Tour Overview
You absolutely will not find another tour out there as packed with activities and attractions as this one, provided by CharlieTheTraveler. You will also not find another tour out there that offers it all "FIRST CLASS," yet for a relatively low price. We have thousands of travelers taking this specific tour every year-and that's because no competitor can beat us on quality, price and substance. Below are just some examples of what you will see and do on this tour:
► Great Blue Hole Flight-Seeing Tour (optional)
► Coming in Contact with Black Howler Monkeys
► Seeing a Wildlife Sanctuary
And Much, Much More...
Itinerary
Our tour starts on the island of Ambergris Caye. It can be reached from the capital Belize City via a 1.5-hour boat ride or a very short and cheap flight. We pick up most customers from the airport in Belize City. Some customers prefer being picked up at the airport in Ambergris Caye. It's your choice. Ambergris Caye is commonly referred to as ‘Isla Bonita’ (beautiful island) thanks to the singer Madonna, who made reference to this island and its turquoise seascapes in a 1987 hit. We explore the island with a tour guide/golf cart driver.
Note that if your arrival time in the Belize City airport is after 3:30pm, then we ask you to directly purchase a 1-way flight from the same Belize City airport to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. A boat transfer would not be an option due to the late arrival time at the airport. The two airlines which operate this quick flight are Maya Island Air and Tropic Air.Our tour starts on the island of Ambergris Caye. It can be reached from the capital Belize City via a 1.5-hour boat ride or a very short and cheap flight. We pick up most customers from the airport in Belize City. Some customers prefer being picked up at the airport in Ambergris Caye. It's your choice. Ambergris Caye is commonly referred to as ‘Isla Bonita’ (beautiful island) thanks to the singer Madonna, who made reference to this island and its turquoise seascapes in a 1987 hit. We explore the island with a tour guide/golf cart driver.
Note that if your arrival time in the Belize City airport is after 3:30pm, then we ask you to directly purchase a 1-way flight from the same Belize City airport to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. A boat transfer would not be an option due to the late arrival time at the airport. The two airlines which operate this quick flight are Maya Island Air and Tropic Air.
Today we make a daytrip to the Great Blue Hole by boat.
In 2012, the Discovery Channel ranked the Great Blue Hole as number 1 on its list of ‘The 10 Most Amazing Places on Earth’. This giant marine sinkhole is a part of the larger Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, which is a World Heritage Site of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
*Note that in the event the boat company cancels the tour to the Great Blue Hole, which happens on occasion due to bad weather, we would offer you a suitable alternative for the day. A popular option is a visit to Secret Beach, which is about a 45-minute drive away from downtown. Alternatively, if a plane ride over the Great Blue Hole is available and if you are interested in that, we could offer it to you at an upcharge. Included with this upcharge is a visit to Secret Beach.
Today we make a daytrip via a quick boat ride (4 miles/6.4 kilometers) to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and later a boat ride to Caye Caulker.
Hol Chan Marine Reserve gives us the opportunity to swim with sharks and stingrays. These creatures have a great tolerance for snorkelers and look forward to being fed scraps of food. Caye Caulker measures about 5 miles (8 kilometers) north to south by less than 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) east to west. There are only 3 roads in town, all of which are sandy. Despite its size, there are over 50 hotels and a number of restaurants and shops. Caye Caulker is especially popular with backpackers. The highlights of our visit there are a tarpon handfeeding center and a beach called ‘The Split’. Our boat ride back to Ambergris Caye takes about 30 minutes.
Today we take a boat ride from Ambergris Caye to Belize City, only to check into our room and then immediately drive to a Mesoamerican archaeological site called Lamanai. We return to Belize City in the evening. Lamanai was once a major city of the Maya (indigenous) civilization. Lamanai is renowned for its exceptionally long occupation spanning three millennia. It continued to be occupied up to the 17th century AD.
