Detailed Itinerary

Rainforest, Reef and Ruins - a nine day exploration into Belize

This is an Ecotour that will make a difference to you, and to the areas we visit.
We will donate to the important work of the Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center.
We will employ local people.
We will use locally owned and operated lodges and outfitters.
We will use local goods and services.

Day 1: Saturday. Home to Belize City.
We will be met at the Philip Goldson International airport and transferred to the New River where we will board a motor launch for transfer to the Lamanai Outpost Resort. Tonight we meet our fellow explorers as we enjoy our Welcome Dinner.
Overnight at Lamanai Outpost Lodge (D)

Day 2: Sunday. Lamanai Mayan Ruins and environs
This morning we awaken to the sounds of the forest, as Howler monkeys stake out their territories. This morning we plan to tour the Maya ruins of Lamanai and this afternoon we can choose from a number of activities as we explore the surrounding forest and local environs.
Overnight at Lamanai Outpost Lodge (B,L,D)

Day 3: Monday. Lamanai to Chaa Creek via Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center
This morning we will have an early morning canoe trip before breakfast and then take a short flight back to the International Airport where we will then head inland. Our first stop is the unique, Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center, where we are treated to a special "behind-the scenes" glimpse of some of the dynamic programs being run here, including a Harpy Eagle Reintroduction Program and a "problem Jaguar Rehabilitation Project". After the Zoo we enjoy lunch at a local favorite "Cheers" restaurant and bar, before continuing inland for the mountainous interior of this fascinating little country. Late this afternoon we arrive at our base for the next three nights, the exquisite and World-renowned Chaa Creek Cottages. Chaa Creek Cottages are situated on over 350 acres of rainforest and meadows in the scenic Macal River valley. With en-suite bathrooms, the picturesque thatched cottages each have a deck or porch, and are located in a lushly landscaped setting. There is an on-property full-service spa, and opportunities for horseback riding, canoeing and so much more.
Overnight at Chaa Creek Cottages (B,L,D)

Day 4: Tuesday. Tikal National Park, Guatemala
Today we take a full day tour of the awe-inspiring Maya ruins of Tikal, across the border in Guatemala. Tikal National Park occupies over 250 square miles and is a nature lover's paradise, with Spider monkeys and Howler monkeys clambering through the trees, and a rich and varied birdlife, all this in addition to the impressive temples and Maya ruins. We return to Chaa Creek Cottages late this afternoon, awe-struck at the scale of the Maya world of Tikal.
Overnight at Chaa Creek Cottages (B,L,D)

Day 5: Wednesday. Chaa Creek Cottages
After our full day tour yesterday, today you can relax in the grounds of Chaa Creek Cottages. You can choose between hiking some of the trails on property, swinging in a hammock, or paddling a canoe on the Macal River. You may also wish to take advantage of some other options available at additional cost including, the on-property full-service spa, horseback riding or a trip to the Mountain Pine Ridge and Rio-On Pools.
Overnight at Chaa Creek Cottages (B,L,D)

Day 6: Thursday. Chaa Creek to Jaguar Reef Lodge via Blue Hole National Park
This morning we can take canoes and float downstream on the Macal River to meet our vehicle and luggage, or of course you can ride to town in the vehicle. Then travel south down the scenic Hummingbird Highway. Along the way we stop at the Blue Hole National Park, where we can enjoy a refreshing dip in the turquoise blue waters, our destination today is the Jaguar Reef Resort located on the beach near Dangriga.
Overnight at Jaguar Reef Resort (B,L,D)

Day 7: Friday. Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Reserve and Belize Barrier Reef
An early start today is essential as we visit the World's only Jaguar Preserve, the Cockscomb Basin National Park. Here we explore the forest trails always hopeful of spotting the elusive great cat, but sure to see all kinds of other tropical wildlife. We return to the Jaguar Reef Resort for a late lunch and have the afternoon to relax, perhaps go snorkeling on the Belize Barrier Reef, or take a kayak and paddle up the Sittee River in search of iguanas and other wildlife.
Overnight at Jaguar Reef Resort (B,L,D)

