Orchid Garden Eco-Village

Tropical Eco-Sustainability Experience

Tropical Eco-Learning at your Door-Step Relaxation with Eco-Learning
07-05-2010

Facilities & Service

Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Snorkel, Diving, Swimming

Tour Descriptions: sailing and snorkeling in Shark/Ray Alley and at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve on Belize’s Barrier Reef

 

Second only in size to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Belize Barrier Reef is one of the natural wonders of the world. It is actually a series of coral reefs straddling the coast of Belize, roughly 300 metres (1,000 ft) offshore in the north and 40 kilometers (25 mi) in the south. It features the spectacular “Blue Hole”, formed when the roof of a massive underground cavern collapsed, and attracts snorkelers and divers from all over the world.

 

The 186 miles long Belize section is less than one third of the 900 kilometres (560 miles) long Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which runs from Cancún on the northeast tip of the Yucatán Peninsula through the Riviera Maya down to Honduras.  It is Belize's top tourist destination, attracting almost half of its 290,000 visitors annually, and vital to its fishing industry.

 

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

·         Swimming costume and towel!

·         A tee-shirt to cover your shoulders and back – you burn really easily on and in the sea.

·         IMPORTANT optional extra for you to consider if you’re exhibiting the classic symptom of male-pattern baldness: another tee-shirt, or a cloth, to put over your head, to be held on in the water by your goggles (honestly, even though I was smothered in 50 factor I was still like a well-cooked lobster by the evening)

·         Sunblock + certainly a hat of some sort if, like me, you are follicly challenged.

·         Bug spray, containing at least 25% deet for application before you hit land at lunchtime, and again after you’ve had your final snorkeling session.

·         Drinking water – plenty of it, as you can dehydrate really fast out there!

·         Camera (for some awesome shots from the boat; and if you’re lucky enough to have a waterproof camera, from down below as well).

 

It IS possible to do this day while based on the mainland, as long as you are within reach of the water-taxi terminal in Belize City.  It means an early breakfast in order to catch a boat that will get you to Caye1 Caulker in time for the departure of your tour.  Of course, it is easier if you have spent the previous night on one of the Cayes, because then all you have to do is fall out of bed into your tour boat.  It will depart about 10.30am, and take you to two or three locations which are known to be excellent snorkeling spots.  You will certainly stop at an area known as Shark/Ray Alley, because of the reliable presence of nurse sharks and giant eagle rays, and it really is a special feeling to be in the water with these sizeable creatures, all of which flip lazily about, mildly intrigued and not at all bothered by the arrival of four-limbed aliens floating on top of their world.  Not uncommonly there are also turtles, and a variety of other fish, all perhaps expecting some of these weird creatures to have come bearing gifts of food….

 

Your other certain snorkeling session will be at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, right on the Barrier Reef.  Here the number and variety of fish increases exponentially; you will be surrounded by brightly coloured shoals of up to a hundred different species, spectacular as they flip and dart in and around an amazing variety of coral formations.  Some big fish here too – varieties of grouper, and sometimes barracuda.  You will need to be careful not to touch, or to inadvertently bump into, any of the coral formations because they and you will damage easily (the coral is brittle, and lacerations from sharp coral can make a nasty mess of whichever part of your body came into contact with it).

 

The order in which you have these snorkeling sessions may vary, but in all probability after the first one you will head for San Pedro for lunch.  The price of this is not included in your tour, which frees you to choose one of the many very reasonably priced restaurants on the island, depending on your mood and your taste buds; after which it is back on the boat and a very pleasant sail to the location of your second snorkeling session.

 

The tour operators will be aware that those of you staying on the mainland will need to be back in time to catch the last boat to Belize City, where your transport back to your hotel will be waiting for you.

 

This is a wonderful day, of free movement over sparkling turquoise water, cool magic in it and a blazing sun above it.  Weather permitting (and it nearly always does permit) you will have an experience to remember wistfully long after you’re home again, maybe with bitingly wintry conditions outside, when you will fairly regularly wish you could be back in those enticing Caribbean waters enjoying world class snorkeling, a warm, welcoming climate and friendly laid-back people telling you “dis jooel is fer evribadi.” 

 

Keep a bottle of good rum in the drinks cabinet, for just those occasions…

 

 

  1. “Caye” (pronounced “key” as in Florida Keys) is from the Spanish Cayo, meaning a small island. 

 

Customized your Package Tours

4 Night Inland $699

  • Airport Transfer

  • 4 Night double Occupancy

  • 11 Delicious Meals

  • ATM ( Underground Expedition )

  • Wildlife River Cruise

  • Lamanai Maya Ruin

  • Jungle Zip-Lines

  • Cave Tubing

  • Belize Zoo

  • Eco-Village Tour

5 Night Belize $899

  • Airport Transfer

  • 5 Night double Occupancy

  • 13 Delicious Meals

  • ATM ( Underground Expedition )

  • Shark Ray Snorkel

  • Wildlife River Cruise

  • Lamanai Maya Ruin

  • Jungle Zip-Lines

  • Cave Tubing

  • Belize Zoo

  • Eco-Village Tour

5 Night Belize & Tikal

US $949

  • Roundtrip Airport Transfer

  • 5 Night double Occupancy

  • 13 Delicious Meals

  • Shark Ray Snorkel

  • Tikal

  • Flores City

  • Jungle Zip-Lines

  • Cave Tubing

  • Eco-Village Tour

 

Roundtrips Airport Transfer

  Minimize your transportation time, we're 20 minutes from the airport

Welcome Dinner

  Meticulously prepared and exquisitely presented meals that are delicious

 Tranquil & Secure

  Enjoy the advantages of staying in a tranquil and secure private village

 6 Night Accommodation

  Relax in our clean and spacious rooms

Hol Chan Marine Snorkel

In the home of Belize's Manatee Reserve. to search for graceful "sea cows" swimming and frolicking in their natural habitat.

