BEACHY BELIZE

After arriving into Belize International Airport you’ll be met by one of our drivers and transferred to your hotel on Placencia, your home for the next five days. After checking into your hotel, you’re free to spend the first afternoon lapping up the surf, sun and flour-white sand. In the evening, you’ll have the opportunity to get to know the other members of your travel group over an authentic creole welcome dinner.

After a hotel breakfast in the gentle, sun-warmed breeze, you’ll be whisked away to the Belize Barrier Reef, a Unesco World Heritage Site for a guided snorkelling experience. Below the luminous blue surface of the sea, there’s a world of vibrant marine life to meet – from loggerhead turtles to whale sharks. Stick to the side of one of our licensed guides, and they’ll introduce you to the residents. This is followed by visits to some of Placencia’s most beautiful cayes – these sandy islets are the perfect place to dry off, before enjoying the rest of the day at your leisure.

After breakfast you’ll head south of Placencia to Monkey River, which winds through lush subtropical rainforest on its way to the Caribbean Sea. Take in the beautiful flora and fauna as you drift downstream, spotting toucans, herons, tanagers and, you guessed it, monkeys in the trees above. You can snap the wildlife, but keep an eye out for crocodiles basking in the midday sun – they’ll snap right back. You’ll then leave the boat behind for a guided hike through the rainforest, where your guide will introduce you to medicinal plants and, if you’re lucky, point out a tapir or jaguar.

Take your time over breakfast this morning, as the majority of the day is yours to spend how you like. Perhaps start with a stroll along the coast, followed by a dip in the sea, and a chunk of time set aside to top up your tan? Either way, make hay while the sun shines, as when the light starts to dim you’ll set off on a magical sunset cruise. And when that glowing golden disc sinks beyond the horizon, you’ll be treated to a stellar display of stars, lighting up the night sky and the sea below. Snacks and drinks are supplied throughout the two and a half hour trip, so you’ll go to bed in a state of well-fed bliss.

Sadly your time in pretty little Belize is at an end. Enjoy one last hotel breakfast before your transfer takes you back to Belize International Airport. You may be sad to be leaving but you can put your mind at ease by reflecting on the unforgettable memories, and perhaps a few special friendships, made along the way.