Day 8: Saturday. Belize Barrier Reef and beach
Beach activities day - you can snorkel on the Belize Barrier Reef, or relax in a hammock, or perhaps go paddling a canoe or kayak on the Sittee River where Green Iguanas and Crocodiles can regularly be seen basking on the river banks. For the more adventurous, and at a modest additional charge, you can also go scuba diving on the Belize Barrier Reef.
Farewell dinner and overnight at Jaguar Reef Resort (B,L,D)

Day 9: Sunday. Belize to home
After breakfast we transfer to Dangriga airport for a short domestic flight to the Philip Goldson International Airport and our flights home.
(B)

Travel Information

Thanks for choosing Belize with Terra Incognita Ecotours, Inc. It is our pleasure to help you plan for your upcoming ecotour. To ensure that your travel arrangements are made to your satisfaction, please take a few minutes to read through this information.

What you need to have with you on your trip:

Passport: If you are a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you will need a passport, valid for six months from the date of completion of your trip.

It is always a good idea to make a photocopy of your airline tickets and of the pages of your passport that have the number, your photograph and other pertinent information. Keep the copies separate from the originals.

Visas: If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, please consult the Belize consulate or embassy nearest you for visa requirements to enter Belize. If a visa is required, you are responsible for obtaining it.

Documents for children under the age of 18, not traveling with both parents: The U.S. government is increasingly requiring that minors under 18 years of age traveling alone, with grandparents, or with one parent/legal guardian only, carry a notarized document signed by both parents or by the parent/legal guardian not traveling with the child. We suggest you obtain such a document (noting the age of the child, relationship to traveling adult(s), dates of travel, and destination) to avoid potential problems. For example, in the case of divorce, the parent with legal custody must sign the permit, and the accompanying adult must carry proof of this fact. In addition, if the child's surname differs from that of either parent, you may want to carry the child's birth certificate.

Emergency Contact number while on your ecotour:
Call COLLECT (813) 289-1049

Practical Information

Currency: The currency of Belize is the Belize dollar. The exchange rate is tied at 1 USD = 2 Belize dollars. Major credit cards are generally accepted at hotels, restaurants and larger stores. U.S. dollars are of course widely accepted in Belize, so we suggest you carry U.S. currency in small denominations for smaller purchases such as taxis, refreshments or other miscellaneous expenses.

Health: All information we obtain regarding health precautions is received from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta at 404.332.4559 or www.cdc.gov.

Please note that Terra Incognita Ecotours, Inc., as a travel company, is in no way authorized to prescribe any inoculations or medications. We recommend that you consult your personal physician for medical advice, showing him or her the brochure that indicates the places you will be visiting. Your physician is most familiar with your personal medical history and is best qualified to determine your particular needs. It is always advisable to have physical and dental check-ups before you leave.

At the present time, no immunizations are required for this ecotour, although the CDC recommends that the normal "childhood" vaccines should be up to date: Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR Vaccine), Diphtheria, Tetanus, Perturssia (DTP Vaccine) and Polio vaccine.

Swimming & Snorkeling: There are several opportunities to swim during the ecotour, and you could choose to snorkel in the Caribbean towards the end of your ecotour. You should bring a couple of swimsuits, and we advise you to bring your own snorkeling gear (mask, fins, and snorkel) to ensure a comfortable fit, especially if you require prescription eyewear as prescription lenses will not be available locally.

We advocate the buddy system for everyone, at all times, and children less than 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult while snorkeling.

Since you will have ample time to swim, for added protection from the sun you may wish to wear a T-shirt while swimming.

Time Difference: Belize is one hour behind Eastern Standard Time. During U.S. Daylight Savings Time (March through October), Belize is two hours behind Eastern Time.