Manatee Watching

snorkel at one of the most famous Marine Reserve: Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley (spectacular!)

Option Tour: Cave Tubing

On the way to cave tubing, a  nature hiking through the rainforest jungle. Along the walk you will be shown the flora and fauna as well as herbs used for medicinal purposes by the ancient Mayas.
After the rainforest hike you will then reach the cave branch river and enter in an inner tube and enter a tunnel where you will be floating in a system of Caves. It is one of the most sensational tour of Belize.

 Option: Lamanai Maya Ruin

Travel by boat along the New River and witness the same flora and fauna ancient Mayan traders observed on the way to the Lamanai ancient city.
Lamanai, or "submerged crocodile," is off the beaten track-perhaps the reason why it thrived for over 3000 years
Lamanai is also a botanical and wildlife reserve and showcases many native exotic birds and plants used for medicinal and commercial purposes. Most trees are labeled along the trails for easy identification

Orchid Garden Your Eco-Village Experience is hosted by Robin and Amy, a retired British couple who are on hand to ensure that everything runs smoothly, and that as far as possible every guest need is met and every question answered

Click here: Email to Robin & Amy

Orchid Garden Eco-Village Hotel

TripAdvisor Traveler Reviews

 

#1of 15 B&Bs / Inns in Belize City

43 reviews

Belize Airport Hotel  Belize City Hotel

Hotel Room

First Night Belize Airport Hotel Package US$70 pp ( Double Occupancy)

Price Includes;

 1 Night¡¦s accommodation

 1 Dinner

 1 Breakfast

  One Eco-Village Tour

  • Green Building & Nature Swimming Pool

  • Savannah Nature Trail

  • Nature Artistry Museum

  • Unrestricted access to: A Hughes Net high speed internet connection & 75+ channels of Direct TV

  • A small but serviceable library

  • A games room with table tennis and pool tables

Room

$US

Single Room

100 /pp

Double Room

70  /pp

Triple Room

60  /pp

Quad Room

55  /pp

Belize Inland 3 Night Experience US $199

Price Includes;

 3 Night¡¦s accommodation

 3 Dinner

 3 Breakfast

  One Eco-Village Tour

  • Green Building & Nature Swimming Pool

  • Savannah Nature Trail

  • Nature Artistry Museum

  • Unrestricted access to: A Hughes Net high speed internet connection & 75+ channels of Direct TV

  • A small but serviceable library

  • A games room with table tennis and pool tables

following attractions are easily accessible

  • Zip lining and Cave tubing at Jaguar Paw 40 minutes drive

  • New River, the starting point for our Wildlife river cruise and the ancient Mayan city of Lamanai  50 minutes

  • The terminal for the water taxi to Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye and the snorkeling in Shark/Ray Alley and at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve on the Barrier Reef 25 minutes 

  • The highway junction in the village of Teakettle (starting point for the awesome ATM Tour (Underground Expedition to the Cave of the Crystal Maiden) 45 minutes

  • The Belize Zoo or the Baboon Sanctuary 20 minutes

  • The International Airport 20 minutes

Guests Comment

Date: June 7th , 2008

Excellent Facility; the food + service was top notch.

Naisha & Bill Johns USA

Tours and meals were above expectations. Good luck with further development of your Eco-Village

Kim & Kathy Mahu USA

 

Everything was great loved people/workers. Tours great, food fabulous

Suggestion: Continue working hard on your Eco-Vision

Philip & Karen Boucher USA

   : Fabulous food/ people were wonderful. Tours were interesting. Loved the music with our meals

Eileen & Bruce Gebhard USA

June 12 2008

Delicious food. Generous and kind hosts, very informative tours of Eco-Village. Good location, close to Mayan Ruins, Cave tubing & Zip-Lines. Very helpful in informing about great tours in the area.

 

June 26 2008

Orchid Garden is a beautiful, peaceful oasis. Excellent food great service

and hospitality. Christine would do anything and everything for us! Thanks

Suggestions: I don’t think you could do anything better. Thanks again. We will be back  Kevin & Ropin Barber Minnesota USA

 

Thank you for all the ways you blessed us during our stay!

Suggestions: It is beautiful here everyone is so nice! I love it here. Thank you!

Patti Eckhoff Minnesota USA

 

Laura, Katie, Carrie and Riza Tantay Minnesota USA

The servise was amazing!

uggestions: Wonderful food! Thanks for taking care of us!

Laura, Katie, Carrie and Riza Tantay Minnesota USA