An extraordinary journey through Belize packed with adventure and excitement. You'll sea kayak, snorkel, dive, windsurf, explore Mayan ruins and ceremonial caves, and descend an incomparable tropical river through canyons and lush rainforest.

On each stage of the trip you're teamed with the best guides in Belize -- individuals whose knowledge and experience enable you to see and do what you never thought possible. We begin with sea kayaking in a remote island group along the southern Barrier Reef; then on to our luxury field camp at Glover's Atoll for two more fantastic days of snorkeling, kayaking, diving and boardsailing.

Returning to the mainland, we prepare for the adventure ahead. Here the rainforest covers the land and the ancient traditions of the Maya are still strong. On our next series of adventures, we descend into Mayan ceremonial caves, and then we embark on a three day paddle trip into the rainforest canyons of Belize.

Although no previous experience or special skills are needed to participate in the Ultimate Adventure, you should be in good enough physical condition to paddle up to 10 miles a day or hike with a light pack for three or four hours.

The Setting:

On this adventure, we experience the very best that Belize has to offer. From the Belize International Airport we take you directly to our accommodations situated alongside the Tropical Education Center and Belize Zoo. From here we journey into the Cayo to visit an ancient Mayan ceremonial cave, then travel east to the main Barrier Reef and beyond to Glover's Atoll. The Barrier Reef, which runs 185 miles (300 km) long, 10 to 25 miles (16 to 35 km) offshore, is the longest continuous reef in the Caribbean and the second longest in the world. Spread along the reef are over 200 cays, ranging from small sand-fringed islands perched along the reefs edge, to larger islands of mangroves and coconut palms.

After two nights on the main reef, we travel by motor launch twenty miles further offshore to Glover's Atoll--a remote ring of corals and small islands rising from the deep waters of the Caribbean. Glovers Atoll, with an unparalleled diversity and abundance of marine life and with reef strewn waters, offers some of the best snorkeling in Belize. Our island base camp is the perfect setting from which to actively explore the surrounding waters, which contains over 700 patch reefs. The waters of Belize have long been known as the richest in the Caribbean, and Glovers is one of the best in Belize!

After our exploration of the Barrier Reef and Glovers Atoll we return to the mainland and travel into the Mountain Pine Ridge escarpment to luxuriate at one of the finer lodges in Belize-Banana Bank Lodge. The next day, we travel by van and four-wheel drive to our river put-in. We begin our river journey by teaching river safety and paddling techniques before paddling into some of Belize's most remote and pristine wilderness. Once on the water, we are immersed in the experience of traveling by day and camping at night in the tropical rainforest. Our last night's accommodation is at Pooks Hill lodge where we enjoy warm, friendly hospitality and great food in a magnificent setting. The next morning our van departs to bring people back to the Belize International Airport or stops along the way.

Day 0 :

Arrive at the Belize International Airport where you will be met by an Island Expeditions representative and transferred to the Tropical Education Center, adjacent to the Belize Zoo. After checking into our accommodations we enjoy a welcome dinner and have a chance to meet our fellow travelers. We are able to experience the surrounding tropical pine savannah habitat through a network of trails and raised wildlife viewing platforms. We also have a unique and exclusive nocturnal tour of the Belize Zoo with one of the senior zookeepers, which helps us understand the diverse ecology of Belize, and is an ideal starting point for the adventure ahead. 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 and lodging are included.

Accommodation: (Lodge)
Meals: Dinner

Day 1 :

We rise early to start todays extraordinary journey, which takes us deep into the Mayan underworld known as Xilbalba (shil-balba), a mythical realm inhabited by spirits and powerful gods, an underworld of untold fears and dreams where Mayan shaman, in supposition to the gods, ventured into darkness to conduct their secretive rituals. As we venture underground into the caves, we learn from our guides how the caves played an important role in the ancient Maya civilization and about ongoing archaeological research taking place underground in Belize. After our cave visit, we travel the Hummingbird Route to meet up with our motor charter, on the coast by the town of Dangriga. We head out to the southern Barrier Reef and arrive at our camp in time to settle in, have dinner and plan our next two days on the barrier reef.

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

Day 2 :

We rise early for a breakfast on the beach. We then focus on our introduction to sea kayaking and get comfortable with the gear. We start by teaching and reviewing the fundamentals of sea kayaking and introduce everyone to ocean touring techniques. We test our new found skills with a paddle out to the main reef to snorkel along the inner reef wall or patch reefs. Depending on sea conditions, a snorkel along the outside reef edge may be possible. Our paddle back to our camp takes us past mangrove ranges and protected lagoons. Out on the reef, our guides share their knowledge of Belize, the marine environments and local culture.

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

Day 3 :

After breakfast and a morning of paddling and snorkeling, our motor charter returns to take us 20 miles east of the main Barrier Reef to Glovers Reef Atoll, a National Marine Park and designated World Heritage site. We land at park headquarters on Middle Cay, with boats rigged and ready to sail. We sail our kayaks along the eastern reef wall to our base camp at Southwest Caye at the southern end of the atoll, surrounded by rich coral reefs and beautiful turquoise waters. Tonight, we enjoy an island feast of mixed grill of fresh seafood and vegetables topped with Belizean coconut baking and tropical fruits.

