Destinations: San Ignacio, 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 and nature viewing opportunities, restrooms, lunch, or to simply stretch your legs.  If you’ve arrived to Belize by the early-afternoon, stop at The Belize Zoo for “a walk through Belize”, offering opportunities to see the country’s native wildlife up close and to learn about the zoo’s conservation efforts.  Continue with your private ground transfer as you pass through the town of San Ignacio.  Proceed through small farms and fruit orchards as you navigate alongside the Macal River until you reach your 242-acre eco-retreat, Black Rock Lodge.  Enjoy a refreshing welcome drink on the main observation deck overlooking the towering views of Black Rock Canyon and the Macal River.

2. Day 2

   Wake up before the sunrise for an early morning guided birdwatching hike and try to see how many of the 390 bird species you can check-off your list.  On this early morning hike, you’re likely to see all three species of toucans, lineated and pale-bill woodpeckers, the olive-throated parakeet, king vultures, the golden-hooded tanager, trogons, both the tody and blue-crowned motmot, and the purple-crowned fairy.  Return to the observation deck for an a la carte breakfast with hand-squeezed juices, homemade bread, and organically grown fruits.  Head to the yoga platform between breakfast and your next adventure to stretch out sore muscles from your morning hike.  Enjoy the rest of the late morning and afternoon hiking the various trails, relaxing by the pool, or birdwatching from the observation deck where it’s likely to see various hawk, falcon, and eagle species. If you prefer a nearby adventure, head to the ancient Mayan city of Xunantunich with the option to add on a chocolate tour. Enjoy a delicious family-style dinner with fellow guests and new friends.

3. Day 3

   Start your morning with a canoe trip down the Macal River for the opportunity to see oropendolas, herons, swallows, swifts, rails, and vultures.  Return to the lodge for a delicious breakfast and morning yoga session overlooking the river.  Spend the rest of the day relaxing and tubing down river rapids directly in front of the hotel!  In the evening, enjoy a night hike through the rainforest in search for owls, nightjars, and potoos.

4. Day 4

   Today you’ll take a domestic flight to the Toledo District (south Caribbean) of Belize for your stay at the luxurious Belcampo eco-retreat in Punta Gorda.  Located on 15,000 acres, Belcampo has divided the land into a 12,000 acre nature reserve perfect for birding and a 3,000 acre organic farm that feeds into the farm-to-table culinary experience at the lodge.  Check into your room and enjoy the lavish luxuries available around the property, including a Jungle Spa and pool.  Head to the yoga platform in time to catch the sunset over the Maya Mountains.  Finally, enjoy a deliciously prepared gourmet dinner on the wraparound observation deck before a restful night’s sleep in preparation for an early-morning hike.

5. Day 5

   Parakeets, parrots, hummingbirds, trogons, woodpeckers, toucans, flycatchers, honeycreepers, tanagers, and more will greet you on the observation deck while you enjoy a hot cup of coffee or tea while watching the sunrise over the Caribbean.  With all the bird sightings available from the observation deck, you may not need to hike.  Whether you decide to hike at sunrise or simply enjoy the view from the observation deck at breakfast, you’ll likely see a number of bird species.  After breakfast, head out to the Gulf of Honduras on a snorkel with the chef adventure and keep a watchful eye along the mangroves for a number of bird species.  Jump into the crystal clear Caribbean blue water to snorkel for conch, crab, lobster, and lionfish and enjoy an array of colorful sea life and coral.  Celebrate your catch with a cold beverage and feast on the expertly prepared catch of the day.  After lunch, return to the hotel for a swim in the pool or a pampering spa treatment.

6. Day 6

   Wake up before sunrise as you set out on a birdwatching hike along trails that wind through the rainforest, along the river, and past orchards.  Return to Belcampo for breakfast and spend the rest of the day partaking in various on-site activities and tours, including: coffee roasting, bean-to-bar chocolate making, or rum sampling.  Enjoy a yoga session at sunset overlooking the mountains before another delightful farm-to-table dinner experience.

7. Day 7

   Spend a full day exploring nearby Mayan sites – Lubaantun or Nim Li Punit.  Combine either of these ruin sites with 1) a visit to a Mayan village for lunch and a swim in Hokeb Ha Cave or 2) lunch at a local restaurant followed by a swim in the Rio Blanco Waterfalls.  Return to Belcampo for your final sunset yoga and then dinner under the stars.

8. Day 8

   Take a 50-minute domestic flight back to Belize City for your international flight home.