Itinerary

Day 1 - Our leaders Katy and Tammi will collect you from the airport and drive the three hours to the Southernmost district of Toledo and the town of Punta Gorda. Relax to jungle sounds in a family run lodge and enjoy exceptional local cuisine.

Day 2 - Today is chocolate day! We visit a local Cacoa farm and discover where this amazing product starts its life. Our host, farm owner Juan explains how the seeds are harvested followed by a lesson in chocolate making and the obligatory taste test. Then its time for lunch cooked by the chocolate queen herself. You can visit Punta Gorda in the afternoon or relax at the lodge.

Day 3 - Welcome to the jungle! Today we take the vans North to Cockscomb Jaguar Preserve. We'll have lunch along the way and arrive early afternoon. Accommodation is basic but comfortable and run by the rangers who work at the site. We'll take a short hike into the jungle for some tubing through the rainforest.  Dinner will be cooked by our leaders in the camp kitchen, there's an optional night hike for those who want the full jungle experience.

Day 4 - We wake up to the Sound of howler monkeys, a truly unique experience. Our guides will offer the option of a pre-dawn hike to see an elusive jaguar. After breakfast we head out to Ben's Bluff with a total of three waterfalls to swim under. The hike is fairly strenuous around 3miles (there and back) we can offer a shorter hike if this isn't for you. Back at the preserve we pack up and head out for lunch with a stop along the way at the womens cooperative Mayan Center for some souvenir shopping. Then we head to the ocean and the town of Placencia.

Day 5 -After a slow start to the day  we head out by boat to Laughing Bird Caye National Park for a snorkeling adventure at probably the best coral reef you'll see in Belize, truly spectacular. Lunch at the caye prepared by our guides before we head back to Placencia. Relax and get ready, its New Years Eve!

Day 6 - Start the New year with a relaxing morning at the beach or exploring the town. After an early lunch its time to leave the Ocean and head inland to San Ignacio. Our last two days will be spent at Black Rock Lodge. An amazing place with a fantastic view of the surrounding jungle. Relax in the hot tub or take a canoe down the river, the afternoon is your own.

Day 7 - Caves are on the menu today. The famous Actun Tunichil Muknal (ATM) cave is rated as 'must see' attraction while in Belize. Once in the park a short hike brings us to the hidden cave entrance where we swim in to gain access. Bring your headlight because we spend the next hour traversing the cave with our guide and exploring the magical Mayan relics, hundreds of years old, preserved in the fossilized mud. We'll stop off at San Ignacio on the way back to the lodge for coffee and an opportunity to shop for souvenirs and gifts.

Day 8 - Today we head to Guatemala to see the World Heritage Site TIKAL. Tikal was the capital of a state that became one of the most powerful kingdoms of the ancient Maya. One of the largest and best preserved sites in the entire central America it takes a full day to explore. Magical views and fascinating tales finishes our trip with a bang.

Day 9 - Private bus back to Belize city and fly home.