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This itinerary is valid for departures in 2018. To view the 2019 itinerary click here.
Explore Belize
10 days, Belize City to Caye Caulker
Itinerary
Day 1Belize City/Burrell Boom
Arrive at any time in Belize city and transfer to our hotel just outside the city in the village of Burrell Boom.
Today is arrival day so there are no activities planned. You are free to arrive at any time to the Belize City airport where you will be met and transferred to our hotel near Burrell Boom village, which is about 30 minutes from the airport.
Hotels vary greatly throughout Central America and even within Belize depending on the location. We do our best to pick comfortable accommodations, but in remote places, options can be limited. It also is important to remember that hot water shortages and power outages can be fairly common in Belize (even in upgraded hotels). We appreciate your patience and understanding that these occurrences are outside of our control.
The heat and humidity of Belize may affect you upon arrival. You may have a general sense of lethargy and/or loss of appetite. This is no cause for alarm; it is simply your body’s reaction to the heat. Be sure to drink plenty of water (cold bottled water is available everywhere) and do not attempt too much in any given day.
Arrival Transfer
You will be met at the airport and transferred to the hotel to start your adventure.
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.
Day 2Burrell Boom
Enjoy a full day excursion to the Lamanai ruins, a renowned Mayan ceremonial site consisting of over 800 structures surrounded by lush jungle. Return to our lodge to relax at the patio bar and pool, visit the spa, or walk the grounds to spot local wildlife.
Lamanai Ruins Guided Tour
Lamanai is located on the shore of the New River Lagoon and is one of the largest Mayan ceremonial site within the region. Lamanai translates as “submerged crocodile” in ancient Mayan, and the site was occupied as early as 1500 BC. The onsite museum has interesting artifacts on display.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 3Burrell Boom/San Ignacio
Drive to San Ignacio and visit the Community Baboon Sanctuary, co-founded by five-time National Geographic grantee Dr Robert Horwich. Learn about the black howler monkey before going on a rainforest walk to observe monkeys in the wild. After, visit a G Adventures-supported Cayo women's cooperative where we learn about the centuries-old tradition of throwing pots and tortilla making. Enjoy a local lunch before continuing on to our rainforest hotel.
The town of San Ignacio is situated on the banks of the Macal River. It is a perfect location to visit the surrounding countryside. All activities here are optional, so the choice is yours: explore the Mayan cave of Actun Tunichil Muknal, containing relics dating back 1400 years, visit the butterfly gardens, or go tubing or canoeing through the natural limestone caves of the region.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your G for Good Moment: San Antonio Women's Cooperative visit with Pottery Class and Local Lunch
Like in many places around the world, education for women in the village of San Antonio isn’t prioritized. Girls don’t typically attend school beyond primary levels. So a women’s cooperative was founded here, as a way for underprivileged women to earn income, learn new skills, and share centuries-old Mayan techniques and knowledge. Visit the pottery workshop, which is newly expanded with an investment from G Adventures. Meet some of the women who’ve found community within its walls and gain insight into the tradition of throwing pots. Try your own hand at these ancient techniques during a pottery class. Afterward, enjoy lunch together with these inspiring and unforgettable women, sampling traditional foods of the Cayo region.
Tortilla-Making
Corn tortillas are a staple of Belizean cuisine, and the fresher they are the better. Drop by the San Antonio Women’s Cooperative for a tortilla-making lesson and demonstration. Help grind wet corn kernels on an ancient stone that’s been passed down through generations to the special ladies who work here. Then try your own hand at making perfectly round tortillas, which is harder than you may think. Afterward, enjoy the results of the group with a cup of atole, a local corn drink.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Howler Monkey Experience
Founded by five-time National Geographic-grantee Dr. Robert Horwich, the Community Baboon Sanctuary is a conservation project that works to protect the natural habitat of the black howler monkey through community education and sustainable ecotourism practices. Go for a nature walk in the rainforest with a community guide to observe monkeys in the wild. The sanctuary also promotes the economic development of the surrounding communities through the ecotourism it brings in. Over 200 private, local landowners in seven villages, stretching over 20 square miles, have voluntarily pledged to conserve their land for the protection of the black howler monkey, resulting in an increase in the monkey population. So as part of the experience, also enjoy a cultural demonstration of rice beating and cashew roasting.
