Compare Land of Belize by Intrepid Travel vs Belize: Essentials Tour by Vibe Adventures

Day 1 Belize City

Welcome to Belize! Your adventure begins in Belize City – located where the Belize River meets the Caribbean Sea, this bustling former capital is full of history and culture. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight, where you'll meet your trip leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive with time to spare, Belize City has plenty to discover. The coastal and maritime museum is on the north side, housed in the beautifully restored former fire station. Also in the north is the Image Factory, displaying contemporary Belizean artists, the National Handicraft Centre and the oldest Anglican church in Central America – St John Cathedral, built in 1812. Tonight, why not head out on a group welcome dinner, recommended by your leader?

Day 2 Orange Walk

This morning, you’ll take a private vehicle to Carmelita, then hop on a boat towards the Lamanai Archaeological site. The boat ride is an adventure in itself, and your leader will help you spot all the colourful birds along the river. Arrive at the archaeological site and take some time to explore the remains of the ancient Mayan civilisation and its unearthed temples. After, head back up the river by boat to the town of Orange Walk, where you’ll spend the night. Tonight, settle into your lodge and enjoy an included group dinner.

Day 3 San Ignacio

This morning, drive to the San Ignacio area, stopping along the way at the San Antonio Women’s Co-op – an organisation formed by local Mayan women as a way to share skills and traditional knowledge while earning an income. Join the local women for a cooking demonstration designed to preserve their culinary heritage, then sit down together for lunch. The rest of the afternoon is yours to spend as you please. 

Day 4 Tikal National Park, Guatemala / San Ignacio

Today, you’ll take a day trip to the UNESCO site and Mayan ruins in Tikal National Park – located just across the border in Guatemala. Among the thick, evergreen jungle are some of the most significant remnants of the ancient Maya civilisation – plus an array of local wildlife, including coatis and howler monkeys. Take in the towering limestone temples and other monuments while pondering the mystery of the ancient city's demise. After, enjoy an included group lunch and then make your way back to San Ignacio. Tonight is free to relax at your accommodation or explore at your own pace.

Day 5 San Ignacio

Today is yours to take on any of the many optional activities available in San Ignacio. Maybe take a day trip to Xunantunich – an impressive Mayan ceremonial centre with panoramic views over the countryside. The east side of one of the temples has a unique moulded wall surface, and the central plaza has three carved stelae (stone slabs). Getting to the site is half the fun as you'll need to take a hand-cranked ferry to cross the river. Maybe head to the caves of Actun Tunichil Muknal – a living museum of Maya relics. Wade through the water until you reach the ceremonial site, where you’ll find ceramic pots and crystallised skeletons preserved by the natural processes of the cave for over 1400 years. If Maya ruins aren’t your thing, consider a trip to the Mountain Pine Ridge area to visit waterfalls and warm swimming holes, check out the butterfly garden, or canoe down the Barton Creek cave reserve.

Day 6 Caye Caulker

Today, take a private transfer to Belize City, where you’ll board a water taxi to the island of Caye Caulker. While there are a number of islands off the coast of the mainland, Caye Caulker is certainly the most famous (and arguably the most beautiful). Once you’ve arrived on Caye Caulker, join your leader on an orientation walk to get to know this tiny and laidback island. You’ll notice no cars here, making it a real pleasure to explore. If you fancy, it’s possible to arrange day trips to the other islands or to some spectacular reefs for snorkelling – just chat with your leader about your options. Each island has its own character, but they all have the unmistakable Caribbean pace and charm. This evening, why not get your hands on some freshly caught seafood, often served in causal and colourful restaurants, to a soundtrack of reggae music.

Day 7 Caye Caulker

Your time in Caye Caulker is about taking it easy, so do as much (or as little) as you want with another free day here. If you're interested in sampling some local cuisine, Belize is famous for its barbequed food and some of the best meals are cooked on the roadside! Caye Caulker is also famous for its lobster – not the cheapest meal, but so (so) good. Always make sure that you respect the season – the lobsters can only be caught between June and February. If you’re out of season, how about some grilled shrimp and a lovely rum and coke made with the local firewater?

Day 8 Caye Caulker

There are no activities planned today, and you can depart the accommodation at any time following checkout. If you would like to spend more time in Caye Caulker, just speak to your booking agent.

Day 1: Belize City – Community Baboon Sanctuary

Belize City Port

Arrive at any time & transfer to our accommodation at eco-lodge near Community Baboon Sanctuary, just 30 minutes from the airport. Enjoy the peacefulness of surrounding nature before meeting your group and Tour Leader in the evening: welcome meeting, optional dinner & get-together with the rest of the group in a local restaurant.