Accommodation: (Base Camp)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4 & 5 :

Glover's is one of only four atolls in the Caribbean Sea and is truly one of the most spectacular marine environments in Belize. Due to its isolation from the mainland the waters are exceptionally clear with an incredibly rich reef system that offers some of the best kayaking, snorkeling and diving in the Caribbean. Our days are 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, kayak sailing and windsurfing. For those who are certified divers, we can also arrange dives on the outer walls. If all this sounds a little busy, you always have the choice of just kicking back in a hammock and relaxing with a good book and a cold drink. On the afternoon of Day 5, we transfer back to the mainland and continue south to our jungle lodge in the Toledo district of Belize to begin the next leg of our journey.

Accommodation: (Field Camp / The Lodge at Big Falls)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6, 7 & 8 :

The Lodge at Big Falls is situated on the banks of the Rio Grande river in Belize's southern Toledo District, a region of isolated villages lying amongst an unspoiled tropical wilderness. Our location is superb. The lodge property is located on a meander of the river with almost a mile of river frontage. There are views towards the Maya Mountains to the north west while the south eastern bank faces the small village of Big Falls. In the afternoon, we drive further south from Big Falls to our put-in point on the Moho river, stopping for lunch along the way and visiting either the Mayan ruins of Lubaantun or the traditional Maya village of Santa Theresa. Once on the river, our guides provide a brief boat and river orientation and we take as much time as we need to learn and practice our new boat-handling skills, enabling us to safely navigate the rapids and pour-overs. We then begin our journey along one of Belize's most beautiful rivers through some pristine rainforest to our first river camp.

For these next days we break contact completely with the outside world and become a part of the mist-shrouded rainforest as we follow the Moho River through canyons and lush rainforest. Each bend reveals the dynamic nature of the river-from calm, meandering water that reflects the intense green of the jungle to stretches of rapids, pour-overs and spectacular waterfalls as the river descends from the Maya Mountains to the sea. Depending on water levels, some days we may reach our bush-camp by mid-afternoon and switch to land-based activities. Hiking through the forest, birding, plant and animal identification, and photography are some of the many activities we engage in. During the trip with our Mayan guides and North American leaders, we emphasize understanding the ecology of the rainforest, learning about the habits of the wildlife and gaining an appreciation for the rich Mayan folklore which adds so much to our experience in the jungle.

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

Day 9 :

We continue paddling downstream and arrive to the river pull out in the afternoon, where we are met by IEC staff ready to transport us back to Dangriga and onto a Maya Airways domestic flight to our hotel accommodation to enjoy a hot shower.

Accommodation: (Biltmore Plaza Hotel)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

When Planning Your Trip...Think of "Day 0"

With Island Expeditions Co. a seven day trip means seven days in the field, not 2 days of airline travel and 5 days of vacation. So on all IEC adventures we meet you the day before the trip is scheduled to begin. This is "Day 0" and has been conceived for your convenience and comfort. "Day 0" is your day to arrive in Belize before the trip starts, meet your fellow travelers, and to acclimatize to your new tropical environment. From there be it a short flight or a boat charter, your transportation to meet up with your group on this day and your accommodation on this night are included in the trip cost.

Accommodation...

On 'Day 0', we will be spending the night at the Tropical Education Center, in cabanas set amongst the pine forests. The Education Center and Belize Zoo harbors Belize's largest collection of tropical animal, a fantastic interpretative center, and has a great network of trails and wildlife viewing platforms, perfect for exploring the pine savannah setting.

On Days 1 and 2 out on the cays, we are practicing minimum impact camping to ensure the pristine state of the wilderness remains for future visitors. We stay in three person Mountain Hardwear tents, which provide more than enough room for two people and gear. We explore from our island camp the surrounding reef flats, islands and patch reefs with an itinerary that is flexible to adjust our activities to different conditions we encounter.

On Days 3 and 4 at Southwest Cay on Glovers, we are "base camping" in tent-walled cabanas. These spacious safari-style tents have ample headroom and are outfitted with wood floors and wood-framed beds. On the island, we have a fresh-water collection system for drinking water, access to fresh-water showers, modern composting toilets, a fully-equipped kitchen including refrigeration, with a large dining area complete with resource library and a field marine lab including microscope and hand lenses.

On Day 5 we will be staying at The Lodge at Big Falls, located at the gateway of the Toledo District in the deep south of Belize. (www.thelodgeatbigfalls.com) This spectacular resort is nessled in a unique bend in the Rio Grande River, and houses a restaurant / 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 Days 6, 7, 8 we are camping in the remote wilderness of the Upper Moho River, on the western boarder of the Toledo District. We will be keeping our weight and volume to a minimum, carrying our gear in the kayaks from camp to camp. We stay in three-person Mountian Hardwear tents, which provide ample room for two people and gear. As we travel down the river, we use established bush camps, but give ourselves the flexibility to adjust our schedule for different conditions.

On Day 9, the final night, we will spend the night at the Biltmore Hotel (www.belizebiltmore.com). This is a clean and comfortable hotel outside the city center. You have a chance to get a good night's sleep after your adventure, maybe take a dip in the pool and prepare to fly out or continue on independently.

Note:

This is one of our most adventurous trips. It takes place in a remote wilderness region of Belize. Participants need to be in good physical condition and ready to handle the unexpected. Weather conditions can greatly affect water levels and hiking trails into the river and may increase the level of difficulty. We also believe that the remoteness and variability of conditions are what make this trip the best of its kind in Belize. Trip itineraries may vary significantly depending on water levels.

RATES & DEPARTURE DATES 2008/2009

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