Free Time
Settle in and get your bearings and decide what activities you would like to do over the next few days.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 4San Ignacio
Enjoy two free days to visit the sites of the surrounding countryside. There are several activity options including an exploration of the Mayan cave of Actun Tunichil Muknal or ruins of Xunantunich, visiting the butterfly gardens, and tubing or canoeing through the natural limestone caves of the region.
Your Discover Moment
There's plenty to see and do in San Ignacio, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like cave exploring, visiting Mayan ruins, and horseback riding. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Optional Activities - Day 4 HideShow
Barton Creek Cave Canoeing
120USD per personStrap on a headlamp, step in the canoe and paddle along an ancient Mayan waterway inside the Barton Creek Cave. Bring your camera to take memorable photos of cathedral rock chambers, stalactites and stalagmites. Upon return, opt to swim at Big Rock Falls.
Cave Tubing
95USD per personStrap on a headlamp, sit on an inner tube and get set to enter the underworld. Float on an underground river past stalactites hanging above and through shafts of filtered light. Discover firsthand why the Maya selected these sites to make offerings to their gods.
Xunantunich Visit
65USD per personHike to the top of this impressive 9th-century Maya centre, set high on a natural limestone ridge, and admire the view of the Mopan River, Cayo District and neighbouring Guatemalan countryside. The tallest temple, El Castillo, is partially excavated and explored and there’s a unique stucco frieze on the east side of the structure. Discover why Xunantunich is Belize’s most visited site with intricately carved stellae, 25 temples, and well-preserved palaces.
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Visit
140USD per personThe Actun Tunichil Muknal cave has only been open to the public since 1998. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to see up to 1400 artifacts, including pottery, tools and vessels used by the Maya for a thousand years. Hike 45 minutes to the cave entrance, wade/swim through deep pools, past calcite formations, to explore this damp, dark place of ritual and sacrifice. With a helmet and headlamp, see the skeleton of the “Crystal Maiden,” a young girl whose bones have calcified over the past 1,100 years, making them appear to sparkle.
Butterfly Gardens
20USD per personEnjoy a visit to the serene butterfly house and gardens. Learn about the fascinating life cycle of these beautiful insects and enjoy the scores of brightly coloured and varied species flitting about the gardens. This place is a treat for visitors of all ages.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 5San Ignacio
Enjoy two free days to visit the sites of the surrounding countryside. There are several activity options including an exploration of the Mayan cave of Actun Tunichil Muknal or ruins of Xunantunich, visiting the butterfly gardens, and tubing or canoeing through the natural limestone caves of the region.
Your Discover Moment
There's plenty to see and do in San Ignacio, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like cave exploring, visiting Mayan ruins, and horseback riding. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Optional Activities - Day 5 HideShow
Cave Tubing
95USD per personStrap on a headlamp, sit on an inner tube and get set to enter the underworld. Float on an underground river past stalactites hanging above and through shafts of filtered light. Discover firsthand why the Maya selected these sites to make offerings to their gods.
Barton Creek Cave Canoeing
120USD per personStrap on a headlamp, step in the canoe and paddle along an ancient Mayan waterway inside the Barton Creek Cave. Bring your camera to take memorable photos of cathedral rock chambers, stalactites and stalagmites. Upon return, opt to swim at Big Rock Falls.
Xunantunich Visit
65USD per personHike to the top of this impressive 9th-century Maya centre, set high on a natural limestone ridge, and admire the view of the Mopan River, Cayo District and neighbouring Guatemalan countryside. The tallest temple, El Castillo, is partially excavated and explored and there’s a unique stucco frieze on the east side of the structure. Discover why Xunantunich is Belize’s most visited site with intricately carved stellae, 25 temples, and well-preserved palaces.
Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Visit
140USD per personThe Actun Tunichil Muknal cave has only been open to the public since 1998. Take advantage of this rare opportunity to see up to 1400 artifacts, including pottery, tools and vessels used by the Maya for a thousand years. Hike 45 minutes to the cave entrance, wade/swim through deep pools, past calcite formations, to explore this damp, dark place of ritual and sacrifice. With a helmet and headlamp, see the skeleton of the “Crystal Maiden,” a young girl whose bones have calcified over the past 1,100 years, making them appear to sparkle.
Butterfly Gardens
20USD per personEnjoy a visit to the serene butterfly house and gardens. Learn about the fascinating life cycle of these beautiful insects and enjoy the scores of brightly coloured and varied species flitting about the gardens. This place is a treat for visitors of all ages.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 6San Ignacio/Hopkins
Travel to Hopkins on the coast and enjoy a visit to Marie Sharp's Hot Sauce Factory en route. Explore the fascinating Garifuna culture, take a drumming lesson, and enjoy a demonstration by these amazing artists.
This is your chance to visit a part of Belize that has not yet hit the well-trodden tourist trail. Opt to rent a bike to explore the area or enjoy talking to the locals in what some call the friendliest village in Belize.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Marie Sharp's Culinary Experience
Marie Sharp's Hot Sauce is an institution in Belize and one of the most loved spicy condiments in Central America. Visit the factory where this spicy delight is made and indulge in a tasting. Watch out, it's hot!
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Garifuna Drumming Lesson and Performance
Learn more about the Garifuna – descendants of Island Carib, African, and Arawak peoples – and their unique history with a cultural presentation at the Lebeha Drumming Center. Create some beats while participating in a traditional drum lesson and enjoy a stellar musical performance put on by the teachers.
Optional Activities - Day 6 HideShow
Biking
5-10USD per personHop on a bike and explore the area.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 7Hopkins
Enjoy the day in the laid-back village of Hopkins. Opt to visit the palmed Tobacco Caye nearby and do some snorkelling, venture to a wildlife sanctuary, or explore the area by bicycle.
Free Time
Chill out in this laid back village or check out some optional activities.
Optional Activities - Day 7 HideShow
Bike Rental
Rent a bike from a local shop and head out to explore.
Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary Visit
70-180USD per personDrive 25km (15.5 mi) from Hopkins to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the world’s first jaguar reserve and one of the biggest protected areas (over 128,000 acres). Choose from optional activities including guided day or night hikes, river tubing, bird watching, and waterfall visits.
Mayflower Bocawina Forest Reserve Visit
20-165USD per personDrive 20km (12.4 mi) from Hopkins to lush Mayflower Bocawina National Park and choose from optional activities including a guided hike, ziplining/hike tour, or rappelling Bocawina Falls or Antelope Falls.
Tobacco Caye Visit and Snorkel
70USD per personSet off from Hopkins in a boat and head towards Tobacco Caye and Southwater Caye. On arrival, visit the island and get to know the local marine life during three snorkel stops before heading back to Hopkins. Opt to add fishing to this excursion.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 8Hopkins/Caye Caulker
Drive up the coast and visit an animal conservation centre before catching the ferry to Caye Caulker, a true tropical paradise.
Caye Caulker is a long thin limestone caye off the coast of Belize. Fewer than 2,000 people live here full-time – an eclectic mix of Mestizo, Maya, Garifuna, Creole, and Mennonites, along with a few hippies and retirees. The main street is a sandy pathway and people get around on foot, by bike or golf cart. Apart from eating some sensational seafood (lobster is a local specialty), the main activity is snorkelling and boating along the nearby Belize Barrier Reef.
