Y our family adventure begins high in the mountains where the lush, unspoiled beauty of the forest is highlighted by the colorful sights and sounds of exotic birds. Hiking, swimming and canoeing are outstanding in the highlands of Belize, but exploration of the fascinating Maya culture makes your trip truly exceptional.

View ancient Maya artifacts on a canoe trip into a cave; visit the newly discovered ruins of Caracol; or choose to visit the massive ruins of Tikal, in nearby Guatemala. The Maya ruins of Belize are captivating for kids and adults.

Conclude your adventure with a leisurely stay on Belize's beautiful Caribbean Coast. Relax on the white sand beaches and explore the Southern Barrier Reef – the longest reef system in the Western Hemisphere! Swimming, snorkeling and kayaking will keep you active. The wildlife viewing here, including over 250 species of tropical fish, is magical.

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Dates

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Day 1 – Depart U.S. / Arrive Belize City

Upon arrival at the airport, you will be met and transferred to your hotel, where your Belize family vacation begins.

Days 2 to 4 – Cayo District and Mountain Pine Ridge

Most Belizeans would agree that although each district has its own charms, Cayo stands out above the others – rich in history, culture and especially nature. You’ll explore waterfalls, lush jungles and huge cave systems. Caracol, located in Mountain Pine Ridge, is the largest Maya archeological site in Belize. Spanning almost thirty square miles of high-canopy jungle, this site is home to over 35,000 buildings!

Maya Ruins of Caracol See an active archeological site! These ruins were discovered as recently as 1938, and excavations didn’t begin until 1984, so there is still plenty to uncover. It is fascinating to see the different phases of such an immense archeological dig. Rio on Pools This is an ideal place for swimming, relaxing, sliding around in the waterfall cascades or simply admiring the granite rock formations dating back some 300 million years. Canoe Barton Creek Cave Equipped with flashlights and headlamps, your family will head deep into the Barton Creek cave system, where you’ll maneuver your canoe around magnificent stalagmites and stalactites and keep your eyes peeled for Maya artifacts. San Ignacio This funky small town is good for shopping and absorbing some of the local culture. Here we visit the Green Iguana Conservation Project, where iguanas are raised in a predator-free food-rich environment before being released into the wild. Friends Across Borders meeting (pen pals) Thomson families love this program! Children traveling with us can choose to exchange letters with a local child of similar age before leaving on their adventure. While on the trip we organize a pen pal meeting with a scheduled activity like soccer or hacky sacking. It’s amazing how such interaction can be a real eye-opener for everyone involved.

Days 5 to 8 – Belize Reefs and Beaches

The underwater world of Belize's coral reefs is the greatest stretch of coral in the western hemisphere. It is home to hundreds of species of fish and over sixty species of coral – the most diverse marine ecosystem in the world. It doesn’t get more impressive than that! As you can well imagine, the snorkeling here is second to none.

Snorkel the Southern Barrier Reef You'll have two opportunities to discover this amazing reef system. It's second in size only to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, and over 250 species of tropical fish swim in its waters. Stay active by snorkeling, kayaking and swimming, or take a break and relax on the white sand beaches. As you flipper around the Caribbean Sea, you’ll see magnificent fish in their natural habitat, along with eagle rays, moray eels, dolphins, turtles, barracudas and more. Free Day Enjoy the activities and amenities of your resort, hit the beach or just relax.

Day 9 – Depart Belize City / Arrive U.S.

Please Note:   Thomson Family Adventures will attempt to adhere to this itinerary as much as possible. However, certain conditions (political, climatic, environmental, cultural, or availability) may necessitate changes in the accommodations.

Why Belize?

It’s a wonderfully diverse, small country with a laid-back, relaxed pace Belize may be a small country (just 300,000 people!), but it has so much to offer. Its natural diversity is stunning — ranging from lush mountains with tropical rain forests to the western hemisphere’s largest coral reef. With the lowest population density in Central America, your family is guaranteed a truly unspoiled, laid-back experience. You’ll take in many colorful sights and sounds while high in the mountains, learn about ancient civilization as you explore Maya artifacts and ruins and relax on Belize’s white sandy beaches as you swim, snorkel and kayak.

Second largest barrier reef in the world Imagine you and your family exploring the mysteries of the underwater world in Belize’s Southern Barrier Reef, second in size only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. One of the most diverse marine ecosystems in the world, the reef has over 250 species of tropical fish and over 60 species of coral. Snorkeling through gorgeous blue waters and over brightly colored coral, you may see a magnificent array of marine life — anything from eagle rays to dolphins, turtles to barracudas and more!

Ancient Maya ruins without the crowds A fun-filled vacation exploring Belize’s rich history and culture is like no other experience.  Belize is home to numerous ancient Maya cities, some dating back to 2000 BC.  Your family will get to go off the beaten path and explore some of these magnificent ruins – without the crowds you often encounter at more well-known sites.

Rich multi-cultural heritage: English pirates, Spanish, Garifuna and others Belize’s unique, diverse nature and history are complemented by its unique, diverse people. From its indigenous native culture to its Latin and Creole cultures, Belize’s friendly, laid-back population adds to the unique experience that is Belize. Our warm and welcoming guides will make your stay a wonderful, magical adventure for you and your family.

Why Belize with Thomson?

Visit Caracol and Barton Creek Cave to explore ancient Maya sites Caracol, located in Mountain Pine Ridge, is the largest Maya archeological site in Belize. Spanning almost 30 square miles of high canopy jungle, this site is home to over 35,000 buildings.  An active archaeological site, there is still plenty to discover, and it is fascinating to see the different phases of such an immense dig!

The Friends Across Borders Program (pen pals) Thomson families love this program! Children traveling with us can choose to exchange letters     with a local child of a similar age before leaving on their adventure. In Belize, your child will get to meet his or her pen pal through a fun activity like soccer or hacky sack. It’s amazing how much kids learn about one another — and the appreciation they gain for one another’s culture — when they meet through this eye-opening program.

Barton Creek Cave canoe trip Equipped with flashlights and headlamps, your family will head deep into the Barton Creek cave system, where you’ll maneuver your canoe around magnificent stalagmites and stalactites. The Maya considered caves the path to the underworld, so keep your eyes peeled for Maya artifacts!

Special Features for Teens Additional activities for families traveling with teens – such as a zipline canopy tour and cave tubing – will appeal to older kids who are looking for more excitement and more of a challenge.

Snorkeling on the barrier reef You and your children will have two opportunities to discover this amazing reef system. It's second in size only to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, and over 250 species of tropical fish swim in its waters. Stay active by snorkeling, kayaking and swimming, or take a break and relax on the white sand beaches. As you flipper around the Caribbean Sea, you’ll see magnificent fish in their natural habitat, and possibly eagle rays, moray eels, dolphins, turtles, barracudas and more.

Garifuna visit Who are the Garifuna? Your family will find out on a visit to the village of Siene Bight. Mingle with the people and learn about their unique history and culture — so unique that UNESCO proclaimed the Garifuna language, music and dance, a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. You’ll have a chance to experience it in a performance by traditional Garifuna drummers.

We won’t cancel your adventure Thomson Family Adventures is committed to making travel as hassle- and stress-free as possible. We plan all of the details and handle all of the logistical issues related to planning your trip. You sit back and enjoy the adventure and spending quality time with your family. We schedule trips to coincide with winter and spring breaks, summer vacation and school holidays. Once you book your departure date, we will not cancel the trip.