BELIZE ADVENTURE WEEK
EXPLORE BELIZE BY PEDAL, PADDLE, SAIL, SCUBA AND MORE!

Belize Adventure Week -- our ever-popular, action-packed tour -- explores this fascinating country using a multi-sport format. Our trend setting itinerary is the culmination of eighteen years of exploring Belize; and we have designed an itinerary that packs in twelve different sports in eight days!
Your adventure begins with a series of inland activities in the Maya Mountains. Each day overflows with a multitude of exciting sports. We hike and bike through the jungle on single track trails, scramble through caves, climb Mayan ruins, run whitewater gorges and descend an underground river by headlamp!
Next we transfer by boat to our exclusive Water Sports Center on Long Caye at Glover’s Reef, Belize’s newest marine reserve. Here we base from our private island, surrounded by coral reefs and the aqua blue Caribbean Sea. We use sea kayaks to access snorkeling sites, to visit other islands in the atoll, and, weather permitting, to paddle outside the reef ring of the atoll to experience the open sea. In addition to sea kayaking and snorkeling, we have top-notch surf kayaks to take advantage of our "point break", and complete windsurfing rigs for beginner through advanced sailors. World-class scuba diving is provided by Off the Wall Dive Center, which offers PADI certified dives as well as beginner courses.
Our island facilities include: cabanas on the shore, our dining hall where you enjoy cold drinks and home-cooked meals while perusing our extensive library, ecologically-friendly composting toilets, and showers pumped by the sun. Long Caye offers a backdrop few locations can match.
Inland our lodging is in private, family-style accommodations, and the meals prepared by our lodges include a wide variety of foods, including fresh seafood, tropical fruit salads, and traditional Belizean fare. Cold beverages are always available and included in the trip price.
This trip is designed for those looking for an active vacation, and although no experience is required, some guests may find the activities too strenuous (particularly the portages on both the Caves Branch River and the Macal River). People who have no river experience but are in good physical shape and have a good attitude will do fine. Many of our past guests have commented that this is the best vacation they have ever taken!

ZZ-SKEC-21
9 days/ 8 nights $ 2,275
Service charge: 5%
from Belize City, Belize
2008 Season Departures
December 6, 13, 20, 27
2009 Season Departures
January 3, 10, 17, 24, 31;
February 7, 14, 21, 28;
March 7, 14, 21, 28;
April 4, 11, 18, 25;
May 2, 9 

INCLUDED
* All transport and meals in itinerary
* Accommodations listed in itinerary (booked double occupancy if possible)
* Guides and support staff
* Sports equipment listed (except snorkel/scuba gear)
* Tents, linens, and mattresses
* All park entrance fees
* Non-alcoholic drinks inland and cold beer, soda, juice, and water on the island (other drinks may be purchased in Belize)
* T-shirt  

Itinerary
This itinerary is subject to change. Weather, river levels, and road conditions can cause delays and substitutions of activities.

