Rivers & Reef - Special Belize Christmas Adventure

Underground River Running | Whitewater Kayaking | Jungle Hiking | Exploring Mayan Ruins

Snorkeling | Scuba Diving | Windsurfing | Surfing | Surf Kayaking | Kiteboarding

Paddle Boarding | Sport Fishing | Kayak Fishing | Kayak Rolling | Sea Kayaking

 

 

Inland our lodging is in private, family-style accommodations, and the meals prepared by our lodges include a wide variety of foods, including fresh seafood, tropical fruit salads, and fresh baked breads. Cold beverages (beer and soda) are always available and included in the trip price. You can view a copy of our island menu on this website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Belize's Top Christmas Vacation

This trip is for those looking for an active vacation, and although no experience is required, some guests may find the activities strenuous (particularly the portages on the Caves Branch River). People who are in good physical shape and have a good attitude will do fine. Each sport is introduced, taught, and guided by expert guides, and each sport is suitable for a complete beginner in good shape.

 

See our reviews on Trip Advisor, or vist our Belize Adventure Reviews page to see what our guests have written about their trip with us. We specialize in all inclusive Belize itineraries. Join us for the best surfing vacation in the country.

 

Let us help you plan additional days in the country, we are always happy to provide advice. This is our 24th year sharing the magic of Belize.

 

Sign up for this trip now on our secure form

 

Rivers & Reef Itinerary

Wednesday 29Dec, Day 1

Arrive at Belize International Airport, then taxi to the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel for a 4:30 p.m. meeting in the lobby. We leave for Crystal Paradise Resort no later than 5:00 p.m. Please note: it is important that your flight arrive no later than 4:30 p.m. in order to guarantee that you not miss your ride to western Belize. If you must land later than 4:30, you will have to catch up with the group (request Belize Adventure Week information sheet for If Late or Delayed). You may also meet us at Crystal Paradise by 6:30 p.m. if you are already in the country. Dinner and overnight at Crystal Paradise Resort, our base for the inland part of the trip.

 

 

 

Thursday 30Dec, Day 2

Today: whitewater! We run the Mopan River in sit-on-top hardshell kayaks (hardshell whitewater kayaks also available) that allow everyone to learn to kayak and to enjoy the many small drops and waterfalls on this jungle river. Putting in near the Guatemala border, we teach kayak strokes and maneuvers which we then practice while going downstream. Numerous Class II rapids are run in this six-mile stretch. The Mopan boasts abundant bird life and iguanas, and it is a favorite recreational area for locals, whom we often see along the shore. We take out at Clarissa Falls Cottages where Chena serves up an excellent Belizean home-cooked meal.

 

After lunch we visit Xunantunich ruins, home of Mayan rulers who controlled a large part of western Belize and Guatemala. We climb the Castillo, a 130-foot high pyramid that is one of the tallest man-made structures in the country. Overnight at Crystal Paradise for our last night in the jungle.

Friday 31Dec, Day 3

After a short drive to the Caves Branch River we conduct a short river orientation and launch on our underground journey in rafts and kayaks. We navigate four underground caverns by headlamp! This unique trip combines caving and river running for an unusual, captivating ride. Stops include short hikes up tributaries and a visit to a Mayan "totem pole" carved into a stalagmite. We also negotiate a quarter-mile portage on a jungle trail. This fabulous odyssey is arguably the bestone-day adventure in the country, a must-do for any visit to Belize! We return to Belize City to stay at the Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel, ready for an early morning boat ride. We join another group just arriving for our island orientation before dinner. New Year's Eve in Belize City!

Saturday 1Jan, Day 4

Time to hit the Caribbean! After an early breakfast we walk to our private dock two blocks away. From here we travel two-and-a-half hours by boat to Long Caye (65 miles), crossing the Barrier Reef south of Tobacco Caye. After lunch, move into your cabana, explore the island, and snorkel right off our shore after the orientation, and if the surf is up, squeeze in a surf kayak session. A game of volleyball at happy hour, a fantastic dinner, and a talk on underwater geology or fish identification completes this exciting day.

 

 

 

Questions? Send us an email: slickrock@slickrock.com or call 800-390-5715.

We will love to help you plan your trip to Belize!

 

 

Sunday 2Jan, Day 5

Sea kayak orientation starts the day. Our guides are expert instructors and cover paddle strokes, entering and exiting the kayak from the water, and other basic techniques. After lunch we paddle to a nearby reef to snorkel from the kayaks. Scuba diving is another option, whether you are a certified diver or want to try scuba for the first time. You may also choose "island time", a.k.a. "hammock surfing"!

 

 

 

 

Monday 3Jan, Day 6

The first Discover Scuba/Resort course is offered this morning for beginning divers. Others enjoy a morning paddle. Both windsurfing and kayak surfing orientations are offered in the afternoon. You may join one or both, then continue to practice these sports with or without a guide for the rest of the week. We have a near-constant breeze and a perfect set of waves breaking just off our shore, and our surf boards provide great action for experienced board surfers.

