Belize

Acclimate to Belize and get to know your travel companions while you stay next door to a Mayan archeological site nestled on the bed of a river brimming with diverse wildlife. Split into small groups and explore the river at night with a wildlife guide searching for nocturnal animals. Tour an ancient Mayan village with local guides who have personal ties to the region and its history. Spend your down time swimming in the river off the dock of the outpost or embark on a birdwatching walk with one of the many experienced guides. Learn to make tortillas with local people at a women’s co-op in the neighboring village of Indian Church.

Continue your exploration of Belizean ecology with exciting experiences at The Belize Zoo. Stay in rustic dormitory-style accommodations at the Tropical Education Center. Spend time with wildlife professionals and get up close and personal with Belizean indigenous species like the Tapir and Jaguarundi. Take an after hours tour with knowledgeable zookeepers for a peek into the lives of nocturnal animals and their habitats. Please note that the June 30 departure will stay at Monkey Bay, an outpost and reserve that neighbors the zoo where students will stay in rustic cabins while they participate in Zoo activities.

Travel by boat from the mainland to Belize’s barrier reef, the second-longest barrier reef in the world. Settle in at the Tobacco Caye Marine Station, a scientific research station located on a tiny island within the South Water Caye Marine Reserve. Work closely with the island’s staff and set out on the water for reef snorkeling. Sleep in a small inn close to the beach and experience the ocean through the lens of professional conservationists. Compare sea grass, mangrove, and coral reef habitats. During the day, observe sea turtles, rays, and scores of colorful fish. At night, shadow a marine biologist as you look for octopus, squid, and other bioluminescent creatures. Take a day excursion by boat to neighboring Carrie Bow Cay and visit the Carrie Bow Cay Field Station, a permanent site in the Smithsonian’s Tenenbaum Marine Observatories Network. Learn about Tobacco Caye Marine Station’s ongoing project to remove and study the invasive lionfish. Finally, meet with some of Belize’s leading shark and ray biologists to learn more about their declining population and important conservationist efforts to establish their populations.

The adventure continues in the lush, rolling hills and refreshing waterways of the Macal River. Day trip into the Mountain Pine Ridge, a forest reserve covering over 100,000 acres. Search for the national animal, the tapir, as you hike with guides along gorgeous rivers, swim in refreshing pools, and view waterfalls. Explore caves cut into the limestone rock and observe Maya artifacts left behind from ancient rituals. Climb the steps of temples at the ancient Mayan city of Caracol, still one of the highest man-made structures in Belize.

Fly from Belize City, Belize, to Miami with your group and a trip leader, then continue on to your final destination