Our expert guide will not only take you there, but also accompany you while you snorkel along the reef. Relax under a coconut tree. Lunch will be cooked for you on a tropical island. After lunch we will continue on to another island to snorkel. These islands could be the inner range, like the Lark Cayes or Colson Caye. We know the area well, so come join us….

Placencia prides itself on having some of the best diving in Belize. The dive sites along the Belizean coastline are some of the most pristine in the area.

Your personal guide will meet you and your family first thing in the morning in his well equipped 25 foot skiff, and you will take you out to the reef. Once on the reef, the day is yours, and you can fish, swim, snorkel or just explore the many beautiful deserted islands.

If you are hoping to catch your first bonefish or achieve fly fishing's greatest challenge, The Grand Slam, then Placencia, Southern Belize, is the best place to start and finish your next fishing and family vacation.

Southern Belize is blessed with a wide range of fishing, including extensive saltwater flats, mangrove islands, the largest Barrier Reef in the Western Hemisphere, and a plethora of back country rivers, lagoons, and freshwater lakes. Nowhere else in the Caribbean can offer a greater variety of fishing locations than Southern Belize. Southern Belize, like very few other fishing locations in the Caribbean, is teeming with a wide variety of sport fishing species.

Bonefish cruise the reef and flats among the outer Cayes. Tarpon patrol inner mangrove islands, the rivers, lagoons, and can be found in very isolated, rarely visited, landlocked freshwater lakes. Permit, southern Belize's true world-class sport fish, can be found tailing on the coral flats, off mangrove islands, and in the extensive backcountry system known as Punta Ycacos Lagoon. In addition to these big three species, southern Belize has fantastic fishing for snook, jack, barracuda, bonito, mutton snapper, and untouched offshore fishing for tuna, cobia, dorado, and even sailfish.

Bring your own gear and bait along, or if you choose, we will be happy to provide some gear and bait options.

kayak trips around the Placencia Lagoon are satisfying for the wildlife enthusiast.

Placencia Lagoon is a saltwater lagoon that lies between the Placencia peninsula and the mainland. This large lagoon teems with plankton, making it a rich feeding ground which supports a wide variety of fish, birds and mammals. The most famous of these animals, is the West Indian Manatee. They love to feed on the huge weed beds in the lower part of the lagoon and drink freshwater from the streams that feed the lagoon. You have a good chance of spotting one of these large, endearing creatures.Dolphins at play are a regular site and you may even get a rare glimpse of the endangered Morelet’s crocodile. Birdlife is abundant, pelicans, gulls, boobies and frigates being common sights, perfect for bird watching.

Our guide is an expert on mangrove ecology, and will give you an informative and entertaining account of all the exciting things you will see on your trip.

Xunantunich is located at San Jose Succotz Village in the Cayo District, eight miles west of San Ignacio Town. Xunantunich was a major ceremonial center during the Classic Period (300-900 AD). The site is composed of six major plazas, surrounded by more than twenty-five temples and palaces. The most prominent structure located at the south end of the site is the pyramid "El Castillo"(The Castle) which is 130 feet high above the plaza. This was the tallest man-made structure in all of Belize, until the discovery of "Caana" at Caracol. The most notable feature on "El Castillo" is located on the east side of the lower temple. There you will find a reconstructed frieze, a banded stucco decoration, which at one time extended around the entire pyramid.

After the tour we will have lunch at a jungle restaurant. Following lunch, we head back to Blue Hole National Park for a refreshing swim in the sapphire waters of the Blue Hole. We then continue the journey to Placencia arriving at around 6:00pm, just in time for dinner.

Nim Li Punit was built in the Late Classic Period and is one of the smaller Maya sites. It is well known for the large amount of stelae found at the location. A stela is a large stone with pictures or words carved onto it. The word “Nim Li Punit” was derived from a carving found on the longest of the site's twenty-six stelae, depicting a figure wearing a large headdress. In the Maya Kekchi language, Nim Li Punit means "big hat". The Stela is the longest in Belize and the second longest found in the Maya World measuring 9 meters in length.

Nim Li Punit is located half mile off the Southern Highway, just outside the village of Indian Creek in the Toledo District. The site is accessed using a dirt road that is fairly steep and hilly. Upon reaching the top of a ridge, you will find the visitor center. The visitor center consists of two buildings which are artistically built with huge stone pieces, black corrugated iron railings and old fashioned wooden doors with glass panes. The structure blends in naturally with its surroundings. Inside, many precious artifacts are on display. Several of the displays provide information and pictures about the customs, dress, food, dance, and language of the Maya people.

