Sea and River Kayaking
Trips and Tours
General Information
Belize Travel Agent Services
Member:
Belize Tourism Industry Association
Placencia
Humane Society
Peninsula
Citizens
for Sustainable
Development
(Board of Directors)
Placencia
Sidewalk Fund
(Board of Directors)
The Iris Foundation
for Education
(Board of Directors)
Belize Marine Mammal Stranding
Association
Belize Ecotourism Association
Email Us |
|
 Kayaking
|
 The clear warm waters of the Caribbean Sea and the close
proximity of area cayes make kayaking off the Placencia Peninsula a unique experience.
Overnight kayaking trips are fully guided and
visit a number of area cayes, with exact itinerary dependent upon water, weather and wind
conditions during each trip. Cayes (islands) that may be visited include, but
are not limited to, Little Water Caye, Ranguana Caye, Pompion Caye, Buttonwood Caye,
Cary Caye, Silk Cayes (also known as Queen Cayes), Sapodilla Cayes, Round Caye, and Moho
Caye. (See map of area cayes plus information on Meso-American Barrier Reef and local
cayes.)
Sample Trip Itinerary:
 |
Day
One: Arrival in Placencia via Tropic Air and transfer to seaside lodging.
Orientation over dinner at a local restaurant. Pack dry bags. Meals on your
own. |
|
|
Day
Two: Morning boat transport of kayaks, gear, food and paddlers to Pelican
Caye, a beautiful mangrove caye teeming with life. The reef around this island is a
fringing reef with an abundance of fish and coral species. The first part of the day
is spent getting familiar with kayaks and gear (the guide will provide lessons in basic
paddling techniques for anyone who needs this instruction). The afternoon is spent
paddling to nearby islands and snorkeling. Overnight on Pelican Caye. Lunch
and dinner included. |
|
|
Days
Three: An after breakfast paddle to cayes within
the Pelican range for a mangrove root snorkel in addition to snorkeling amongst corals.
Then paddle to a Pelican rooker where brown pelicans breed. Late afternoon
and the evening for rleaxation and exploration of Pelican Caye. Overnight on Pelican
Caye. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. |
|
|
Day
Four: Support boat transport of kayaks, gear, food and paddlers toward the
Silk Cayes, stopping at a sand spit for snorkeling and the beginning of the morning paddle
to the Silks. Lunch on the Silk Cayes, then snorkeling around the Cayes. The
Silk Cayes (also known as the Queen Cayes) may be the most beautiful islands in all of
Belize. The white sand beaches and breezy palm trees of these three tiny islands
create an idyllic Caribbean escape. Overnight on the Silk Cayes. Breakfast,
lunch and dinner included. |
|
|
Day
Five: Paddling along the Meso-American Barrier Reef, the longest living
barrier reef in the world (and the longest barrier reef in the western hemisphere).
Adventurous paddlers may paddle outside the reef for a brief experience of blue water
paddling. After lunch back on the Silk Cayes, another snorkel, and packing of gear,
head back to Placencia Village by support boat. Breakfast and lunch included, dinner
on your own. |
|
|
Day
Six: Rest, relaxation and exploration of Placencia Village (or an optional
trip to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Monkey River Village and jungle or Blue
Creek Cave/Nim Li Punit Mayan ruins. Meals on your own. |
|
|
Day
Seven: Ground transport to Placencia airstrip; air transport to Belize City
International Airport for connection with international flight. |
|
|
Kayaks (Wilderness Systems' Sealution
single kayaks and Sea Two tandem touring kayaks OR Prijon expedition sea kayaks (Seayak
singles and Odyssee doubles) |
|
|
PFDs, paddles, skirts
and pumps |
|
|
Tents (dome - 3-person
tents for 2 people, 2-person tents for singles) |
|
|
Licensed Belizean guide |
|
|
Support boat with
captain |
|
|
|
Heavy foam pads for
bedding |
|
|
Food and drinking water
(all meals included while on kayak trip - meals feature Belizean specialties and most meal
items are made from scratch) |
|
|
First aid supplies |
|
|
Bedding, if desired
(blankets and pillows or sleeping bags) |
|
|
Solar showers |
|
Each paddler must provide:
|
|
Sunglasses (polarized
are recommended -
copper or amber colors are best |
|
Insect Repellant (Deep
Woods Off works well) |
|
|
Hat (see our Sun Protection
page for hat recommendations |
|
Prescription and
over-the-counter medication (little over-the-counter available in Placencia, and NO
facilities for filling prescriptions) |
|
|
Waterproof camera and
film (film and batteries are expensive in Belize, bring plenty from home) |
|
Special dietary needs
(will be difficult to locate in Placencia) |
|
|
Shorts, T-shirts,
lightweight long-sleeved shirt and pants (quick-drying nylon is best) |
|
Sunscreen (15 SPF
- see our Sun Protection Page for information |
|
|
Foul weather gear |
|
Sunburn medication
