The Rainforests, Ruins, Mountains and Islands of Belize
Tour Introduction
Belize’s verdant jungles, exotic wildlife, mountain pine forests, hidden waterfalls, mystical Mayan ruins, limestone caves, idyllic islands, colourful coral reefs: all are flavoursome ingredients with which to create this tour of great contrast and diversity. Add to the mix three of our most popular lodges and a night at the amazing Tikal Maya ruins in Guatemala, and you truly have a recipe for a wonderfully memorable holiday in Belize.
Full Itinerary
Arrive Belize International Airport. Met on arrival and transfer by road along the Western Highway to Jade Jungle Resort. The small, friendly, family-run lodge surrounds a small Maya plaza with trails leading to the creek and lowland rainforest bordering the Tapir Mountain Reserve. It is also in close proximity to a wealth of ancient Maya archaeological sites - some of which have only recently been opened to the public and which few tourists have the chance to see. Accommodation is in a Double Cabana.
Staying at Jade Jungle Resort. Includes All Meals.
Day at leisure. The lodge has a network of well-marked rainforest trails to follow and also offers a daily scheduled activity that you may choose to partake in. Please ask us for more details regarding the activity schedule at Jade Jungle Resort.
Staying at Jade Jungle Resort. Includes All Meals.
Day at leisure. Perhaps walk the trails through the 300 acre private reserve, birdwatch to spot some of the 230+ species which inhabit the local rainforest or swim in the cool river. Daily scheduled activity available.
Staying at Jade Jungle Resort. Includes All Meals.
Day at leisure. Option to join the scheduled activity of the day.
Staying at Jade Jungle Resort. Includes All Meals.
Early pick up from the lodge for a highlight of the tour: an overnight tour to tikal maya ruins in Guatemala. Perhaps the most impressive Maya site in the region, Tikal was an archrival to Caracol, the main Maya city, now in Belize. The site has been extensively excavated, revealing an impressive number of pyramids, ceremonial plazas and ball courts. The surrounding dense rainforest is rich in birds, other wildlife such as coati and howler monkey, and contains some very tall and ancient trees.
Staying at Tikal Jungle Lodge . Includes All Meals.
Wake up early and visit the ruins to see the sunrise through the forest. Cross the border back into Belize and drive into the Maya Mountains to the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve. Accommodation is in an Estate Suite.
Staying at Hidden Valley Wilderness Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Day at leisure to explore the 7200 acre private reserve with over 90 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails as well as many secluded pools and waterfalls, such as 1000 foot Falls and Butterfly falls surrounded by a mixture of pine forest and tropical broadleaf jungle.
Staying at Hidden Valley Wilderness Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Day at leisure. There is much wildlife inhabiting the property, including coatimundi, grey fox and peccary. Puma and jaguar are also occasionally spotted along the roads and trails. The reserve is also home to 200 species of birds including the beautiful and endangered orange-breasted falcon, the stygian owl and king vultures which nest on the craggy cliffs and soar below a number of the viewpoints.
Staying at Hidden Valley Wilderness Lodge. Includes All Meals.
Pick up from the lodge and transfer south along the Hummingbird Highway to the town of Dangriga. Transfer by boat to idyllic South Water Caye located right on the edge of the Belize Barrier Reef (a World Heritage Site). The 15-acre island is known as perhaps the most beautiful of all the reef cayes and is within a designated marine reserve. Around the island, pelicans dive constantly for fish, and frigatebirds soar overhead. Hermit crabs scurry along the beach, which is of coral and pure white, dotted with coconut palms. Accommodation is in Herons Hideaway Cottage.
Staying at Pelican Beach Resort. Includes All Meals.
Day at leisure. There is excellent snorkelling right off the beach, and diving can be arranged from a facility on the mainland: the reef drops off to 2000ft just yards from the island's shore offering fabulous wall dives.
Staying at Pelican Beach Resort. Includes All Meals.
Day at leisure. Perhaps take an optional boat tour to various other islands including Man O War Caye to see the impressive frigatebird and booby rookery.
Staying at Pelican Beach Resort. Includes All Meals.
Day at leisure. Optional and included activities available.
Staying at Pelican Beach Resort. Includes All Meals.
Pick up from the lodge and transfer by boat back to Dangriga. Catch domestic flight to Belize City.
Includes In-flight Meals.
Tour Accommodation
Jade Jungle Resort
Overview
Having recently been modernised and revamped under new ownership, Jade Jungle Resort was previously known as Pook’s Hill Lodge, a long-standing jungle lodge hugely popular with its guests. Adjacent to Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve, the accommodation retains its original low-key ambience and enjoys a spectacular position on a ridge above Roaring Creek river. The lodge is built in an ancient Maya plaza which has been lovingly restored.
The lodge’s own 300 acre private rainforest reserve is listed with the Belize Association of Private Protected Areas and is a natural extension of the neighbouring 6,700 acre Tapir Mountain Nature Reserve, expanding an important wildlife corridor connecting the reserves in the south of Belize.
There are private trails leading to the river where you can enjoy river tubing, amongst other activities. The reserve is home to over 300 species of bird as well as many of Belize’s mammals with tapirs and jaguars being occasional visitors.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Eleven thatched cottages including two Boardwalk cabanas (No.10 & 11) accessed by walkway below the main lodge, which are the largest and most private of the rooms. The others are standard cabanas dotted around the grounds. Restaurant, bar/lounge area with small library; on-site naturalist birding guide; private reserve with trails; hot water
Local Wildlife
Mainly birds, including rare hummingbirds which feed on the flowering trees in the gardens. Excellent birding can be had in the resort grounds during the early mornings.
