• May 1: Mid-afternoon arrival at BZE outside of Belize City. Crooked Tree Village.
• May 2 - 4: Early morning boat trip, then to the huge Rio Bravo Reserve at La Milpa.
• May 5: The Belize Zoo, then to Five Sisters Lodge on Mountain Pine Ridge.
• May 6: All day in the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve. Five Sisters Lodge.
• May 7 - 8: Travel to Tikal in Guatemala for two days of wonderful birding in the ruins.
• May 9 - 10: The Vaca Plateau at Black Rock River Lodge above the Macal River.
• May 11 - 12: Blue Hole National Park and the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.
• May 13 – 16: Gladden Spit Marine Reserve off the Placencia coast. The Inn at Robert’s Grove.
• May 17: Flights home.

Joe Garel has designed a superb itinerary with flexibility. We will revel in the luxuriant vegetation of tropical trees and rivers running through, abundant wildlife and wonderful natural sounds, then enjoy three exciting days on the Belizean Barrier Reef from Placencia. In Ma,y beginning about two days before the full moon for about ten days, Whale Sharks normally come in to feed on Cubera snappers’ spawn. This is a superb chance to snorkel or dive (your choice) with mammoth Whale Sharks. During these seventeen days we’ll be looking at the full spectrum of Belize’s fascinating eco-systems from the Lowlands to the Highlands to the Coast.

Detailed Itinerary:

Monday, May 1 Travel and transfer to Birds Eye View Lodge in the Crooked Tree Sanctuary
Belize is a small English-speaking country with well over half of its primary tropical forest still intact. The dry season begins in mid January and lasts until the end of May. Fly to Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport outside Belize City (BZE), arriving mid-afternoon. If you would like assistance, we are happy to help with your flight arrangements. TACA, American and Continental have daily flights that arrive in the mid afternoon. To arrive early an extra night at Bird”s Eye View Lodge can be arranged for about $70, plus tax, per double or single. A separate airport transfer is about $50 for one to four people.

On May 1st we’ll transfer from the airport and overnight at Bird’s Eye View Lodge. In the past we have seen Lesser Yellow-headed Vultures as we drive from the airport and cruise the lagoon edge on the way into the Crooked Tree Sanctuary lands. The Sanctuary is located on the scenic Northern Highway twenty-three miles from the airport, northwest of Belize City. With a mid-afternoon arrival there will be time for a walk on the dirt roads around the lodge where water-birds and land-birds abound. Crooked Tree Sanctuary is the first wetland sanctuary established in Belize and is administered by the Belize Audubon Society. We may see some of the birds for which the area is justly famous, such as Lineated Woodpecker, Collared Aracari, Tropical Mockingbird and Melodious Blackbird. On roads to the back of the town among the cashew orchards and pine savannah we could see Yucatan Jays, Yucatan Parrot, and Yellow-headed Parrots. The town is within the Sanctuary and has several small lodges. Bird”s Eye View Lodge is fairly simple but it is the best one at Crooked Tree. It has double or single rooms with private bath and hot water and has a charming dining room serving very tasty Belizean cuisine. This evening we will enjoy a welcome dinner together with our resident naturalist, Joe Garel. Lodging: Bird’s Eye View Lodge

Tuesday, May 2 Boat trip and drive to Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area
After a 5:45 a.m. coffee/tea snack we’ll have a boat trip as early morning is the best time for avian action. Normally in May there is not enough water to take a boat in the Sanctuary lagoons, so we will head for Lamanai, an hour boat ride up the New River to these fascinating Mayan ruins. On the way we will encounter the waterbirds and other wildlife that we would also see in the lagoons, as well as enjoy a tour of Lamanai Maya Ruins overlooking the New River Lagoon. We should see Limpkin, many Wood Storks and Jabirus, Snail Kite and Northern Jacana on the boat trip. We’ll look for Sungrebe, Boat-billed Heron, Jabiru Stork, Black-collared Hawk, five species of kingfishers and others, which feed in the inland lagoon and creeks. Crooked Tree Sanctuary is a major link in a chain of protected habitats that span the country from north to south. During the dry season thousands of birds congregate in these marshes and the gallery forest lining the tributaries. Black Howler Monkeys will be vocalizing and can often be observed.

