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MONDAYS: MAYFLOWER JUNGLE & WATERFALL HIKE *Just a short drive from Hamanasi are two thrilling hikes through the rainforest leading to waterfalls. The Antelope Falls hike is a rigorous, steep trek to a 100-foot waterfall with an incredible top view all the way to the ocean. The Three Sisters Falls hike is less difficult. These falls hurtle down the dense jungle mountain face into cool pools perfect for dipping. You can almost hear Mayan ancestors whispering in the mist! Nearby are the remains of the ancient Mayan city of Mayflower. Archaeologists are still excavating and piecing together the history of this modest Mayan ruin, which is over grown by the jungle. Orchids, birds and lush vegetation abound!
Attention cave lovers, hikers and birders! You won't want to miss this adventure! Travelling past citrus orchards on the gorgeous Hummingbird Highway you will reach Blue Hole National Park. The Blue Hole Park is in one of Belize's oldest jungles dense with large, hardwood trees. The park's namesake is a large, sapphire blue, 30-foot wide sinkhole fed by crystal clear underground streams. Also featured is St. Herman's Cave, a mile long cave into which visitors may hike. A hike around a mountain lake while birding leads to a scenic overlook. The park hosts many plant, animal and bird species. You'll have fun seeing how many you can identify!
TUESDAYS: COCKSCOMB BASIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
& JAGUAR PRESERVENear Hamanasi is the world's only jaguar preserve, the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Ringed on three sides by the Maya Mountains and towering Victoria's Peak, the Basin's 120,000 acres is also home to jaguarundi, margays, ocelots, pumas, deer, howler monkeys and tapirs. This trip begins with a stop at the traditional village of Maya Center where Mayan arts and crafts are for sale. The park offers a wide variety of hikes, including to Ben's Bluff, which has a spectacular view of the entire Basin, and to a waterfall where you can dip in the refreshing waters. Our knowledgeable guides identify the numerous plants, birds and fauna of the pristine rainforest. With over 290 recorded species of birds this park is ideal for birders. As jaguars and other cats are nocturnal, it is unlikely that you will see them, but you can spot fresh tracks. Bring your binoculars -- as you trek through this rainforest you'll see a plethora of birds and perhaps an elusive jaguar!
THURSDAYS: TROPICAL BIRDING*A 45-minute ride will take you to the outskirts of a traditional Mayan village at the foothills of the Maya Mountains. Here you will hike through the jungle viewing and hearing some of the 500 species of birds found in Belize. Many birds from parrots to toucans to white eagles inhabit these beautiful hills. You may decide to take a quick dip in the river or just quietly relax on the riverbank to observe the many bird species in the area. During December through February we have the unique opportunity to see the endangered Scarlet Macaws that migrate to the Red Bank hills. Seasonally, we may go to the Serpon Sugar Mill for this birding adventure.
From its origin deep within the Maya Mountains the Sittee River snakes its way to the sea with its mouth just south of Hopkins. Our trip starts near the Creole village of Sittee River and slowly heads towards the ocean. You will have fun spotting green and orange iguanas lounging in trees and maybe a crocodile resting at the water's edge. Parrots, toucans, motmots, herons and egrets often can be seen -- and heard! We have seen stingrays, manatee and crocodiles far upriver. If you are adventuresome you can navigate up Boom Creek, a dense, vine draped tributary to Sittee River. As we get closer to the sea the dense jungle gives way to large mangrove forests.
If you ever wanted to learn a lot about the Maya here is your chance! We first explore the Mayan ruin of Xunantunich (pronounced Shu-nan-tu-nitch), or Stone Maiden. Located near the Guatemalan border, a hand-cranked ferry will take you across the river to this major ceremonial center situated high on a limestone ridge with a panoramic view of the Cayo District. The main pyramid, El Castillo, has detailed stucco friezes. After a full lunch we make our way to Cahal Pech, or Place of the Ticks. Cahal Pech was the royal family's residence around the same time that Xunantunich was at its height of power. This medium-size Mayan center comprises 34 structures compacted in a small area covering slightly more than 2 acres. The site includes 7 plazas, 2 ball courts, 6 plain Stella and 1 alter, as well as temple pyramids. Moreover, it has the second oldest structure in the Mayan world. Cahal Pech was first developed during the Preclassic period (1000 BC to AD 200) and abandoned around 800 AD. This site offers a view over the city of San Ignacio on one side and over the Belize River valley on the other. By the end of the trip you'll be an expert on the Maya! (OK, almost!)
*Saturdays & Sundays: Mayflower Jungle & Waterfall Hike, Sittee River Canoeing & Kayaking, Tropical Birding or Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary & Jaguar Preserve. These trips will be available on an as needed basis and are subject to change without notice. Private trips to other destinations can be arranged upon request.
Please Note that Specialty Tours cannot be substituted for Reef & Rainforest package tours. These tours are NOT included in any packages and will be charged to your room at an additional cost (request current rates).
Hamanasi can also arrange other, standard excursions, which are offered by other local tour operators. Advance notice of at least 24 hours must be given. Some tours may only be available on certain days. Minimum number of participants and cancellation fees apply.