• Accommodation: eco-lodge near Community Baboon Sanctuary
• Activities Included: welcome meeting

Day 2: Community Baboon Sanctuary – Lamanai Ruins –  Placencia

Altun Ha Maya Ruins, Belize

In the morning, after a black howler monkey tour in nearby Community Baboon Sanctuary, go to visit Lamanai – one of the oldest continuously occupied Maya sites in Belize. After that, follow to Placencia, a charming, low-key fishing village at the southern tip of the same-named peninsula. Evening arrival, accommodation, optional dinner & get-together with your group.

• Transportation: private vehicle/mini-couch
• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Placencia
• Activities Included: guided visits to Lamanai Ruins and Community Baboon Sanctuary; walking tour in Placencia

Day 3: Placencia

Crystal waters in Placencia, Belize

Free program, therefore decide by yourself whether to chill on the beach, explore the area by yourself or join some of the local tours: snorkeling in Silk Cayes and Turtle Alley, cave tubing in the Inland Blue Hole, open-sea fishing and snorkeling, kayaking expedition at Laughing Bird Caye, etc. Optional evening get-together and dinner with a group in Placencia.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Placencia

Day 4: Placencia – Hopkins

Kayaking on Setee River, Hopkins, Belize

Kayaking on Setee River, Hopkins, Belize

From Placencia, we will move to Hopkins – a friendly coastal village that attracts travelers looking to soak up sea breezes and Garifuna culture. Upon arrival and orientation walk around the town, we will join the Garifuna Drumming Lesson & Performance. Then it’s up to you what to do: relax on the beach, do snorkeling in the nearby palmed Tobacco Caye, venture to a nearby wildlife sanctuary, or rent a bike and explore the area. In the evening, opt to join an optional dinner & get-together with a group.

• Transportation: private vehicle/mini-couch
• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Hopkins
• Activities Included: orientation walk and Garifuna Drumming Lesson & Performance in Hopkins

Day 5: Hopkins – St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park – San Ignacio

Belize Essentials tour

St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park, Belize

In the morning, after checkout from our accommodation in Placencia, join a Spicy Sauce Factory Tour in Dangriga before arriving at St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park. There you will find St. Herman’s Cave and the Blue Hole – a perfect place for a refreshing afternoon swim formed by the collapse of an underground limestone cave. In the afternoon we will continue to San Ignacio, a vibrant traveler center that is a great base for exploring Maya ruins and cave systems in the Western part of the country. Evening arrival, accommodation, and optional dinner in San Ignacio.

• Transportation: private vehicle/mini-couch
• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in San Ignacio
• Activities Included: Spicy Sauce Factory Tour (Dangriga), visit St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park

Day 6: San Ignacio – Xunantunich – Belize City

Meals: San Ignacio Market Food Tour

Belize Essentials tour

Xunantunich Mayan Ruins, Belize

In the morning, follow your Tour Leader for a Market Food Tour & Tortilla-Making Lesson in San Ignacio, then go to visit Xunantunich ruins, before leaving to Belize City in the late afternoon. Evening arrival, accommodation, optional dinner & get-together with a group in Belize City.

• Transportation: private vehicle/mini-couch
• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Belize City
• Activities Included: a visit to Xunantunich Ruins; Tortilla-Making Lesson (San Ignacio)

Day 7: Belize City – Caye Caulker

Belize Essentials tour

Sunset from the Split – Caye Caulker, Belize

In the morning join a walking tour to explore Belize City – the historical capital of the nation with its handsome colonial houses and porticos, seaside parks, bustling shopping areas, and sailboats that bob at the mouth of Haulover Creek. Afterward, in the afternoon, we will take a water taxi to Caye Caulker – a  long thin limestone caye inhabited by less than 2,000 people, famous for its car-free policy, sensational seafood as well as snorkeling and boating along the nearby Belize Barrier Reef. Accommodation, optional dinner & get-together with a group in one of the popular beach restaurants/bars in Caye Caulker.

• Transportation: water taxi
• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Caye Caulker
• Activities Included: walking tour in Belize City; orientation walk in Caye Caulker

Day 8: Caye Caulker

Belize Essentials tour

Underwater life near Caye Caulker, Belize

After a morning bike tour, enjoy the day on the beach or join some sailing and snorkeling tours to nearby UNESCO-protected Hol Chan Marine Reserve and the Belize Barrier Reef. There you can closely see numerous underwater species such as nurse sharks, rays, groupers, porcupine fish and yellow-tail snapper, to name a few. In the evening, join optional farewell dinner with a group at a popular local restaurant.

• Accommodation: conveniently located, locally-owned hotel/B&B/guest house in Caye Caulker
• Activities Included: bike tour in Caye Caulker