Belize City Active and outdoor Trips

We thoroughly enjoyed this trip but we were SO glad that we chose to go at this time of year so that we could see the Day of The Dead celebrations! I cannot imagine having missed out on this most significant part of our trip. We dressed up and had our faces painted so that we could join in to the maximum. Everyone was jovial and kind hearted and good spirited. The visit to the cemetary to see the relatives celebrating was a highlight and certainly sheds a new light on death. Apart from this, the trip involved seeing many of the Mayan ruins through Mexico, Guatemala and Belize, all so different and each offering its own special attraction. The wildlife we saw around these ruins and along the river cruise was certainly unexpected and a real bonus. Take binnoculars!! Luis, our guide, was very knowledgeable and passionate about his country and the history, cultures and traditions and we felt we learned a lot about each of the three countries involved. There was a lot of travelling involved and most long days were interspersed with stopping off at sites to visit, but there were a couple of days when it seemed as if we were just going from A to B. Take lots of good books!! We were only a group of eight, so were able to spread out on the minibusses but space was tight for leg room in the Mexican minibus and it would have been a very uncomfortable ride if we had had to sit more closely together. The drivers were all very safe. The hotels were mainly good, standard accommodation, clean and comfortable and some exceeded our expectations, especially the one in Guatemala. However, one was below standard and this was the one in Palenque, The Hotel Villas Kin- Ha. The rooms were dirty and tired and the food wasn't great. It was also a way from the centre of town making it difficult to eat elsewhere. There did seem to be better rooms on offer, but we were given the older ones at the back of the hotel. We didn't do the extension and were sorry not to see Chichen Itza but we felt that many of the other Mayan Ruins we did see had lots to offer and were less crowded and more remote. Alll in all, a great holiday!

I went on this holiday with my family. There were eleven of us, my daughter & her husband, my son & his wife and my 6 Grandchildren ages 8 to 13. This was a perfect family adventure for us, lots of variety and Tarik was a brilliant, fun leader. The holiday exceeded our expectations. The other families on the trip were like minded people and we all got on very well. The highlights were swimming with sharks for the children and climbing the magnificent Mayan temples for me. Sarah Di Sio the booking agent was excellent. I highly recommend this holiday.

Very enjoyable trip with a nice mix of activities. The Mayan sites were amazing (especially Tikal). Our visits were timed to avoid the crowds. I also enjoyed the wildlife aspects of the trip. The optional snorkelling trips were brilliant. We had a great guide (Wilfred) who was a mine of information and also had an incredible ability to spot birds and other wildlife. The first 2 hotels after Belize City are on the basic side but they are clean and comfortable. What they lack in amenities is more than compensated by their amazing locations.

Discovery Belize offered a great variety of opportunities to see Mayan sites, wildlife and the culture of Belize in Guatemala. The my insights got bigger and better with each site and it may be worth noting that at Tikal that there are steps to help you ascend the top of the site but there are 200 of them. The wildlife on this tour was wonderful with spider monkeys and howler monkeys in the jungle at Tikal alongside many other animals. The trip to the butterfly reserve was fascinating and the addition of all the different types of hummingbirds made this a very special outing. The snorkeling trip at laughing bird caye was just the starting point with a large variety of marine life seen, but the second trip from caye caulker was extraordinary, the coral garden was beautiful with vast numbers of fish swimming among the coral, shark. Ray Ally was extraordinary with the number of sharks and rays swimming around us being breathtaking and the final snorkel of the day was possibly the most special as we met a sea turtle. Our guide. Justin Wiltshire went above and beyond to ensure that our group had a fantastic trip and was always on hand to sort any minor issues out. Justin ensured that our whole group had the best possible experience of the cultures of Belize and Guatemala.

Let’s be clear - this is a great 2-week holiday and includes one of the highlights of Guatemala. It’s very well-balanced, comprising as it does three elements - Mayan sites/history (the best being at Tikal), great wildlife (on earth, sea and in the air) and finally two days out on the Cayes, by boat (few people know Belize has part of the world’s second-largest barrier reef!). The balance between those 3 elements could be tweaked but that is a matter of opinion and for another time…… The accommodation was excellent, with one exception (Sea Spray Hotel), the food was better than we had expected, also with one exception (at the Cahal Pech Hotel) and the beers and cocktails of high quality! Our guide (Tarique) kept us all safe and on track with admirable energy and good-humour!

The itinerary was very varied taking in Mayan temples, bird watching, jungle hiking, snorkelling, beaches, canoeing, and more. The hotels aren’t luxurious but have character and are in fabulous locations. Very lucky with our guide Wilfred. Knowledgeable and organised with a sense of humour. Great trip to discover Belize