On arrival in Belize, before heading out to Glovers, we have an opportunity to experience the diversity of the rainforest and the rich Mayan culture of the interior. Working with guides from the Belize Tropical Education Center, our itinerary includes a rare chance to view the nocturnal wildlife of Belize, and then, in the jungle, we enjoy a leisurely float down a rainforest river with inner large tubes, exploring a fantastic limestone cave.

  Thirty six miles offshore of the Belize mainland lie a group of tropical islands cradled within a turquoise lagoon and surrounded by a living coral reef. Glover's Reef Atoll is considered to be one of the richest tropical marine environments in the entire Caribbean. Our private island base of over 13 acres is perched on the southern edge of the atoll with a dramatic view facing east over the main reef crest and the open Caribbean. Based from our comfortable field camp we are fully equipped to spend six and a half days sea kayaking and kayak sailing, snorkeling, diving, fishing and windsurfing.  After our adventures each day we like to reward ourselves with a bounty of fresh seafood, island baking, tropical fruits and yes, even rich, decadent deserts! Glovers is ideal for those who wish to enjoy the comforts of a well-appointed field camp yet want an active and flexible day-to-day schedule.  Exclusive to Glovers, is our underwater Sea-Breathe System (TM) which provides air for divers and non-divers to depths of 25 ft. Also available are optional Scuba certification courses, resort courses and equipment rentals.

Begin from: Belize City
End in: Dangriga
Duration: 7 Days / 8 Nights
Cost: $1598 USD
Trip Dates: See schedule at bottom of page
Group Size: 6-18
Guides: 2-4 North American & Belizean Leaders.

Accommodations: Tropical Education Center, Banana Bank Lodge, Glovers Base Camp, Chaleanors Hotel.

Trip Route

Scuba Divers...
 There are some great opportunities to scuba dive at Glover's Reef. Optional diving is available for certified divers on certain days of the trip. Single tank dives are available from $35 US, with further discounts for multi-tank dives. For first time divers we can offer, a Discover Scuba for a subsidized rate, or you may be able to take your Open Water Referral course. Please let us know in advance. We can also arrange a variety of dive packages before or after your trip. For further information please contact our office.

"Dick's gently authoritative leadership, biological, star-gazing, and marine knowledge; Alex's evident pleasure in sharing both the aquatic and cultural (Garifuna) aspects of Belize; Kaya's quiet, steady support; topped by Amelia's superb cooking combined to make it a kaleidoscope of rich memories"
John Roe
Glovers Reef

The Setting...  

One of three atolls offshore of Belize, Glover's Reef was named after the pirate John Glover who used this remote offshore ring of islands and coral reefs as a base from which to raid Spanish merchant ships. The shallow waters offshore of Belize with innumerable coral reefs, mangroves and small islands were ideal waters for pirates and buccaneers to hide their raiding ships after plundering Spanish galleons laden with riches, destined for the Old World. Today, the attractions found within the atoll (20 miles long by 7 miles wide) are the clarity of the water and the remarkable profusion of marine life. In 1993, the atoll was declared a marine park, and 25% of the area and lagoon was protected from fishing and harvesting. To continue the conservation efforts to preserve this extraordinary environment, the site was designated as a World Heritage Site, in 1996. We travel and explore this area by sea-kayak, paddling and sailing the shallow 82 square mile lagoon with an unequaled variety of over 700 patch reefs. The reefs of Belize have long been known as the richest in the Caribbean, and Glovers is the best in Belize!

Day 1 : For early risers, the Tropical Education Center has a wonderful network of trails and wildlife viewing platforms for exploration. There are exceptional birding opportunities in the early hours of dawn as the pine savannah and rainforest awakens with a diversity of feeding birds, turtles and other creatures around the central lagoon. After a hearty breakfast, we travel along the Hummingbird Highway to our underground cave float. We take a short hike through the rainforest to the river put-in where we float on large inner tubes with our headlamps into the ancient limestone caves.

After our tour of the caves, we continue overland to Banana Bank Lodge. We settle into our accommodations, have lunch in the lodge, and then make a choice of horseback riding, a river float, or an interpretive birding walk for the afternoon. Banana Bank Lodge is a resort and an equestrian facility situated on over 4,000 acres along the banks of the historic Belize River. Our location is superb. For those who wish to stay behind and relax, there is a swimming pool, a greenhouse with over 50 varieties of orchids, and a night-sky observatory for our pleasure.

Accommodation: (Lodge)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

   Day 2 - 6 : We depart early in the morning by charter boat out past the main Barrier Reef to our private base-camp on Southwest Cay, at Glovers Reef Marine Reserve. We are introduced to our new environment and get settled into our accommodation. Once settled, the guides provide instruction, teaching the fundamentals of sea kayaking, snorkeling and safety in the tropics. Then, we paddle out to a nearby patch reef and start to explore some of the 700 sites that Glovers Atoll has to offer. Glovers is one of only four atolls in the Caribbean Sea, and is truly the most spectacular marine environment in Belize. Due to its isolation from the mainland, the waters are exceptionally clear with inspiring scenery and a fabulously rich reef system that offers the best kayaking, snorkeling and diving in the Caribbean. We spend the days exploring the atoll with both single and double kayaks (rigged for sailing). Our itinerary is flexible in order to respond to both group and individual desires and abilities.

Activities include: sea kayaking, snorkeling the inner and outer walls of the reef, learning to sail a kayak and windsurfing for both novices and experienced boarders. For experienced snorkelers, guides can provide full instruction with our Sea-Breathe Diving System: a free floating air pump designed to provide air by hookah lines down to 20-25 feet.

In the mornings and the evenings, we host informative sessions on a range of topics, providing an opportunity for guides to share their knowledge of Belize, the marine environments and local culture. Perhaps a high stakes game of Hermit Crab Racing to finish the day! If all this sounds a little too busy, you always have the choice of just kicking back in a hammock and relaxing with a good book and a cold drink.
Accommodation: (Tent-Walled Cabanas)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  On Day 2 to 6 at Southwest Cay, we are "base camping", sleeping in tent-walled cabanas. These spacious safari-style tents have ample headroom to walk around and are on raised wooden floors with double or single beds. On the island, we have a large dining area with bar, resource library and lounge area, a freshwater collection system for drinking water, access to freshwater showers, modern composting toilets and a fully equipped kitchen.   

On the Final Night we will be staying in Dangriga. Our accommodation is at Chaleanors Hotel, a Belizean-style hotel in the heart of town. On this final night, we have a Belizean dinner on a roof top terrace with Dangriga musicians who introduce us to traditional Garifuna drumming and dance.

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