SATURDAY, DAY 1: Arrive at Belize International Airport, then taxi to the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel for a 4:30 p.m. meeting in the lobby. We leave for Maya Mountain Lodge no later than 5:00 p.m. Please note: it is important that your flight arrive no later than 4:30 p.m. in order to guarantee that you not miss your ride to western Belize. If you must land later than 4:30, you will have to catch up with the group (see If Late or Delayed). You may also meet us at Maya Mountain by 6:30 p.m. if you are already in the country. Dinner and overnight at Maya Mountain Lodge, our base for the inland part of the trip.
SUNDAY, DAY 2: After an early breakfast we drive to Actun Tunichil Muknal, the Cave of the Crystal Sepulchre. This cavern was considered to be an entrance to Shivalva, the Mayan home of subterranean gods. Discovered only a few years ago, this is one of the most impressive archaeological treasures in the region.
First we hike about two miles from the edge of the rainforest to the cave entrance. We enter by swimming a few feet across the creek which issues from the cave’s mouth. Inside we find vaulted halls brimming with tall columns of crystallized flowstone. We view ceramic offerings left by Shamans, mixed with the bones and skulls of sacrificial victims. We also see a fully-articulated skeleton of a woman bonded to the cave floor. Few other Mayan sites can compare to the treasures found in this cave. Featured in the July/August 2001 issue of National Geographic Adventure, this is the premier caving tour in the country of Belize. We return to our lodge.
MONDAY, DAY 3: After a short drive to the Caves Branch River we conduct a short river orientation and launch on our underground journey in rafts and kayaks. We navigate four underground caverns by headlamp! This unique trip combines caving and river running for an unusual, captivating ride.
Stops include short hikes up tributaries and a visit to a Mayan "totem pole" carved into a stalagmite. We also negotiate a quarter-mile portage on a jungle trail. This fabulous odyssey is arguably the best one-day adventure in the country, a must-do for any visit to Belize! We return to Maya Mountain, tired and ready for another fantastic meal.
TUESDAY, DAY 4: Today: whitewater! We run the Mopan River in sit-on-top hard-shell kayaks (hard-shell whitewater kayaks also available) that allow everyone to learn river kayaking and to enjoy the many small drops and waterfalls on this jungle river. Putting in near the Guatemala border, we teach kayak strokes and maneuvers which we then practice while going downstream. Numerous Class II rapids are run in this six-mile stretch. The Mopan boasts abundant bird life and iguanas, and it is a favorite recreational area for locals, whom we often see in the Belize rainforest along the shore.
We take out at Clarissa Falls Cottages where Chena serves up an excellent Belizean home-cooked meal. After lunch we visit Xunantunich, Belize Mayan ruins, home of Mayan rulers who controlled a large part of western Belize and Guatemala. We climb the Castillo, a 130-foot high pyramid that is one of the tallest man-made structures in the country. We return to Maya Mountain for our last night in the jungle.
WEDNESDAY, DAY 5: Time to hit the Caribbean! After an early breakfast we return to Belize City, arriving by 10 a.m. for a 65-mile, 2-hour boat ride to our Water Sports Center on Long Caye, at Glover's Reef Atoll, joining the Adventure Island group who have been there since Saturday.
After moving into our cabanas and having lunch we take a snorkeling trip among the coral heads right off our shore and if the surf is up, squeeze in a surf kayak session.
THURSDAY, DAY 6: Sea kayak orientation starts the day. Our guides are expert instructors and cover paddle strokes, entering and exiting the kayak from the water, and other basic techniques. After lunch we paddle to a nearby reef to snorkel from the kayaks. Deep sea diving is another option, whether you are a certified diver or want to try scuba for the first time. You may also choose "island time", a.k.a. "hammock surfing"!
FRIDAY, DAY 7: We begin our last full day with windsurfing instruction. Guests may also choose between activities such as kayak rolling lessons, scuba diving classes, kayak kite sailing to nearby Middle Caye (home of the Marine Research Center), surfing fishing, or snorkeling around the island. Our Belizean cooks prepare feasts for us, which we enjoy in-between this myriad of activities. SATURDAY, DAY 8: Island activities in the morning. After lunch we take our launch to Belize City, arriving between 3 and 4 p.m. Our arrival time cannot be predicted since it depends on factors such as weather and the schedule of the group coming out to the island. Therefore, guests should not make other plans for Saturday night, and this is why we include the last night's hotel stay and meal in the trip price.. After checking into the Biltmore, we enjoy dinner at our favorite restaurant.
SUNDAY, DAY 9: Earliest day to fly home.

Activities

River Running   We run two rivers by raft and kayak (hard shell sit-on-top, whitewater, inflatable). First, we paddle underground through five miles of caverns on the Caves Branch River. Our journey through the darkness is punctuated by views through collapsed windows into the surrounding jungle. We take underground side hikes, as well as a one-quarter-mile portage, when everyone pitches in to get the gear to the opening of the next cave. Of all of the Belize tour packages that offer caving, no one else can come close to this fabulous underwater river running adventure. You can also visit our Caves Branch River page for more information.

