Belize Family Adventure

If you're looking for an alternative to the typical, boring family beach vacation, we have created the perfect itinerary visiting one of the most fascinating places on Earth. We have crafted this tour with families in mind, including fun activities that will be educational and rewarding for travelers of all ages. You will explore an ancient Mayan city deep in the jungle on horseback and enjoy the thrill of zip-lining through the forest canopy. A visit to one of the most beautiful botanical gardens anywhere in the world where you will follow a rainforest medicinal trail to learn about natural alternatives to modern-day medicine follows, as well as having the opportunity to spot howler monkeys from easy walking trails surrounded by the sights and sounds of the jungle. Belize also offers the unique opportunity to visit the 185-mile long Mesoamerican reef, the second longest barrier reef on Earth after Australia's. The underwater scenery here is absolutely spectacular and a delight for snorkelers and SCUBA divers alike. The laid-back village of Placencia will be your base for exploring this fascinating underwater world, while enjoying luxurious accommodations and fine cuisine.

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in Belize (-)

Upon arrival at Belize City’s International Airport you will be warmly welcomed by one of our representatives and escorted to your luxurious jungle lodge, approximately one and a half to two hours drive away, depending on the particular lodge. Enjoy your first evening in Belize with a refreshing drink while listening to the sounds of the tropical forest around you.

Day 2 – Botanic Gardens, Butterfly Ranch (B)

This morning you will awaken to the sounds of the tropical jungle surrounding your cabana, a far cry from where you were this time yesterday. After enjoying a delicious al-fresco breakfast, you will be met by your guide and driven the short distance to the award winning Belize Botanic Gardens, the only one of its kind in the country. Follow an easy rainforest trail through fruit trees, native plants, palm trees, tropical flowers and over 100 species of orchids while learning about the medicinal and ritual plants used by the ancient Maya. After lunch you will visit the delightful Green Hills Butterfly Ranch where around 30 species of butterfly are raised in a 3,000 square foot butterfly house. There is also a lovely hummingbird garden here, as well as an impressive mahogany reforestation project and an interesting tropical garden.

Day 3 – Jungle Canopy Zip-Lining, Xunantunich Ruins (B)

This morning you will drive to Calico Jack’s Village for a great morning’s experience of zipping through the forest canopy, safely attached to steel cables connecting 15 platforms in the tree canopy. This is an exciting, thrilling but completely safe way to get up close and personal with the inside of the forest canopy and will be an unforgettable experience. Following a lunch break in the quiet regional hub of San Ignacio, you will have an enjoyable guided horseback tour of the spectacular 1000-plus year old Mayan ruins of Xunantunich, one of Belize’s most significant Maya sites. This is one of the most impressive Maya ceremonial centers in Central America, resting atop a natural limestone ridge with a great view of the jungle and Guatemala in the distance. Xunantunich is believed to have been constructed around 400B.C. and was deserted around A.D.1000. At its peak, it was home to a population of 7000-10000 Maya. Although it’s not the highest Maya structure, El Castillo, the main pyramid here at 135 feet, is the second highest structure of any kind in Belize.

Day 4 – Fly to Placencia (B)

After a leisurely breakfast you will check out of your hotel and drive to the fascinating Community Baboon Sanctuary, a community based initiative that is set up to protect the black howler monkey (locally known as a baboon). There are 3,000 howler monkeys here, and on an easy 45-minute long walking trail in the forest you will be practically guaranteed to see wild monkeys, in addition to over 100 species of trees and thriving animal life including deer, anteaters, armadillos, iguanas, amphibians, reptiles as well as over 200 species of birds. Leaving here, you will visit the delightful, unique Belize Zoo, known for its natural environment with thick native vegetation and wild, spacious animal compounds housing over 125 animals native to Belize. A short drive away is Belize City’s airport where you will check in for a scenic flight to Placencia, in the south of the country.

Day 5 – Placencia, Kayaking (B)

Placencia is a relaxed, tranquil, ramshackle village on Belize’s Caribbean coast. It doesn’t get much more laid back than this. The town’s main north-south street is actually a 3-foot wide concrete footpath. There’s a small but growing international presence, which has created some great dining options and some excellent boutique hotels. The town’s palm-lined beach is fine for swimming, as is your luxury hotel’s pool, however a short boat ride will bring you to the barrier reef and some stunning underwater scenery. Today you will experience the enjoyment of paddling the near shore islands, mangroves, rivers and creeks in a kayak, before returning to your hotel. This evening, explore the small town at your leisure, perhaps sampling some of the town’s local restaurants ranging from simple Belizean cuisine to fine dining.

