We ascend the ancient Mayan city of Xunantunich and then descend into St. Herman's National Park and a cooling swim in Belize's inland Blue Hole. Then, we embark into a modern Maya village and learn about everyone's favourite treat, chocolate. We tour a cacao farm, and learn about the fruit, then the beans, and end up with a chocolate bar. We tour the seaside Garifuna fishing village of Hopkins and return to a guided hike in the Mayflower Bocawina National Park. After two days inland, we head out 60 km (38 mi) offshore to the turquoise water of Glover's Reef Atoll. Next, we spend 5 perfect days exploring the stunning beauty and extraordinary underwater world of the Glover's Reef Atoll Marine Reserve. Sea Kayaking, snorkeling, paddle boarding and a full range of activities led by Belize's finest guides. Delicious, fresh caught seafood, tropical fruits and local cuisine. Stay at a unique basecamp on Southwest Caye in safari style tents right on the water's edge.
Countries:
Start and Finishing Point:
Ladyville and Belize City
Activities:
Grading:Adventure touring
Addressing:
Expand all | Collapse all
Day 1
Arrival in Belize
Upon arriving at the International Airport, connect for a scenic 20 minute flight or a drive down the coastal highway to the coastal town of Dangriga and then by road to Bocawina Rainforest Lodge, the only lodge situated within a 7000 acre National Park. Tonight, we dine in the rainforest at the acclaimed Wild Fig restaurant. Accommodation: Bocawina Rainforest Lodge
Meals: D
Day 2
Mayan Ruins Visit; Hiking to El Castillo
We rise early to hit the beautiful Hummingbird Highway westward through the town of San Ignacio to the Mayan Ruins of Xunantunich. We tour the various plazas, ball courts and structures, ending with a climb to the top of El Castillo, overlooking the Guatemalan border. After a lunch in town, we return southward with a stop at St. Herman's Cave and inland Blue Hole National Park. After a guided hike into the cave and the jungle trail, we take a refreshing dip into the crystal clear swimming hole of Belize's inland Blue Hole. We return to the lodge for dinner. Accommodation: Bocawina Rainforest Lodge
Meals: B,L,D
Day 3
Cacao Farm Tour in a Mayan Village
Today, we rise to the sounds of birds and a guided bird walk on the property. After a nourishing breakfast, we take off for the day to see the chocolate maker in the village of Maya Center. We tour the cacao farm and learn the fascinating process to create chocolate from these tropical pods. We have a lunch in the village, and then drive down the winding roads of the village of Sittee. Here we find the village of Hopkins at the edge of the Caribbean sea. We stop to swim in the ocean and a chance to shop in some of the local shops of this beautiful Garifuna fishing village. We then return back to the lodge for dinner and orientation regarding the next day. Accommodation: Bocawina Rainforest Lodge
Day 4
Arrival at the Cayes of Glovers Reef Atoll
Bid farewell to the rainforest and welcome the turquoise waters of the Caribbean. Our motorboat charter takes us 58 km (36 mi) offshore to the sun-drenched cayes of Glovers Reef Atoll. We settle into our tent cabanas, then after lunch, guides provide professional instruction - teaching sea kayaking, snorkeling, and safety in tropical seas before heading out on the water. Accommodation: Glover's Reef Basecamp
Day 5
Snorkel and Kayak at Glovers Reef
Today, we rise with sounds of the crashing Caribbean Sea and seabirds overhead. We start the day with a hearty breakfast, and the first paddle to the local patch reef and dive into the crystal waters of Glover's Reef. As the guides swim us around the patch reef, we explore the kaleidoscope of fish and coral. We return to the camp for lunch. This afternoon, we paddle around the corner to the southern end of the island and snorkel the elkhorn coral patches on the edge of the reef crest. Returning to camp for a well deserved dinner. Accommodation: Glover's Reef Basecamp
Day 6
Kayak to Middle Caye, Visit with Fisheries Department
This morning, we rise with a full day of adventure ahead. We pack a lunch and start in the morning to paddle north along the western reef crest to Middle Caye, our neighbouring island and headquarters for numerous scientists and the Fisheries Department. We tour the island and facilities. After lunch on the end of their dock, we swim out to a patch reef. Upon returning to the dock, we rig the kayaks for sailing. We ride the wind all the way back down along the reef to camp. Returning to have some free time and a hearty dinner. Accommodation: Glover's Reef Basecamp
Day 7
Snorkelling and Dinner with Local Community
Today, if the weather conditions dictate gives us a change to snorkel the fore reef in front of camp. Return to camp for lunch and head out in the motor boat in the afternoon for motor boat fishing for tonight's dinner. First a dive for conch, and then jigging for bait fish, we then troll for larger species. We end the trip with a freshly caught dinner, a presentation on the Garifuna culture and dancing by the campfire. Accommodation: Glover's Reef Basecamp
Day 8
Departure from Belize
Our boat charter departs mid morning to take you back to the mainland. Your trip finishes in the Garifuna town of Dangriga, where our logistics and support staff will coordinate your air connections. A short flight back to Belize City will be coordinated with your international flight arrangements.
