USA ADVENTURES
INTERNATIONAL ADVENTURES
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The Paradise Islands of Belize, located in the less developed southern region of Belize's Barrier Reef, remain close to a pristine marine ecosystem. We'll kayak through the shallow reef-strewn waters, snorkel to our hearts content, go to sleep lulled by the sound of ocean waves breaking on the shore, and fill each day with lots of exercise, delicious food, and the kind of relaxation that stems from immersion in a very different world and way of life. Maximum group size: 12
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Not included: Travel to and from Belize City, or from Dangriga to Belize City at the end of the trip (about $110 by plane that we will coordinate, or $5 by local bus), alcoholic beverages, snacks, guide gratuities, and travel insurance. Optional Extensions are not included.
This trip is designed for women in good condition who want an active vacation in a warm winter environment. Our days are full, although there is time to relax built into each one and also the option to opt out of activities if you want more downtime. The kayaking and snorkeling on this trip are truly intertwined, as we will do most of our snorkeling from our kayaks. The most kayaking we do in one day is 6 miles, with 3-4 miles being more typical. You should have some prior kayaking experience and be comfortable on the water as you may be paddling in rough or windy conditions at times. Rating: 1 [2]3 4 5.
We'll kayak, snorkel, and swim in the warm waters of the Caribbean. The coral reefs of Belize are known for providing both an excellent snorkeling environment and (usually) tranquil water. Some kayak experience is required; your guides will teach you safety skills and basic boat handling and paddling strokes. The kayaks are primarily double kayaks, but you can talk with the guides while you are on the trip if you would like the opportunity to try single kayak.
We'll spend the first night at the Tropical Education Center in Belize City, adjacent to the Belize Zoo, and five nights at small Belizean owned lodges.
Tropical Education Center: Rustic forest cabanas, each on a raised platform, fully screened and equipped with two twin size beds complete with linens. One full size bed is another accommodation option upon request. This is ideal for travelers seeking that "jungly" experience. There is a shared shower and restroom facility for the cabanas.
Tobacco Caye: Tobacco Caye Paradise is a small Belizean-style vacation property with six private "over the water" beach cabanas. All cabanas face north to the Belize Barrier Reef and have wonderful decks perched over turquoise tropical waters. Each deck has a hammock and an amazing view of the Caribbean Sea. The accommodations are clean, comfortable and charmingly rustic. There are five 1 bedroom/1 bathroom cabanas, and one 2 bedroom/1 bathroom cabana. Each bedroom has either one or two beds. Each cabana has a private bathroom and cool, rainwater-fed showers.
Southwater Caye: Seaside cabanas are nestled in the mangroves on the eastern shoreline of the island to take advantage of the cooling trade winds. They are so close to the water's edge that you will awaken to a view of the barrier reef and the sound of waves gently lapping the shore beneath you. The cabanas have private bathrooms with hot water showers.
Below is the proposed itinerary for the trip. As is true on any adventure travel trip, plans for any specific day may be modified due to weather considerations, unforeseen circumstances, new opportunities, and group interests.
The great support for the kayaking. The amazing islands and facilities on them.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 2/29/2020-3/6/2020
The diversity of what we did, the outstanding organization and the camaraderie.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 2/29/2020-3/6/2020
Extremely well organized. Variety of activities
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 2/29/2020-3/6/2020
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 2/29/2020-3/6/2020
It was harder than I thought it to kayak on the reef. I had pretty open ended expectations.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 2/29/2020-3/6/2020
The entire trip was a highlight. The water, the snorkeling, the sun, the water. Did I mention the water?