We also run the Mopan River in hard-shell sit-on-top kayaks. This unique travertine pool-drop river begins in the Maya Mountains of Guatemala and is one of two rivers that form the Belize River, the largest river in the country. We run a short stretch that contains all the perfect elements in which to learn the basics of whitewater kayaking. Although safe and easy, it provides plenty of challenges to negotiate the many chutes and drops encountered. We provide complete instruction in the use of these kayaks before setting out, with no experience required. You can read more on our Mopan River page.

Caving   Belize is famous for its extensive cave systems, many of which have been the focus of major expeditions. The crystalline dripstone formations of Belize rival any worldwide. We visit two caves, beginning with an all-day exploration of Actun Tunichil Muknal, the most impressive Mayan ceremonial cave yet discovered in Belize. Swimming to enter, we then hike over a mile underground. Deep inside we discover ceramics, ceremonial altars, stone carvings, and skeletons of sacrificial victims left there by Mayan Shamans 1500 years ago. For more info visit our Belize Caves page. The next day we run the Caves Branch River cave system in rafts and kayaks, which winds for nearly five miles underground. We run this easy, Class I and II river by headlamp!

Mayan Ruins    Our trip takes us through an area rich in Mayan artifacts and archaeology. In addition to visiting Actun Tunichil Muknal with its array of undisturbed relics, we tour Xunantunich, which contains the second largest man-made structure in Belize. Perched high on a hill, this complex was a major ceremonial center during the classic period of the Maya. Beautiful stucco reliefs and carved stelae are on display, and excavation projects are ongoing.

For those who wish to visit other Maya civilization sites, our Mayan Odyssey trip spends three days exploring the ancient Mayan world.

Hiking    Hiking is incorporated into many of our other activities. We hike through lush jungle during the portage on the Caves Branch River, which provides an excellent opportunity to see rainforest flora and fauna. When exploring Xunantunich, we climb to a viewpoint where we can see all the way to Guatemala. We also hike two miles through jungle to get to the entrance of Actun Tunichil Muknal. Along the way your guide talks about the plants and their medicinal uses, and tropical birds and iguana are often seen.

Sea Kayaking    Paddling the clear, 80-degree waters of the Caribbean is every kayaker’s dream. Our private island at Glover’s Atoll is perched on a ring of coral surrounded by the open sea, providing an unbeatable setting to learn and practice sea kayaking. We paddle daily to snorkel from our boats and to visit nearby islands.

Scuba Vacation/Caribbean Snorkeling    Of all the highlights of your visit, exploring the underwater world will be the most memorable. The pristine reefs of Belize are world-renowned, and those at Glover’s National Marine Reserve are the best in the country. The remarkable clarity of the water here makes this an ideal location for snorkeling and diving. Guests can snorkel the reefs right off our island, or use the sea kayaks to access the many patch reefs. Scuba diving is available right on the island for both certified divers and novices. It is common to see dolphins, turtles, and up to 50 species of creatures in one dive. Please visit our scuba page for more information on scuba diving training courses and dive sites.

Windsurfing     Holidays + Kayak Kite Sailing We offer beginning to advanced windsurfing with six complete rigs and a land trainer. The calm waters of the lagoon are an ideal place to learn. For experts our short boards provide big action in the channel surf. Steady winds are almost always present, and the 80-degree water means you get to windsurf in your bathing suit! We also often kite sail our kayaks to Middle Caye using kayak parafoil kites when the wind permits. No paddling, and you travel the three miles in under an hour!

Sport Fishing Although this program emphasizes kayaking, snorkeling, diving, surfing, and windsurfing, fishermen will not be disappointed! There is no need to hire a private guide, you just wade in. The fishing (catch-and-release only) is excellent just off our island. It is common to pull in up to a half-dozen bonefish per session. Many fishermen also spin-cast off of our dock and permit, jack, and barracuda also provide a great deal of excitement.