Meals: B
Life Below Water: Careful management of this essential global resource is a key feature of a sustainable future.
Good Health And Well-being: Ensuring healthy lives and promoting the well-being for all at all ages is essential to sustainable development.
World Expeditions Schools journeys are designed to encourage positive personal development and the learning of life skills, while leaving the communities and environments we travel to, in a better condition than when we arrived.The programs are designed to:• Build strong friendships and bonds with their peers, their teachers, and the local people they meet. • Increase the confidence to engage with new people, and collaboratively make informed decisions.• Discover the benefits of working cooperatively together as a cohesive team, to achieve a common objective.• Increase the ability to face, and cope with, mental and physical challenges and therefore increase resilience.• Give students a chance to appreciate and care for the natural world. The environments we travel through are beautiful and often pristine, invariably the students will gain a deeper appreciation and understanding about how their individual actions impact on the environment.• Learn personal skills i.e., time management, personal hygiene, responsibility for personal gear, patience, tolerance, and public speaking.We help encourage students to learn what it means to be a true global citizen.
What's included
What's not included
Our camp is situated on spectacular Half Moon Caye National Monument. Under a canopy of coconut trees and next to a fantastic littoral forest (unique in the cayes of belize), and red-footed boobie colony, our camp looks south over the endless carribbean sea. Our comfortable basecamp consists of a central pavillion, which acts as the social hub of camp. Here we eat our meals, learn for our island guides with morning talks on the local ecology and discuss the day's plan. The camp is powered by small generator in the evening and there are freshwater showers, modern compost toilets and propane powered refrigeration giving us all the comforts of a well-appointed field camp. Guests sleep in comfortable wall-tent cabanas with wooden floors, a wooden night stand with a kerosene lamp and outfitted with either single or double beds.
Bird’s Eye View Lodge is located along the famous Crooked Tree Lagoon and offers the best lodging options in this part of Belize. There are always exotic neotropical birds around the sanctuary and our sharp-eyed, professional guides know how to find them. The rooms are comfortable with ceiling fans, private shower and hot water. Some rooms may have access to the terrace where you can enjoy spectacular views of the Crooked Tree Lagoon.
Per Person, Twin Share
Since the 1980's, we have helped students from around the globe to experience the world's most exciting destinations, allowing them to travel, give, grow.
Together with students, we have completed over 400 Service Learning programs in developing countries. We will always continue to support causes including social justice, animal welfare, the environment and more.
Want to include service learning, your school curriculum and a physical challenge, or any of the above? Contact us and we can design a program fully catered for your students and budget.
Every school receives a detailed risk management plan that is guided by government advisories and the local partners we work with. We never compromise on the safety of your students to reduce the price of the program.
|
Our educational travel experts are ready to help you tailor an itinerary or service learning project to suit your school’s needs and budget. Contact us today to receive a free consultation.