Weather: Belize is located in the Tropics so of course the weather on this ecotour can be expected to be warm and humid, with temperatures slightly cooler at night, indeed the average temperature for most of the country lies between 75 - 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Please remember that the sun's rays are more vertical than you may be used to, so you can sunburn more easily. Be careful of the midday sun.

There are two distinct seasons in Belize; the rainy (mid/late May to November), and the dry (December thru April). Typically in the rainy season it rains in the afternoons and the mornings are bright and sunny. Although one can almost depend on clear, sunny weather, there are occasional unseasonable storms, and brief but intense rain showers occur regularly in the tropical rainforest regions during any season.

What to pack for your ecotour

Your travel wardrobe should be informal, comfortable and carefree. Clothing which can be layered is the most suitable, for example, a T-shirt, sweater or sweatshirt, and windbreaker or jacket. The emphasis is on casual attire.

Recommended items:

• Hiking boots as they provide good traction for walks on sometimes-slippery terrain.
• "Teva" or similar sandals. These are lightweight, rubber sandals with adjustable ankle straps, available at sporting goods stores.
• Comfortable "closed" walking shoes with rubber soles and good support. Tennis shoes would be a good choice.
• T-shirts, polo shirts, and/or other comfortable short-sleeved shirts. If you plan to wear a T-shirt while snorkeling, pleaase pack extra.
• Shorts.
• 1 or 2 bathing suits.
• Long-sleeved shirts for protection from the sun and insects.
• Cotton or other lightweight long pants.
• Windbreaker or light sweater.
• Sunhat.
• Sunglasses.
• Waterproof sunblock (30 SPF minimum).
• Waterproof insect repellent.
• A small backpack or rucksack.
• Waterproof bags to protect your camera and binoculars.
• Binoculars.
• Camera, lenses and plenty of film.
• Extra camera batteries.
• Prescription medicines. If certain medicines are part of your daily health regimen and are vital to your health, make sure you bring an adequate supply for the duration of your ecotour.
• Travel Alarm Clock.

Binocular guidelines

Good binoculars and their proper use can add immeasurably to enjoying wildlife. Each traveler with Terra Incognita Ecotours should decide well before a trip begins whether the binoculars you own are adequate and, if not, what kind of binoculars should be acquired.

Recommendation
Binoculars are rated with two numbers, e.g. 7 x 35. The first number is the magnification and the second is the diameter of the objective (the larger ones) lenses in millimeters. The first tells how much an object is enlarged and the second number is a measure of how much light-gathering power a lens has. As the second number increases so usually does the weight of a pair of binoculars. If one divides the first number into the second, the closer the result is to 5 the better the balance between weight, magnification and resolution.

Binoculars that are rated at 7x35, 8x40 or 10x40, are among the best for wildlife viewing. Binoculars with a center focus are much preferable over ones in which you have to focus each eyepiece separately. For some, image stabilized binoculars are an asset. Now it is a matter to decide on price and style.

The following is a checklist of things to do to make sure that you have the best binoculars and know how to use them.

Binocular cups
Binoculars usually are constructed so that you can raise and lower the cups that surround the eyepieces. If you are going to wear eyeglasses when using binoculars, roll or push the cups down. This will bring the lenses of the eyepiece the proper distance from your eye. If you do not use glasses then leave the cups unrolled or the eyepiece frames elevated.

Distance between eyepieces
All binoculars can be adjusted so that the distance between the eyepieces varies. You should move the eyepieces apart as far as they go, look through the eyepieces and gradually move the eyepieces together until you see a single image.

Adjusting each lens to your eyes
Binoculars usually have two focus adjustments, one that is a center focus that moves both lenses at the same time and one, called the diopter, that adjusts only one lens, usually the right one. To adjust the lenses to your eyes look through the binoculars with your right eye closed. With the center focus wheel, focus on an object 20-40 feet away. Then, with the left eye closed, focus the eyepiece on the right eye while looking at the same object. Now using the center focus make sure you see a sharp image. Most diopters have a numerical scale so that after you have made the adjustment it can be easily reset if it is accidentally altered.

