Ultimate Multisport

Ultimate Multisport Itinerary:

• Day 1

  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 Tropical Education Center, adjacent to the Belize Zoo. After settling into our forest cabanas, we have a chance to meet our fellow travelers over dinner. At the Tropical Education Center, you can explore the surrounding savannah forest through their network of interpretative trails and wildlife viewing platforms. There is also an interpretative center, which details the diverse ecology of Belize, and is an ideal starting point for the adventure ahead. After dinner we have a rare opportunity to have an exclusive nocturnal tour of the renowned Belize Zoo for an up close experience with the wildlife that inhabits the forests, wetlands and mountains of Belize. (please note this activity is by donation to the Belize Zoo and Conservation, we suggest $10 USD). Transfers from the airport, dinner and lodging are included.

• Day 2

  We rise early to start today's extraordinary journey, which takes us deep into the Mayan underworld known as Xilbalba (shil-balba), a mythical realm inhabited by spirits and powerful gods, an underworld of untold fears and dreams where Mayan shaman, in supposition to the gods, ventured into darkness to conduct their secretive rituals. As we venture underground into the caves, we learn from our guides how the caves played an important role in the ancient Maya civilization and about ongoing archaeological research taking place underground in Belize. After our cave visit, we travel the Hummingbird Route to meet up with our motor charter, on the coast by the town of Dangriga. We head out to Tobacco Caye and arrive at our lodge in time to settle in our private beach cabanas, have dinner and plan our next two days on the barrier reef. All meals included.

• Day 3

  We rise early for a breakfast on the beach. We then focus on our introduction to sea kayaking and get comfortable with the gear. We start by teaching and reviewing the fundamentals of sea kayaking and introduce everyone to ocean touring techniques. We test our new found skills with a paddle out to the main reef to snorkel along the inner reef wall or patch reefs. Depending on sea conditions, a snorkel along the outside reef edge may be possible. Our paddle back to Tobacco Caye takes us past mangrove ranges and protected lagoons. Out on the reef, our guides share their knowledge of Belize, the marine environments, and local culture. All meals included.

• Day 4

  After breakfast and a morning of paddling and snorkeling, our motor charter returns to take us 20 miles east of the main Barrier Reef to Glovers Reef Atoll, a National Marine Park and designated World Heritage site. We land at park headquarters on Middle Cay, with boats rigged and ready to sail. We sail our kayaks along the eastern reef wall to our base camp at Southwest Caye at the southern end of the atoll, surrounded by rich coral reefs and beautiful turquoise waters. Tonight, we enjoy an island feast of mixed grill of fresh seafood and vegetables topped with Belizean coconut and tropical fruits. All meals included.

• Days 5-6

  Glover’s is one of only four atolls in the Caribbean Sea and is truly one of the most spectacular marine environments in Belize. Due to its isolation from the mainland, the waters are exceptionally clear with an incredibly rich reef system that offers some of the best kayaking, snorkeling and diving in the Caribbean. Our days are flexible in order to respond to both group and individual desires and abilities. Activities include: sea kayaking, snorkeling the inner and outer walls of the reef, and kayak sailing. For those who are certified divers, we can also arrange dives on the outer walls. If all this sounds a little busy, you always have the choice of just kicking back in a hammock and relaxing with a good book and a cold drink. On the afternoon of Day 6, we transfer back to the mainland and continue south to our jungle lodge in the Toledo district of Belize to begin the next leg of our journey. All meals included.

• Days 7-9

  The Lodge at Big Falls is situated on the banks of the Rio Grande River in Belize's southern Toledo District, a region of isolated villages lying amongst an unspoiled tropical wilderness. Our location is superb. The lodge property is located on a meander of the river with almost a mile of river frontage. There are views towards the Maya Mountains to the northwest while the southeastern bank faces the small village of Big Falls. In the afternoon, we drive further south from Big Falls to our put-in point on the Moho River, stopping for lunch along the way at the traditional Maya village of Santa Theresa.
  
  Once on the river, our guides provide a brief boat and river orientation and we take as much time as we need to learn and practice our new boat-handling skills, enabling us to safely navigate the rapids and pour-overs. We then begin our journey along one of Belize’s most beautiful rivers through some pristine rainforest to our first river camp.
  
  For these next days we break contact completely with the outside world and become a part of the mist-shrouded rainforest as we follow the Moho River through canyons and lush rainforest. Each bend reveals the dynamic nature of the river-from calm, meandering water that reflects the intense green of the jungle to stretches of rapids, pour-overs and spectacular waterfalls as the river descends from the Maya Mountains to the sea. Depending on water levels, some days we may reach our bush-camp by mid-afternoon and switch to land-based activities. Hiking through the forest, birding, plant and animal identification, and photography are some of the many activities we engage in. During the trip with our Mayan guides and North American leaders, we emphasize understanding the ecology of the rainforest, learning about the habits of the wildlife and gaining an appreciation for the rich Mayan folklore which adds so much to our experience in the jungle. All meals included.

