PARADISE ISLANDS

LENGTH: 7 Days/6 Nights

FIXED DEPARTURE DATES: Dec 9-15; Dec 16-22; Dec 23-29; Dec 30-5; Jan 6-12; Jan 13-19; Jan 20-26; Jan 27-Feb 2; Feb 3-9; Feb 10-16; Feb 17-23; Feb 24-Mar 2; Mar 3-Mar 9; Mar 10-16; Mar 17-23; Mar 24-Mar 30; Mar 31-Apr 6; Apr 7-Apr 13; Apr 14-Apr 20; Apr 21-Apr 27.
*Jun, Jul and Aug departures are available for individuals, families and groups, available upon request.

*An affordable extension to the famed MAYAN SITE of TIKAL in eastern Guatemala is available upon request before or after our PARADISE ISLAND FIELD COURSE. Description and pricing are included below.

*FIELD COURSES for those with SPECIAL INTERESTS, such as BIRDING and GARDEN GROUPS are available upon request. Sample itineraries can be seen at http://www.birdingtours.org (being updated), http://www.gardentours.org (being updated) and also http://www.rainforestandreef.org. Please contact Rainforest and Reef for details and pricing by e-mail: info@rainforestandreef.org or call toll-free: 1.877.255.3721.

FIELD COURSE COST: 1280.00USD per person.

GROUP SIZE: 6-12 participants.

Note: Group Leaders, please contact Rainforest and Reef for details about STIPENDS, FREE SPACE and GROUP RATES for bringing 6-12 full-paying participants.

Includes: All INSTRUCTION and GUIDE SERVICES; all MEALS and LODGING as stated in the itinerary; all GROUND and WATER TRANSPORTATION within Belize; all ENTRANCE FEES to NATIONAL PARKS and OTHER SITES.

Does Not Include: ROUND-TRIP INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE to Belize; MEALS on DAY 7; TRANSFER Hopkins-Belize City on DAY 7; INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX (35.00USD per person); GRATUITIES and PERSONAL ITEMS.

Note: On DAY 7 Rainforest and Reef will make the arrangements for your transfer from Hopkins-Belize City. As stated above, it is not included in the cost. Some INDEPENDENT PARTICIPANTS joining our “FIXED DEPARTURE DATES” above may be staying on in Belize to do an EXTENSION to Tikal for example. We will wait until all participants have booked for any particular set of dates and consider their plans, departure dates/times from Belize City before making any Hopkins-Belize City transfer arrangements.

INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE: Rainforest and Reef uses consolidators/wholesalers for all of our GROUP and INDIVIDUAL airfares. We are therefore able to offer the LOWEST RATES available. Please contact Rainforest and Reef for details and pricing by e-mail: info@rainforestandreef.org or call toll-free: 1.877.255.3721.

DESCRIPTION: Our 7 Day/6 Night Paradise Islands Field Course begins at the Belize Tropical Education Center and world-renown Zoo. Here, we will have a chance to explore the surrounding savannah life-zone through a network of trails and wildlife viewing platforms. There is also an Interpretative Center, which illustrates the diverse ecology of Belize, and is an ideal starting point for our Adventure ahead. We will also visit the Zoo, which features many animals from Belize in natural habit-like settings, including all 5 species of Cats found in Belize. Most of the animals at the Zoo were taken in after being injured and are not releasable, others were orphaned after being raised in captivity. On DAY 2 participants will depart for the Caribbean along the Hummingbird Highway and meet up with our motor-charter waiting to take us to our first Island on the southern end of Belize’s Barrier Reef. Our journey will have us paddling over-top submerged Coral Reefs, Turtle Grass Beds and through narrow Mangrove channels to reach our first night’s accommodations at our Lodge on Tobacco Caye. Situated right on the Barrier Reef in the heart of the South Water Cay Marine Reserve we are ideally positioned to explore the surrounding Reefs and Cayes. Aside from exploring by Sea Kayak, our focus early-on will include snorkeling and scuba diving Tobacco Cay cut, including the Outer Barrier Reef walls. Our group will also paddle to nearby Cayes and explore sheltered Lagoons and Mangrove channels. Many of the Cayes we will visit are completely isolated and pristine, including one that is not on any marine charts yet! We will paddle to idyllic South Water Caye during our Paradise Islands Field Course. Here, participants will get an introduction to kayak sailing as we travel along one of the most beautiful sections of Belize’s entire Reef system. The waters are shallow and clear, giving us an excellent opportunity to see a tremendous variety of marine life including Southern Stingrays, Eagle Rays, Grouper, Nurse Sharks and more. As we approach South Water Caye with its coconut palms swaying in the wind, all will experience a day that we would wish could go on forever. Off of South Water Caye, participants will be able to fly-fish for Bone Fish and snorkel South Water Cut. During our trip we will explore different regions of the Barrier Reef, including its inner and outer walls, Patch and Fringing Reefs, Mangrove Islands and protected Lagoons. For divers, we can arrange dives as requested and for those that would like to try out diving for the first time we can arrange “discover” scuba courses with prior notice. Over our 5 DAYS on the Reef, our kayak routes will often cross those of Belizean fishermen who make their living from the sea and through this interaction we will gain insight into a way of life that is very different from our own. At the end of our Paradise Island Adventure, we will paddle west, away from the Barrier Reef to another group of Cayes and then on to the small Garifuna Village of Hopkins.

