Welcome to the Belize Adventure for Women

Welcome to the Belize Adventure for Women

Belize is a small English speaking nation located south of the Yucatan with a population around  400,000 people. Despite its low population, this peaceful democracy is the home to a culturally diverse group of people. Garifuna (African and Carib Indian mix), Spanish, Creole and Mayan Indians are among the ethnic groups represented in Belize.

Belize has extraordinary natural resources including the world’s only sanctuary established to protect the endangered jaguar and the longest barrier reef in the western hemisphere. The crystal clear water, cascading waterfalls, Mayan ruins draped with jungle flora and extensive cave system offers a wide variety of tropical habitats to explore.

Over the years and across a multitude of habitats, our Blue Water naturalist guides have been fascinated by the intricate ecology of coral reefs. However, of equal interest has been sharing the cultural diversity of Belize.
We have watched kids grow up in villages and eco-tourism shape the country’s economy.

Our contacts in Belize are dependable. We share years of friendship with our Belizean hosts.

For thirteen  days you will be immersed into the cultural groups of Belize. Our accommodations are Belizean owned and operated. If you are looking for a resort vacation with all the amenities and comforts, this trip is not for you.

If you are interested in rich cultural experiences and seeing the wild side of Belize, this may be the trip. We will meet a Mayan healer, dance with the children of Hopkins Village, visit the world renowned Jaguar Sanctuary, kayak through an underground system of caves and live without electricity on a remote tropical island. Glovers Reef is one of our favorites places in the world.

We are very excited to introduce you to  our Mayan friends, Aurora and Ernesto Saqui, Eulalia and Ophelia Pop. Aurora is an extraordinary woman, a renown Mayan healer and artist. I met Eulalia Pop 35 years ago while on a scouting trip to Belize. We have been friends ever since. Eulalia/Ophelia and Avis Nunez of Hopkins Village will join us on Glover’s Reef Atoll, providing our meals. Sharing one on one conversation with these marvelous women is time well spent. The Garifuna Women of Hopkins Village eagerly await our arrival each year. They will provide food, cultural presentations and laughter to our group.

For six nights, we will live on an island at Glover’s Reef Atoll, a marine sanctuary approximately thirty miles east of the mainland. Coral atolls, a circular ring of reef and islands formed around a shallow turquoise lagoon, are rare in the Western Hemisphere. We will be staying in rustic cabins on a coconut lined island with a spectacular coral reef system right off shore. Every brilliant shade of blue will surround us.

TRIP DATES: June 6th-18th, 2023

TRIP COST: The cost of the 13 Day Belize Adventure is: 14-16  guests: $3995   17-20 guests: $3475

This price includes all lodging, meals, transportation in Belize except for an airport shuttle on Day One, all planned activities, daily naturalist-led activities, informal lectures, use of kayaks, guided snorkeling trips, entrance fees, permits and kayak instructional clinics.

The price does not include airfare, airport shuttle on Day One, phone calls, scuba diving (for certified divers), unscheduled boating excursions, activities not described in the itinerary, evacuations, personal liquor, tips or the departure tax of $40, if any.  it is customary to tip our two Belizean cooks who join us on Glover’s Atoll for the week. $100 per participant shared between them would be greatly appreciated.  If you would like to show appreciation for your Blue Water Ventures assisted crew, $100 per participant split among them would also be  appreciated.  All other tips are included. American dollars are accepted throughout Belize. The current exchange rate is two Belizean dollars to one American dollar.

ACTIVITIES: Our trip to Belize is a multi-cultural experience with a range of multi-sport activities including: snorkeling, sea kayaking, night snorkeling,  fishing, hiking through jungles, climbing Mayan ruins and  cave exploration by kayak. Naturalist-led activities and informal talks on cultural and natural history topics are offered daily.

SCUBA DIVING: Certified divers may arrange their own dives at Glover’s Reef. Scuba diving is not included in the price of this trip nor do we make any arrangements for diving. However, there will be daily opportunities to organize your own dives with the Padi dive master who lives on Glover’s Atoll. We are on the island for six nights.

FLIGHTS TO BELIZE: There are several options for travel to Belize. The carriers that currently service Belize include: American, United, Delta and Avianca  (formerly Taca Airlines).  Check Southwest Airlines directly.When you arrive, The Black Orchid Resort offers a shuttle service and will pick you up for a fee of $15-25 depending upon group size. We will help coordinate this for you. Please review Trip insurance  on our Deposits Cancellation and Trip Insurance
Plan on arriving no later than 4:30pm on June 6th and depart anytime after 9:00am on June 18th, 2023
The Airport code for Belize International Airport is BZE. I have found great rates at Kayak.com 

COVID-19 UPDATE Due to the nature of this program  traveling in vans and boats together and sharing accommodations,  we  will require everyone to submit proof of the COVID-19 vaccination. We encourage eligible travelers to be  fully vaccinated by getting their Covid-19 Booster Shot.  For more information on COVID and other medical considerations, please visit our More Info Page

Please give us a call at Blue Water Ventures if we can be of any other assistance (831) 459-8548. or email us at bluewaterventuressc@gmail.com

Kim Powell, MRPA
Owner, Operator & Naturalist
Blue Water Ventures
phone & fax: 831-459-8548
www.bluewaterventures.org

email: bluewaterventuressc@gmail.com
127 Mason St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060

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