After returning to our lodge for brunch, we travel by road through Belize’s sugar cane country, the Mennonite community of Blue Creek, and approximately thirty miles through “Programme for Belize” (PFB) lands (260,000 acres developed under a sustainable use management plan) and into the Rio Bravo Conservation and Management Area (known as RBCMA), most of it protected for wildlife. It is administered by PFB, a Belizean, non-profit organization, established in 1988, to promote the conservation of the natural heritage of Belize and to promote wise use of its natural resources. The RBCMA represents approximately 4% of Belize's total land area and is home to a rich sample of biodiversity which includes 400 species of birds, 200 species of trees, 70 species of mammals and 12 endangered animal species. On the RBCMA, PFB conducts research, conservation education, professional training and promotes environmental awareness. Approximately half of the RBCMA is managed as a strict nature reserve for the protection of biodiversity and natural habitats. Tourism is very important, so La Milpa Field Station has four lovely rustic double-unit cabanas with private baths, where we will stay for three nights. Lodging: La Milpa Field Station

Wednesday - Thursday, May 3 - 4 La Milpa Field Station on the Rio Bravo
La Milpa Field Station lies deep in the forests of northwestern Belize. This field station is located three miles from the third largest archaeological site in Belize. In May 1996, La Milpa Archaeological Site received international attention with the finding of a royal Maya tomb containing a male skeleton adorned with a jeweled necklace. La Milpa Archaeological Site is one of sixty or more other archaeological sites found on the Rio Bravo and La Milpa Field Station has evolved as the center of archaeological research on the Rio Bravo, as well as being a superb place for encountering many exciting species of wildlife. Howler Monkeys, Spider Monkeys and about 300 species of birds are seen and heard in the forest surrounding La Milpa. There are even occasional sightings of Jaguar, Ocelot and Margay. Other resident mammals include White-tailed and Brocket deer and Grey Fox. Parrots, trogons, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, warblers, tanagers and manakins are all spectacularly present at La Milpa. The trails which we will walk are in excellent condition.

Friday - Saturday, May 5 - 6 Belize Zoo & Mountain Pine Ridge
Enjoy an early morning hour birding before breakfast. Then stop for a couple hours at the Belize Zoo, which Joe Garel has actively supported. The zoo keeps only native species in excellent habitats and is highly regarded throughout the world. Wild birds come and go at the zoo. Joe also runs an NGO with his brother, called the Belize Vivarium, assisting the Conservation Division of Forestry with the nuisance crocodiles in Belize City. Friday’s drive takes us into the Highlands to the beautiful Five Sisters Lodge beside the Privassion River, which meanders through the heart of the Mountain Pine Ridge Reserve. On the way we’ll have time to stop for new sightings and we nearly always have time to stop for photographs as desired. These foothills are similar to the southern Appalachians. The soils are thin and the Maya never settled here. It is wonderful for birds, butterflies, bromeliads, and virgin forests. We plan to arrive at Five Sisters Lodge in time for the late afternoon activity. Five Sisters Lodge takes its name from the five perfectly gushing waterfalls and the numerous crystal pools that form part of this natural wonder as they empty into the Privassion River. Belizean Carlos Popper designed and built his lodge in 1991 “to provide sustainable architecture in harmony with the natural world that surrounds us.” We will stay two nights and on Saturday spend time exploring the Mt. Pine Ridge Forest Reserve. King Vultures and the rare Orange-breasted Falcon are possible at Mountain Pine Ridge. There is a continuous flowering of orchids and other plants here. Lodging: Five Sisters Lodge

Sunday - Monday, May 7 - 8 Tikal National Park in Guatemala and the Jungle Lodge
Travel to Tikal after breakfast. We’ll first check into the Jungle Lodge, located right in the national park, and on the first afternoon we will walk to the temples and pyramids that are less than a kilometer from the lodge. Keel-billed Toucans, Ocellated Turkeys, and Howler and Spider monkeys are often seen right on the hotel grounds. On Monday enjoy a dawn walk around the lodge to the tune of the marvelous natural sounds of the jungle. After breakfast we will spend time in the Tikal ruins. The late afternoon is a wonderful time to see toucans and other large birds coming into roost in the trees. They can be observed at eye level from up on Tikal’s famous pyramids at 212 ft. There are 285 species of birds, plus monkeys, peccary, deer, Jaguar, Ocelot and Puma. This is Tropical Lowland Forest, full of absorbing action, such as army ant trails attended by woodcreepers and antbirds, foraging canopy bird parties, and awesome male manakins on the leks. The ecological intricacies at work are described in Tropical Nature by Forsyth & Miyata and A Neotropical Companion by John Kricher. Lodging: Jungle Lodge

