BELIZE EXPLORER Exploring the Best of Belize 9 Days

Locally Hosted Independent Tour Suggested Departure Date: Saturday

ITINERARY (Subject to change without notice):

Saturday - USA - Belize City - New River area: Mid-day flight to Belize City.  Meeting upon arrival and immediate drive north about two hours towards Orange Walk Town and the New River pier for motorlaunch transfer around an hour to the Lamanai Outpost Lodge. Have your binoculars and camera handy on the transfer! You'll stay two nights at the Lamanai Outpost Lodge. This evening enjoy your first jungle experience with a night jungle walk. Sounds spring forth from the surroundings…owls and bats come out to hunt and gather, howler monkeys call to each other, reptiles, mammals and birds thrive in the evening hours. Be sure to wear long pants, bring a flashlight and insect repellent.

Sunday - New River area: Visit the only Mayan enclave built near a river bank, Lamanai, "Submerged Crocodile". Probably inhabited as far back as 3,500 years ago, the first buildings date from around 700 BC. The tallest with a height of 112 feet might well have been the tallest Mayan structure of its day. There are over 700 mapped structures, the most notable Temple of the Mask, Jaguar Temple and the Lord Smoking Shell stellae.  (B)

Monday - New River area - Cayo District: From the rainforest area of the north head towards the western province of Cayo. En route you will stop at the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center.  Established in 1983 after a film crew abandoned the animals filmed for a documentary, today the zoo lies on 29 acres with over 125 native species inhabiting the tropical savanna.  Lunch will be provided at the zoo or en route at another selected restaurant. Then continue driving west towards San Ignacio and the Mountain Pine Ridge area to your hotel for your three night stay, Blancaneaux Lodge. (B/L)

Tuesday - Cayo District: Deep in the Chiquibul forest you will visit a Maya site that many believe will one day rival Guatemala's Tikal, Caracol "The Snail". Discovered by area loggers in 1938, the present site covers some 30 square miles. The site dates back to the Calssic Maya period. Today one can see the work being carried out by the archaeologists on three plaza groups, central acroplis, two ball courts as well as a number of smaller structures. (B/L)

Wednesday - Cayo District: A full day just to relax in the tropical forest or optional excursions to the nearby Natural History Center and Butterfly Farm, or canoe on the river, hike the area, mountain bike, or even horseback ride. (B)

Thursday - Cayo District - Belize City - Ambergris Caye:  Rreturn drive of around two hours to Belize City for short, small aircraft flight to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, surrounded by multi-toned blue and green waters, tucked in behind the barrier reef. San Pedro is a small village with gaily painted houses huddled close to swaying palms with cooling breezes and a relaxed atmosphere from which to explore the barrier reef. Your hotel, Victoria House, is at the south end of the Caye but just a short "buggy" drive from the heart of town. (B)

Friday - Ambergris: At leisure to relax by the pool, explore the village of arrange diving, snorkeling or fishing trips. (B)

Saturday - Ambergris: Another full day to enjoy this laid back tropical paradise. (B)

Sunday - Ambergris - Belize City - USA: Transfer to the airport for your short flight directly to the international airport in Belize City where you make connections to your flight back to the USA. Upon arrival, clear immigrations and customs and make connections to your home city. (B)

RATES and DETAILS: