Belize - The Ultimate Wildlife Eco-tour

8 Day Itinerary

Expert Marine Biologist Guides
Comfortable Oceanic Society Field Station on Remote Blackbird Caye, Turneffe Atoll
Snorkel the Best Preserved Reef in Belize, Including Half Moon Caye, Lighthouse Reef, and the Blue Hole, Made Famous by Jacques Cousteau
Community Baboon Sanctuary - Howler Monkey Preserve
Lamanai Mayan Ruins
Swallow Caye Manatee Sanctuary
Snorkel Islands where Dolphins Abound

Wild Planet Adventures Exclusive!

Wild Planet’s exclusive partnership with the Oceanic Society allows you access to their field station on remote Blackbird Caye, at Turneffe Atoll. Unlike the heavily populated Ambergris Caye, Placencia or Caye Calker, this is a quiet tropical island paradise, which normally caters to scientists and researchers. Its prime location is right by Half Moon Caye National Monument, Lighthouse Reef and the famous Blue Hole. A special Oceanic Society marine biologist will also guide the barrier reef portion of your adventure.

Day 1 Belize City / Blackbird Caye

Blackbird Caye's warm, shallow water and thriving reef offers exceptional snorkeling, relaxing beaches and lazy island life. Arrive in Belize City and transfer to the Princess International Hotel and Marina. Afternoon boat transfer to Blackbird Caye (about 90 minutes). Evening trip briefing and welcome dinner. 4 nights in comfortable beachfront cabanas.

Day 2 - 4 Turneffe Atoll, Lighthouse Reef, the Blue Hole

START YOUR ADVENTURE with four days on the most coveted part of the barrier reef, right by the Blue Hole and far away from the crowds. Enjoy daily snorkeling trips to nearby islands and reefs chosen for their shallow waters and easy access. Explore the spectacular underwater playground of brilliant sponges, rich corals, and colorful tropical fish. Blackbird Caye’s warm, shallow water and thriving reef offers exceptional snorkeling and serve as a feeding and resting area for dolphins, which we often spot enroute to our snorkeling sites on
Turneffe Atoll and Lighthouse reef, including the world-famous Blue Hole.

Lighthouse Reef Atoll is one of Belize's three coral islands. The reef's shallow walls, beginning at depths of only 25 feet, provide spectacular snorkeling in relatively shallow depths. Massive yellow sponges festoon the reef walls.

Half Moon Caye Natural Monument is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its clear turquoise water, unspoiled coral reef and prolific sea life. The Caye is divided into two distinct ecosystems: the western region has dense vegetation supporting approximately 4,000 breeding red-footed boobies and frigatebirds; the eastern half of the Caye is composed primarily of coconut palms.

The Blue Hole is a magical sinkhole was made famous by a Jacques Cousteau documentary which revealed its unique underwater stalagmites and abundant marine life.

Day 5 Blackbird Caye / Community Baboon Sanctuary

Highlights: Canoeing, hiking, wildlife viewing, bird watching, swimming.
Wildlife: Howler monkeys, tapir, coatimundi, agouti, otter, iguanas and “Jesus Christ lizards” that walk on water. Exotic parrots, trogons, and toucans.

Return to the mainland and head deep into the jungle where wildlife is plentiful and undisturbed. This afternoon visit the renowned Community Baboon Sanctuary where howler monkeys abundant and easy to see in the magnificent jungle trees. Explore the river and its wildlife by canoes and boats from the lodge at your leisure.

Day 6 Lamanai Mayan Ruins.

Highlights: Indiana Jones-style adventure up a jungle river to ancient Mayan archeological ruins, hidden deep in the jungle.
Wildlife: Boat up a remote jungle river teeming with monkeys, agouti, paca, crocodiles, and over 200 species of tropical birds to one of the most amazing and remote Mayan ruins in Belize. Lamanai is an archeological treasure house, hidden in the jungle and frequented as much by monkeys as by humans!

Day 7 Swallow Caye Manatee Sanctuary

Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary was established for the protection of manatees. It’s clear turquoise water is a nursery for young manatees and is the best place in Belize to observe these incredibly gentle and curious creatures. We’ll float silently around the caye observing manatees. Later, we’ll snorkel at one of the offshore islands, where dolphins abound and manatees sometimes approach us underwater!

Day 8 Belize City

Return to Belize City for your flight home.