Today we relocate to Placencia Peninsula’s main village. En route, we first visit the Belize Zoo. It is home to more than 175 animals of about 48 species, all native to Belize. The natural environment is left entirely intact within the zoo, with the animals living in their natural habitat. Next, we head to the Nohoch Cheʼen caves. There we go tubing. It is quite an adventurous experience. Before arriving in Placencia Village, we pass by Maya Beach and the beach in Seine Bight village.
Today we make a daytrip to the Silk Cayes Marine Reserve. It contains some of the healthiest parts of the country's reef system due to its elevation and good water quality. This is the best place in Belize to go snorkeling!
Note that the Gladden Spit is included on today's tour only during whale season, which is usually March through June. A trip to Silk Cayes, however, is offered year-around.
Today we relocate to the small town of San Ignacio. This is where we are based for the remainder of our trip. Nonetheless, there are some worthwhile stops en route. The first attraction this morning is the Sleeping Giant Rainforest. There we are provided with a guided tour to the top of the mountain, where a beautiful viewpoint awaits us. Next, we head to Barton Creek. There we are provided with a guided canoeing tour inside a cave. The final stop before reaching San Ignacio is an archaeological site called Xunantunich. It is located a mere 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) away from Guatemala. Xunantunich served as a Maya civic ceremonial center in the late and terminal classic periods. The first modern explorations of the site were conducted in the mid-1890s.
Today we make a daytrip to the Actun Tunichil Muknal (a.k.a. ATM) cave. There we climb, crawl and get wet as we check out ancient skeletons, ceramics and stoneware. Serving as an archaeological site and often called a ‘natural museum’ because of its fascinating limestone formations, the ATM cave is one of Belize’s top 2 most popular tourist destinations.
We make a daytrip first to Rio Frio Cave. There we see stalagmites and stalactites. Next, we head to an archaeological site called Caracol. It was once one of the most important regional political centers of the Maya lowlands during the classic period. After our guided tour there we have lunch, which is included on today’s tour. Lastly for today, we head to Big Rock Falls. There we have plenty of time to go swimming.
Transportation will be arranged for you to reach the airport in Belize City.
Trip includes
Included
Our tour guides/drivers are licensed, speak English and know how to bring excitement to your day. What we deliver is the complete opposite of the cookie-cutting tours the big corporations offer, leaving you in complete boredom. Although our tour guides/drivers are attentive, accommodating and engaged, they also know when to give you your private space and free time. It's a perfect balance. *Female guides are available upon request.
Note that all boat daytrips and the flightseeing tour over the Blue Hole are shared with other travelers, as is the daytrip to the famous ATM Cave. We can make the entire trip almost completely private, per your request, at an additional cost.
Guiding Method
Fully guided
Lunches x 5
Air-Conditioned Vehicle
All Entry Fees
Private Transportation
Tour Guides
Excluded
Below are the names of the hotels where we commonly have our customers stay. Note this is subject to availability.
Nights 1-3: San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Preferred Accommodation: Mahogany Bay Resort or Victoria House Resort & Spa
Night 4: Belize City, Preferred Accommodation: Black Orchid Resort
Nights 5-6: Placencia, Preferred Accommodation: Ocean Breeze or Wild Orchid
Nights 7-9: San Ignacio, Preferred Accommodation: Falling Leaves Lodge
International flights are not included in the price. However, we would be happy to assist you in finding airfare upon request.
If you arrive in Belize City before 3:30pm, no domestic flights will be needed for this tour. If you arrive after 3:30pm, you will need to purchase a flight on Day 1 from Belize City to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye.
We take care of almost all of your transportation needs once you are on the tour.
Alcohol
Travel Visa (only applicable to citizens of certain countries)
Availability
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Book the tour by paying only 25% upfront, and settle the remaining amount 30 days before the tour departure.
Request a Private, Customizable Departure
By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:
Personal
Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
Protected
Travel withing your own bubble.
Professional
Access our Travel Specialists insider knowledge.
Privacy
Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.
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