DETAILED ITINERARY: Please contact Rainforest and Reef for a detailed itinerary by e-mail: info@rainforestandreef.org or call toll-free: 1.877.255.3721.

EXTENSION: MAYAN SITE of TIKAL

Note: Overnight stays in Belize may be required prior to and/or following our TIKAL EXTENSION. If necessary, hotel reservations and transfers will be arranged through Rainforest and Reef and are not included in the cost.

LENGTH: 3 Days/2 Nights (overland) or 2 Days/1 Night (flight Belize City-Flores, Guatemala-Belize City)

AVAILABLE DATES: Before or after any of our Field Courses in Belize.

COST:

3 Days/2 Nights: 485.00USD per person. Based on a minimum of 10 full-paying participants. One Group Leader FREE for the ground portion of our TIKAL EXTENSION with 10 full-paying participants. Cost is based on triple and quadruple occupancy. Double and single occupancy available upon request, usually at an extra cost.

2 Days/1 Night: 595.00USD per person. Based on a minimum of 10 full-paying participants. One Group Leader FREE for the ground portion of our TIKAL EXTENSION with 10 full-paying participants. Cost is based on triple and quadruple occupancy. Double and single occupancy available upon request, usually at an extra cost.

Note: For individuals, families or groups of less than 10 full-paying participants, please contact Rainforest and Reef for pricing by e-mail: info@rainforestandreef.org or call toll-free: 1.877.255.3721.

Includes: All INSTRUCTION and BI-LINGUAL GUIDE SERVICES; all MEALS and LODGING as stated in the itinerary; all GROUND TRANSPORTATION within Belize and Guatemala; all ENTRANCE FEES to NATIONAL PARKS and OTHER SITES.

Note: INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE Belize City-Flores, Guatemala-Belize City is included in our 2 Day/1 Night option.

Does Not Include: ROUND-TRIP INTERNATIONAL AIRFARE to Belize; INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT DEPARTURE TAX (35.00USD per person); GRATUITIES and PERSONAL ITEMS.

ITINERARY:

MEAL CODES: B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner

DAY 1 BELIZE CITY-FLORES, GUATEMALA. Early this morning, we will depart by bus, for Flores, located in eastern Guatemala. Here will have time to shop and visit the local market. Dinner and overnight Flores. B L D

Note: Please advise Rainforest and Reef if there are any non-U.S./non-Canadian citizens in your group. If there are, they should check with the nearest Guatemalan Embassy to see if they will need a VISA to enter Guatemala.



DAY 2 MAYAN CITY OF TIKAL. Following an early breakfast, we will depart for the famed Mayan site of Tikal, located in the middle of Tikal National Park and surrounded by more than 200 square miles of El Petén jungle habitat. There is nothing quite like the experience of Tikal, as we go back more than 2000 years in time. Walking towards the awe inspiring Great Plaza, one sees the Temples of the Grand Jaguar and Masks towering over the surrounding landscape, you immediately feel the mystique that has made Tikal a "must see destination". It is estimated that it took over one million ancient Mayans, one thousand years to build all the structures found here. The central portion of Tikal alone, measures about 10 square miles. Here, the remains of 3000 buildings are found including Temple lV, which at a height of 212 feet is the tallest ancient structure in the New World. We will also visit the Lost World Complex, a group of recently discovered structures from the late Pre-Classic Period, older than Tikal itself. Presently, only a small portion of Tikal has been completely excavated. Following lunch, we will visit the Tikal Museum, which houses some of the many Pre-Columbian treasures found at Tikal. In addition to the spectacular Mayan city found here, the area teems with howler monkeys, almost 300 bird species and other wildlife. Following a memorable day, we will transfer back to our hotel for dinner and overnight. B L D

DAY 3 TIKAL-BELIZE CITY-DEPARTURE. After breakfast this morning, we will pack up and transfer from Tikal National Park to Belize’s Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport for your return flight home. B