iExplore Belize - Cayo District and Placencia Experience

Tour Description

For much of its history, Belize has been a wild place, attractive to the adventurous and the hardy - pirates, loggers, settlers who could carve a place to live from the forbidding jungle. It was only a matter of time until adventurous eco-travelers found this corner of Central America. Today, Belize has become a rising star among those seeking active and educational vacations. They go to see its vast expanses of rain forest, rich collection of birds and animals, long stretch of coral reef and plentiful Maya ruins.

Itinerary

Day 1: Belize City, Belize- San Ignacio

Arrive Belize International Airport. You are met outside baggage claim for (75-minute) transfer to the western part of the country, San Ignacio to your accommodation for check-in and overnight.

Chaa Creek, a private 340-acre nature reserve set along the banks of the Macal River in the foothills of the Maya Mountains, is a unique rainforest experience with an unspoiled ambiance. Set in lush tropical gardens, the cottage compound, within Chaa Creek Nature Reserve, it provides a perfect compromise between comfort and a true wilderness experience. Each palm-thatched cottage has Mexican tiled floors, large mahogany beds, original artwork and private bathrooms with hot showers. Spacious sundeck verandahs allow guests to view wildlife and interact with nature. Cuisine at Chaa Creek features a mixture of Caribbean, Mexican, and Belizean dishes served under an enormous umbrella of thatch in the large, airy restaurant with its own temperature-controlled wine cellar. The dining room, bar, and cottages are all constructed from local hardwoods and thatched with bay leaf palm.

The Lodge at Chaa Creek- Cottage Room

Day 2: Caracol and Mountain Pine Ridge

Full-day tour to the Caracol Ruins and Mountain Pine Ridge area.

Located on the Vaca Plateau of the Cayo district just 2.5 hours from San Ignacio and right in the heart of the Chiquibul Reserve, Caracol is the largest archaeological site in Belize. Caracol, a Classic Period complex, covers 30-square miles of thick, high-canopy jungle, and includes five plazas, an astronomic observatory and over 35,000 buildings that have been identified. The loftiest among them, a massive pyramid (Caana) capped by three temples and rises over 140 feet above the jungle floor.

Breakfast, Lunch

The Lodge at Chaa Creek- Cottage Room

Day 3: Tikal, Guatemala

Full-day excursion to Tikal National Park (border crossing into Guatemala.)

Tikal National Park is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the Americas. While totally different in architecture and setting from the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, it is just as spectacular. Situated in the jungle of northern Guatemala, the ruins are part of the much larger Tikal National Park. The Maya structures occupy a large area (approximately 10 sq mi/25 sq km). So far, more than 3,000 palaces, temples, shrines, ceremonial platforms, ballcourts, plazas and residences have been mapped.

Breakfast, Lunch

The Lodge at Chaa Creek- Cottage Room

Day 4: San Ignacio

Enjoy the day at your leisure, or take advantage of the many activities offered from the lodge. Although Chaa Creek is the ideal place to relax in beautiful, tranquil surroundings, we encourage you to take part in a wide range of daily activities (fees may apply) such as walking, mountain biking and horseback riding along miles of private reserve trails. Other on-site activities include bird watching, swimming, canoeing, and guided tours of the Natural History Center, Butterfly Farm, archaeological sites and the nearby Rainforest Medicinal Trail.

Breakfast

The Lodge at Chaa Creek- Cottage Room

Day 5: San Ignacio- Placencia

Transfer to Placencia (2 hours) and to your lodge for check-in and overnight.

Robert's Grove, Belize's most complete luxury beach resort is a comfortable, gracious, beautifully appointed hideaway which enjoys a premier location near the country's top attractions-the Barrier Reef, Rainforest and Maya Ruins. Nestled on 22 lush acres, the Hacienda-style Inn is situated on the finest white sand beach of Placencia and is in a unique position for offering its guests a vast array of Belize's most sought after activities and adventures

Breakfast

Roberts Grove- 1st Floor Standard Beachview Room

Day 6: Placencia

Three full days in Placencia. Placencia is home to white sand beaches, virgin mangrove-fringed lagoons, a wilderness of coral-studded cayes, nearby jungle rivers and Maya ruins, and pristine rainforest - as well as Garifuna, Creole and Mayan cultures. Spend your days in the water diving, fishing, snorkeling or just relaxing on the beach, and your nights at the many interesting restaurants and watering holes that feature local food, culture and live music.