Day 6 – Barrier Reef (B)

This morning you will enjoy a boat tour to the Mesoamerican Reef, which at 185 miles long, is the second longest barrier reef in the world after Australia’s. Here you will find deserted islands of beautiful beaches, swaying palms, amazing snorkeling and swimming with the many varieties of tropical fish in the warm Caribbean waters, including trumpet fish, angelfish, damselfish, rays and beautiful parrotfish. Watch them dart in and out of the abundant and colorful coral reefs. For certified SCUBA divers, the area affords some spectacular dives to vibrant and spectacular coral reefs teeming with colorful fish and coral in one of the most biologically diverse underwater habitats on earth. Returning to Placencia, you will be able to enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure.

Day 7 – Monkey River (B)

After a leisurely breakfast this morning, you will take an easy 35-minute private boat ride to the mouth of the Monkey River and the sleepy village of the same name. Your boat will travel through a maze of mangrove channels and tunnels, before heading upstream to spot howler monkeys and possibly even crocodiles along the river shore from the safety of your boat. After a visit to the protected area of Payne’s Creek National Park, you will turn around, heading back downstream for lunch in the village before returning to Placencia to enjoy the rest of the day as you please.

Day 8 – Farewell to Belize (B)

After enjoying a final leisurely breakfast in your hotel, you will transfer by private car to Placencia’s airstrip for your short flight to Belize City, connecting to your international flight home.

Hotels listed below are given as suggestions only to illustrate the standard of hotels used. 

Jungle Lodge - Luxury - Mystic River

On a steep bank of the beautiful Macal River, eco-friendly Mystic River Resort Jungle Lodge offers the best of all worlds to those who travel to Belize. In this oasis of privacy, serenity and rejuvenation, there are no crowds, just the soothing sound of birds, rustling trees and soft breezes. Beautifully furnished by some of the finest local carpenters, all eight luxurious suites feature private patios overlooking the beautiful Macal River, and are some of the most stylish accommodations to be found in Belize’s jungle region.

Jungle Lodge - Deluxe - Dream Valley

Newly opened in February of 2012, this luxury designer resort offers opulence, comfort and a perfect equilibrium between nature and luxury, which makes it one the best jungle lodges in the country. Dream Valley is beautifully located in the forests of western Belize and elegantly sits on the bank of the majestic Belize River under the canopy of the lush tropical jungles. The remote jungle setting of Dream Valley makes it a perfect place to relax. Chalets elegantly sit along raised platforms emphasizing the panoramic view of the silent Belize River and rich jungle in a truly breathtaking setting.

Placencia - Luxury - Robert's Grove Beach Resort

Robert’s Grove is a beautifully appointed Hacienda-style Belize beach resort nestled on 22 acres of the finest white sand beach in Placencia. Its ideal location allows guests to be close to the Barrier Reef. Luxurious air-conditioned guest rooms and villas, amongst the finest and most diverse in Belize all feature spacious interiors and huge terraces, each of which is only steps from the two infinity pools and the beach and provide all the comforts and amenities you would expect from a top Caribbean resort. This great beach resort also makes the perfect setting for a memorable Belize wedding or for a romantic honeymoon vacation.

Placencia - Deluxe - Chabil Mar

Just twenty luxury villas and suites grace this beautiful beachfront property, assuring a superior level of privacy, intimacy and personal attention. This luxury boutique resort appeals to the discerning traveler looking to combine adventure and cultural experience with stylish, upscale and exclusive accommodations close to the cultural attractions of Placencia village. The hotel has won Trip Advisor awards for the past seven consecutive years for Best Family, Luxury, Romance and Service categories and is one of the finest beach properties in the entire country.

Pricing

From $3295 per person (Luxury Hotels) or $3995 per person (Deluxe Hotels), for a private tour based on two people traveling in low season sharing a room.

Hotels listed on the Hotels Tab are given as suggestions only to illustrate the standard of hotels used. 

Price Includes:

All hotels as described in the itinerary
Services of Blue World Journeys’s representatives while in Belize
All transportation as described in the itinerary in a private air-conditioned vehicle with an English speaking driver / guide
Private sightseeing and entrance fees
Meals as described in the itinerary
Bottled water in the vehicle during all transfers 

Price Excludes:

International flights
Travel insurance
Meals other than those listed in the itinerary
Gratuities for guides and drivers
Sightseeing other than described in the itinerary
Additional room charges of a personal nature in hotels (eg: room service, laundry, phone calls, etc.).