Rain Forest and Reef Belize Field Course

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival, transfer to La Milpa Field Station at Rio Bravo (Programme for Belize)

• Arrive in Belize
• Transfer to Río Bravo/Programme for Belize(~3 hr.)
• Time permitting, the group will hike on one of the many trails in the tropical moist forest of Río Bravo.
• After dinner, there will be an orientation session to our Rainforest and Reef Belize Field Course.
• Overnight La Milpa/Río Bravo.  

Day 2: Early morning birding, presentation on Programme for Belize, Mahogany Trail Hike

• Optional chance to go birding at Río Bravo.
• Return to the Río Bravo dining hall for breakfast.
• Presentation on Programme for Belize and all of their outstanding conservation/education efforts in Belize.
• Hike with a guide on one of the many trails of Río Bravo.
• Following lunch, the group will hike the Mahogany Trail, one of many excellent experiences available here.
• Return to Río Bravo for dinner
• Presentation on the Flora and Fauna found in the Tropical Moist Forests of Belize
• Overnight La Milpa/Río Bravo

Day 3: Early morning birding, field exercise in experimental sampling methods, hike the Bajo-strail, presentation on Maya Archaeology, night hike.

• Another opportunity to go birding at sunrise! 
• Breakfast
• Introduction to Tropical Botany and take part in a field exercise on experimental sampling methods.
• Lunch
• Guided hike of the Bajo Trail
• Late this afternoon, we will return to Río Bravo, clean-up and see a presentation on Maya Archaeology.
• Dinner
• Participants will go on a guided night-hike.
• Overnight La Milpa/Río Bravo.

Day 4: Hike the medicinal trail, leaf-cutter ants study, presentation on the cultures of Belize

• Breakfast 
• Visit the Maya archaeological site of La Milpa and learn what archaeologists have been discovering at this site for the past two decades.
• Return toRío Bravo for lunch. 
• Guided hike on the nearby Medicinal Trail.
• Late this afternoon, participants will do a study on the amazing Leaf-cutter Ant
• Dinner
• Presentation on the Cultures of Belize. Overnight La Milpa/Río Bravo. 

Day 5: Community Baboon Sanctuary, The Belize Zoo and Tropical Education Center, presentation on the History, People and Geography of Belize

• Breakfast and farewells to Río Bravo Staff
• Depart for the Creole village of Bermudian Landing and the Community Baboon Sanctuary (actually, Black Howler Monkeys).
• In the late afternoon, we will travel to the Belize Tropical Education Center. 
• Dinner
• A presentation about the History, People and Geography of Belize
• Overnight at the Tropical Education Center. 

Day 6: Tropical savanna, The Belize Zoo, cave tubing

• Breakfast
• Tour the Tropical Education Center, which is situated on 84 acres of tropical pine savannah habitat.
• Visit the ‘The Best Little Zoo In the world’. The Zoo has over 125 animal species on display, all of which are native to Belize.
• Travel to the “Jaguar Paw Area” for hiking and cave tubing adventure.
• Return to the Tropical Education Center for dinner and overnight.
• Following dinner, the group will return to the Zoo and observe some of the nocturnal animals of Belize. Overnight Tropical Education Center.

Day 7: Green Hills Butterfly farm and Xunantunich

• Visit Green Hills Butterfly Farm, a guided tour here teaches about the life-cycle of the butterfly and their ecological significance.
• Lunch will be in San Ignacio Town at a local restaurant
• Following lunch, our group will depart for the Maya site of Xunantunich, the site is accessible only by a 19th century, hand-cranked ferry, which will take us across the Mopan River.
• The group will then hike for a mile into the heart of this remarkable site.
• Return to the Tropical Education Center for dinner and overnight.

Day 8: Dangriga, Southwater Caye, Introduction to snorkelling and water safety procedures

• Breakfast
• Transfer to Dangriga, the largest Garifuna community in the Caribbean, for a short boat trip to South Water Caye (~30 min.) a
• Check-in and settle in at South Water Caye
• Introduction to snorkelling, including water safety procedures.
• Dinner and overnight South Water Caye

Notes: Based on group size and availability, Tobacco Caye may also be used for the marine portion of our Rainforest and Reef Belize Field Course. Snorkelling gear is available for rent on South Water Caye; however, we recommend that you bring your own. In salt-water, mask fit is extremely important. If you rent a mask, proper fit can’t be guaranteed.

Day 9: Presentation on Sea Grass Ecology, snorkel seagrass beds, night snorkel

• Breakfast 
• Presentation on the importance of sea-grass and mangrove communities found in the South Water Caye Marine Reserve System.
• Snorkel the sea-grass beds, patch reefs and numerous mangrove islands.
• Late in the afternoon, we will return to South Water Caye for dinner.
• Participants will have a chance to do a night-snorkel near the shores and off the boat dock at South Water Caye

Day 10: Presentation on mangrove ecology, snorkel mangrove cove and islands, night snorkel

• Breakfast 
• Presentation on the importance and varieties of mangroves found in Belize.
• Trip to a number of mangroves “islands”, where our group will have the opportunity to snorkel.
• Late in the afternoon, we will return to South Water Caye for dinner. 
• Night snorkel. 
• Overnight South Water Caye.

Day 11: Presentation on general coral reef ecology, snorkel the main reef, snorkel patch reef and a coral garden, night snorkel

• Breakfast 
• Presentation on general coral reef ecology.
• Snorkel the fore-reef of Belize’s Barrier Reef
• After lunch and some time to relax, we will snorkel a variety of patch reef formations inside the main “barrier reef”
• Dinner
• Participants will have a chance to do a night-snorkel near the shores and off the boat dock at Tobacco Caye.

Day 12: South Water Caye - Dangriga - Belize City Departure

After an early breakfast and farewells to your Belize A Field Course Staff, transfer to the Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, for your return flight home.

What's included

• Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided for full days