I t’s a tiny country with a small population, but Belize is packed with an endless array of activities that surprise, delight, entertain and educate visitors of all ages. Thomson’s exhilarating family vacation in Belize showcases the country’s geographical diversity, its cultural wealth, and its amazing eco-systems—from high mountain forests to the longest reef system in the Western hemisphere.

Your adventure begins in Cayo, in the Mountain Pine Ridge region, the largest protected area in Belize. We’ll explore its network of underground caves by canoe, zipline through the rainforest canopy, tube down the Mopan River, learn about iguana conservation, and make new friends in a local community. Did you know that Belize was the center of the vast Mayan Civilization, founded about 2,000 B.C.? We’ll explore the mysterious Xunantunich ruins, once an important Mayan ceremonial center. Race to the top of the 130-foot El Castillo temple and take a panorama shot of the entire archaeological site from the top!

Spend four days in Placencia on Belize’s famous Caribbean beaches. Its 185-mile long Southern Barrier Reef is home to more than 250 species of fish and 60 species of kaleidoscopic corals. We’ll take you snorkeling in two idyllic spots—perfect for snorkel newcomers or veteran free-divers. Beautiful offshore cayes invite barefoot investigation and the relaxed lifestyle here will keep you in vacation mode long after you return home. Whether you’re traveling with youngsters or teens, or decide to introduce the grandkids to a new culture, Belize truly does have something tantalizing for everyone.

2012 Dates

Triple Discount: $200 for children under 12 sharing with 2 adults

Alumni Discount: if you are a returning Thomson guest, please subtract $500 per family from these prices

Large Group Discount: if the departure you choose has 11 or more travelers (including your family) a discount of $400-$500, depending on the date, will be applied to your trip price.

Price includes: All conservation, park and entrance fees; accommodations based on two to a room, land transportation, private bi-lingual guide throughout, all meals, bottled water & snacks in the vehicle, Comprehensive Travel Insurance.

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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 tour begins.

Belize Zoo   Time permitting, on the way inland to the Mountain Pine Ridge region, you can visit the Belize Zoo. There are 29 acres of forests, ponds and flowers, where over 125 indigenous animals make their home in replicas of their natural habitats. Traditional rice and beans   Stop at a local restaurant and enjoy your first taste of Belize’s favorite food— rice and beans. Be sure to try the hot sauce!

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. Xunantunich is just one of the important Mayan sites located in this area. Nearby, the 55-square-mile-site of Caracol is home to the ruins of what was once one of the most powerful cities in the Mayan world. In neighboring Guatemala lies Tikal, one of the oldest Mayan sites in Central America and once the home of nearly 100,000 people.

Green Hills Butterfly Ranch    All 2,700 square feet of the pavilion at Green Hills Butterfly Ranch are filled with butterflies and exotic plants. More than 90 endemic species are raised here—an average of 30 species at any given time! 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. Zipline Through the Rain Forest Get ready for an adrenaline-filled afternoon as we take to the forest canopy for a thrilling ziplining tree-to-tree trek. Sharing an adventure like this makes traveling with your kids the ultimate experience! 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. Visit the Mayan village of San Antonio   Head to the Mayan village of San Antonio to visit with the Women’s Group—a communal pottery workshop and kiln. One of the only Mayan dance groups in the country will dazzle us with a performance of traditional dances. Maya ruins of Xunantunich Visit these mysterious Maya grounds, the site of what was once an important ceremonial center. You'll be amazed by the view from atop El Castillo, the temple that stands 130-feet tall and is the highlight of these grounds.

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.

Placencia drive   We begin our journey along scenic Hummingbird Highway, driving through beautiful mountain terrain on our way to Placencia on the coast. Go Tubing through an Underground Cave A stop at Ian Anderson's Caves Branch sets us off on an incredible tubing adventure through an underground cave. Visit the ruins of an altar site and see an ancient vessel left by the Maya as an offering to one of their gods. Visit to Gravity Hill Gravity Hill presents us with an optical illusion—or do the laws of gravity really behave differently here? 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. Glover's Reef/South Water Caye snorkeling   Snorkel at Glovers Reef or South Water Caye. The reef around the islands has an abundance of fish and coral species and your guide will take you to many sites in the area for a shallow sandy snorkel or a deepwater snorkel. Free day Enjoy the activities and amenities of your resort, hit the beach or just relax. Farewell dinner   It’s time to say good-bye to your guide over a special farewell dinner. Encourage your children to bring along their journals and share favorite highlights from your excellent family adventure.

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

Optional Community Service Extension

Have an extra week, and interested in community service? Add a week or more to your adventure and deepen your understanding of the lives of the people who live here. We’ll use our partnerships with the local community to connect you to their sustainable projects. Depending on the specific need at the time you might paint, build, plant, or simply read aloud. This is a great opportunity for our children to gain a sense of giving back to others, and to see that those who seem different can be very much the same. We've found that you need to devote at least a week to be even a small help to the sustainable project.

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. Discover the truth behind the end of the Mayan calendar Oh no! The world’s going to end in December 2012! Well, not exactly. Belize, being a sanctuary of Mayan culture and civilization and a vital part of the development of ancient Mayan history, can provide the answer to all your doomsday doubts. The Mayan calendar does end in 2012, but the Mayan people certainly don’t see this as a gloomy reality or any cause for concern – they believe that this date marks the completion of one cosmic cycle and the beginning of another. For the Mayans of Belize, this is a time for rebirth, reflection, and … partying! Come to Belize and celebrate the dawn of a new era with a fun-loving, ethnically diverse group of people!

Why Belize with Thomson?

Explore the Mayan Xunantunich Ruins Once an important center of the great Mayan civilization, Belize offers some very impressive archaeological sites. We’ll visit the mysterious Xunantunich Ruins, an ancient ceremonial center. Though extensively excavated in 1959-60, little is known about the site, which was built during the Classic Period of Mayan civilization (circa A.D. 250-900 A.D.). Its six major plazas encompass more than twenty-five temples and palaces—and one very tall pyramid. You'll be amazed by the views from atop El Castillo, which stands 130-feet tall. The Friends Across Borders Program (pen pals) As part of our Friends Across Borders program —a Thomson family favorite—we’ve arranged for a pen pal meeting this afternoon for the children who exchanged letters with a local student before leaving on their adventure. Through playing a game or sharing in a mutual activity, the kids all enjoy the eye-opening, and truly rewarding, experience of making a new friend from a culture very different from their own. 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. 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. Optional community service extension Thomson families tend to love really getting to know people and cultures intimately, and taking every opportunity to lend a helping hand or an expression of solidarity. On our Belize trip, we offer you the chance to add time to your family adventure to work within our well-developed partnerships with the local community and connect to sustainable projects. At Thomson, we are interested in far more than simply tourism – we like to truly benefit the places we travel to and leave a positive mark on every country. You’ll have the chance the paint, build, plant, or simply read aloud as a small way of offering your support to the people of Belize, and your children will gain a sense of the difference giving back to others can make.