Tuesday - Wednesday, May 9 - 10 The Vaca Plateau and Black Rock River Lodge
This morning again take time before breakfast to enjoy the wildlife around Jungle Lodge. Then we’ll bid adios to Tikal in Guatemala and travel back to Belize to the Vaca Plateau and beautiful Vaca Falls. We’ll stay two nights at Black Rock River Lodge on the Vaca Plateau overlooking the Macal River. You can find their excellent bird list at www.blackrocklodge.com. It’s also a wonderful place to swim or relax beside the Macal River at the lodge. On Wednesday we’ll take a canoe trip down the Macal River. Lodging: Black Rock River Lodge

Thursday – Friday, May 11 – 12 Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary
You may wish to join Joe, Gail, and Doug for a walk before breakfast as this is the best hour for wildlife. After breakfast we drive to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary and stop off at the Blue Hole National Park. The park is twelve miles southeast of Belmopan, the capital city of Belize, on the Hummingbird Highway, and encompasses 575 acres of riverine forest. The park’s topography contains numerous underground streams, sinkholes and extensive cave systems. Above ground we’ll see a rugged landscape supporting a myriad of plant and wildlife. The Blue Hole is a 25 ft. deep pool, so named because of the color of the water. Running through the jungle surrounding the Pool is the Hummingbird Loop, an attractive interpretive trail. Three of the five species of wild cats found in Belize, Jaguar, Ocelot and Jaguarundi, have been sighted in Blue Hole National Park. Other resident mammals include the endangered Baird’s Tapir and Nine Banded Armadillo. Continue to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, home to all five species of cats found in Belize, Jaguar, Puma, Margay, Jaguarundi and Ocelot. Like Blue Hole and Crooked Tree, it is administered by the Belize Audubon Society. It was the first jaguar reserve, which protects over 128,000 acres of lush jungle ringed by the spectacular Cockscomb Mountains. It is estimated that over 80 resident Jaguars are in the area. Belize’s national animal, the Baird’s Tapir, also inhabits the Basin and over 290 species of birds have been recorded. The Sanctuary offers basic overnight accommodations with shared baths. Joe will arrange catered meals, as visitors are normally required to bring their own food and water. Lights are solar powered. By staying in the park two nights we can guarantee excellent wildlife action, both early in the morning and in the late afternoon. We will also do some night spotting here. Lodging: Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary

Saturday – Tuesday, May 13 – 16 Placencia, Whale Sharks and Robert’s Grove
The Inn at Robert’s Grove is nestled on fifteen lush acres between the Caribbean Sea and the Placencia Lagoon, beside a white, sandy beach. We go from our most simple lodging at Cockscomb to the five star Robert’s Grove Inn at Placencia, situated on a peninsula of sand jutting into the Caribbean. The town proper is little more than several dozen wooden houses on stilts with a three-foot wide concrete walk running down the center. Placencia is the springboard to some of the best diving and snorkeling in Belize, if not in the world. At the edge of Belize’s Barrier Reef, which at Placencia is close to the mainland, there is a broad expanse of coral reef with channels going deep, but rising abruptly into shoals and cayes. The main attraction during three full days at Placencia are the Whale Sharks that are at Gladden Spit from April through July, 26 miles off the coast on the Belize Barrier Reef. There is usually a small window of time that we are most likely to see them from two or three days before the full moon for about ten days. The dive and snorkel trips for Whale Sharks book up in advance, so we have our reservations in early. The company we contract with does both snorkeling and diving trips for Whale Sharks, so we will have a choice. Even with carefully planning the time of year it takes luck to encounter a Whale Shark, as it is all depends on the spawn of two species, Mutton and Dog snapper, as well as the weather conditions. The spawn can vary enormously and happens at night. The Whale Shark is the largest fish in the world at about 35 feet. The largest accurately measured Whale Shark (measured in Bombay, India) was 40 feet, 7 inches in length, with a 4.5 foot wide mouth, a 4.5 foot high dorsal fin, and 6.5 foot long pectoral fins. They are night feeders, so there is no guarantee when they will show up during the day. Despite their size, Whale Sharks are gentle and curious, which makes swimming with them a special treat for divers and snorklelers. Whale Sharks have been known to glide alongside fishing boats “asking to be petted.” The bubbles from scuba tanks sometimes seem to attract them. There are many dive sites close to Placencia and snorkeling is especially excellent at Laughing Bird Caye National Park, eleven miles off the coast from Placencia Village in the Stann Creek District of Belize. Laughing Bird Caye is the southern most island in the central lagoon of the Belize Barrier Reef and is named after the Laughing Gull, which breeds on undisturbed cayes. In 1996 the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System was inscribed on the World Heritage List with Laughing Bird Caye National Park designated as one of the premiere protected areas within the World Heritage Site. Lodging: Inn at Robert’s Grove

