Destinations: Mountain Pine Ridge Forest, Placencia

Duration: 8 days

*Price Range: $$$

*Rates inclusive of full vacation experience – hotels, tours, domestic transfers, and tax (excluding international airfare).  Actual price based on length of travel, number of travelers/rooms, seasonal rates (high, low, peak), number of tour activities, and mode of domestic transportation.

$$$: At or under $1,200 per person

$$$: $1,200 – $1,800 per person

$$$: $1,800+ per person

1. Day 1

   Fly into Belize Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE). Outside the airport you’ll find your private driver who will be holding a sign with our logo and your name on it.  They will then assist with your luggage and drive you from Belize City to San Ignacio.  Feel free to stop at anytime during your private ground transfer for photo opportunities, restrooms, lunch, or to simply stretch your legs.  If you’ve arrived around mid-day or earlier, make this private transfer a tour transfer to experience cave tubing, the Belize Zoo, or a canopy zip-line in route.  Check into the Gaia Riverlodge located in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve.  Enjoy a tropical welcome drink overlooking the Five Sisters Waterfalls and then head down to the falls for a swim before dinner.  Retire to your screened in room and fall asleep to the sounds of the pine forest and nearby waterfalls.

2. Day 2

   Enjoy a delicious, fresh breakfast on the veranda overlooking the waterfalls below.  Today, you’ll head to the Chiquibul Rainforest to visit Belize’s largest Maya site, Caracol.  The tallest structure, Caana, stands at 140-feet and offers incredible panoramic views of the surrounding region.  You’ll also have the opportunity to visit the Rio Frio Cave where ancient Maya worshipped.  Return to Gaia Riverlodge and enjoy the rest of the afternoon swimming in the waterfall pool and use their walkie talkie service to order drinks and snacks.  When the sun starts to set, head back up to the main lodge and enjoy cocktails with fellow guests before a lantern-lit dinner.

3. Day 3

   Enjoy a full day of pampering and relaxation.  Splurge on a treatment in the Jungle Spa, which uses natural and indigenous ingredients.  Take the tram down to the river pool and relax with a cold beverage while soaking up the sun.  For those looking to pick up the pace, a full day tour will take you canoeing down the Macal River and into the town of San Ignacio.  Keep a watchful eye out for various birds, howler monkeys, and iguanas as you make your way down the river and into San Ignacio for lunch.  After lunch in a local restaurant, visit Xunantunich and climb the 130-foot El Castillo while learning about the 6 major Mayan plazas and 25 temples at the site.  Return to Gaia Riverlodge for your final gourmet meal in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest.

4. Day 4

   Say good-bye to the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest as you make your way to the Caribbean Coast.  Experience Belize’s longest zip-line, cave tubing, the 1,000 foot Antelope Falls, and/or waterfall rappelling down a 250-feet waterfall in route to Placencia (lunch included).  Check into your quaint beachfront hotel, Caribbean Beach Cabanas, and enjoy a drink in the pool while you decide where you’d like to eat for dinner.  With its proximity off the main boardwalk, you are within walking distance to a number of restaurants and beach bars in town.  Tonight, dine at The Secret Garden and then have a gelato cone for dessert at Tutti Frutti.

5. Day 5

   Spend today exploring nearby cayes on a snorkel or dive trip.  Nearby sites such as Laughing Bird Caye and Silk Caye are picturesque white sandy islands surrounded by vibrant turquoise waters.  They offer phenomenal marine life viewing opportunities for both snorkelers and divers alike.  Enjoy a delicious Belizean lunch on the white powdery sand caye between snorkel or dive sessions.  If you’re visiting Belize in March, April, and May, make sure to head to Gladden Spit in search of Whale Sharks.

6. Day 6

   Enjoy another day on the water snorkeling or diving.  For land based activities, make (and taste!) homemade chocolate using traditional Mayan techniques in a cocoa bean to bar tour. For wildlife viewing opportunities, hike Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary or enjoy a boat trip down Monkey River.  Otherwise, enjoy the day lounging around the pool, jumping in the ocean, and walking up and down the beach in search of a cold beverage.  Barefoot Bar is located just down the beach from Caribbean Cabanas and is a great stop for lunch, dinner, and/or drinks.  Plus, they often host live music and volleyball matches.

7. Day 7

   Enjoy your last full day in paradise by the pool or in the Caribbean Sea!  For a special treat, charter a catamaran to sail around endless blue waters with plentiful opportunities to swim, snorkel, or simply enjoy a glass of wine on a remote island.

8. Day 8

   Take a 30-minute domestic flight back to Belize City for your international flight home.