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DAY ONE: BELIZE CITY

Our group arrives to Belize International Airport and transfers by van into Belize City, the primary port of Belize. After touring the historical waterfront we will return to our guesthouse for dinner and an orientation to our Belizean Adventure.

DAY TWO: LAMANAI RUINS TO YAMWITS RESORT AND CITRUS FARM

Today's adventure begins as we head north by charter bus to the Orange Walk District where we'll begin our tour of Lamanai, "the submerged crocodile." We'll travel by motorboat up the New River to this ancient site looking for marsh residents such as herons, birds of prey and crocodiles along the way. Laminai has a rich history beginning in 1500 B.C. to 1650 AD, making it the longest occupation of any Mayan site studied to date. We will have a special guided tour of the ruins before heading west to our next stop along the Hummingbird Highway. Overnight: Yamwits; triple to quad occupancy rooms in a small creole family owned lodge specializing in local Belizean cuisine.

Joy Smith and her family will host our group tonight.

DAY THREE: BLUE HOLE NATIONAL PARK TO HOPKINS VILLAGE

After breakfast, we will hike through the thick tropical foliage that surrounds an interior preserve, Blue Hole National Park. The deep aqua pool for which the park was named, was formed when the roof over an ancient subterranean riverbed collapsed. Our destination today is St. Herman's Cave. Using head lamps, we will begin exploring this magnificent cave that was used by the ancient Mayans as a ceremonial chamber. The fascinating history of the Mayans and their use of sacred pottery, fire pits and carved artifacts will be interpreted by our Mayan guide.

Our day will include tubing over small rapids and through the caves chambers filled with stalactites. In late afternoon, we will continue our travels to the village of Hopkins, on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. Tonight we'll enjoy a cultural presentation by the Hopkins Youth Group. Overnight: double occupancy cabanas in Hopkins Village.

DAY FOUR: HOPKINS to MAYA CENTER and THE JAGUAR SANCTUARY

A charming village on a Caribbean beach, Hopkins is home to an ethnic group in Belize known as the Garifuna. The Garifuna culture is a fascinating blend of West African traditions and those of the Carib Indians who migrated into the Caribbean from the Orinoco Basin of Venezuela. Our hosts in Hopkins are members of Sandy Beach Women's Cooperative who established a small seaside resort providing traditional Garifuna meals and lodging. The women of the cooperative are delightful! After breakfast, we'll travel into the heart of the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.

This rain forest is primary habitat for the endangered jaguar and is thought to have the highest concentration of jaguars in the Neotropics. We'll hike the trails leading into the dense jungle and discuss the fascinating ecology of tropical rain forests. In addition to jaguars, this sanctuary is also home to tapirs, kinkajous, leaf-cutter ants and an array of tropical birds such as toucans and mot mots. Our day will include time spent with Aurora Saqui, niece of the famous Belizean herbal healer Don Eligio Panti. Aurora is one of the Garcia sisters, talented artist known through-out Belize for their work with slate carvings. Aurora will guide us into the rain forest sharing her knowledge of tropical plants and their significance to the Mayan culture. We will have dinner with Aurora's family before heading back to our seaside cabanas in Hopkins Village.

DAY FIVE: GLOVER'S REEF ATOLL

After breakfast, we'll set sail for Glover's Atoll Resort. Thirty miles east of the mainland, Glover's Reef is designated as a World Heritage Site and Marine Reserve. There are few places in the western hemisphere where coral atolls, a circular ring of reef and islands have formed. As a marine preserve the population of fish is exceptionally healthy, from the minute reef inhabitants to the larger predatory species. Our island accommodations are on Northeast Caye, a pristine island within the turquoise hued lagoon of the atoll. We will be staying in rustic cabins facing the windward side of the island where the massive reef system begins right off shore. Composting toilets are shared among the huts.

For the next week we'll be living with few amenities such as electricity or running water in each hut. Our cabanas will glow by the light of lanterns, candles and the moon which will be full on June 30th. Each night, you may anticipate a delicious meal prepared by Eulalia Pop of the Maya Center who will be joining us at Glover's Atoll Resort. Our coconut lined island surrounded by shimmering blue water is truly magical!