Wednesday, May 17 Departure from Placencia and Homeward
We will arrange your flight from Placencia directly to the international airport to connect with flights homeward. This is a 25 minute flight, rather than a three hour drive. Arrive at the airport at least two and a half hours before departure time. The flight from Placencia is included in the cost of the trip and you can choose from several to connect with your international flight schedule out of Belize. There are scheduled flights leaving Placencia at 7:25AM / 10:05AM / 10:45AM / 11:45AM / 12:00 / 1:10PM / 2:00PM / 4:25PM. The flight arrives at the same building as departures for international flights.

Reservations: To reserve a place, please mail a deposit of $1000 ($150 non-refundable) to:

Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris
20800 Kittredge Road
Saratoga, CA 95070-6322

Telephone: (800) 527-5330
Locally (408) 741-5330
Fax: (408) 741-0358

Payments & Cancellations: The final payment is due on February 1, 2006. Until the final payment, all deposits are refundable except $150. This may go toward another tour if reservation is made within six months of the cancellation date. There are no refunds given after the final payment. Trip insurance applications are available through Access America, which we provide with the trip information.

Included: Flight from Placencia to Belize on May 17, all guiding, park fees, hotels and lodges, and transport as in the tour description and all meals beginning with dinner on May 1 to breakfast on May 17.

Not included: Departure tax of $35. Tips to our driver, also to porters, approximately $100 per person total. We recommend $6/day to our driver. International air tickets, bottled beverages, items not on the regular menu, laundry and other personal expenses are not included.

Concerning Health: Malaria prophylactic is normally not necessary in the dry season at the areas on this itinerary, nor are any vaccinations or inoculations required. Drink bottled or filtered water, although the water (from springs) is excellent at some lodges. Check with leaders about where you may drink the water. Check with your physician about malaria precautions.

Climate: Temperatures vary greatly. The coast and inland are hot in May. The forests in the highlands can be cooler. Rain can be encountered during any season. Bring lightweight hiking boots or walking shoes with good support for trails. Trails are normally in good condition, especially at this season.

Conservation:We urge you to join conservation organizations that protect natural habitats and to donate to special project that benefit Belize directly. The future of an important wildlife site, Chalillo, in Belize, remains uncertain after the Privy Council, the final court of appeal for Commonwealth countries, failed to rule on plans by a Canada-based multinational energy company, Fortis, to construct a controversial dam in the area. You can visit the following site for info: www.stopfortis.org

Responsibility: Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris, Saratoga, California, act only as agents and shall not be responsible or become liable for any delay incurred by any person in connection with any means of transportation, nor for the loss, damage or injury to person or property by reason of any event beyond the control of the agency or default of such agency suppliers. The right is reserved to cancel the tour prior to departure, in which case full refund will constitute full settlement to the passenger. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour unless arrangements are made at the time of booking. All rates are based on current tariffs and exchange rates and are subject to adjustment in the event of any change therein. Baggage is at the owner's risk.

Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris is registered as California Seller of Travel #2063050-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. All payments for transportation or travel service not provided to the passenger shall be promptly refunded, in accordance with terms described above, unless the passenger otherwise instructs us, in writing. All client payments are deposited into a trust account in accordance with California law. This business is a participant in the Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation (TCRC). We will always make due refunds in a timely manner, as we have for over twenty years. However, if we didn't, you, the passenger, may request reimbursement from the TCRC within six months of the scheduled end of the tour. Please feel free to ask us for more information.
All material © Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris

home | current trips by region | current trips by date | site map | contact us