Optional Activities
Canoeing; butterfly farm; Tikal (Guatemala) excursion; Xunantunich Maya ruins; zip-lining; horse riding; excursion to nearby ATM cave – a real adventure with three hours of swimming, wading and walking through a remarkable cave system revealing many weird stalactites and, at the end, a spooky Maya ceremonial chamber with pottery shards and petrified skeletons.
Hidden Valley Wilderness Lodge
Overview
Located in the remote Maya Mountains of western Belize, Hidden Valley Wilderness Lodge protects a 7200-acre private forest reserve offering exclusive access to over 90 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails through a mixture of pine forest and tropical broadleaf jungle to secluded pools and waterfalls.
The reserve forms part of the vast 100,000 acre Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve and is home to a wide variety of wildlife including over 200 species of bird (including many rarities) plus a host of mammals and other wildlife.
There are 12 cottages set within beautiful gardens, each with mahogany furnishings, ceiling fans, screened windows, en-suite bathrooms with hot water, and a brick fireplace for cool evenings. In the main building are lounge, bar and swimming pool with Jacuzzi. Hummingbird feeders attract many species to the gardens, where plenty of other birds can also be seen.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
90 miles of private forest reserve trails, walked only by the lodge guests; bar; restaurant; yoga platform; lookout decks; lounge area; pleasant pool area.
There are Garden and Estate cottages, as well as Valley View Villas. There is even the option of staying up in the Fire Tower for a novel, yet luxury, experience.
Local Wildlife
The lodge is very proud of its “Big Five” resident birds: king vulture, stygian owl, black and white eagle hawk, orange-breasted falcon and solitary eagle. All can be seen on the property, some more easily than others. Other wildlife includes peccary, coati, tapir, grey fox, white tailed deer, ocelot, margay, puma and jaguar – the cats have been seen, but rarely. Note: the pine forest has been badly affected by the parasitic bark beetle and numerous forest fires and is in the process of regeneration. The lower altitude broad leaf jungle, however, is in perfect condition, offering a distinct contrast.
Optional Activities
Birdwatching, hiking, swimming, night walks, horse riding, river canoe trips, cave visits, Maya ruin sites, yoga (at three platforms in the forest).
Pelican Beach Resort
Overview
One of only a handful of islands located on the edge of the Belize Barrier Reef (a World Heritage Site), the 15-acre South Water Caye is perhaps the most beautiful of all the inhabited reef cayes. It forms part of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, Belize’s largest marine reserve covering an area of over 100,000 acres and considered to be one of the most biodiverse marine areas in the country.
Situated on the lovely southern end of the caye on a coral sand beach adorned with coconut palms, the hotel consists of a main wooden period building, Pelican’s Pouch (once a Convent for the Sisters of Mercy) with five rooms on top and a restaurant below plus five separate wooden cottages comprising eight units.
The accommodation is fairly simple and has been designed to have the lightest environmental footprint including solar power, captured rainwater and state of the art composting toilets.
There is excellent snorkelling right off the beach and diving can be arranged at a resort on the island or from the mainland: the reef drops off to 2000ft just thirty yards offshore allowing fabulous wall dives. The resort is owned by a prominent local family, the Bowmans, who once owned the entire island and others nearby; the food is excellent and the Belizean staff are very friendly and quietly efficient.
Swimming Pool
Air Conditioning
Rooms
Facilities
Five separate cabanas comprising eight units: Osprey’s Nest (two rooms, each with double and single beds, shared balcony) shared private dock, sea views; Heron’s Hideaway (for honeymooners, with dbl bed and sea views); Sandpiper Suites (duplex - one dbl, one dbl plus sgl, beach view); Egret’s Escape (first floor unit, dbl bed); Kingfisher Cottage (first floor unit with dbl bed, lagoon and beach views). All have composting loos and hot water showers. The main building, Pelican’s Pouch, has five large first-floor rooms, en suite toilet and basin, shared hot showers on ground floor, east facing verandah with hammocks, restaurant, bar, dining room with large deck. On the property are a boat dock, hammocks, canoes and Lazer sailboats for the use of guests.
Local Wildlife
Snorkelling for eagle rays, stingrays, nurse sharks, tarpon, corals, reef fish; Man ’O’ War Cay for large numbers of roosting magnificent frigatebirds and yellow-footed boobies. Around the island, pelicans dive constantly for fish, frigatebirds soar overhead and hermit crabs scurry along the beach, pure white and fringed by coconut palms. The island’s resident ospreys can be observed hunting for fish and tending their nest above the radio mast.
Optional Activities
Swimming, snorkelling (gear for hire), diving (no dive shop – tanks and gear can come from a mainland operator or nearby resort), canoeing, sailing, boating, birdwatching, bone fishing, drop-line fishing, kite surfing (bring your own gear), exploring the island (you can generally walk anywhere), visiting other islands, mangrove tour, relaxing in a hammock.
Route Map
Departure Dates
Travel Information
Are International Flights Included?
No. Please contact us for a quote if required.
Flight Info:
Domestic flights within Belize included
Best Visited:
December to May
Are you ATOL Registered?
Yes. This means we are legally able to book your international flights in conjunction with your ground arrangements so you can book with us with complete confidence. Read more about our ATOL license here.
Jonathan Morris
Area Specialist
Upgrade to the Boardwalk Cabanas at Jade Jungle Resort to enjoy a little more space and be at eye level with the forest wildlife.
If you have any questions regarding this Tour, please feel free to contact me on +44 (0)1803 866965
Really enjoyed eating traditional Belizian food and the variation between hotels. Every single member of staff we met was friendly, pleasant and helpful and we had a fabulous time. The holiday itinerary fulfilled out brief and our expectations – a big thank you for that.
