Lighthouse Reef Expedition
11 days
Snorkel the upper-class reef system of Lighthouse Reef Atoll. See a 1971 shipwreck—kayak to The Aquarium, a dive location known for its richness of fish and coral. Contemplate a colony of approximately 4,000 red-footed boobies.
Half Moon Caye
Island and natural monument
Lighthouse Reef Atoll
Snorkeling and diving destination
Glover’s Reef Atoll
Marine reserve
Turneffe Atoll
The largest coral atoll in Belize
Highlights
Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Half Moon Caye, The great Blue Hole, Turneffe Atoll, and Glover’s Reef Atolls.
Itinerary
Meet your guide at the Belize International Airport. Drive to the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary. Have some time to rest, relax and enjoy dinner. If there is enough time, explore Crooked Tree Village, one of the oldest Creole settlements in the country. The Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, with its wetlands, swamps, and four lagoons, gives an excellent resting place for thousands of residents and migrating birds, a paradise for bird-lovers.
Have a hot mug of coffee at sunrise and, with binoculars in hand, see the surrounding wilderness and hundreds of birds wake for their day. Following a healthy Belizean breakfast, go by boat to discover the area. All over the sanctuary, expect to see turtles, parrots, iguanas, and even crocodiles.
Next in the morning, we will drive along the old Belize Road to the sea, and meet a motorized boat that will take you through mangrove ranges and white sand little islands, past the central Barrier Reef to Lighthouse Reef Atoll. Upon arriving at Half Moon Caye, settle into your new island heaven and enjoy lunch before going out for an afternoon snorkel or kayak around Half Moon Caye.
As a result of its confinement from the mainland, the waters of Lighthouse Reef Atoll are particularly clear with an inspirational landscape and an uncommonly rich reef system that provides some of the best snorkeling, kayaking, and diving in the Caribbean Sea. To start, the guides give instruction; teaching the basics of sea snorkeling, kayaking, and safety in the Caribbean.
All through several days, discover the area. See a shipwreck that overshadows just north of the caye and was wrecked in 1971. This 4000-ton wreck rests quietly as a landmark and is one of many shipwrecks in the area that serve as constant reminders of the hazards of navigating these waters. Another day, see the outstanding Great Blue Hole with a motor-supported kayak sailing expedition. You will have the chance to learn from your guide about the marine reef ecology and the mangrove habitat of the island that spreads over the 45 acres of the park. Large numbers of species of birds nest on the island, along with a 4,000 strong red-footed booby colony for which the Audubon Society has built an array of viewing platforms to personally see the many nesting spots.
Today we will pack a hearty lunch and our snorkel gear in our kayak, then paddle to the Aquarium, an unbelievable dive destination known for its plethora of fish and towering coral structures. Spend time exploring before returning to the island, making a stop at the Half Moon Wall for an astonishing drift snorkel over the submerged cliff of the atoll.
In the early morning, take out a kayak and paddle along the preserved waters of the Southern Reef to Long Caye. Make a stop to snorkel some of the best patch reefs of the atoll and return to the campsite just in time for dinner: a fabulous seafood medley.
The choice is yours for your last morning at the atoll. Snorkel your beloved patch reefs, walk the island trails, swing in a hammock or beachcomb along the impeccable beaches of the island. After lunch, a boat arrives, and you will begin to prepare for your journey back to the mainland. This return trip takes you through Turneffe atoll beyond the Great Barrier Reef, and you will arrive at your hotel. You will be able to enjoy a fresh shower and swim in the pool of the hotel. Your last evening is reserved for resting at the hotel or discovering the local area.
You will spend the day in the place known as Peter Pan’s fictional island, Neverland, this is the largest of three atolls in Belize and the only one with an extensive cover of mangroves. With spectacular deep walls filled with marine life, suitable to every level of diver, the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve has some of the best diving spots. It is also believed to be the mythical location of Ponce de Leon’s Fountain of Youth.
We will visit its most famous dive site called the Elbow. Even though it is considered for advanced divers, there are parts of the reef good for a snorkel or shallow dives for beginners. The visibility is excellent, so you can enjoy the unmatched vastness and variety of marine life and coral formations. Is the most biologically diverse coral atoll in the Caribbean, home of dolphins, sharks, crocodiles, eagle rays, snappers, and other creatures, and for bird lovers, 60 species of birds live or migrate through here.
Glover’s Reef is the third coral atoll in Belize, is partially submerged, and forms the outermost boundary of the Belize Barrier Reef. Even though it is the smallest of the three atolls, it boasts a reef over 50 miles long around its edge with the richest marine environment in the Caribbean Sea.
During this tour, you will explore its lagoon with over 800 coral patch reefs and sandy Cayes on the reef crest. Experience its pristine underwater world and explore its unique coral formations and diversity of marine species by snorkeling and sea kayaking. Enjoy a Belizean lunch prepared with varieties of fish gathered fresh each day.
Drive to the airport for the departure flight back home.
map, expenses & price
Lighthouse Reef Expedition
Expenses included:
-All private transportation.
-Eight nights accommodation at the base camp of Half Moon Caye.
-Two nights of hotel accommodation.
-Professional certified guides.
-All park entrance fees.
-Tours as listed.
-Daily breakfast, six lunches, and six dinners.
