Ecological and Scenic Tour of Southern Belize

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.

The rainforest is always an excellent place to relax. You can wake up to the tweeting of exotic birds, gaze out at the green landscape, and absorb the feeling of wilderness. There are several self-guided trails that lead out from your eco-lodge. These are ideal for a quiet morning of enjoying nature. In the afternoon, you can canoe down the Macal River and drift into a landscape where wildlife flourishes. After a relaxing paddle down the river, you will be driven back to the lodge, where the sounds of the wild can be heard into the evening.

Today’s adventure will lead you into the subterranean realm and along the rivers that form one of the world’s most complex underground realms. You will hike into a cave, turn on your head torch, and drift down the river in an inner tube. It will be pitch black in many places, so the experience may be guided by your ears and nose. Explorers have been mapping the subterranean world around Blue Hole National Park for 50 years, and they have still only scratched the surface. You will spend the night at a different eco-lodge.

Today, you will venture to Mayflower Bocawina National Park, where you will hike through a haven in search of Belize’s rare birds. You will wander past monkey prints in the mud, and then you will soar like the birds across the forested valley on a zipline. At first, it will be exhilarating, but you will quickly get used to the zipline and find tranquility in the journey. After a guided tour in the morning, you will take a speed boat across the Caribbean to South Water Caye.

After four days in the rainforest, you will be surrounded by the serenity of the Caribbean. Perched on the Belize Barrier Reef at the heart of a marine reserve, South Water Caye is an idyllic getaway that has remained off the beaten path. Scuba diving and snorkeling are possible here. These couple of days will be at your leisure, and snorkeling equipment will be included in your stay. You can indulge in a stroll to the south of the small island for the finest of white sands. This is an island where you will not need shoes; you can drift off in the sun and relax.

Back on the mainland, there is a unique culture to discover. Today, you will travel to the fishing village of Hopkins by speedboat. You will then spend the afternoon in Dangriga, which is a ramshackle town that proudly keeps Garifuna heritage alive. Here, you can explore a local neighborhood with a guide and meet a couple of musicians to get a feel for their language. While the town can look a little untidy, it is a hive of cultural experiences when you have an excellent local guide

Jaguar prints dot the mud in Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a haven for around 200 of the rare cats. Actually spotting one is unlikely because these are secretive animals hide deep in the trees. The jaguars are not the only species in this wilderness. Howler monkeys shout from the treetops, tapirs bashfully wander through the gloom, and you can continue to enjoy impressions of Belize’s birdlife cast. Even without seeing a print, there is a thrill to hiking in the sanctuary. Like the other reserves and parks you visit, there are a number of different trails, and your guide can tailor the route to your energy and fitness levels.

Placencia’s beaches are gorgeous, and nearly everyone gets around on foot or by golf cart. You can go snorkeling or diving, but in Placencia, you are practically encouraged to do nothing. While the beaches near the fishing village usually have a few people on them, there are 16 miles of sand around the peninsula. You can take a stroll to find a beach that feels private, and when you are not transfixed by the Caribbean, it is only a short journey to the lagoon where saltwater crocodiles and manatees are among the underwater residents.

While Belize is well known for its ancient Maya ruins, few people realize that Mayan culture continues to have its place in the 21st century. A homestay program has been established in the Mayan heartland of Toledo and offers the chance to experience typical life. This is not a luxurious experience, but you will stay in a village of thatched houses with few facilities and a lovely setting in the jungle. Rather than being a tourist experience, spending a night in the village is the chance to get to know the people and their stories. You will encounter signs of poverty but also of self-sufficiency and innovation. It is certainly a different experience and a highlight of Belize for many visitors.

Lubaantun is a great contrast to the ancient Maya ruins of Xunantunich. Wrapped by green forest, this city was built at a much later date. The temples are enormous and are built without mortar; every single piece was cut from sandstone and then inserted into the Maya building jigsaw. This was also the city where a shimmering crystal skull was supposedly found. While this turned out to be a hoax, there is something incredibly mythical that makes it feel like you are about to upturn a bizarre Indiana Jones-style discovery. Few people visit Lubaantun because it is too far away, so you will have most of the site completely to yourself.

Today, you will fly from Placencia to Belize City before transferring to the international airport. Here, you will depart Belize after nearly two weeks in the country.