DAY SIX: GLOVER'S REEF ATOLL

Our day will begin with an introduction to snorkeling. As we practice our skills, we'll examine the shallow turtle grass flats where an array of species especially in their juvenile state find refuge. In the afternoon we'll venture out to swim over large boulders of corals where huge schools of iridescent reef fish flourish. The snorkeling here is truly outstanding! The afternoon is free to snorkel, kayak or just relax on the beach or in a hammock. Certified divers may arrange for a morning or afternoon dive. Following happy hour and dinner, we'll venture out on an optional hike to determine what animals are nocturnally active in the island's dense interior.

DAY SEVEN: GLOVER'S REEF ATOLL: KAYAK/SNORKEL

This morning we'll offer a kayaking skills course in preparation for a day of exploration by kayak. Using sit on top style kayaks we may visit the original homestead of the Lomont's, owners of Glover's Atoll Resort. This unique family carved out an existence on a tiny island where they raised their children and lived a Robinson Crusoe type life. Their story is really quite remarkable. The day will provide ample time to snorkel, beach-comb, kayak or relax on our tropical island paradise. Scuba divers may arrange another dive trip today.

You are welcomed to join our naturalist as we explore the islands tropical interior. Land crabs, iguanas, small boa constrictors and numerous birds find refuge in this critical habitat which is vanishing quickly throughout most of Belize. Few islands in this region remain uncut and undeveloped. Northeast Caye is an exceptional example of how Caribbean Islands looked before the onset of modern resorts. In the evening we'll review the fish we've seen discussing their strange behaviors and coloration strategies.

DAY EIGHT: GLOVER'S REEF ATOLL: KAYAK SKILLS AND SURFING CLINIC

If conditions permit, we'll offer an opportunity to try kayak surfing in a nearby channel where surf-able waves often break. If the surfs' not up, we'll continue exploring the vast coral reef that flourishes here. As your snorkeling skills improve we'll visit the outer reef wall to observe pelagic species such as huge tarpon, harmless nurse sharks and spotted eagle rays that often frequent deeper waters. Snorkeling above the wall where the water depth suddenly drops off to over 2500 feet is an unforgettable sensation.

Massive barrel sponges and oddly shaped corals not seen in the shallow waters flourish along the spectacular reef wall. For anyone who is interested, we'll teach an afternoon kayak skills and rescue clinic using closed deck boats. Tonight we'll kayak under a near full moon sky.

DAY NINE: GLOVER'S REEF ATOLL: BELIZEAN FEAST

Join Blue Water Ventures staff and a local guide as we gather seafood in preparation for tonight's dinner. We'll learn how Belizeans have traditionally secured food from the sea using hand lines, fish traps and spears. From our kayaks we will select a fishing site outside of the reserve boundaries with hopes of catching enough snapper, grouper, sea bass or barracuda to feed our group. The calm grass flats nearby are a prime habitat for the elusive bonefish, a prize among serious fisher-people.

In the rocky intertidal shoreline we can harvest West Indian top snails and compare the biodiversity of this critical habitat to other areas we've seen. As always, you may opt to do other island activities. Tonight we'll prepare a Belizean feast grilling our catch over a coconut husk fire on the beach. Once again, we'll enjoy another starry night on our tropical island getaway.

DAY TEN: GLOVER'S REEF ATOLL: SAILING THE BLUE/NIGHT SNORKEL

Today we'll join the Lamont family on a leisurely sailing excursion to some of their favorite snorkeling places within the atoll. The turquoise blue lagoon contains over 800 reef patches and pinnacles. Tonight we'll offer an evening snorkel trip to observe the nocturnal inhabitants of a coral reef. Certified divers may organize a night dive. As darkness settles over a reef, damselfish, parrotfish and other colorful daytime fish disappear giving way to the nocturnal predators and plankton feeders.

The coral polyps are active at night as the water around us sparkles with bioluminescent plankton. Most impressive are barracuda, stingrays and octopus that we may encounter as we carefully swim in the dark using flashlights to light our way. After our evening adventure, we'll gather around a campfire on our coconut lined paradise as a full moon rises.

DAY ELEVEN: GLOVER'S REEF ATOLL TO BELIZE CITY
Our boat sets sail early today for the mainland where we'll catch a charter bus back to Belize City. We'll arrive in time to wander the historical waterfront before settling into our guest house where we'll spend our
final night together.

DAY TWELVE: BELIZE CITY TO THE AIRPORT
Early morning departure for the Belize International Airport to catch our flights home.