This special trip is designed for those who want to spend Christmas at home, but then want some real adventure in Belize immediately after. Patterned after Belize Adventure Week — our ever-popular, action-packed tour – we explore this fascinating country using a multi-sport format. Our trend-setting itinerary is the culmination of twenty- two years of exploring Belize; and we have designed an itinerary that packs fourteen sports into eight days!

Your adventure begins with the two most exciting river trips in Belize. We run a whitewater river by kayak and descend an underground river by raft and kayak, finding our way with headlamps. We even find time to climb a Mayan ruin, the 2nd tallest building in Belize.

Next we transfer by boat to Slickrock’s exclusive Water Sports Center on Long Caye at Glover’s Reef, an underwater national park. Here we base from our private island, surrounded by coral reefs and the aqua-blue Caribbean Sea. We use sea kayaks to access snorkeling sites, to visit other islands in the atoll, and weather permitting, to paddle outside the reef ring of the atoll to experience the open sea. In addition to sea kayaking and snorkeling we have top-notch surf kayaks and surf boards to take advantage of our "point break", and complete windsurfing rigs for beginner through advanced sailors. World-class scuba diving is available just down the beach for both certified divers and beginners.

Our island facilities include: beach-front cabanas, our dining hall where you enjoy cold drinks and home-cooked meals while perusing our extensive library, ecologically-friendly composting toilets, and showers pumped by the sun. Long Caye offers a backdrop few locations can match. We are the only adventure operator in Belize with a private island!

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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 traditional Belizean fare. Cold beverages are always available and included in the trip price.

This trip is designed 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.

Wednesday 31Dec, 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 (see 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. New Year's Eve!

Thursday, 1Jan, 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, 2Jan, 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 best one-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.

Saturday, 3Jan, 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.

Sunday, 4Jan, 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, 5Jan, 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, 6Jan, Day 7: We may get a later start today, but it will still be a full day of activities offered. Paddle (or wind permitting, 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, 7Jan, 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, 8Jan, 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, 9Jan, 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, 10Jan, 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.

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.