Belize Lighthouse Reef Kayaking

Lighthouse Reef Kayaking Itinerary:

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• Day 1 Begin your Belize adventure in Crooked Tree Village, Belize's oldest Creole settlement.

  Your trip begins today in Belize City, Belize. Arrive at the Belize International Airport where you will be met by an Island Expeditions representative and transferred to the Birds Eye View Lodge located in the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. After checking into our accommodations, we have a chance to meet our fellow travelers and enjoy a fine meal, and as time permits, explore Crooked Tree Village, one of Belize's oldest Creole settlements. Dinner included.

• Day 2 After some incredible wildlife viewing, we'll head out to Lighthouse Reef Atoll and settle into our luxury basecamp.

  Coffee is served at sunrise, and with binoculars in hand, we enjoy the waking wilderness and many hundreds of birds feeding right in front of the lodge along the shores of the Crooked Tree lagoons. After a healthy Belizean breakfast, we'll embark by boat to explore the area. Throughout the sanctuary, we have tremendous birding and wildlife opportunities: iguana, turtle, parrot, ibis and Morlet's crocodile are frequently seen. Later in the day, we'll drive along the old Belize Road to the sea where we board our motor charter that takes us through white sand cays and mangrove ranges, then past the main barrier reef to Lighthouse Reef Atoll, at the furthest edge of the Belize Reef System, 60 miles offshore of the mainland. On reaching Half Moon Caye, your guide team will orient you to our new island setting and settle you into your accommodations and camp. Then we enjoy a late lunch and an afternoon snorkel or kayak around Half Moon Caye. All meals included.

• Days 3-5 Over the next few days we'll explore the waters and reef surrounding Half Moon Caye.

  Due to it's isolation from the mainland, the waters of Lighthouse Reef Atoll are exceptionally clear, with inspiring scenery and a fabulously rich reef system that offers some of the best kayaking, snorkeling and diving in the Caribbean. To begin, the guides provide instruction, teaching the fundamentals of sea kayaking, snorkeling and safety in the tropics.
  
  Over the next few days we have many options to explore, including a shipwreck that looms just north of the caye. In 1971, a ship named the Ermlund lost power during a storm and was deposited on the reef by a large wave. This 4000 ton rusted wreck sits silent as a landmark and is one of many shipwrecks in the area that serve as a constant reminder of the hazards of navigating these waters. We also have ample opportunities to learn from our guides about the marine reef ecology and the island's mangrove and interior forest habitat that spread over the park's 45 acres. Many species of birds nest on the island, including a 4,000 red-footed booby colony for which the Audubon Society has built a series of viewing platforms to intimately observe the many nesting sites. And, of course, we always have the option of hanging out in a hammock with a good book and a cold drink! All meals included.

• Day 6 The Blue Hole, also known as "the aquarium" by famed Jacques Cousteau, is our destination today!

  The "aquarium" is today's big adventure. We pack a hearty lunch and our snorkel gear in our kayaks and paddle with motor support. This dive spot is known for it's profusion of fish and towering coral formations. We return home, stopping at the Halfmoon Wall for a spectacular drift snorkel over the undersea cliff of the atoll.  All meals included.

• Day 7 Lighthouse Reef is known for its density and diversity of both corals and fish.

  Today, we paddle along the protected waters of the southern reef to Long Caye where we have a chance to snorkel some of the atoll’s best patch reefs. After a full day of exploring, we return just in time for a wonderful seafood dinner prepared by our cooks.  All meals included.

• Day 8 Enjoy one last snorkel before saying goodbye to this slice of paradise.

  For our last morning at Lighthouse, the choice is yours. Don a mask, snorkel and fins for a visit to a favorite patch reef, enjoy walking the island trails, or beach comb along the island beaches before the motor charter arrives to pick us up for the return boat trip back to the mainland. We transfer to the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel where we can enjoy a fresh shower and a swim in the pool. Breakfast and lunch included.

• Day 9 Depart for home.

  Breakfast and transfer to airport are on your own today.

Although we do our best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.

Please check with us before purchasing your airline tickets to ensure your trip has the necessary minimum number of participants required to operate the trip.

Trip accommodations are based on double occupancy. If you are willing to share we will pair up single travelers based on their gender and no single fee will be required. On some occasions a share room may not be available and only a single room with the applicable fee may be possible. If single accommodations are requested, you will be asked to pay the single supplement amount. Please note: we will do our best to accommodate you with single accommodations but some lodges we use are very small and a private room may not be available for all nights. If you need to share a room with a fellow traveler of the same gender we will refund any single supplement amount that may apply to the shared room.