Surfing and Kayak Surfing   Our eastern shore is exposed to the prevailing trade winds, which create ideal conditions for surf. The waves break on shoals of coral rubble, which generate a perfect "point" break and a great ride for our surf kayaks. Watching the action from our surf dock is a sport in itself as the surfers provide hours of entertainment for those who choose to relax with a cold soda or beer. Board surfing is our newest sport! We just bought new boards for guests with previous surfing experience. Although our surf break is perfect for all levels on surf kayaks, it is not suitable for beginning surfers. Experienced surfers often catch long rides along our break and have convinced us that good surfers will love this wave!

Surf Skis    New this season: We has added several surf ski kayaks to our collection of boats on Long Caye. These are long, narrow sit on top kayaks that are designed for high speed, and they are used to surf the swells out on the open sea. Their exceptionally fast hull speed allows these kayaks to catch waves and swells that no other boat can manage. Surf skis are most commonly found along the west coast and in Hawaii, where surfing is a much bigger sport due to the warm water and larger swells of the Pacific.

Accommodations

Maya Mountain Lodge:
Conveniently located but surrounded by jungle, Maya Mountain is nestled beneath the rainforest canopy. Situated on a large parcel of private land close to San Ignacio, this friendly, family-run jungle lodge boasts an excellent staff and their meals are superb.
We stay in "The Parrot Perch", a private family-style house with private rooms and baths, and a huge porch where we enjoy cold drinks after a long day on the river or in the caves. They also have an outdoor dining pavilion, a pool, internet access for guests, and beautifully tended gardens. The setting immerses you in the daily rhythms of the surrounding jungle, and the birding is excellent right on the grounds. Basing out of Maya Mountain for the inland part of Adventure Week allows our groups a perfect blend of accessibility and comfort.

LONG CAYE AT GLOVER'S REEF:
Depending on your experience, our Water Sports Center is either the cushiest camp or the most rustic resort you have seen. We keep the island in as natural a state as possible, and there is no electricity or plumbing. Two-person tents are set up under a palapa roof (single travelers do not share a tent). Each tent has mattresses and linens (view from your tent, above, view of palapa, far left), and the ever-present breeze keeps the temperatures well below what they are on the mainland. Our dining hall (below) is the center of island life, complete with solar-powered lights, propane stove and refrigerator (for cold beer and soda!), and our ever-growing library.
We drink collected rainwater, and we bathe with well-water pumped by the sun (not heated, the showers are about 70 degrees). Composting toilets complete this ecologically friendly set-up. Our spacious island (13.5 acres) and rustic facilities ensure your comfort without compromising the adventure of living on an undeveloped and un-crowded island. Best of all, a hammock with your name on it is waiting under the palms. 

BELIZE BILTMORE PLAZA HOTEL: 
The Biltmore is a full-service hotel located on the outskirts of Belize City, three miles from downtown and near the International Airport. The Biltmore has a business center, beautifully landscaped courtyard, swimming pool, great restaurant/bar, gym, gift shop, tour desk, and internet café’. It's perfect for guests who are arriving early or staying late, or who have just a few extra hours in the city.

GRADE: Level 2+, Vigorous, Participants should be able to perform two+ continuous hours of moderate exercise without becoming overly fatigued. All sports are suitable for those in good physical shape.

GROUP SIZE: Min.- 4; max.-12

AGE LIMITS: Min.-13; max.-65 (min. age for Macal run: 15)

SMALL-TRIP SURCHARGE: All trips have a minimum requirement of 4 guests; however, we will run a trip for two to three guests for a surcharge of $200/person. When you sign up for a trip, please be aware you will be charged this additional fee if fewer than four people sign up. We will bill you two weeks prior to departure for this additional fee if it applies.

EXTENDING YOUR STAY ON THE ISLAND: If you are like many of our guests, no number of days is enough time on our island! Back-to-back trips are now an even better deal than they have been in the past. Please inquire about our special deals for booking more than one trip in a season. We do not offer individual additional days on the island. Adventure Week guests often book the Sea Kayak Glover's Reef Half Week itinerary so they can stay on the island for a full week.

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