(Ocean Potion is great - generally available at Wal-Marts) |
|
|
Snorkeling gear (may be
rented in Placencia, but we advise bringing your own for a good fit) |
|
Towel(s) and toiletries |
|
|
Water bottles |
|
Alarm clock (most rooms
in Placencia don't have phones or clocks) |
|
|
Small dive light (for
night snorkels) |
|
Lightweight jacket and
blanket during winter months (Dec. - April) |
|
|
River sandals and water
socks |
|
Binoculars |
|
|
Ziplocs |
|
Prescription glasses
(extra pair - salt winds can be hard on contact users) |
|
|
Dry bags |
|
Passport and laminated copy of photo page
of passport (to take with you on trip) |
|
Minimum 2 persons, double occupancy |
|
|
6 Days/5 Nights:
$1,440 USD/person: |
|
- 4 days/3 nights paddling and camping
- 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners
|
|
|
9 Days/8 Nights:
$1,938 USD/person: |
|
- 7 Days/6 nights kayaking and camping
- 6 breafasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners
|
|
|
Each Trip Includes: |
|
- Guide
- Support boat and captain
- Equipment and gear
listed above
- 2 nights seaside accommodations in Placencia
Village
- Roundtrip airfare between Belize City and Placencia
- Local transfers
- All hotel taxes, service charges and sales tax
|
Contact us for more
information and discounts on direct Internet bookings. |
Custom Trips |
| Please contact us for information on customized
kayak trips. Trips can include guided fishing, diving and other activities such as
day trips to local ruins and Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Reserve |
*Rates Do NOT
Include |
| International
airfare, Belize departure tax (currently $20 USD per person), gratuities, meals other than
as specifically noted in trip descriptions, souvenirs, departure taxes and fees, alcoholic
beverages, personal items or trip cancellation insurance. |
Contact
us for information about discounts on direct Internet bookings. |
| |
Kayaking on the Monkey River |
Red Bank, the
first destination on this 4 day/4 night trip, is a picturesque Maya village located in the
foothills of the Maya mountains of Southern Belize. Red Bank villagers support their families
primarily through subsistence farming and welcome visitors who want to learn about the Red
Bank community and its Mayan culture. |
| The day at Red
Bank is spent hiking trails in the jungle outside the Village where local guides from Red
Bank point out jungle plants and animals (moderate
activity level with some hills for the hiking). Plus, the birding is excellent around Red
Bank with parrots, tanagers, Ibis and toucans being just a few of the birds sighted.
(Scarlet Macaws feed in the jungle around Red Bank from January through March.)
All meals are
eaten with Red Bank families, and the evening is spent at the Red Bank Guesthouse
(rustic guesthouse with flush toilets and cold
showers). Meals at Red Bank are mostly
rice, beans, homemade tortillas and some chicken. |
|
| After breakfast
in Red Bank, paddlers head their kayaks down the Swazey Branch of Monkey River, which lies
south of the Placencia Peninsula in the Toledo District of southern Belize.
Kayaking is unsupported, with approximately four
hours of kayaking per day in double inflatable kayaks. (Good
physical fitness required.)
(The Monkey River was named after the troops of
Black Howler Monkeys living in the jungle lining the River's banks. In addition to
Howler Monkeys, Monkey River is one of the best locations in Belize to see jungle wildlife
in its natural habitat, including Morelet Crocodiles, iguanas, gibnuts, Hawksbill Turtles,
Brocket and White-Tailed Deer and armadillo. (More information
and pictures of Monkey River and Monkey River Village.)
Camping on a sand bar along Monkey River
ends a day of paddling and exploration of Monkey River.
(Camping is in tents with sleeping mats and sheets,
bathing is in the river and toilet facilities consist of a pit toilet.) A morning of paddling the
next day ends with lunch at Monkey River Village, and
boat transport back to Placencia Village.
|
Termite Nest in Monkey River Jungle |
| |
|
| Cost: The Red Bank/Monkey River trip is a 4 day/4 night trip.
Cost is $754 USD per person, including:
- 2 nights accommodation at seaside hotel in
Placencia Village
- 1 night accommodation at Red Bank Village
Guesthouse
- 1 night camping on banks of Monkey River (all
camping gear provided)
- 1 full day guided tour of Red Bank Village and
surrounding jungle
- 1 full day guided paddling on Monkey River (all
kayaking gear provided)
- Meals: 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
- Hotel tax and service charges; sales tax
(Not included: international air; Belize
departure tax ($20 USD per person); meals other than as specifically described above;
alcoholic beverages; personal items; gratuities; souvenirs; trip cancellation insurance.)
