Discover, Plan & Go!

"DAY 1 : ARRIVE IN BELIZE Upon arrival at the Belize International Airport receive a warm welcome from a representative of Sam Tillett's Guide Service. Get your first glimpses of Belize as you depart Belize City and head for the mountains of the Cayo District. The two hour ride takes you deep into the jungle of the Cayo and to the lodge at Pook's Hill, the perfect base for beginning to experiencing Belize. Secreted away down a long dirt road, the lodge property borders a 6,800 acre rainforest sanctuary which is home to colorful toucans, butterflies, Howler monkeys and jaguars. Comfortable thatched cottages with en-suite baths and ceiling fans feature local art. Enjoy excellent family-style meals in the lantern lit dining room and the warm hospitality of the owners who make a special point to personally greeting each guest. Overnight Pook's Hill Lodge or similar. [D] DAY 2 : TUBING ON THE ROARING RIVER Nature's alarm clock will wake you early this morning as the jungle comes to life. Join your guide for a morning bird and nature walk on the area's trail system. Returning from your walk, take time to investigate the Maya site located right on the property. Sitting in the partially excavated site, try to imagine what it must have been like to live among these ancient people. Cool off looking for birds and butterflies tubing down the Roaring River, which is located adjacent to the front of the lodge. This gentle river makes tubing appropriate and fun for all ages. Feel free to stop along the way and abandon your tube on shore to swim in deep pools. Relax and bird watch from the comfort of a hammock in the thatched veranda before enjoying dinner in the screened dining room. Be sure to try the local specialty that Pook's Hill offers at each meal. Check out the nocturnal sights and sounds of the jungles on a guided night walk. Overnight Pook's Hill Lodge or similar. [BLD] Green iguanas are challenging to spot in the trees lining the riverbanks as you canoe towards San Ignacio. DAY 3 : CANOEING AND EXPLORING XUNANTUNICH Grab a paddle and set off to explore the nearby Macal River by canoe. With your guide's assistance become an expert at spotting birds, iguanas and other rainforest wildlife as you travel the river. Eat lunch in the bustling town of San Igancio before visiting the Maya ruins of Xunantunich, Maiden of the Rock. The dominant structure of this ruin rises 130 feet above ground with an excellent view from the top of the surrounding forest and the rest of the ancient city mapped out below. Explore the ruins, picturing life in this once thriving ancient city as your guide brings history to life for all ages. Returning to Pook's Hill, savor another dinner surrounded by the sounds of the rainforest before packing your bags for the beach. Overnight at Pook's Hill Lodge or similar. [BLD] DAY 4 : OFF TO THE BEACH Settle into the van for one of the most scenic drives in Belize as you travel along the Hummingbird Highway through the Maya Mountains to Hopkins on the Caribbean Coast. Stop at the Blue Hole, a crystal clear sinkhole fed by an underground stream, for a refreshing swim and lunch before arriving at the beach. Kick off your shoes, unpack and settle into your beach cabana, your home for the next 5 nights. The lodge features hardwood, traditional materials such as bay leaf thatch, ceramic tiles, wonderful ocean views and pristine white sand at your doorstep. Take a dip in the gentle ocean water or one of the swimming pools or simply relax in a hammock under the swaying palms and let your cares drift away. Overnight at Jaguar Reef Lodge or similar. [BLD] Learning to snorkel is easy in the calm, shallow waters of Belizes cayes. DAY 5 : SNORKEL THE BARRIER REEF Check out the strange coral formations and swim amongst a variety of brilliantly colored tropical fish as you explore the marine environment on a full day snorkeling and swimming adventure. Boat through a string of mangrove cayes, home to an impressive variety of marine life including angel and parrot fish, sergeant major, barracuda, eel and the occasional stingray or harmless nurse shark. Continue out to the Belize Barrier Reef, the longest unbroken barrier reef in the world. Your guide will swim along with you pointing out the dazzling array of tropical fish and brain and hydrocorals, sea fans, feather plumes, sponges and sea cucumbers. Enjoy a relaxing picnic lunch with plenty of time for beachcombing before further exploring the reef and returning to the lodge by mid afternoon. Don't forget the sunscreen! Overnight at Jaguar Reef Lodge or similar. [BLD] DAY 6 : RIVER CAVE EXPEDITION Rise early for an unforgettable day combining an inner tube float trip with cave exploration. Catch a little more sleep on the hour drive into the heart of the Maya Mountains before hoping on a tractor cart for the ride through citrus orchards to the rivers edge. A short float trip carries you into a cave which opens into a massive cavern featuring underground waterfalls, limestone formations, and an incredible crystal cathedral chamber. Witness evidence of ancient Maya ceremonial sites and relics as you walk throughout the cave system. Relax and relish this adventure as expert caving guides and naturalists lead this exploration. No experience is needed since the trip does not involve technical caving. Overnight at Jaguar Reef Lodge or similar. [BLD] Howler monkeys provide a raucous soundtrack as you explore the preserve. DAY 7 : EXPLORE COCKSCOMB BASIN JAGUAR TOUR Grab your hiking shoes and head out to explore one of the most beautiful nature reserves in Belize. The sanctuary which was established in 1984 as a preserve for the largest cats in the Americas, the jaguar, encompasses some 100,000 acres of lush broadleaf tropical forest. See Howler monkeys, Bairds tapir, numerous amphibian and reptile species and plenty of birds such as the endangered Scarlet macaw, Keel-billed toucan and King vulture as you walk the trails hoping to catch sight of an elusive jaguar. Return to the ranger station for lunch and to catch your breath before hiking to a waterfall. Plunge into a refreshing pool and have fun on the natural waterslides. Overnight at Jaguar Reef Lodge or similar. [BLD] DAY 8 : FREE DAY! Your last full day in Belize is yours to plan as much or as little as you like! Sleep late, lounge on the beach, swim in the pool, borrow one of the complimentary kayaks and paddle the blue waters off shore. Hop on one of the lodge's bikes and pedal into the nearby village of Hopkins to experience Garifuna culture. Or bike 10 minutes to Iguana Lodge, Jaguar Reef's new outpost on the Sittee River. Explore the pristine river water by kayak looking for iguanas, manatees, crocodiles, turtles, parrots and parakeets. Or try your luck with the complimentary spin casting gear and fish the Sittee for grouper, snook, snapper, or tarpon. Complete the afternoon with a family game of bocce, badminton, cards or dominos. Overnight at Jaguar Reef Lodge or similar. [BLD] DAY 9 : FLY HOME Enjoy a last dip in the ocean and shake out the sand before packing up and boarding your short flight from Dangriga back to the Belize International airport in time for your international departure. (Local flight included.) Laugh about your good times on the way home and start planning your next family adventure! [B] "