A wildlife encounter tour to Monkey River, which lets you get a glimpse of Belizean nature, between the Maya Mountains and the sea. Monkey River meanders down from the mountains through the coastal lowlands and eventually meets the ocean. Along the way an abundance of wildlife can be observed. A vehicle will take you to Independence on the backroads, passing little Maya villages and Banana plantations along the way. Here you will board a boat that will gently take you downstream. Boat journeys are one of the best ways to see wildlife. You can observe the docile Manatees grazing on the water plants and corckodiles as the sunbathe on the riverbanks. The river also provides an excellent habitat for birds. Toucans, King Fisher and Montezuma Oropendula are just a few of the birds in the area as well as nesting sites for Cormorant and White Herons. There will be lunch stop on one of the sandbanks and you can take a short hike into the jungle. You never know what you might encounter there - tarantulas, big blue irridescent morpho butterflies, birds, sloths or monkeys - or even the elusive jaguar. Very likely you will encounter noisy howler monkeys as they forage for fruit overhead. This area has recovered remarkably well after the damage caused by Hurricane Iris in 2001.
There are two departures, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. You will be taken to the stable, just 15 minutes from Hamanasi where the horses will be waiting for you. Mount your steed and enjoy the ride through a citrus orchard where hummingbirds feast on the nectar of the blossoms. Soon you enter the dense jungle with its huge cotton wood trees, gumbo limbo trees and emery trees provide a home to a variety of tropical birds – toucan, aracari, black face ant thrush, tinamous and trogons are just a few of the birds often spotted. Enjoy cookies and juice under the cohune palms with leaves as long as 45ft. Weather permitting, you can cool off in the river (seasonal). This excursion on well kept horses is accompanied by a tour guide and very experienced horse wranglers.
Difficulty: Easy to moderate depending on the chosen mode of transport (golf cart or bike)Visit laid back Hopkins village located just one mile north of Hamanasi. This tour will introduce you to the culture, history and traditions of this Garifuna fishing village. Accompanied by a native Garifuna guide you will visit the local drum maker, a gift shop, Garifuna temple, and many more spots of interest. You may be lucky enough to experience some impromptu drumming and dancing at the drumming center. Meet the friendly villagers and have a drink at one of their favorite watering holes.
At night the jungle really comes to life. You may not see the elusive jaguar, puma or ocelot, but you may see their fresh tracks. Other animals you are likely to encounter on a night walk are foxes and coatis. There is something magical about walking in the rainforest at night and you'll find that every grain of your being is suddenly intensely alert and aware of every noise or movement in the brush as you listen to the calls of the crickets, frogs and birds. There is no way of knowing what you may encounter, but no matter what, it will be a memorable outing.
If you are an adventurer at heart, this tour is for you! Experience the beauty of the cave system by floating down the river in your inner tube. Hike through chambers once used by the ancient Maya to celebrate religious ceremonies lead by the Shaman and priests. Your headlamp provides the only light as you enter huge cave systems sculpted by flowing water. Crystal formations glow in the light as you wind your way past impressive stalactites and stalagmites. Step delicately - this is sacred ground and there are many Mayan artifacts!
It's now tried and tested and the results... SPECTACULAR, INCREDIBLE, A RUSH LIKE NO OTHER!!! The
'Mother of all Caves'... Actun Loch Tunich ! This expedition starts off with a vigorous hike into the foothills of the Maya Mountains. The edge of the Actun Loch Tunich sink hole sits over 300 feet above the basin below, 200 feet above the rainforest canopy that grows out from the sink hole basin. Our fully trained caving guides then rig a system of rappelling ropes for your decent to the basin below. The first 10 feet provides the adrenaline, the next 200 feet provides an unforgettable experience and sights to behold, the last 100 feet takes you down through the rainforest canopy. The sink hole is not actually black, but you can't see the bottom from where you start. Once you're at the bottom, the question is... How do we get you out???
This expedition is not for the faint of heart and all participants must be relatively physically fit.
The largest and most spectacular of all the Mayan sites in Meso-America is located in the Peten area of Guatemala, deep in the jungle. Tikal is about 1 ½ hours from San Ignacio. The flora and fauna in this area is almost as breathtaking as the Mayan temples themselves. The original city covered an area of 35 square miles and although the archaeologists have been excavating here since the 1930's, they tell us that there is at least another 100 years of work to be done.
Travel back in time and follow pathways used by the Maya and discover lost worlds that have been hidden deep within the jungle for centuries. Take a tour with us as we unveil the mysteries and secrets of the Maya underworld.
Witness spectacular visions of the jungle while trekking across rivers and remote jungle trails. We will take you back over 2,000 years in history as you learn about the Maya and witness first hand how this ancient civilization used these amazing caverns.
See burial chambers with calcified remains, ceremonial vessels and other cultural artifacts left by the Maya centuries ago. Artifacts are often looted from caves following their discovery. Because of this, passage through this cave is known to only a few select guides who have permission from the Belize Department of Archeology to take visitors to this special cave. To this day, the cave has not been looted and nearly all of the cultural artifacts have remained in place as they were originally found in 1989.
Note: Minimum of 4 participants. Two people may book the tour, but a US$100 surcharge applies.
An easy nature trip - relax on board one of Hamanasi's boats and cruise the scenic Sitee River while watching for manatee, crocodiles, iguanas and tropical birds!
Departs: Approximately 5:15 p.m. (depending on time of sunset)Enjoy a beautiful Caribbean sunset while cruising along the coastal waters of Hopkins and Sittee River in Hamanasi's comfortable boat. See the local sites from the water’s edge, and enjoy the skyline full of tropical colors!
Guided by an experienced local Hopkins fisherman, you will go to the Barrier Reef (approximate 40 minute boat ride) where you can reef fish or fly fish for the Catch-of-the-Day!
Note: Minimum number of participants: 8 divers
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