We have included a number of sample trip itineraries to give you a sense of what is involved in the day to day aspect of an Island Expeditions educational trip in Belize. Here we profile trip itineraries that include many of the most popular activities. They are meant as a guideline and may be arranged with changes to activites and/or trip duration depending on your needs. The per person cost of a trip will vary depending on group size, departure city and activities involved.

Sample Trip itinerary
Maya Rainforest to the Barrier Reef - 10 days

Day 1 Our first night is at the Tropical Education Center and the Belize Zoo. We are introduced to the habitats and wildlife of Belize and have a special night tour of the Belize Zoo with the senior zookeeper as our guide.

Day 2 We drive into the Mountain Pine Ridge then hike along an established trails to the recently opened archaeological caves of Actun Tunichil Muknal. Following an underground river we climb into a massive crystalline chamber, which was once a major ceremonial center for the ancient Maya. Within the chamber there are over 80 Mayan pots, stone tools and calcified skeletons of sacrificial victims.

Day 3 -5 Over the next few days we explore and learn about biodiversity and tropical rainforest ecology. Paddle inflatable kayaks through the rainforest on the South Stann Creek, hike interpretive trails and enjoy swimming in hidden pools. Afternoon and evening activities focus on the Maya people through stories, traditional foods, arts and crafts.Overnight camping in the rainforest or at the park research facilities.

Day 6-9 We travel from the rainforest to the southern barrier reef. Here we paddle and sail our kayaks from cay to cay experiencing one of the richest coral reef environments in the entire Caribbean. Our activities include snorkeling, sea kayaking, and fishing along with intertidal and mangrove exploration and daily lectures on coral reef and fish ecology. On our last night we celebrate the culture of the Garifuna people with a night of songs, stories, music and traditional dance.

Day 10 After breakfast we transfer by boat back to the coast and travel overland to connect with our international flight home.

Sample Trip itinerary
Glovers Reef & Maya Rainforest

Day 1 Arrive at the Belize International airport and transfer to Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center. After settling into our quarters we are led by a senior zookeeper on a unique nocturnal tour of the Belize Zoo. Organized around the theme of "a walk through the habitats of Belize" with trails leading into pinelands, the forest edge, rainforest and wetlands we are able to see first-hand the remarkable diversity of wildlife in the neo-tropics. The Belize Zoo has gained an international reputation for it's outstanding conservation and education achievements within Belize.

Day 2-6 We travel by motor charter 40 miles offshore to our Adventurelearn basecamp on Glovers Reef Marine Reserve. Here we have over 70 square miles of pristine coral reefs and remote islands as our natural classroom. Using sea kayaks we paddle and snorkel amongst coral reefs and mangroves; we study fish behavior, marine mammals and invertebrates. The warm protected waters within the atoll are perfect for teaching students how to sea kayak and we also learn about Belizean and Garifuna culture with crafts, stories and music. Our last evening on the island is a grand celebration with a mouth-watering seafood feast, fresh coconut baking student presentations and traditional Garifuna drumming and dancing.

Day 7-8 Leaving Glovers Reef in the morning we travel to the 102,000-acre Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Reserve for the next stage of our journey. We stay in a Mayan village and eat traditional Mayan foods and also camp along the banks of a rainforest river with our Mayan guides. River paddling, hiking, wildlife viewing, tropical forest ecology ,biodiversity, Mayan culture and archaeology are all part of the action as we explore Belize's largest protected rainforest environment.

Day 9 In the afternoon as you board your flight back home you marvel at how different the world is and how much you have experienced and learned in such a short time.

Other sample itineraries include:

Maya Rainforest to the Barrier Reef - 8 days

Sacred Caves & Lighthouse Reef Atoll