Paradise Islands

Day 1: 

You arrive at the Belize International Airport where an Island Expeditions’ representative will meet you and welcome you to the country. You will be taken to the Tropical Education Center which is adjacent to the Belize Zoo. The accommodations are forest cabanas situated in the midst of idyllic tropical pine forest. There is a network of interpretative trails and wildlife viewing platforms at your doorstep. The Tropical Education Center has an Interpretive Center where you can explore the diverse ecology of Belize, and is the ideal starting point for the adventure that awaits you. After checking into your accommodations you will enjoy a ‘Welcome to Belize Dinner’ with your fellow travelers and our Belizean guide team. As the evening unfolds, you can participate in the optional nocturnal tour of the Belize Zoo. This is a great introduction to the jaguars, ocelots, tapirs, and other animals native to Belize.

Accommodation: Tropical Education Center   Meals: Dinner

Day 2: 

Waking up to the sounds of the tropics is a pure delight with the chatter of parrots and parakeets flying overhead. The fresh morning air scented with tropical blossoms adds to the expectation of an exciting adventure filled day. After breakfast we travel the Hummingbird Route through the Maya Mountains to meet with a boat charter waiting to take you to your first island, Tobacco Caye, on the Southern Barrier Reef. We’ll introduce you to safety in a tropical marine environment and begin teaching the fundamentals of sea kayaking. Safety procedures, group and self-rescues, and touring techniques will be reviewed. You can enjoy a swim or explore the island shoreline. After a tasty Belizean lunch you will paddle over submerged coral reefs, turtle grass beds, and through narrow mangrove channels. For certified diving enthusiasts we can arrange diving sessions with advance notice. As you explore by kayak, it is not uncommon for the routes to cross those of the fishermen who make their living from the sea.

Accommodation: Tobacco Caye Paradise   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: 

Situated on the Barrier Reef in the heart of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve you will be ideally positioned to explore the surrounding reefs and cayes. Starting with a steaming mug of coffee and fresh tropical fruits you can enjoy an early morning swim or paddle before breakfast. The focus for the morning will be snorkeling and kayaking. Your first snorkeling session begins with a thorough demonstration as well as beginner to advanced instruction on the Tobacco Caye cut and at the outer reef walls.

While we are based at Tobacco Caye you also have the option to use Stand Up Paddle Boards (SUPs) instead of kayaks. In the afternoon you’ll paddle to nearby cayes to explore the sheltered lagoons and mangrove channels. After an exciting day of exploration and learning, you’ll return for an evening on Tobacco Caye.

Accommodation: Tobacco Caye Paradise   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: 

Gazing south (following the line of breaking waves along the Barrier Reef crest), you will be able to see the next island you’ll be traveling to today – South Water Caye. After packing the kayaks with your personal gear bag and wishing fond farewells to your hosts you’ll start your day on the water with an introduction to kayak sailing. You’ll paddle and sail your kayaks along one of the most beautiful sections of the Belizean reef system. The waters are shallow and clear and you’ll see a tremendous variety of marine life, including southern stingrays, eagle rays, grouper, nurse sharks, and more. One of today’s highlights is a visit to the renowned Smithsonian Carrie Bow Caye Field Station, where scientists and their collaborators conduct research on the biology, ecology, and geology of coral reef ecosystems. As you make your way to South Water Caye, and its swaying coconut palms, this is a day you’ll wish would never end. You’ll land your kayaks on the beach, check into your accommodations, enjoy an ice cold drink, and explore the island before a delicious dinner. Later, you can try a little bone fishing on a fly rod or even a night time snorkel session on South Water cut.

Accommodation: IZE at South Water Caye   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: 

You’ll have plenty of time to kayak, snorkel, fish, and enjoy the scenery and marine life of Belize. You’ll explore different regions of the Barrier reef including the inner and outer walls, patch and fringing reefs, mangrove ranges, and protected lagoons. These candid interactions with the locals can be fun and provide us with extraordinary insight into a way of life very different from our own.

Accommodation: IZE at South Water Caye Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: 

Your last day on the cayes will be spent paddling to Billy Hawk Caye (in the Blue Ground Range). This is a Garifuna fishing camp where you will have lunch and enjoy an afternoon of snorkeling.

Accommodation: IZE at South Water Caye   Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 7: 

After an early breakfast your water taxi will carry you back to the mainland town of Dangriga where the trip finishes. Any extra luggage that you have stored at our Operations Base will be returned to you. Taxis can be arranged to the Dangriga airport for your connecting flight to the Belize International Airport, or to local bus stations to continue exploring Belize on your own.

Accommodation: N/A   Meals: Breakfast only
Travel Notes: For travelers who will be leaving Belize on Day 7, international connections out of the country require a departure after 11:30 am. To connect with Friday afternoon departures from Belize a short domestic flight is required.
This flight is from Dangriga to the Belize International Airport. Please call for details - our office can confirm pricing and book your domestic flight.
This itinerary is a ‘guide’ and must remain flexible and open to changes at the trip leaders’ discretion. We hope you bring a spirit of adventure with you, we cannot direct the winds but we can adjust our sails.