Land of Belize
Trip Code: QVSE
Why we love it
Laze on the sandy shores of Caye Caulker off the coast of Belize. Swim in the warm waters of the Caribbean and snorkel through shallow reefs and atolls surrounding the cayes., Join a group of local women at a co-operative in San Ignacio, where they’ll show you how to cook up some traditional recipes and talk about the organisation they founded., Discover the remains of a once thriving Mayan city at the Lamanai Archaeological Site, reached by a boat trip that reveals some of Belize’s most colourful birdlife., Take a day trip to the impressive Tikal National Park, just a hop, skip and a jump across the border into Guatemala. These Maya ruins have become one of the most important archaeological sites in Maya history., Uncover the secrets of crystallised skeletons and crumbling palaces near San Ignacio that have been preserved in their natural glory., By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, Eden Reforestation Projects. Donations help them provide local employment opportunities and tackle climate change one tree at a time as they restore forests across 10 different countries.
Is this trip right for me?
In tropical Central America, it can get really hot and humid. Carry plenty of water as hydration is key, especially when you’re walking around a lot.
Important information
1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1 in Belize City.
2. On your final day, you’ve got the power to choose where your adventure takes you. If you like, you can stay in Caye Caulker for another couple of nights relaxing beachside – we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability). Otherwise, jump on an included water taxi transfer back to Belize City where you can also book additional nights’ accommodation, or where your leader can assist you to catch a taxi from the port to the airport for an onward connection.
3. An open-dated round-trip ticket to return to Belize City from Caye Caulker is included on this trip. If you are travelling from Caye Caulker to Belize Airport please ensure you do not book a flight before 12pm to allow for travel time.
4. Additional accommodation in Caye Caulker or Belize City is available to book on this trip should you wish to extend your stay.
5. Transfers from Belize City Port to our Belize City Hotel or the airport are available through your booking agent.
6. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
What to bring/pack
Most travellers prefer to take a small to medium wheeled suitcase, which is a great size for the packing capacity in our private vehicles. Whatever you take, be mindful that you will need to be able to carry your own luggage, handle it at airports, take in/out of accommodation and perhaps even walk short distances. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible. You'll also need a day pack/bag for activities and day trips. In terms of weight, airlines generally allow a maximum of 15-20kg for check in luggage and a maximum of 5kg for carry on.
Other than the items and clothing you always need on a trip, below we have listed packing suggestions specific for this trip:
ESSENTIAL:
Sun protection – sunhat, sunglasses, sunscreen (reef-safe sunscreen for swimming). The UV index can be very high in this region, therefore it is essential you protect yourself adequately from the sun.
Clothing for hot and humid weather: Lightweight, breathable quick-drying clothing.
Clothing for cool nights/high altitudes and rainy days: A lightweight waterproof jacket, pants, clothing you can easily layer.
Closed-in walking/hiking shoes. We highly recommend that you take a pair of comfortable, closed-in/closed-toe walking shoes. Closed-in shoes will help to protect your feet from cuts and scratches and will also act as a barrier protection in rare cases against bites or stings.
Personal travel documents which may include a passport, visa, driver's license, travel insurance, flight tickets and your Essential Trip Information. Photocopies of these documents stored separately from the originals will be handy. While not valid, a photocopy of your identification makes it much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.
RECOMMENDED:
Water bottle. We recommend at least a 1.5 litre capacity. Clean, filtered water is available for free in many hotel lobbies. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. In addition to the water in bottles, the production of a 1 litre plastic bottle takes 2 litres of water and 200ml of oil. A large proportion end up in limited landfill or discarded in waterways and natural environments
Electrical adapter plug (view http://www.kropla.com)
Personal medical kit. Your guide will carry a large kit but we recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, electrolytes and Band-Aids.
Watch/Alarm clock or phone that can be used for both
Swimwear
Travel beach towel
Water-proof bag for your phone
Tissues &/or toilet paper &/or wet wipes
Insect repellent
Camera with a spare memory card, charger &/or batteries
OPTIONAL:
Earplugs to guard against a potential snoring room-mate
Phrasebook
VALUABLES:
Please try to avoid bringing unnecessary valuables, and use your safe if available. It’s also a good idea to purchase a money belt or pouch that is easily hidden.
LAUNDRY:
Laundry is available at many hotels and towns during this trip, although you might need to wait for a two-night stop in order to make sure you get it back in time. While laundry at hotels is usually charged by the item, laundromats usually charge by the kilo, which is generally inexpensive (about USD 2 per kilo).
Physical rating
None of the activities featured in this trip require special training or skills, just a reasonable level of fitness and a willingness to participate. Cobblestones and uneven roads are common and you may be required to walk in hot and humid conditions. If you are in any doubt, please share these concerns or issues with your sales consultant so that your leader is aware prior and can pre-empt your needs.
Joining your group
Best Western Plus Belize Biltmore Hotel, 3 1/2 Miles Philip Goldson Hwy, Belize City, BELIZE, Phone: +501 2232302
A 9-minute walk from the ocean, this modern, colorful hotel is also 4.8 km from Belize City Municipal Airport, and 6.3 km from both St. John the Baptist Cathedral and Old Belize Adventure amusement park. Warm, casual rooms come with courtyard views, flat-screen TVs, coffeemakers and WiFi. A courtyard features a sundeck, an outdoor pool and a bar. There’s also an indoor bar with weekly karaoke. Other amenities include an international restaurant and a fitness center.
Alternate Joining Point
Joining instructions
Intrepid offers a pre-arranged arrival transfer service from Belize City International Airport [BZE] at an additional fee. If you have pre-booked this service, please ensure you provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel so the transfer can be organised. If you plan to arrive earlier, this transfer can only be offered in conjunction with pre-tour accommodation booked through Intrepid.
If you have pre-booked this service; you will be met after exiting the terminal building to the outside. As you exit please look for the Intrepid sign with your name on it. If you have any problems and cannot locate your driver on arrival, please call our Intrepid Emergency number listed under the ‘Problems and emergency contact information’ section of your Essential Trip Information document. If you don’t have a device or mobile coverage, Belize City Airport has a free Wi-Fi connection so you can call that same number via an online application such as Skype. There are also several information desks and tourist information desks around if you require further assistance.
Otherwise, you can travel from the Belize City Airport to the hotel by taxi. We recommend you use the authorised taxi services organised from inside the terminal. They will charge you approximately BZ$50 (USD$25) for a trip to downtown. The drive to where the hotel is located is approximately 25 minutes depending on traffic.
Finishing your trip
The Caye Hotel, Avenida Hicaco, Caye Caulker, Belize, Caye Caulker, BELIZE
Alternate Finish Point
If you have pre booked a departure transfer, please inform your leader and they will notify you of your departure transfer time.
If you are making your own way to the airport the hotel will be able to help book you an airport shuttle or taxi. Please ask at reception.
Meals & dietary information
Breakfasts included: 1
Lunches included: 3
Dinners included: 1
Climate & seasonal information
HURRICANES & SEVERE WEATHER:
The Caribbean hurricane season is June to November, although tropical storms and hurricanes can also occur in other months.
EARTHQUAKES & TSUNAMIS:
Belize is in an active earthquake zone. If you are near the coast, move immediately to higher ground if alerted by the authorities or if you feel any tremours, see a sudden rise or fall in sea level or hear any loud or unusual noises from the sea. Do not wait for official warnings such as alarms or sirens.
In case of emergency
While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.
We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.
You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time.
For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us
In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:
Intrepid local operator: Available for phone call on +506 4600 6000
Accommodations
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.