Itinerary:
- Day 1: Overnight
accommodation at seaside hotel in Placencia Village; meals on your own
- Day 2: Morning
departure from Placencia Village by auto for transport to Red Bank Village; guided day and
evening jungle and Red Bank Village tours; meals with Red Bank villagers; overnight at Red
Bank guesthouse; lunch and dinner included
- Day 3: Morning
departure from Red Bank Village by kayak; full day guided paddling down Monkey River;
overnight in tents on sand bar on the banks of Monkey River; breakfast, lunch and dinner
included
- Day 4: Guided
paddling down Monkey River to Monkey River Village; lunch at Monkey River and boat
transport back to Placencia Village; overnight in Placencia Village; breakfast and lunch
included; dinner on your own
Note: we will
be happy to arrange air transport to and from Placencia, in addition to other activities
(if desired) before or after the Red Bank/Monkey River excursion. |
Contact us for
information about custom trips, additional activities and discounts on direct Internet
bookings. |
|
|
Sea Kayak and Snorkel
 Kayak around the cayes off Placencia
stopping at various islands and coral heads to snorkel. For a change of pace, a mangrove
snorkel is included. Relax on a small island and enjoy the cooling ocean breezes
and take a first hand look at what many consider to be a perfect ecosystem.
A highlight of this trip is the mangrove root
snorkel. Here you will experience a vast array of marine organisms including, brilliantly
colored encrusted sponges, tunicates and sea stars. Includes lunch.
Activity
level: Moderate/High
Minimum 2 People
(max. 8 people): $61 U.S. per person (+ 8% Belize Sales Tax) |
Deposit
and Payment in Full
|
|
Guided Overnight Tours. Fifty percent (50%) of total due
immediately upon booking. Remainder of total to be paid not less than forty-five
(45) days prior to date of arrival. If payment has not been received at least
forty-five (45) days before the scheduled date of arrival in Placencia, we will assume the
trip is cancelled, and the 50% deposit will be deemed forfeited. Last minute
bookings will be honored if payment made by MasterCard or Visa (see credit card payment
information below).
Note: Changes in scheduled dates of arrivals and departures may involve additional
costs such as extra transportation costs for late arrivals to catch up with trip, or early
departures to make scheduled travel arrangements. However, these additional expenses
will be billed to you at our cost.
|
|
|
Guided Day Trips.
Fifty percent of total due upon booking.
Remainder of total to be paid immediately prior to tour.
|
Refunds:
|
|
A full
refund minus a $50 USD handling fee will be given for cancellations received by us in
writing (email is acceptable) not fewer than forty-five (45) days before the scheduled
date of arrival in Placencia.
|
|
|
No
refunds will be given for cancellations of forty-four (44) days or fewer prior to
scheduled date of arrival in Placencia.
|
|
|
No
refunds or credits will be given for unused goods or services (such as airfare or hotel
rooms). No refunds can be given for any reason once a trip has begun.
|
|
|
We
reserve the right to cancel any trip for any or no reason. Full refunds will be
given for any trip cancelled by us, less the retail value of airfare, hotels, ground
transportation and other goods and services prepaid by us and used by our clients.
|
Foul Weather
|
|
We will
do our best to reschedule trips delayed by bad weather. Bad weather is defined as
the issuance of small craft warnings or weather deemed dangerous by our guide.
However, we will not delay a trip solely because of rain. If your trip cannot
be rescheduled, we will refund the full cost of the trip, less the retail value of
airfare, hotels, ground transportation, food and other goods and services available to you
for your use. (For example, we will not refund the cost of your hotel room.)
If the length of an overnight
trip must be reduced because of bad weather, we will refund a pro-rata share of the total
cost of trip after deducting the retail value of airfare, hotels, ground transportation,
food and other goods and services available to you for your use. (Basically, this
means we'll prorate the trips minus the cost of your airfare, hotel room, taxi,
etc.) We also reserve the right to change itineraries based on weather
concerns. Our liability for cancelled or rescheduled trips is limited to the amount
actually paid and shall not include any other costs incurred by the trip member.
|
Waiver of Liability
|
|
All
trip members must sign a waiver of liability before the trip begins. While we will
do all that is reasonably necessary for your safety, but we cannot guarantee your
safety. You will be kayaking in the Caribbean Sea or the Placencia Lagoon,
natural bodies of water, not regulated theme park environments. Therefore, we cannot
control the existence or behavior of the weather, water conditions, marine life or other
people during your trip, meaning trip members must acknowledge and be able to assume the
possibility of incurring these risks.
|
Payments may be made
by check or MasterCard/Visa. Checks should be made payable to Destinations Belize and
mailed to Destinations Belize, 3505 Halliday Ave., St. Louis, MO 63118.
Our MasterCard/Visa
merchant's accounts are through a Belizean bank. All Belize banks required a faxed
signature to authorize "long distance" credit card charges. We've tried to
simplify this process as much as possible by including a credit card authorization form on
our site at http://www.destinationsbelize.com/credit.htm.
If you want to use MasterCard
or Visa for your deposit, just print out this credit card authorization
form and then fax it to us at our US fax number of (603)452-4797. Faxes sent to that
number are automatically forwarded to us in Belize (and are never seen or printed out in
the States). This saves you the cost and aggravation of trying to fax to Belize. (We
have a good phone system for Central America, but it's definitely not as reliable as
Stateside systems.)
|
 |