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/9/2019-3/15/2019
The accommodations exceeded our expectations, we were expecting primitive and no adjoining bathrooms. The activities were perfect and we felt perfectly safe the entire time.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/9/2019-3/15/2019
Overall, the trip was terrific. I loved the kayaking, snorkeling, zoo, boat rides, Smithsonian lab, and drummers. My only disappointment was that some of the women were not very experienced in kayaking and/or snorkeling, and that limited what the rest of us could do. I would have liked to venture farther on my own while snorkeling, rather than being constrained to stay with the group, which really frustrated me, and diminished the experience. I would have liked to be more challenged with the kayaking.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/9/2019-3/15/2019
The trip met my expectations. I am not sure it exceeded them. The highlight for me was learning to sea kayak and snorkeling in the mangrove
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/9/2019-3/15/2019
Where do I start. Night snorkel was great and terrifying. Kayaking in clear blue water. Kayak sailing! Great guides with patience of saints and great company
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/9/2019-3/15/2019
Liz was an awesome guide! She is the best, very caring and a joy to travel with. All of the ladies were awesome and the on-site guides (Mike and Omar) were very supportive and fun. The activities were all well organized and a lot of fun. I will have great memories and photos of this amazing trip for a long time.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/9/2019-3/15/2019
Supportive guides
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/9/2019-3/15/2019
While the snorkeling and kayaking, reefs and fish, were the reasons I chose this trip, the highlights were totally unexpected. They were my feelings of accomplishment and pride when I challenged myself, and the bonding with my group and guides. Renewal of body and spirit. :)
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/9/2019-3/15/2019
I already filled out the evaluation, but I forgot to say in my response that I think it would be nice to ask the participants to try switching around a bit on the kayaking bits. I realize that there are many reasons you might not choose to do this, but it would have been nice to be asked. My friend and I had a great time kayaking and rooming together, but there were others in our friends group as well as the bigger group that would have been fun to spend some time with, and having the whole trip partnered with the same person meant some opportunities for interchange were missed.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/10/2018-3/16/2018
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/10/2018-3/16/2018
O wow to many to mention.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/10/2018-3/16/2018
It was great. I expected more kayaking, but the guides adapted to the conditions and there was more snorkeling than I had expected, which was fun. I hadn't expected kayak sailing but I was disappointed that the weather turned and prevented us from trying it. I liked stand-up paddling.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/10/2018-3/16/2018
I did not realize that there would be so much snorkeling and I do not do that activity.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/10/2018-3/16/2018
I loved it all!
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/10/2018-3/16/2018
Night snorkeling was amazing but all the snorkeling and kayaking were great! I also liked having a single kayak for 2 of the days.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/10/2018-3/16/2018
night snorkeling was a new experience
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/10/2018-3/16/2018
The women in the group were game for most anything and fun to be with. We would have liked to do more kayaking every day. The cabanas were wonderful, loved being over or next to the water. The happy hour at Paradise Tobacco was great to get together and talk, and the cooks prepared interesting appetizers and drinks. Our interactions with the Belize people and our guides were great and we enjoyed their stories.Staying at the TEC and going to the Belize zoo were interesting and we appreciated your suggestion to read THE LAST FLIGHT OF THE SCARLET MACAW--
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/10/2018-3/16/2018
Highlights: 1) Dynamic, talented, knowledgeable local guides who knew the terrain and helped with the kayaks. 2) Beautiful natural settings, ie locations, for our two stays 3) Accommodating gluten free at every meal! 4) Very thoughtful, knowledgeable AGC guide. 5) Excellent bed in the second location. Problems: 1) our kayak had problems with the foot controls, so did another we saw, frustrating. 2) My snorkel mask didn't work - ever 3) Place was fantastic but beds weren't great in the first place (wouldn't change anything else). 3) Packing list was problematic - see below. 5) Getting to know group: Would have liked to switch up partners in kayak and would have liked the evenings planned with something as a group so people who wanted to could have participated.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/10/2018-3/16/2018
Loved the kayaking in a storm.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/10/2018-3/16/2018
Overall, the trip was fantastic: Karen was a fabulous leader, the ladies were wonderful, the Belizean guides helpful, and the activities just what I had planned on. The colors of the water were spectacular. I fell in love with the overwater bungalows on Tobacco Caye and would go back there in a heartbeat. I would do the trip over too; that's how fabulous I thought it was. There were only three things I I found disappointing. First, I felt like there was never enough food at meals. Admittedly, I'm a big eater, but halfway through the meal line, pickings were far too slim and we ran out of some items before the last person was served. Not nearly enough fruits and veggies. I was not alone in my opinion of that. Just because we're women, doesn't mean we don't eat; especially in light of being active all day long. Yes, we could ask for more, but it would have been nice to have had more than one slice of fruit.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/4/2017-3/12/2017
I loved the group I travelled with our group leader Karen was delightful and trip was well organized and planned. We got the real fell of people and country not just the pretend of a resort
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/4/2017-3/12/2017
Love traveling with and meeting new friends. The guides were amazing and shared their love of Belize with us all.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/4/2017-3/12/2017
I would have liked more opportunity to snorkel. Weather just wasn't with us.
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/4/2017-3/12/2017
Organization,variety, improving new skills
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/4/2017-3/12/2017
The locations were fabulous and I felt catered to (not expected) by zealous staff and people. Bocawins extension far exceeded any expectations i ever dreamed of having
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/4/2017-3/12/2017
Kayaking and Snorkeling Belize 3/4/2017-3/12/2017