Belize Rainforest and Caribbean Beach Tranquility

Welcome to Belize! Upon arrival, please make your own way through baggage claim and to the Arrivals area. Here you will find your driver-guide holding a sign with your name on it. You will be transferred from Belize City International Airport to your hotel by your private driver-guide.

Transfer duration is 2.5 hours. Upon arrival at your hotel the rest of your day is at leisure

Accommodation: Black Rock Lodge

Come and experience total immersion into nature at Black Rock Lodge, nestled in the dense rainforest on the banks of the Macal River flowing through the Maya Mountains of Belize. Twenty restful, cheerfully decorated cabins, with en-suite bathrooms, veranda hammocks, and unique views of the stunning natural surroundings create complete jungle relaxation. A network of hiking trails, outdoor yoga and spa activities are all part of a serene wellness atmosphere.

Today you can enjoy a visit to one of Belize’s most important Mayan archeological sites. Discovered in 1938 and later explored in the 1950’s, Caracol was thought to be little more than a Maya ceremonial center. It was not until more extensive excavation efforts began in 1985 that the importance and expanse of Caracol became known. In 1986, a round, elaborately carved altar stone was uncovered which described a victory by Caracol over Tikal, once considered to be the most powerful Maya metropolis. This discovery filled an important missing piece of Maya history, covering approximately 140 years in the Middle Classic period, and positioned Caracol as the “Supreme” Maya city. The largest pyramid at Caracol, the Canaa, (Maya for “sky place”) rises 140 feet and is the tallest man-made structure in all of Belize.

Black Rock Lodge is a wonderland of adventure, and you won’t have to wander far to find something exciting to do. It’s quite easy to do so when you have a rushing river, a tropical rainforest, and a national park all in your backyard.

Today you transfer by land to Belize City pier (2.5 hours) and then by ferry (approx. 90 minutes) to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. After arrival in San Pedro, the rest of the day is at leisure.

Accommodation: Portofino Beach Resort

Escape to a charming hideaway fringed by the azure Caribbean Sea and spend tranquil days to the sounds of the waves caressing the World’s second largest barrier reef. Portofino Beach Resort is tucked away, perched on a stretch of private white sandy beach, dotted with swaying palm trees. It’s the perfect place to disconnect from the stresses of daily life and enjoy calm moments with nature and sand between your toes.

Relax and enjoy the tranquility of the Portofino Beach Resort today or perhaps take a short trip into San Pedro.  Unique shops, bars, clubs, restaurants, plus hundreds of golf carts driving around town create the vibrant and fun-filled entertainment that is San Pedro. It’s going to be a day of leisure that you’ll enjoy immensely.

This amazing Snorkelling Tour is a half day of whimsical adventure along the Barrier Reef’s fore reef still within the area of Ambergris Caye. As we cruise along the reef we visit two beautiful sites.

Coral Gardens dubbed as such for being an important habitat of a concentration of Staghorn and Elkhorn coral with scatters of a variety of different stony coral species. The site is regularly studied and regarded as an important refuge of these type of coral in the Caribbean. Adding to its whimsy, the variety of fish specie darting within the coral florets!

The two sites are in fairly close proximity, with Manatee Reef a bit further southbound.
Manatee Reef lies at the edge of a natural reef channel, with rich flow of nutrients for the lushness of the environment. Large heads of coral formations cause an interesting topography providing crevices for juvenile marine life to take shelter. These interesting coral mounds are scattered along the channel banks covering a large expanse of otherwise sandy bottoms, and further enhanced by the occasional swaying marine shrubbery as it’s caressed by the channels gentle current. Of interest is the proximity to a natural manatee habitat, thus earning the site’s nickname. As such many a times there’s the possibility of catching a glimpse of these gentle creatures if they happen to be in the area, or decide to cruise in. At that, a great bonus to the variety of marine life already dancing within the thickets of coral formations.

Both sites lie within the fore reef “inside the reef” and at most 6-12ft in depth at its various points, offering a relatively leisurely snorkel experience.

By now you know that there is plenty to do in San Pedro. Enjoy another day at leisure to do some more shopping or try out one of the many restaurants you saw earlier in the week. 

Today you take the return ferry from San Pedro to Belize City Pier and then a private transfer to Belize International Airport for your flight home, unless you plan to extend your stay in the area.