Pristine and proud, Southern Belize will make you feel like an explorer of old during this 12-day tour. Experience the sight of jaguar prints in a protected rainforest, vibrant Caribbean reefs, subterranean adventures, Maya villages, and Garifuna culture. This itinerary is an off-the-beaten-path adventure that is complemented by idyllic days on the sand and boutique eco-lodges.
Customizable Itinerary
Day 1
San Ignacio – Sunset at Xunantunich
Belize is a small country with one foot in the rainforest and another in the Caribbean. There are only really three roads, and they are more like country lanes that weave in and out of the trees than actual highways. You will touch down at Philip SW Goldson International Airport, and your driver will greet and transfer you to your eco-lodge. Here, iguanas bask in the treetops, and you may hear the distant hoot of howler monkeys. Upon your arrival, you can check-in and then check out the medicinal trail with your local guide. Almost everything in the rainforest has a use, and this tour will help introduce you to Belize’s old-world nature and its longstanding culture.
What's Included:
Day 2
San Ignacio – Canoeing the Macal River
Day 3
Blue Hole National Park – Jungle Adventure
Day 4
South Water Caye Marine Reserve – Outdoor Adventure
Day 5 - 6
South Water Caye Marine Reserve – A Palm-Studded Island
Day 7
Hopkins – Garifuna Culture
Day 8
Placencia – Belize’s Finest Beaches
Day 9
Placencia – Relaxing Day on the Coast
Day 10
Maya Village – Cultural Immersion
Day 11
Placencia – The Crystal Skull
Day 12
Placencia – Departure
Trip Highlights
- Escape from the world with a several night stay on a palm-studded white-sand island on the Northern Hemisphere’s longest coral reef
- Hike and canoe through superb nature reserves, track jaguar prints in the Cockscomb Basin, and ride in a canoe past toucans and monkeys on the Macal River
- Immerse yourself in the country’s old-world culture with a unique homestay in a Maya village
- Lounge on the beautiful sand with several nights in Placencia, which is home to some of Central America’s finest mainland beaches
- Search for the legendary Crystal Skull and uncover the secrets of the Xunantunich temples
- Explore Belize’s vast subterranean world by drifting through caves that are yet to be fully mapped by researchers
- Feel the adventure of the jungle around San Ignacio, where medicinal trails showcase tradition and iguanas occupy the high branches
- Discover another local culture by meeting the Garifuna people of Dangriga
- Uncover a surreal marine world as snorkel and swim around Caribbean reefs
Detailed Description
Almost all of Belize remains wonderfully undeveloped because this is not a country where high-rise blocks ruin the coast. Nearly half of Belize is protected rainforest, and the world’s second-longest reef system is in a much better state than the longest, the Great Barrier Reef. Eco-lodges will provide you with a sanctuary within reserves and parks. Culture has also been preserved, especially in Southern Belize. Here, you can find Maya and Garifuna villages.
This pristine country creates an off-the-beaten-path adventure, particularly when you avoid its most famous destinations. Do not worry because missing out on one caye means that you can enjoy another. Belize has a whole network of islands and islets that snake off from the Caribbean coastline. There are also the mainland beaches that are as white as the imagination can conjure and as laid-back as they promise. There are also subterranean river systems, jaguars, and toucans. The distances between destinations are small, and the travel is easy. The only challenge will be exactly where to go.
This handcrafted 12-day tour will celebrate the untouched side of Belize. Your itinerary will be a mix of rainforest adventure and quiet beach days. You will also visit a variety of national parks and reserves, including a three-night stop at an island on Belize Barrier Reef. You can canoe past toucans, watch the sunset from an ancient Maya temple, zipline, cave-tube in the jungle, and search for the mythical Crystal Skull. Along the way, you will get to know the local people. Most of the population speaks English, so you will have little trouble sharing stories.
You will begin with a stay at a superb rainforest lodge on the outskirts of San Ignacio, which will prove to be an ideal way to settle in to the country’s inland charm. The following day will be dedicated to the subterranean world and will include ziplining and hiking in Mayflower Bocawina National Park. You will then continue to a small caye of white sand and palm trees. The Belize Barrier Reef invites self-guided adventure, and you can bask in the seclusion of this private Caribbean destination.
You will then return to the mainland for a day in Dangriga. Here, Garifuna culture offers insight into the history of the land. Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is the only jaguar reserve on the planet, and while finding the endangered cats remains rare, the hiking trails are always exhilarating. You will then return to the coast for several nights on the white beaches of Placencia and an overnight stay in an old Maya village.
Starting Price
$6,900 per person (excluding international flights)
Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.
What's Included
The starting price is based on travel during the low season for a minimum of two travelers staying in shared 3-star accommodations. Please inquire for a custom trip quote based on your travel preferences and travel dates.
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