A Family Adventure in Belize

Enjoy your days at Punta Gorda exploring the lush countryside, beautiful reefs and exciting rainforest.

The Toledo District is known for its top-quality cacao, which is used to make chocolate. At the organic Agouti Cacao Farm in the village of San Pedro de Columbia, farmer Eladio Pop and his family teach chocoholics how the sweet stuff is made, from bean to bar. See first-hand how cacao is harvested, dried, roasted, and ground and have an opportunity to make hot chocolate from scratch—the ancient Maya way. You will also learn about the local area and culture.

Board a small boat and float through the lush jungle, listening to the calls of river birds and howler monkeys. Your experienced river guide will point out some of the region’s abundant wildlife including Morelet’s crocodiles, iguanas and an array of bird species. You’ll then enjoy a jungle hike to spot troops of howler monkeys, toucans, snakes and other rainforest flora and fauna and learn about the various plants that are used in herbal medicine. After lunch you’ll wander through Monkey River Town, a small fishing village, before returning to Placencia looking out for West Indian manatees en route.

Spend your days exploring the lush interior area of Cayo and where you can truly get stuck into some outdoors activities, hiking the rainforest, birdwatching, horseriding, kayaking, to happening upon hidden Mayan ruins and cave rivers.

You will head to the Mopan river where the vehicle will transfer onto a hand cranked ferry to travel across the river as there is no bridge! From here there is a short drive to arrive at Xunantunich Maya archaeology site. Here you will receive an informative guided tour of this small, picturesque & fascinating site and can enjoy amazing vistas of the surrounding rainforest landscape from atop the main temple.

Head through the Mennonite Community of Upper Barton Creek to the river at Barton Creek. Equipped with canoes and high powered lights, guests gently paddle along the river into the cave system known as Xibalba (she-bal-ba), which is Maya for underworld. Stalactites hang high overhead as you float past impressive calcite crystal formations. Knowledgeable guides discuss the relevance of the cave to the ancient Mayan people and the archaeological significance of this 7.5km limestone cave system which was used for ceremonial purposes and as a burial site by the ancient Maya people.

The country's most popular beach destination, for good reason when you see its calm Caribbean beaches, chic island hotels and warm tropical waters. Spend your days here winding down and soaking up the sun, to some excellent snorkelling, diving, water sports and days out on a chartered boat.

Take a boat up the coast from Ambergris Caye to Mexico Rocks where an beautiful collection of Star, Elk Horn Coral, and Staghorn corals are colonised by lobsters, rays, eels and colourful juvenile fish. Shallow and protected by the barrier reef from ocean swells, this site is great for novice snorkellers with excellent visibility. Lunch is will be a wonderful BBQ cooked up on the beach.

Enjoy your day of leisure at Ambergris Caye swimming, snorkelling and diving in the warm Caribbean seas, on a trip to the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef or simply relaxing at your luxury hotel.