Destinations: Belmopan, Ambergris Caye

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 an hour-and-a-half from Belize City to Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch.  Feel free to stop at anytime during your private ground transfer for photo opportunities, restrooms, lunch, or to simply stretch your legs.  About half way through the drive, stop at the Belize Zoo to see native and rare species of Belize up close.  After your visit to the zoo, continue onwards to your tropical jungle retreat at Caves Branch.  Check into your treehouse villa and enjoy a family-style dinner while meeting fellow guests and new friends.

2. Day 2

   Wake up with the howler monkeys just outside your treehouse and head to the main lodge for coffee (served at 7am) and a hearty breakfast (served from 8-9am).  Today will be a day of adventure!  Choose between one of the heart-pounding signature adventure tours: black hole drop, waterfall cave expedition, or exploring a ceremonial cave.  For more easy-going adventure tours, choose between cave tubing, birdwatching, a full day jungle trek to learn about the surrounding rainforest, or a horseback ride on one of 50 horses from Banana Bank Equestrian Center.  Depending on the length of your activity of choice, enjoy lunch out on the tour or back at the main lodge.  Return to the lodge in time to enjoy the pool while socializing with fellow guests.  Enjoy another delicious family-style dinner before a restful night sleep after a full day of fun!

3. Day 3

   Today you’ll have the opportunity to either enjoy another on-site signature tour at Caves Branch, or venture to Western Belize to visit the famous Mayan sites, Xunantunich and Cahal Pech.  Xunantunich offers guests the opportunity to climb atop the second highest ruin in Belize at 130-feet, offering panoramic views of San Ignacio, Guatemala, and the Mopan River below.  Archaeologists continue to work on and excavate new findings and tombs at Xunantunich.  Enjoy lunch in a local restaurant in San Ignacio and then head to Cahal Pech to see a residential Mayan ruin site and learn about the living habits of the ancient Maya.  Return to Caves Branch in the late afternoon.  Explore the on site botanical gardens at Caves Branch before dinner.

4. Day 4

   If you didn’t have a chance to visit the Belize Zoo on Day 1, make sure to stop in route from Ian Anderson’s Caves Branch back to Belize City for your domestic flight.  Fly from Belize City to San Pedro for the beach portion of your stay.  Located 7-miles north of San Pedro sits X’tan Ha, a boutique resort with a gorgeous white sand beach, vibrant turquoise waters, and colorful Belizean-style villas.  Check into your villa and head to the pool for a cold beverage.

5. Day 5

   With average water temperatures around 80 degrees Fahrenheit you’re likely to spend every day playing in the water.  Make sure to sign-up for at least one day of snorkeling or diving.  Snorkelers will enjoy Hol Chan, Shark Alley, and Mexico Rocks while divers will have countless dive sites  within a mile or two of Ambergris Caye.  Snorkelers can opt for a half-day or full-day catamaran cruise to enjoy some of these famous marine sites.  For divers, X’tan Ha’s sister property (located just 5-minutes away) offers a full-service PADI dive center with two dive boats (26’ and 34’) and various dive courses.

6. Day 6

   Spend another day on the water snorkeling or diving the Mesoamerican Reef, the second largest barrier reef in the world.  Otherwise, spend a day at X’tan Ha Resort enjoying the water trampoline, pedal boats, kayaks, paddleboards, and volleyball.  Other water sports available for rent include sailing, jet skis, and parasailing.  Rent a golf cart in the afternoon/early evening to explore restaurants and shops in San Pedro.

7. Day 7

   Enjoy your last full day in paradise relaxing around the pool and on the beach.  While the kids play in the water, the adults can enjoy a cold beverage by the pool, on the beach, or off the pier.

8. Day 8

   Take a short flight back to Belize City for your international flight home.