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Belize - Coral Jaguar Expedition
offered by supplier M14466 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 11
day(s)
Group Size: 6
- 12
people
Destination(s):
Belize
Specialty Categories:
Canoeing/Kayaking/Rafting
Rainforest
Season: December - April
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 2199 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 2199 US Dollar (USD)
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The Barrier Reef, which runs the full length of the Belizean coastline, is considered one of the richest marine ecosystems on earth. The reef, which is 185 miles long and runs from 10 to 25 miles offshore of the mainland, is the longest continuous reef in the Caribbean and one of the longest in the world. Along the barrier reef are over 225 cayes, ranging from small sand-fringed islands perched along the reef's edge, to larger islands of partially submerged land and mangroves found west of the main Barrier Reef and closer to the mainland. Teeming with brilliantly-colored fish, sea grass beds, and patch reefs, the reef systems here have not seen nearly the level of human impact as witnessed in Mexico to the north and Honduras to the south where large scale tourism and intense commercial fishing have damaged the marine habitat. It is in this region that we find the best sea kayaking and snorkeling.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: 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 settling into our forest cabanas we have a chance to meet our fellow travelers over dinner. At the Tropical Education Center, we have a chance to explore the surrounding savannah forest through their network of interpretative trails and wildlife viewing platforms. There is also an interpretative center, which details 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, dinner and lodging are included. This day is your day to arrive before the trip starts, meet your fellow travelers and acclimatize to your new tropical environment.
Accommodation: (Tropical Education Center).
Meals: Dinner
Day 2: After breakfast our guides take us on a morning walk along the wildlife viewing platforms at the center, and then we travel across the road to the Belize Zoo to participate in the Problem Jaguar Program. This has recently been setup by the Director of the Belize Zoo to address the growing number of Jaguars that are predating on cattle and pets on farms and in villages across Belize. The program live-captures Jaguars, exposes them to people as part of their rehabilitation, and gets them used to captivity. Eventually these animals will be available to high quality zoos around the world instead of being exterminated. This trip helps fund this new program, and gives people a once in a lifetime chance to spend time face to face with the master of the neo-tropical jungle.
After lunch at the TEC, we meander down one of Belize’s most spectacular drives, the Hummingbird Highway, into the Maya Village of Maya Center. Here we are greeted by a local Mayan family that hosts us for the night, and talks to us on how the village helps manage the park and about the life of the modern Maya. Here we enjoy a traditional Belizean dinner with our Belizean guide, discuss how to pack for the river portion of the trip, and talk details of the next days hike into the river.
Accommodation: (Lodge).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Days 3-5: Early in the morning, we leave the lodge and head to the Cockscomb Park headquarters, where we tour the small interpretive center, load our backpacks, and begin our journey into the river put-in and our first camp in the Cockscomb. Stopping along the way to learn of the many plants and animals of the rainforest, we travel down a wide trail through the center of the park before veering off the main path into the Mexican Branch junction of the South Stann Creek River.
For this portion of the trip, we use two-person inflatable kayaks which combine the stability of a raft with the maneuverability of a kayak. We begin by traveling slowly, learning different paddle strokes and getting a feel for how the boats handle on the water. Traveling downriver we experience all the luxuriance and beauty of the tropical rainforest. Each bend in the river holds the promise of something new. As the trip progresses, we learn how to navigate through small rapids becoming proficient with reading the water and choosing the right channels.
Arriving at our established bush-camps in the afternoon, we have time to explore and learn more about the plants and wildlife in the surrounding forest, and can take advantage of the afternoon light for photography. At night, we have the chance to go for a night-walk to try and see some of the nocturnal animals. This is the premier trip for encountering wildlife in the rainforests of Belize.
Accommodation: (Camping).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 6: Our last morning in the rainforest we travel downstream through an exciting boulder garden and rapids section, before we are met by IEC staff at the pull-out point. After lunch in Maya Center, we drive overland to the coastal town of Dangriga, where we take a motor to our first camp on the Belize Barrier Reef. Moving from the green, lush jungle to the waving palms and turquoise waters of the Caribbean is a exceptional contrast. And throughout we will gain an appreciation of the similarities of the ecosystems on the coral reef and that of the rainforest. We begin with the fundamentals of sea kayaking; we learn and practice paddle strokes, as well as self-rescue and group-rescue techniques, before heading out in the evening for a paddle. Time permitting, we can also enjoy some snorkeling and exploration at one of the nearby patch reefs.
Accommodation: (Camping).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 7-10: Expect an adventure of a lifetime as we explore south and east of Dangriga along this wild section of the Barrier Reef. Our days are a blend of paddling and sailing our kayaks, swimming and snorkeling in the turquoise waters and camping amongst the hundreds of tropical islands along the reef. We engage in a variety of activities as we travel each day. We learn new paddling skills, hone our kayak-sailing skills and try our hands at navigating with a marine chart and compass. A big part of each day is spent exploring the many coral reefs encountered along the way.
We also travel through productive fishing grounds with bonefish, tarpon, snapper, grouper and barracuda providing excellent sport fishing, as well as a wonderful variety for the dinner table. For those who savor the simple pleasures of life, you can master the art of relaxing in a hammock with a good book while your guides prepare a fresh seafood dinner.
Accommodation: (Camping).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Day 11: Enjoy our last day on the cays snorkeling paddling, fishing. In the afternoon we end our journey on an island along the inner channel of the barrier reef, and are transferred to the mainland by motor charter. Back in Dangriga, we settle into our accommodations, and have a chance to shower, dress and relax before our evening celebration at a local family’s house for dinner. Trip finishes in Dangriga the following day. Our office can help you make whatever travel arrangements you need from this point.
Accommodation: (Lodge).
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner.
Note: This trip takes place in a remote wilderness region of Belize. There is a 6 mile hike into the put-in point on the river. Participants are expected only to carry their personal gear into the river, and need to be ready for the unexpected. Weather conditions can greatly affect water levels and access 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. Trip itineraries can vary significantly depending on water levels.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
Central America and Caribbean
Belize
Outdoor: Water Drifter
Canoeing/Kayaking/Rafting
Rainforest
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, ext: 14466
