On arrival in Belize, before heading out to Glovers, we have an opportunity to experience the diversity of the rainforest and the rich Mayan culture of the interior. Working with guides from the Belize Tropical Education Center, our itinerary includes a rare chance to view the nocturnal wildlife of Belize, and then, in the jungle, we explore a fantastic limestone cave that was used by the Maya as a ceremonial center thousands of years ago.

Thirty six miles offshore of the Belize mainland lie a group of tropical islands cradled within a turquoise lagoon and surrounded by a living coral reef. Glover's Reef Atoll is considered to be one of the richest tropical marine environments in the entire Caribbean. Our private island base of over 13 acres is perched on the southern edge of the atoll with a dramatic view facing east over the main reef crest and the open Caribbean. Based from our comfortable field camp we are fully equipped to spend six and a half days sea kayaking and kayak sailing, snorkeling, diving, fishing and windsurfing. After our adventures each day we like to reward ourselves with a bounty of fresh seafood, island baking, tropical fruits and yes, even rich, decadent deserts! Glovers is ideal for those who wish to enjoy the comforts of a well-appointed field camp yet want an active and flexible day-to-day schedule. Exclusive to Glovers, is our underwater Sea-Breathe System (TM) which provides air for divers and non-divers to depths of 25 ft. Also available are optional Scuba certification courses, resort courses and equipment rentals.

The Setting...

One of three atolls offshore of Belize, Glover's Reef was named after the pirate John Glover who used this remote offshore ring of islands and coral reefs as a base from which to raid Spanish merchant ships. The shallow waters offshore of Belize with innumerable coral reefs, mangroves and small islands were ideal waters for pirates and buccaneers to hide their raiding ships after plundering Spanish galleons laden with riches, destined for the Old World. Today, the attractions found within the atoll (20 miles long by 7 miles wide) are the clarity of the water and the remarkable profusion of marine life. In 1993, the atoll was declared a marine park, and 25% of the area and lagoon was protected from fishing and harvesting. To continue the conservation efforts to preserve this extraordinary environment, the site was designated as a World Heritage Site, in 1996. We travel and explore this area by sea-kayak, paddling and sailing the shallow 82 square mile lagoon with an unequaled variety of over 700 patch reefs. The reefs of Belize have long been known as the richest in the Caribbean, and Glovers is the best in Belize!

Day 0 :

Arrive at the Belize International Airport where you will be met by a tour representative and transferred to the Tropical Education Center, adjacent to the Belize Zoo. Here we are able to explore the surrounding savannah forest through their network of interpretative trails and wildlife viewing platforms. There is also a wonderful interpretative wildlife conservation center onsite. This is an ideal starting point for the adventure ahead. After settling into our forest cabanas, we have a chance to meet our fellow travelers over dinner. This day is your day to arrive before the trip starts, meet your fellow travelers and acclimatize to your new tropical environment. Transfers from the airport are included.

Accommodation: (forest cabanas)
Meals: Dinner is included on this Day

Day 1 :

For early risers, the Tropical Education Center has a wonderful network of trails and wildlife viewing platforms for exploration. There are exceptional birding opportunities in the early hours of dawn as the pine savannah and rainforest awakens with a diversity of feeding birds, turtles and other creatures around the central lagoon. After a hearty breakfast, we travel along the Hummingbird Highway to our underground cave float. We take a short hike through the rainforest to the river put-in where we float on large inner tubes with our headlamps into the ancient limestone caves.

After our tour of the caves, we continue overland to Banana Bank Lodge. We settle into our accommodations, have lunch in the lodge, and then make a choice of horseback riding, a river float, or an interpretive birding walk for the afternoon. Banana Bank Lodge is a resort and an equestrian facility situated on over 4,000 acres along the banks of the historic Belize River. Our location is superb. For those who wish to stay behind and relax, there is a swimming pool, a greenhouse with over 50 varieties of orchids, and a night-sky observatory for our pleasure.

Accommodation: (Lodge)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 2 - 6 :

We depart early in the morning by charter boat out past the main Barrier Reef to our private base-camp on Southwest Cay, at Glovers Reef Marine Reserve. We are introduced to our new environment and get settled into our accommodation. Once settled, the guides provide instruction, teaching the fundamentals of sea kayaking, snorkeling and safety in the tropics. Then, we paddle out to a nearby patch reef and start to explore some of the 700 sites that Glovers Atoll has to offer. Glovers is one of only four atolls in the Caribbean Sea, and is truly the most spectacular marine environment in Belize. Due to its isolation from the mainland, the waters are exceptionally clear with inspiring scenery and a fabulously rich reef system that offers the best kayaking, snorkeling and diving in the Caribbean. We spend the days exploring the atoll with both single and double kayaks (rigged for sailing). Our itinerary is flexible in order to respond to both group and individual desires and abilities.

Activities include: sea kayaking, snorkeling the inner and outer walls of the reef, learning to sail a kayak for both novices and experienced paddlers. For experienced snorkelers, guides can provide full instruction with our Sea-Breathe Diving System: a free floating air pump designed to provide air by hookah lines down to 20-25 feet.

In the mornings and the evenings, we host informative sessions on a range of topics, providing an opportunity for guides to share their knowledge of Belize, the marine environments and local culture. Perhaps a high stakes game of Hermit Crab Racing to finish the day! If all this sounds a little too busy, you always have the choice of just kicking back in a hammock and relaxing with a good book and a cold drink.

Accommodation: (Tent-Walled Cabanas)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7:

For our last morning at Glover's, the choice is yours. We may choose to don mask, snorkel and fins for a last visit to your favorite coral reef, or work the flats with your most productive Bonefish fly, before our motor charter comes to pick us up for the return ride to Dangriga. Here we arrive to a waiting vehicle that whisks us to the local airstrip for a flight to Belize City. Once airborne, we have the Manatee Lagoons over our left shoulder and the Belize Barrier Reef over our right, giving us an impressive view of Belize's coastal topography from the Caribbean sea to the Maya Mountains. We end our journey with a comfortable night at the Belize Biltmore Plaza, where they have a wonderful pool-side courtyard and bar.

Accommodation: (Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation...

On 'Day 0', we will be spending the night at the Tropical Education Center. The Education Center has comfortable, rustic accommodations in a beautiful pine savannah setting. The Center is right next to the Belize Zoo and has a interpretative center with Belize's largest collection of tropical animal specimens, and a network of trails and wildlife viewing platforms, perfect for exploring this unique tropical pine forest environment.

On Day 1 we will be staying at Banana Bank Lodge, located at the gateway to the Cayo District. This spectacular resort is spread over 4,000 acres, and houses a restaurant, a main lodge, and a number of small cabanas. Our accommodations for the evening are beautifully furnished, thatched, roofed cabanas, outfitted with ceiling fans and hot water showers. On the premises, there is also an Orchadia which houses more than 50 varieties of orchids and bromeliads, a swimming pool, night sky observatory, a two-story birding platform overlooking the lagoon, as well as an art gallery.

On Day 2 to 6 at Southwest Cay, we are "base camping", sleeping in tent-walled cabanas. These spacious safari-style tents have ample headroom to walk around and are on raised wooden floors with double or single beds. On the island, we have a large dining area with bar, resource library and lounge area, a freshwater collection system for drinking water, access to freshwater showers, modern composting toilets and a fully equipped kitchen.

On the Final Night we will be staying in Dangriga. Our accommodation is at Chaleanors Hotel, a Belizean-style hotel in the heart of town. On this final night, we have a Belizean dinner on a roof top terrace with Dangriga musicians who introduce us to traditional Garifuna drumming and dance.

Equipment...

While at our private base-camp on Southwest Cay, our guests have unrestricted use of the following equipment: Double Kayaks (outfitted with special sails), Single Kayaks, Sit-on-Top Dive Kayaks, Sailboards, Sea-Breath Dive System, Complete Research Library, Field Marine lab including microscope and Hand Lenses. On the island, we are in communication with the mainland via VHF marine radio.

Scuba Diving Rates...	US$
BC and Reg Rental	$15 US
Single Tank Dive	$50 US
Two Dives	$75 US
Discover Scuba Course	$125 US

Scuba Divers...

There are some great opportunities to scuba dive at Glover's Reef. Optional diving is available for certified divers on certain days of the trip. Single tank dives are available from $35 US, with further discounts for multi-tank dives. For first time divers we can offer, a Discover Scuba for a subsidized rate, or you may be able to take your Open Water Referral course. Please let us know in advance. We can also arrange a variety of dive packages before or after your trip. For further information please contact our office.

RATES & DEPARTURE DATES 2010/2011

	Price per Person
US Dollar	US$1839.00

Day '0' arrival	DAY 1	DAY 7	DAY 8 going home
Nov 28, 2010	Nov 29, 2010	Dec 05, 2010	Dec 06, 2010
Dec 05, 2010	Dec 06, 2010	Dec 12, 2010	Dec 13, 2010
Dec 12, 2010	Dec 13, 2010	Dec 19, 2010	Dec 20, 2010
Dec 19, 2010	Dec 20, 2010	Dec 26, 2010	Dec 27, 2010
Dec 26, 2010	Dec 27, 2010	Jan 02, 2011	Jan 03, 2011
Jan 02, 2011	Jan 03, 2011	Jan 09, 2011	Jan 10, 2011
Jan 09, 2011	Jan 10, 2011	Jan 16, 2011	Jan 17, 2011
Jan 16, 2011	Jan 17, 2011	Jan 23, 2011	Jan 24, 2011
Jan 23, 2011	Jan 24, 2011	Jan 30, 2011	Jan 31, 2011
Jan 30, 2011	Jan 31, 2011	Feb 06, 2011	Feb 07, 2011
Feb 06, 2011	Feb 07, 2011	Feb 13, 2011	Feb 14, 2011
Feb 13, 2011	Feb 14, 2011	Feb 20, 2011	Feb 21, 2011
Feb 20, 2011	Feb 21, 2011	Feb 27, 2011	Mar 28, 2011
Mar 06, 2011	Mar 07, 2011	Mar 13, 2011	Mar 14, 2011
Mar 07, 2011	Mar 08, 2011	Mar 14, 2011	Mar 15, 2011
Mar 13, 2011	Mar 14, 2011	Mar 20, 2011	Mar 21, 2011
Mar 20, 2011	Mar 21, 2011	Mar 27, 2011	Mar 28, 2011
Mar 27, 2011	Apr 28, 2011	Apr 03, 2011	Apr 04, 2011
Apr 10, 2011	Apr 11, 2011	Apr 17, 2011	Apr 18, 2011
Apr 24, 2011	Apr 29, 2011	Apr 25, 2011	May 02, 2011

What's Included...

What's Not Included...

All meals (fully catered) while you are at our Southwest Cay basecamp Selection of chilled wines, beer and rum with dinner and as cocktails Unlimited use of our Equipment and facilities Professional guide and sports instruction services with Belizean and North American leaders All accommodations including lodge on 'Day 0' and hotel the night after the trip ends Glovers Reef Marine Park user fee of $20.00 per person Comprehensive pre-trip information package Financial Support for Conservation and Education programs in Belize

Transfer back to Belize City after the trip Gratuities International Flights & Airport Departure Tax Snorkeling or Dive Gear & Scuba Diving fees Extra costs due to late Arrivals and other circumstances beyond our control

Tours run between December and April (dry season). There are no trips departing in May, June, July, August, September, October or November.

For further information or booking inquiries please contact Sacred Earth Travel.