• Day 10

  We continue paddling downstream and arrive to the river pull out in the afternoon, where we are met by IEC staff. We have a final lunch in the Mayan Mennonite village of Jordan, followed by a transfer back to Dangriga. Here we board a domestic flight to the Belize Municipal Airport and then proceed to our accommodations to enjoy a well deserved hot shower. Breakfast and lunch included.

• Day 11

  Breakfast and transfer to the airport are on your own today.

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. We try to pair up single travelers based on their gender and with another traveler with a similar profile. If a single tent is requested, we will do everything possible to accommodate the request, based on available equipment. If a single room is requested during a lodge stay, the guest will be required to pay a nominal surcharge (typically $40-$75), locally at the hotel.

All accommodations; all meals as noted in the daily itinerary; airport transfer from Belize airport; domestic flight from Dangriga to Belize City; transportation within Belize; local English-speaking guides; kayaks and gear (life vests, paddles, dry bags, etc.); government taxes.

Airfare to Belize, transfer from Belize City to airport; departure taxes; guide gratuities; alcoholic beverages; items of a personal nature; excess baggage charges or insurance of any kind.

A special cancellation policy applies to all Belize trips. Please note that the holiday departures cancellation policy is more strict than REI Adventures’ standard policy. The following 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 Moderate [3]. All participants should be in good physical condition and know how to swim. This adventure takes place in a remote wilderness region of Belize. Participants need to be ready to handle the unexpected. Weather conditions can greatly affect water levels and hiking trails into the river and may increase the level of difficulty. Although no previous experience or special skills are needed to participate in the Ultimate Multisport trip, you should be in good enough physical condition to paddle up to 10 miles a day or hike with a light pack for three or four hours.

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 spending one night at the Tropical Education Center in our rustic lodge accommodation. The Education Center harbors Belize's largest collection of tropical animal specimens, a fantastic Interpretative Center and a network of cut trails and wildlife viewing platforms, perfect for exploring the pine savannah setting. On Days 2 and 3 we stay at Paradise Lodge, on Tobacco Caye – a small Belizean owned lodge with a beautiful view over the central Belize Barrier Reef. These rustic cabanas are clean and comfortable with en-suite bathrooms. Each cabana is perched over the waters edge, giving you unobstructed views of the Belize Barrier Reef and unparalleled access to kayaking and snorkeling. On Days 4 and 5 at Southwest Cay on Glovers Reef, we are "base camping" in tent-walled cabanas. These spacious safari-style tents have ample headroom and are outfitted with wood floors and wood-framed beds. On the island we have a fresh-water collection system for drinking water, access to fresh-water showers, modern composting toilets, a fully-equipped kitchen including refrigeration, a large dining area complete with resource library, and a field marine lab including microscope and hand lenses. On Day 6 we will be staying at The Lodge at Big Falls in the southern Toledo district. Our accommodations beside the banks of the Rio Grande River are spacious cottage style cabanas within a rich tropical setting. The cabana roofs are traditionally thatched with bay-leaf palm. The floors are beautifully tiled and each fully-screened room has a ceiling fan and full en-suite bathroom providing hot and cold water. The carefully landscaped surroundings have been designed to attract birds and butterflies close to the cottages where guests can comfortably enjoy the view from their own private verandah. On Days 7, 8, 9 we are camping in the remote wilderness of the Moho River in Southern Belize. We practice minimum impact camping to ensure that the pristine state of the wilderness remains for future visitors. We will be keeping our weight and volume to a minimum, carrying our gear in the kayaks from camp to camp. We stay in three-person tents, which provide ample room for two people and gear. As we travel down the river, we use predetermined camping areas to minimize our impact on the forest floor, but give ourselves the flexibility to adjust our schedule for different conditions. On the final night we will spend the night at the Biltmore Hotel. This is a clean and comfortable hotel outside the city center. You have a chance to get a good night's sleep after your adventure, maybe take a dip in the pool, and prepare to fly out or continue on independently.

Note: From time to time, due to unforeseen circumstances, hotels or lodges listed may need to be changed. These changes may be done without prior notice.

Ultimate Adventure combines well with a trip into the remarkable Mayan Ruins of Belize. The Maya World Extension gives you a great opportunity to visit some of the largest excavated Mayan ruin sites in Belize and explore the remarkable wildlife of the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary.

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.