Practice
When viewing wildlife it is helpful if when you raise your binoculars that they are pointed at what you are looking at with your naked eyes. If you cannot do that consistently a little practice would be helpful. Try looking at a flying bird, without taking your eyes off it, raise your binoculars and look through them. If you see the bird immediately, good, if not, bring your binoculars down and put them back up again after re-spotting the bird. Do this enough so that you can immediately see in your binoculars what you were seeing without them.

Wearing binoculars
If the weight of binoculars around your neck is bothersome, there are two things you might consider. One is to buy a neck strap, made of a spongy material at least an inch or more wide. The second is to buy a harness that fits over the shoulders and distributes the weight more evenly.

Photography Notes

For many of us, photography is a natural and fun part of travel. No matter what your level of interest, or what kind of equipment you use, the following may help you prepare.

Equipment: Regardless of what camera you use - film or digital - be sure to check that it is working properly before you leave home. If you purchase a new camera, or have an old one that has not been used for a long time, try shooting some pictures and examine the results. Also, be sure read your camera manual and bring it with you to help address any unexpected problems you might encounter.

Batteries: Modern cameras will not operate without a functioning battery. For this reason, please bring extra camera batteries with you, even if the one in your camera is new. For digital cameras, and many film cameras as well, rechargeable batteries are a great option. Digital cameras can use up batteries fairly quickly, depending on the camera make and model and how often you review images in-camera. Bring at least one extra rechargeable battery - or battery set. Look for chargers with a fast recharge time.

Film: How much film should you bring? Consider bringing at least twice as much film as you expect to need, as stores are few and far between. And be forewarned - enthusiastic photographers sometimes shoot up to 5 rolls per day! Film speed (ASA or ISO) is also an important consideration - the higher the ISO the faster the film, meaning the more sensitive it is to light. For most situations, 200 ISO film is a good all-around choice. You may also want to bring along a supply of 400 ISO for overcast days and low-light situations. Professional photographers generally use 100 ISO because of its fine grain (good for making big enlargements and publishing), but the slow speed requires extra care and use of a tripod.

Digital Memory Cards: Memory cards are the digital equivalent of film and, like film, they come in different types (e.g., compact flash, smart media, memory stick) and sizes (e.g., 128MB, 256MB, 512MB). Be sure you know what kind of memory card your camera requires and bring as many memory cards as needed to hold all your images from your expedition. If you are new to digital, consult your camera manual to learn the different image resolution and JPEG compression settings on your camera. This will determine how many photos will fit on your memory cards and what quality of image is required for your end use (e.g., the higher the resolution the larger the print you can make). You might consider bringing a digital storage device for downloading images from your memory cards (see below).

Digital Storage Devices: Many digital photographers travel with a laptop computer or a specific type of portable digital storage device designed for downloading images from digital cameras. A laptop has the advantage of letting you view, edit, store, and share your images while you travel and many even have a built-in CD burner for backing up your image files. Options for smaller devices that do not require a laptop include portable digital storage hard drives, some available with viewing screens, and portable CD burners that work directly from the memory card. Whatever hardware you choose be sure to learn the workflow for downloading and storing your images before leaving home.

Digital Camera Cables: One of the greatest advantages of shooting digital is the ability to review and share your daily images with others. It is important to remember to bring along the cables that will allow your camera to connect with a computer (USB), or storage device.

Tripods: Many photographers use a tripod because they help keep the camera steady in low-light situations and when using long telephoto lenses.

Destination links
Galapagos :: Peru: Amazon to the Andes :: China Ecotour :: Costa Rica Ecotour :: Nicaragua Adventure :: Rwanda Gorilla Trek :: Belize Ecotour :: Madagascar Photo Expedition :: Borneo Ecotour

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