Belize Naturally

4 nts Cayo District, 3 nts Toledo, 3 nts South Water Caye

Overview

This 10 day Belize Itinerary is ideal for travellers looking to immerse themselves in Belizean nature and culture starting with with a stay at a family run jungle lodge in the Cayo district where observing the array of brightly coloured birds in the gardens will slow your pulse and ease you into your trip. Visit remote mayan ruins deep in the rainforest, hike into ancient caves once used by the maya and visit a women's coop in the nearby village.

Then transfer to the less visited southern Toledo region of Belize to another beautiful, relaxing lodge on the edge of a river. Visit the local market, do some birdwatching with a guide and try your hand at Garifuna drumming. Optional excursions could include visiting waterfalls, less visited mayan ruins with giant stelae, or a mayan cultural experience.

Finally unwind on the idyllic island of South Water Caye which sits atop the Belize barrier reef, staying in simple wooden cabanas, and enjoy home cooked food, watch the pelicans dive and relax in a hammock under a palm tree. Snorkel the barrier reef from the shore or enjoy some nearby patch reefs by boat. For birdwatchers you can arrange a visit to nearby Man O' War caye, a bird sanctuary that is home to boobies and frigate birds.

Is this itinerary for you? Do you want to immerse yourself in the nature and culture of areas you are visiting, staying in locally owned or managed lodges that are located in nature, and have simple accommodation but with private bathrooms. The itinerary also visits some of well known Belizean highlights, but also more off the beaten track sights and engages with local community through authentic cultural activities. If this sounds like the trip you are looking for, please contact us to check availability and tailor to your requirements.

Price Guide

10 nights from £3,745 per person based on Double occupancy

These prices are excluding international flights. Average flight prices vary depending on time of year and can be considerably more expensive at peak times (Christmas, Easter, Summer). Flight routes vary, please contact us for accurate flight pricing for your timings and place of departure.

Call for specialist advice

020 8274 8510

Day to Day

Below is an example day by day itinerary

Day 1

Arrive in Belize City and transfer to Crystal Paradise Resort in the Cayo district, close to Cristo Rey village. Enjoy a guided night hike around the grounds of the lodge (D).

Day 2

Full day tour to Caracol Mayan Ruins deep in the protected Chiquibul rainforest reserve, home to the Caana temple which is still the highest manmade structure in Belize. Observe the ancient mayan ball court, temples and learn the stories and secrets of this fascinating culture whilst keeping an eye out for birds of prey, toucans, howler monkeys and more. Stop at the Rio Frio Cave and Rio On pools that you can take a dip in. Overnight Crystal Paradise (BLD).

Day 3

Visit the San Antonio Women's cooperative were the women still make ceramics by hand, and have a try at making your own ceramic, then help prepare your lunch by making your own tortillas on a traditional fire hearth. After lunch have a guided hike on the Macal river before returning to the lodge. Overnight Crystal Paradise Resort (BLD).

Day 4

Step back in time by visiting the sacred ATM Cave (Actun Tunichil Muknal), to get to the cave you need to follow your guide across streams, through the jungle and swim across a small pool of water to the hourglass entrance to the cave. Then clamber over rocks through the cave by torch light until you reach the sacred cavern where you will witness broken pots and a sacrificial skeleton, all left has originally found. This is a physical tour. Alternatives include canoeing into Barton Creek Cave, a more gentle tour. Overnight Crystal Paradise Resort (BLD).

Day 5

Transfer along the Hummingbird Highway, then the Southern Highway to the less visited but beautifully lush Toledo region of Belize. Overnight Tanager Rainforest Lodge (BD).

Day 6

Enjoy a day birdwatching with a guide at some hotspot places in the region where you may see species such as tanagers, motmots, hummingbirds, antshrikes, parrots, toucans, euphonias and many more. Alternatively visit the smaller but culturally significant maya sites of Nim Li Punit (large stelae are found at this rainforest immersed site) and Lubaantun, an interesting site that has temples with very precise rounded corners, doorless pyramids and multiple ball courts and close to mayan villages. Overnight at Tanager Rainforest Lodge (BLD).

Day 7

Visit Punta Gorda market an opportunity to experience the fruit, vegetable and fish markets as well as visit the Cotton Tree chocolate factory for a complimentary tour of their small production facility for chocolate made from locally grown Cacao. Also check out the local crafts and stalls run by Guatemalan traders. Overnight Tanager Rainforest Lodge (BLD).

Day 8

Transfer by air-conditioned vehicle to Dangriga town to take a boat to the island of South Water Caye which sits on the Belize Barrier Reef. The small island has a few small resorts on it, and is a barefoot sand island dotted with palm trees. You will be staying at Pelican Beach resort which has simple wooden cabanas with small decks looking out to the sea. You can snorkel from the beach, relax in a hammock or take the kayaks for a paddle around the island. Overnight Pelican Beach (BLD).

Day 9

Guided boat trip to nearby patch reef to snorkel. You may see sergeant majors, french grunts, southern stingrays, spotted eagle rays, moray eels, snapper, angelfish and many more Caribbean reef fish. There are also many corals such as purple sea fans, brain coral and stag coral. Overnight Pelican Beach (BLD).

Day 10

Day at leisure. Overnight Pelican Beach Resort (BLD).

Day 11

Depart from the island by boat to Dangriga. Option to fly in a small 14 seater propeller plane to Belize International Airport or take a vehicle transfer. Breakfast included on last day.