Today you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the dock to depart for a full-day wildlife trip to Monkey River area including a traditional lunch in a local community. Please note: you will need to pay a $1.00 per person entrance fee locally. After lunch enjoy a tour of the village itself before heading back to Placencia.

On your return, the captain will move slowly along the lagoon and mangroves, allowing you the opportunity to spot manatees.

Breakfast, Lunch

Roberts Grove- 1st Floor Standard Beachview Room

Day 7: Placencia

Today enjoy a full day of snorkeling! You will be met at your hotel and transferred to the dock and board a motorboat for a trip out to the reef and your island destination. Here you can snorkel from the beach, enjoying a variety of tropical fish and colorful coral formations. Take a break for lunch before exploring another snorkeling spot in the afternoon.

After a fabulous day of snorkeling on Belize's reef you will be taken back to the mainland and your hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch

Roberts Grove- 1st Floor Standard Beachview Room

Day 8: Placencia

Take a day to relax at the beach and enjoy the amenities of the resort.

Breakfast

Roberts Grove- 1st Floor Standard Beachview Room

Day 9: Placencia- Depart Belize City

Lodge transfer to the Placencia airport for your domestic flight to Belize International Airport in time for your departure flight.

Breakfast

Departures

Depart any day! Contact an iExplore Adventure Consultant for details.

Pricing Information

2010 Pricing

June 1 to December 15:

$3,295 per person, double occupancy.

$5,195 Solo traveler.

$995 single room supplement.

Other dates*:

$3,495 per person, double occupancy.

$5,595 Solo traveler.

$1,095 single room supplement.

* Prices are not applicable over Easter (March 28- April 4), Thanksgiving (November 24- 28) and Christmas/New Year's (December 20- January 3). Please call for an exact quote over these holiday periods.

Prices for your dates of travel may vary- please contact iExplore for an exact quote. Quoted prices are based on current rates of exchange, tariffs and taxes as of August, 2009. iExplore reserves the right to increase tour prices to cover increased costs, tariffs and taxes received after prices are published, and to reflect fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. iExplore is under no obligation to give breakdown costs involved in any package.

Inclusions:

Meet and Greet and airport assistance on arrival

Private land transfer from Belize International Airport to Chaa Creek

Accommodations at the Lodge at Chaa Creek with daily American breakfast

Private guided tour of Caracol Mayan Site and Mountain Pine Ridge Area with box lunch and entry fees

Private full day tour of Tikal with lunch and entry fees (does not include EXIT/border crossing fee of $18.75 US per person)

Private land transfer from Chaa Creek to Roberts Grove/Turtle Inn

Accommodation at Turtle Inn or Roberts Grove with daily American breakfast

Full-day Monkey River tour including lunch and transfers (non-exclusive)

Half-day snorkel excursion including lunch (non-exclusive)

Non-exclusive lodge transfer from Turtle Inn to airstrip

Domestic flight from Placencia to Belize City

Tours, guides and entrance fees as indicated

Local taxes

 

Exclusions:

International airfare

Airport departure tax from the Belize International Airport ($35.00 US per person)

Belize-Guatemala border crossing fee ($18.75 US per person)

Meals, unless otherwise indicated

Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks

Items of a personal nature

Travel insurance

Gratuities

Prices not applicable over Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's- please call for pricing over these periods

All prices are in US dollars and do not include international airfare, unless otherwise noted.

Prices displayed are based on the lowest season base price and assume double occupancy. Prices are shown in U.S. dollars and may or may not include administrative fees, taxes, meals, airfare (where applicable) and Single Supplements. Cancellation penalties, blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.

Options and Extras

Tour Notes

On the internal flights within Belize, each person is allowed 50 pounds of luggage- 2 pieces at 25 pounds each, along with hand luggage.