Discover Belize

Arrive in Belize City, the capital of Belize until 1970, at which time it moved to Belmopan. Its a typical Caribbean town; parts of the town are still largely built of wood and galvanised iron, with many of the original colonial style houses in an elegant state of disrepair. The port is where most of the activity is, with boats coming and going to the offshore Cayes. Our Leader plans to meet us in the hotel reception at 6pm for the welcome meeting. There are no other activities planned for today, so you are free to arrive in Belize City at any time. If you would like an airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive at Belize's Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (airport code BZE), which is 16km, around 20 minutes' drive from the hotel. Should you miss the welcome meeting, your Leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. Belize City is usually a quick pitstop for travellers en route to get into the Belizean jungles or directly onto the Caribbean Islands. It's worth noting that flights from the UK will likely require an overnight stay in the USA, with the most frequent flight options transiting via Miami or Houston. We recommend that you book an airport hotel, which often offer complimentary airport shuttle services.

Leaving Belize City on the northern highway, we drive to the atmospheric Maya ruins of Altun Ha. The pyramids and temples in this compact site are a great introduction to Belize's diverse cultural history. Within less than one hour, we journey from the Caribbean vibes of Belize City to the land of the ancient Maya. Although Belize's array of Maya ruins is smaller than the more famous sites in Guatemala and Mexico, they possess an incredible Indiana Jones-esque atmosphere that is utterly unique. Later in the afternoon, we travel inland to the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, an important wetland habitat. Settling down for two nights, we enjoy the hospitality of our local hosts on the shores of the Crooked Tree Lagoon. Established in 1984, this maze of waterways and lagoons supports a wonderful variety of wetland species, perfect for our first close-up encounter with Belize's famed wildlife.

Rising early this morning, we explore the lagoon by boat (in times of low water, we will explore on foot). In this birdwatcher's paradise, we may spot wood storks, numerous herons, vultures, kingfishers, raptor,s and shorebirds, and perhaps most notably, the rare jabiru stork - the tallest flying bird in the Americas, standing at 5ft with a wingspan of up to 9ft. We return to the lodge for breakfast and then set off by vehicle to the New River for the boat ride upstream to the 2000-year-old jungle ruins of Lamanai. Water birds are abundant in the ancient rainforest cover, and crocodiles may be spotted lurking along the riverbank. Lamanai, the original name of these Maya ruins, means 'Submerged Crocodile,' which helps to explain the numerous carved crocodile representations at the site. The ruins are located some distance off the beaten track and are still not reconstructed or cleared. We approach on foot, following well-marked trails. The surrounding rainforest, with its thick canopy of huge trees and humid atmosphere, adds an aura of mystery to the scattered and overgrown relics. A cache of children's bones has been unearthed from beneath one of the stelae, suggesting that the Maya practiced human sacrifice here.

We have the option of another early bird-watching walk and sunrise along the Crooked Tree Lagoon before our departure after breakfast. En route to the seaside resort of Placencia, we will visit the Community Baboon Sanctuary in search of howler monkeys. Here, we have a chance to watch troops of black howler monkeys swinging from the trees in their natural habitat before we begin our journey south along the scenic Hummingbird Highway, where orange and grapefruit groves are surrounded by a backdrop of lush jungle-clad limestone hills - The Maya Mountains. Our day ends in the beach resort of Placencia, a town located at the end of a narrow peninsula between mangrove lagoons, the Maya Mountains, and the Caribbean Sea.

Placencia is southern Belize's premier beach spot and a jumping-off point for visiting numerous cayes that form part of the Belize Barrier Reef - the longest reef system in the western hemisphere. Today, we have the option of a full-day visit to Laughing Bird Caye. It lies 9 miles east of the Placencia Peninsula and is an area of specific biological interest within the World Heritage Site. The day trip gives us two guided snorkelling trips directly from the shores of this picture-perfect uninhabited tropical island, as well as an included lunch. Alternatively, you might like to relax and enjoy local life at the beach in Placencia.

This morning, we visit the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. This is the world's first and only jaguar reserve, located in the heart of an important large tract of undisturbed tropical forest that is thought to have the densest population of jaguars in all the Americas; that being said, we would have to be extremely fortunate to spot one. The reserve is home to five species of wild cats, wild pigs, dwarf brocket, and white-tailed deer, as well as Belize's national mammal - the tapir. More than 300 species of birds can also be found on an extensive network of maintained trails. We plan to hike through the rainforest to a small waterfall, covering approximately 5 kilometres on relatively flat terrain. For the more energetic, there is a strenuous uphill hike to the clearing of 'Ben's Bluff', which offers incredible views of the forest and Belize's most iconic mountain - Victoria Peak, standing at 1120 metres. Leaving the park, we drive on towards San Ignacio and stop at the inland Blue Hole for a refreshing dip. This collapsed limestone cavern is similar to the cenotes found in Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and is located in yet another large protected forest reserve - the Blue Hole National Park.

