Hol Chan
Marine Reserve Snorkel:
an all day trip, first taking in Shark/Ray Alley
(you can be in the water with nurse sharks and giant
eagle rays), then on to the barrier reef, with its
incredible array of corals and brightly colored fish
for your second ½ hour snorkel, and finally a third
snorkeling opportunity in a spot justly famous for
its variety of reef plants and corals. You will
experience some of the finest snorkeling the world
has to offer.
Cave
Tubing:
a 40 minute ramble through the rainforest with your
tube over your shoulder brings you to the entrance
of your first cave. Step or jump into the water and
relax back in your tube, with your butt in the water
and your limbs ready to do a little steering or
paddling. Over the next 40 minutes you will float
through two amazing caves with a light strapped to
your forehead. It is said that in those caves you
find yourself. |
ATM (Underground Exploration
to the Tomb of the
Crystal Maiden:
this tour
is
arguably not for the faint-hearted; but those who
have done it often say it was the best thing about
their trip to Belize. You swim into the cave, and
follow an underground passage for half a kilometer,
during which time you will be in water sometimes up
to your knees and occasionally up to your neck. You
then climb a 20 foot escarpment to reach a plateau
which was used by the Mayans for ritual sacrifice to
the Rain God Chac more than a thousand years ago.
Here you will see ancient Mayan pottery, and the
calcite encrusted remains of 14 human beings,
including the complete skeleton of a 14 year old
girl (the crystal maiden). It is an awesome
experience that we have seen seven year olds and
seventy year olds relish: but you need to be fairly
confident in water, not to mind tight squeezes in
small places, and to have fairly good knees for the
climbing bits. You will know from the above
description whether it is for you or not.
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Jungle Zip-lines:
5 lines 100-150 meters long through the spectacular
rainforest canopy. A very safe thrill under the
guidance of two expert instructors and all the
safety lines you could want. A staff-controlled 80
foot rappel at the end. The only problem you'll
have is that it'll be over too quickly!
Lamanai
Mayan Ruins:
set
in a spectacular, tranquil rainforest location,
here is your chance to climb way above the canopy to
the top of the tallest pyramid, 120 feet above sea
level, for an awesome view as far as Mexico to the
North and Guatemala to the West. An informative
site, with an interesting museum and local arts and
crafts shops.
Jungle Horseback Riding:
another wonderful location, run by Caroline Carr ¡V a
painter with a world class reputation and her
husband. You will also meet Tika 2; their pet
jaguar. |
Wildlife
River Cruise:
a 1½ hour, 31 mile cruise along the New River to
Lamanai, experiencing pristine riverine forest
location and stopping along the way for a close look
at any wildlife you happen to encounter (from
crocodiles through bats and rare birds to spider
monkeys). The cruise back is a 45 minute
high-speed ride; the guy really throws that boat
round those bends in the river!
Belize Zoo:
a unique collection of rescued wild animals of
Belize, this quirky zoological park rehabilitates
injured or rogue creatures that would otherwise have
died or been culled. Look out also for the
handpainted enclosure signs in verse!
a 90+ minute tour of the
resort facilities and grounds, taking in the
history, geography and geology of Belize, and
featuring a number of eco-sustainable practices
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