Belize 15-day family adventure

Lamanai

Day 1: Arrival in Belize

You’ll be welcomed at Belize International Airport today for an exciting two-hour journey by road and riverboat to your jungle lodge. Relax, settle in and enjoy dinner before falling asleep to the sounds of the forest. 

Lamanai - Belize River

Day 2: Jungle explorations

Your stay at Lamanai Outpost Lodge includes a host of activities to choose from. Depending on the schedule and how much you’d like to do, why not try two to three activities each day? Perhaps get up early for a sunrise canoe trip and experience the jungle at dawn with the mighty morning chorus. If you feel like a lie-in, enjoy a leisurely breakfast then opt for a late morning or afternoon tour, exploring with a local guide and learning about Mayan jungle medicine and village life.

There's also plenty of time to just relax in the surroundings for lunch and dinner. 

Lamanai

Day 3: Wildlife all around

Another wonderful day in the jungle awaits. If you didn’t rise with the dawn yesterday, then today could be the day. You might like to visit the ancient Lamani Mayan ruins and look out for wildlife along the way, or explore the region’s colonial history at a sugar mill and Spanish church. Tonight, there are options for after-dark adventures on a spotlight river safari, or a ‘creatures of the night’ jungle expedition. The adults might opt for a sunset cruise and cocktails.

Lamanai Outpost Lodge - Belize City - Caye Caulker

Day 4: Tropical island paradise

After breakfast, set off by boat and taxi back to Belize City and on to the ferry terminal. You’ll be sailing out of the port for a 45-minute journey to the beautiful island of Caye Caulker off the coast. This friendly island is a fun-filled and relaxing Caribbean escape, with powder-white beaches and little tracks to explore by golf buggy. Once you've settled into your hotel, order a tropical cocktail and ease into the laid-back vibe.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve - Caye Caulker

Day 5: Underwater worlds

Tuck into a tropical breakfast, fuelling up for a half-day snorkel adventure. Your guides for the day will pick you up and you’ll head to the dive shop for gear fitting. Then it’s on to the boat for a day of aquatic adventuring. You’ll explore wrecks, see hundreds of different types of fish and corals and plunge into Shark Ray Alley to swim with stingrays and nurse sharks. Lunch will be served on board and you’ll be dropped off at the dock in the afternoon. The rest of the day and evening is yours to spend whatever way you wish. 

Caye Caulker

Day 6: Free day at the beach

Start off today with a langorous breakfast, then kick back for a sublime day of leisure. 

Take this time to explore the island or spend the whole day beach-bound. Head to the dock to see the tarpons, a large salt-water fish that’s easy to spot, then head to Iguana Reef Inn for sunset views and sting ray spotting.

Caye Caulker - Belize City - San Ignacio

Day 7: Into the western jungle

After breakfast, it’s time to pack up and catch the ferry back to Belize City. 

From there you’ll hit the road to Western Belize with your driver. Western Belize is a centre for jungle activities where you can enjoy Mayan Temples, cave adventures, zip lining and more. There are also nature trails, and cultural and gastronomy experiences. Settle into your eco-lodge and take in the new scenery.

Actun Tunchil Muknal

Day 8: Venture into the underworld

Be ready for adventure, as today you’ll explore the mysterious Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave. After breakfast, the day begins with a short drive to the national park and a forest hike to the cave entrance. From here, take to the water and swim into the amazing underworld realm of the cave system. As you plunge deeper, you’ll see curious geological formations, sparkling stalactites, stalagmites and flowstones. These hidden chambers reveal ancient secrets as well as geological processes. The Maya underworld, known as Xibalba was a fearful place where shamans of the past could venture and communicate with their gods or ancestors. We’ll return to the light of the day to enjoy a delicious lunch.

Afterwards, we'll take you back to your lodge for some more rest and relaxation.

Xunantunich - Ajaw Chocolate - Iguana Project

Day 9: Mayan temples & chocolate

This morning after breakfast, we'll visit Xunantunich, the most-visited Mayan ruins in Belize. The site has six major plazas surrounded by over 25 temples and palaces. The largest pyramid, El Castillo, rises 40 metres above the main plaza and offers an impressive panoramic view over the Mopan River valley and into Guatemala. 

Stop for a tasty traditional lunch at a local restaurant then, in the afternoon, enjoy a sweet-toothed tour of Ajaw Chocolate Company. Have a go at chocolate making and try a nibble or two. Your final stop is at the Green Iguana Conservation Project, where they work to protect the endangered green iguana species in Belize.

We'll return you to your eco-lodge afterwards, where your evening is free.

Black Rock Lodge - Mystic River Resort

Day 10: Free day of delight

Today will be free for you to enjoy the beauty of the area. Choose from various activities, depending on where you are staying and what you feel like doing. Hiking, river tubing and swimming are all on the agenda. 

In the evening there are night jungle hikes to book or you could gather around the fire, toast marshmallows and gaze up at the stars.

Black Rock Lodge - Mystic River Resort - Placencia Village

Day 11: The road to Placencia

After breakfast, hit the road south on the scenic Hummingbird Highway. You'll be heading to the beautiful Placencia Peninsula, stopping at the inland Blue Hole for a refreshing swim. The Placencia Peninsula boasts 16 miles of tropical beaches, with a lagoon to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east. It was once a sleepy fishing village but has now grown into one of Belize’s favourite beach destinations. Check-in at your hotel, then take a stroll around your new neighbourhood.

Glovers Reef

Day 12: Turtle swimming

Southern Belize has some of the most pristine islands and dive areas, including the incredible Silk Cayes. These cayes are located near the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the second-largest coral reef system in the world. Today you’ll enjoy a shared full-day snorkelling trip to discover a wonderful underwater world. Take a boat from caye to caye and swim and snorkel from the white sand beaches. 

At lunchtime, refuel with a Belizean-style lunch on the beach. Snorkel some more then finish the day at Turtle Ray Ally swimming with huge loggerhead turtles, nurse sharks and rays.

Placencia

Day 13: A day at play

Enjoy a day of leisure at your hotel and the beach today or head out to explore the laid-back village of Placencia. If you’d like more snorkelling, your hotel will have gear to lend as well as paddle boards or kayaks for more water-based fun.

Placencia

Day 14: Last sunset in Belize

Today is your last day on blissful Belizean shores. Choose to spend it as you please, at the beach, in the ocean or on a bookable tour. Chocolate making might take your fancy, maybe a guided nature hike or a visit to the Ya’axkin Butterfly Farm. Soak up one more Caribbean sunset before you bid farewell to Belize.

Belize International Airport

Day 15: Homeward bound

This morning, it's time for one last breakfast in paradise before a three-hour transfer from Placencia to the airport for your homeward flight.