San Ignacio, a traditional Belizean town, is an ideal place to base ourselves for the next couple of days. Straddling the Macal River, which was once a critical transportation artery for the Maya and later the European settlers, it is now a centre for many adventurous activities. Today, we make a visit to the great classical Maya site of Xunantunich, which in the Mayan language translates to 'Maiden of the Rock'. The name comes from a local legend that a ghostly high priestess is said to haunt these ruins. We go by bus and cross the River Mopan by a traditional hand-winched ferry to arrive at the site. Occupied until about AD 850, the main plaza is dominated by an awesome structure called El Castillo - a massive pyramid which, at 130 feet tall, was the tallest man-made structure in Belize before the discovery of Canaa at Caracol. The superb view from the summit looks out over the forest with the Maya mountains to the south and the lowlands of Guatemala to the west. After visiting Xunantunich, we journey back to San Ignacio and explore the lively market, full of Belize's colourful cross-section of diverse people and the local produce they bring to town from the surrounding villages. The afternoon is at leisure. You may wish to make an independent visit to the Cahal Pech Archaeological Site- the oldest known Maya site in Belize

In the middle of our busy trip, we have a free day to spend as we please around San Ignacio or relaxing in the gardens and by pool of our hotel. You can visit the Mayan ruins at Cahal Pech if you didn't do this yesterday. Alteratively, a popular option is to visit one of the region's most impressive botanical gardens. The extensive collection at the Belize Botanical Gardens is surrounded by rainforest and rich in wildlife. There is the option to paddle back from the gardens by canoe, going downstream on the Macal River through unspoilt jungle scenery, stopping for a swim en route before reaching San Ignacio.

Leaving Belize today, we drive to Tikal, just over the border in Guatemala. Arriving at Tikal, we spend the day exploring this great Mayan metropolis, which can justly be compared with Egyptian and Greek masterpieces. Initially settled about 600 BC, Tikal was abandoned by its rulers around AD 890 and totally deserted a hundred years later. The city covered an area of 16 square kilometres. Rediscovered in 1848, only a few of its great temples and pyramids have yet been excavated. Accessible by foot are a number of outlying and little-known temples still covered by a tangle of undergrowth, and for those with a head for heights, the views from the temple tops over the jungle and the hidden city below are mesmerising.

We have a free day to enjoy here, with several options to make the most of the beautiful location. It's possible to go into the site to watch the sunrise (weather permitting!) from atop Temple 4, the highest structure in the site, and listen to the sounds of the forest come to life as toucans, parrots, spider and howler monkeys begin to stir. From here, you can further explore the jungle-covered ruins unaccompanied. Alternatively, you can take a trip to the colonial island town of Flores - this laid-back spot is beautifully located on Guatemala's second-largest lake, Peten Itza, and a day trip here will get you out onto the lake by boat. Alternatively, you can enjoy the day relaxing, spotting birds and other wildlife from our hotel pool.

We cross back into Belize today, taking some time for the border formalities and then heading straight to Belize City and its bustling water taxi terminal for our trip to Caye Caulker. Once a pirate lair, this tiny but enchanting tropical island lies 34km northeast of Belize City and about 1.6km inside the greatest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. The water taxi transfer takes about an hour, and the boat can be fairly busy with locals and tourists alike, all speeding through the turquoise waters to the islands. Depending on the weather, the boat may be choppy. We'll arrive to the island and walk to our hotel, our bags being transported by the island's system of golf carts. Caye Caulker remains uncrowded, and unluxurious, with relatively modest prices in restaurants and bars, owned and run by the friendliest of local people. The local fishermen produce lobster, conch, fish, and crab to supply the domestic and foreign markets. Fresh seafood is readily available, and lobster is the best buy when in season from June to February. There's time to relax this afternoon or take a wander to nearby coffee shops, restaurants, or bars for a cold drink.

Today, we can participate in one of many of the optional activities available on the island. The Belize cayes have some of the best snorkelling in Central America, and it's well worth a trip to Goff's Caye or Hol Chan Marine Reserve & Shark Ray Alley for a full day snorkelling trip. Scuba diving is also available. Please note that it is common for hotels in Caye Caulker not to offer breakfast. However, there are many cafés and restaurants within walking distance to choose from.

The trip ends at our hotel on Caye Caulker. From here, we get a water taxi back to Belize City. The water taxi takes around one hour. The earliest water taxi departs at 6 am and operates throughout the day. An onward road transfer to Belize's Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (airport code BZE) will be provided. The earliest your flight can depart is 9.30 am. For those on later flights, we will provide unaccompanied water taxi transfers later in the day, along with connecting onward road transfers to the airport. If departing today from Belize City, these transfers will be provided free of charge. If you have the time, spending a couple of additional nights on Caye Caulker is a relaxing addition to the holiday.