Tuesday 4Jan, Day 7

We begin our last full day discussing the full roster of activities offered. Paddle (or wind permitting, kayak kite sail) five miles round-trip to Middle Caye to tour the Marine Research Center, base for visiting marine biologists.

 

You may also choose "island time" and stay on the island. You can sea kayak, snorkel, dive, surf kayak, windsurf, surf, or just relax.

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 5Jan, Day 8

Begin with a kayak rolling lesson followed by a snorkel around the island, or take your pick from the other activities already mentioned. Guests on the 8-night package depart just after lunch, arriving in Belize City by 3 - 4 p.m. Our arrival time cannot be predicted since it depends on factors such as weather and other possibilities out of our control. Therefore, guests should not make other plans for Wednesday night. After checking into the Biltmore, we enjoy dinner at our favorite restaurant.

 

Guests on the 11 night package stay on to experience sport fishing, one-on-one paddle stroke clinics, or kayaking into The Channel to snorkel.

 

Thursday 6Jan, Day 9

Guests on the 8 night package fly home or continue on to other locations in Belize.

 

Guests on the 11 night package continue with island activities. After an early morning surf session we paddle outside the reef to snorkel at a unique channel-and-groove site. After lunch we take a low tide walk off the eastern shore to find a myriad of starfish, sea urchins, and octopus.

 

Friday 7Jan, Day 10

Our final full day is always the best. Get in more diving, snorkeling, or shredding. Other options include paddling 12 miles round-trip to Southwest Caye, night snorkeling, reading from our island library, and full-moon paddling. Our Belizean cooks prepare fantastic feasts for us, which we enjoy in between this wide array of activities.

 

Saturday 8Jan, Day 11

Snorkel to "The Wall", where an underwater cliff drops from 40 to 2,600 feet in less than a mile. After lunch we return to Belize City. Our arrival time cannot be predicted since it depends on factors such as weather and the schedule of the group coming out to the island. Therefore, guests should not make other plans for Saturday night. After checking into the Biltmore, we enjoy dinner at our favorite restaurant.

Sunday 9Jan, Day 12

Earliest day to fly home for 11-night participants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Although this is an accurate description of the Rivers & Reef itinerary, it is subject to change. Belize weather, river levels, wind speed, and road conditions can cause delays and substitution of activities. We sell a Belize map that will help you to better visualize all of the terrain we cover in one week.

 

 

Accommodations for Rivers & Reef

Crystal Paradise Resort

Located on the rim of the Macal River Valley near San Ignacio, this family owned lodge enjoys spectacular views up the Macal River as it exits the Maya Mountains. The surrounding jungle teams with wildlife, especially birds, and over 300 species of birdlife have been recorded right on the lodge’s property.

 

Each cabana is perched on the edge of the steep river valley, with private baths and patios overlooking the valley below. Meals are provided by the local family who own and operate this charming resort.

 

You can also visit the website of Crystal Paradise Resort.

 

 

 

 

Long Caye at Glover's Reef

When we first moved to Glover's Reef in 1992 our goal was to create a facility that feels non-developed. Obviously if you build a building, that’s some level of development. But throughout the Caribbean there are very few facilities that are rustic by design. On Long Caye, development means fifteen cabanas, a well-stocked kitchen, solar-powered water pumps, a composting toilet, three dozen sea kayaks, a bunch of sailboards, surf boards, and surf kayaks, and a dive shop (the only thing not owned by Slickrock). There are no air conditioners, no maid service, no flush toilets. But there is a fridge permanently loaded with Fantas and Belikin beer. It’s the best in adventure travel — right down to the excellent Garifuna chefs who cook your meal and then sit down with you to dine.

 

Depending on your experience, our Water Sports Center is either the cushiest camp or the most rustic resort you have seen. We keep the island in as natural a state as possible, and there is no electricity or plumbing. Two-person cabanas are perched above the surf, and the ever-present breeze keeps the temperatures well below what they are on the mainland. Each cabana has single or double beds, a solar-powered light, and a porch with hammocks and lounge chairs (see the island accommodations page for more photos).

 

Our dining hall features solar and wind-powered lights and music, propane stove and refrigerator (for cold beer and soda!), and our extensive library. We drink collected rainwater, and we bathe with well water pumped by the sun (not heated, the showers are about 70 degrees). Composting toilets (odor-free!) complete this ecologically friendly set-up. Our spacious island (13.5 acres) and rustic facilities ensure your comfort without compromising the adventure of living on an undeveloped and uncrowded island. Best of all, a hammock with your name on it is waiting under the palms. For more details on these and other island amenities visit our web page.

 

Please visit our Long Caye page to view more photos of the island.

 

 

Belize Biltmore Plaza Hotel

The Biltmore is a full-service hotel located on the outskirts of Belize City, three miles from downtown near the airport. The Biltmore has a business center, beautifully landscaped courtyard, swimming pool, great restaurant, bar, gym, gift shop, tour desk, and internet cafe. It’s perfect for guests who arrive early, stay late, or who have just a few extra hours in the city. You can also visit the Biltmore's web page.