All accommodations; all meals as noted in the daily itinerary; airport transfer from Belize airport; transportation within Belize; local English-speaking guides; kayaks and gear (life vests, paddles, dry bags, etc.); Half Moon Caye Marine Park fees; government taxes.

Airfare to Belize, transfer from Belize City to airport; departure taxes; guide gratuities; items of a personal nature; alcoholic beverages and soft drinks; dive gear & scuba diving fees; excess baggage charges or insurance of any kind.

A special cancellation policy applies to all Belize trips. Please note that the cancellation policy is stricter than REI Adventures’ standard policy. Final payment is due 60 days before departure for regular season and 90 days prior for holiday dates. The following change and cancel fees apply:

Regular season departures (Jan 2 to Dec 14)
91+ days prior to departure – $200 penalty
61 to 90 days – full deposit is non-refundable
31 to 60 days – 50% of trip cost
0 to 30 days – 100% of trip cost

Holiday season departures (Dec 15 – Jan 1)
91+ days prior to departure – $400
61 to 90 days – 50% of trip cost
31 to 60 days – 75% of trip cost
0 to 30 days – 100% of trip cost

This trip is rated as Easy Active [2]. It is suitable for people of all ages who enjoy an active, adventurous, and educational vacation. We provide thorough expert skills instruction during our trips—no previous experience is needed to participate.

The climate of Belize is sub-tropical. Although we will be traveling during the dry season, the infrequent “northerly” can blow down from the Gulf of Mexico, bringing with it cooler temperatures and rain. Inland conditions can change quickly with afternoon thunderstorms and heavy rainfall commonly occurring. Typically, temperatures range from 70 - 100° F with high humidity during the day, dropping at night to 70 - 80°F. From December to May, conditions are usually clear, sunny and warm. December is generally cooler.

On Day 1 we will be staying at Birds Eye View Lodge, situated on the water's edge of the Crooked Tree Lagoon. This comfortable Belizean-style hotel offers private bath and lakeside views. On the second level, there is a deck and bar which is the perfect place to catch the evening breeze and reminisce over your recent discoveries.

On Days 2 to 7 we will be sleeping in tent-walled cabanas on raised wooden floors. These spacious, safari-style tents with single or double beds have ample headroom for walking around.

On the final night we will be staying at the Belize Biltmore Hotel in Belize City. This comfortable, modern hotel located 5 miles north of town features a central courtyard with a swimming pool where you can relax and unwind.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and pre-departure information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. This gear list has been created to help you in choosing your equipment for the trip. Try to bring only what is necessary, as this will help you and the field staff.

Weather

The climate of Belize is sub-tropical. Although we are traveling during the dry season, there can be the infrequent “northerly” which blows down from the Gulf of Mexico, bringing with it cooler temperatures and rain. Inland conditions can change quickly with afternoon thunderstorms and heavy rainfall commonly occurring. Typically, temperatures range from 70 - 100° F with high humidity during the day, dropping at night to 70 - 80°F. From December to May, conditions are usually clear, sunny and warm. December is generally cooler.

Gear Checklist

Things to Consider

• Please remember to always pack essential items such as your passport, money, eyewear, hiking boots, a pair of shorts/shirt/fleece top/sandals and medications in your carry-on baggage, in case your luggage is delayed.
• Cotton is wonderful in warm weather. However, once it becomes wet, it will drain your body heat. Bring wool or synthetics such as Capilene, MTS and Thermax.
• Bring clothing that is light in weight and color, which ventilates and protects you from the sun. It is always good to have a lightweight, long-sleeve fleece or synthetic top, especially for the evenings.
• Always test your layers before a trip. Your outer layer should fit easily over the inside ones without binding and bunching up.
• Pack lotions that can help ease itching from bug bites.
• Stuff sacks are great for sorting gear. Use different sizes/colors to differentiate contents.
• Plastic bags are the key to keeping clothing and gear dry. Use Ziploc bags to keep wet clothes separate from dry clothes.
• If you wear prescription glasses, use a safety cord and bring an extra pair if possible. Contact lens wearers should also bring an extra set, or bring eyeglasses for a backup.
• Space for luggage is limited. Pack lightly, fitting all clothing into one duffel bag. During the day, plan on carrying a small daypack with sunscreen, water bottle/hydration system and camera.