Caye Caulker is very small and has a limited number of accommodations available. For this reason, we often use different hotels, depending on the departure and time of year. Accommodations are a bit rustic, and rooms will have ensuite, electricity and hot water, but due to the remote location, there may be occasional interruptions to these services. The stunning location and natural beauty of this off-the-beaten-track island more than make up for a few minor inconveniences.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center
Stop at this small zoo and wildlife education center outside of the city of Belize to admire some of the animals that call the 29 acres here home. Visit the jaguars, tapirs, margays, and some of the many colourful birds that have been saved by this zoo since it opened its doors in 1983. The center offers a home to displaced animals and serves in educating local people and visitors about wildlife protection and conservation.
Ferry
Get to the next spot on your route aboard a convenient and efficient ferry boat.
Optional Activities - Day 8 HideShow
Bike with Purpose Rental
1-30USD per personRent a bike from the G Adventures-supported Bike with Purpose project on Caye Caulker and cycle around the island out to the split and back. It's a great way to get some exercise and see the sights on this laid-back island. Don't forget to bring water and wear lots of sunscreen.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 9Caye Caulker
Enjoy the day with the option to join a full-day sailing and snorkelling trip to Hol Chan Marine Reserve and the Belize Barrier Reef, or just indulge in some serious R&R. In the evening, take part in a fun farewell dinner at a popular local restaurant.
The barrier reef off Caye Caulker is a true wonder of nature. Optional snorkel trips get you up close and personal with nurse sharks and rays, to name a few of the wondrous resident creatures.
Your Discover Moment
There's plenty to see and do in Caye Caulker, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in. Feel free to relax or try optional activities like snorkelling, sea kayaking, and sailing. Your CEO has more ideas if you need them. Just ask!
Optional Activities - Day 9 HideShow
Hol Chan Marine Reserve Visit
100USD per personEnjoy a full-day snorkelling trip that visits three different spots to snorkel, the Coral Gardens, shark and ray alley, and the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Depart late morning, enjoy lunch in between snorkels, and see hundreds of varieties of tropical fish in this natural aquarium including angelfish, nurse sharks, stingrays and green moray eels. Be sure to check out the Coral Gardens to see a rainbow of colours – red, purple, pink and green – and depending on the season, float past manatees while you marvel at nature’s underwater artistry. End the day with a cruise back to Caye Caulker just before sunset with a complimentary glass of rum punch in your hand.
Tour Includes: snorkeling mask, fins/flippers, lunch, assortment of tropical fruit, water, and other snacks.
Sunset Sailing Boat Tour
60USD per personSet sail just before sunset. Relax with reggae music and rum punch, snack on shrimp ceviche and snap a few photos as you sail around the island as the sun sets to the west of Caye Caulker.
Hol Chan Snorkel Tour
70-80USD per personSlather on the sunscreen and set out on a snorkel adventure of a lifetime. Stop at the Coral Gardens, shark and ray alley, and the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Snorkel three different spots along the Belize reef in this protected channel. See hundreds of varieties of tropical fish in this natural aquarium including angelfish, nurse sharks, stingrays and green moray eels. Be sure to check out the Coral Gardens to see a rainbow of colours – red, purple, pink and green – and depending on the season, float past manatees while you marvel at nature’s underwater artistry. End the day with a cruise back to Caye Caulker just before sunset with a complimentary glass of rum punch in your hand.
Bike with Purpose Rental
1-30USD per personRent a bike from the G Adventures-supported Bike with Purpose project on Caye Caulker and cycle around the island out to the split and back. It's a great way to get some exercise and see the sights on this laid-back island. Don't forget to bring water and wear lots of sunscreen.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 10Caye Caulker
Depart at any time.
Should you wish to have additional post nights in Caye Caulker or Belize City, please ask your sales CEO.
This trip finishes on Caye Caulker, which is located one hour by water taxi from Belize City (an additional 30 minutes by taxi to the airport). There are frequent ferry departures between 7:30am and 5:00pm. You can purchase your return ferry ticket easily once you get to Caye Caulker.
Departure Day
Not ready to leave? Your CEO can help with travel arrangements to extend your adventure.