Lubanntun means "Place of the Fallen Stones" and was occupied from 700-900 AD (generally the Late Classic Period). Lubaantun is the only known Mayan settlement in Belize in which buildings were constructed without mortar (other settlements exist in Mexico and Honduras, but not Belize).

Lubaantun is the largest Maya site in Southern Belize. It is well known for its unusual style of construction. All of the structures are made of limestone blocks with no visible mortar binding them together. The strength of each structure lies in every hand-cut stone, which was carefully measured and shaped to fit snugly next to each neighboring block.

Eleven large structures tower above five main plazas and three ball courts. Unlike most other Maya ceremonial sites, the existing structures are solid and have no doorways. Another unique feature, not found in other sites around the region, is the rounded corners on the structures. Since no corbelled arches exist, it is believed that perishable materials such as wood and thatch, were used to build superstructures at the highest levels.

Lubantuun is believed to have been an administrative, religious, political, and commercial center, mainly used for occasional festivals, ball games, and other sacred ceremonies. Although no stelae were found here, the site is well-known for its abundance of ceramic whistle figurines. A few burial tombs are also present.

The famous, yet controversial, crystal skull was supposedly discovered in 1926 by Anna Mitchell-Hedges, daughter of archaeologist, F. Mitchell-Hedges, during an expedition on her seventeenth birthday. This perfectly shaped human skull carved from an 8 inch cube of rock crystal is still possessed by Anna who lives in Canada. The origin of the crystal skull remains a mystery.

One of the most impressive natural sites in the Toledo District is the Hokeb Ha Cave in Blue Creek Village. The cave is a 20 minute hike from the village. The trail is a well marked, sometimes cemented, path which leads to a clearing, where you will find the research station. From this point you will continue with your guide until you meet a wide, dry creek filled with white stones. After crossing the dry creek, you will continue hiking beside the creek heading upstream along the base of increasingly steep limestone cliffs. In a few minutes, a 10 foot waterfall and the main cave entrance appears. Long vines hang from the sheer rock wall above the cave mouth. The huge cave entrance is carved from the summit of a hill where the Blue Creek bubbles from beneath the ground. The creek runs out of the entrance of the cave, cascading over limestone boulders, under the towering shadows of the surrounding rainforest. Archaeologists have found many Late Classic ceramics potteries, as well as an altar inside the cave, leading them to theorize that the Hokeb Ha cave was used specifically for ceremonial purposes.

Enter an exciting realm where rivers disappear into the underworld as you float on inner tubes with only your headlamp and professional guide to lead the way. Glide past entrances from above, filtering mists of jungle light, as you float through underground river caves sparkling with mica-studded stalactites and stalagmites, and filled with 1,000-year-old pottery shards, statues of fertility gods and Mayan footprints. Continue past an underground waterfall leading into the "Crystal Cathedral", a spiritual place used by the ancient Maya.

Caves Branch is one of several subterranean sites that were carved out of the limestone foothills in the Maya Mountains by the Caves Branch River. The expert guide will discuss archaeological investigations into the cave. Discoveries found in the caves indicate that the ancient Maya utilized the site for several hundred years. Between 300 and 900 AD, they made regular pilgrimages to the site to beseech their gods to nourish their fields, to provide bountiful crops, plentiful game and to request stability in their volatile world.

Our Aerial Trek Canopy Tour offers adventurous guests a thrilling opportunity to soar through the jungle treetops high above the forest floor. The canopy tour involves traversing from one platform to another along a steel cable suspended up to 80 feet above the forest floor. Zip Line technology borrows heavily from rock and mountain climbing techniques. The zip line features a double cable with redundancy to provide a safe environment for our guests. Our lines are built to strict standards approved by the Association for Challenged Course Technologists. Upon arrival you will be given a safety briefing and outfitted with safety gear that includes a body harness, pulleys, helmet and gloves. After you are fully geared up and checked by your guide, your tour starts off with a short educational hike up to the first platform. Here, a new world will unfold as you gently slide along on a steel cable to the next tree platform. All tours are escorted through the forest canopy by a lead guide and a follow guide to ensure your safety. The guides explain the different areas of the ecosystem you are experiencing. Your tour will take you over eight platforms. Along the way you will enjoy a bird’s eye view of our beautiful and pristine ecosystem. When you arrive on the last platform you will then rappel to the ground. The tour will take approximately one hour.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, established in 1990, is world renowned for being the first jaguar reserve. This “one of a kind” reserve was established as a result of jaguar studies conducted in the area by Alan Rabinowitz in 1984 to 1986. Besides being the home to Belize’s largest cat, the Sanctuary protects the headwaters of the Swasey River, South Stann Creek River and Sitee River Systems and supports an abundance of hardwood vegetation types and a diverse faunal assemblage.

Over 128,000 acres of lush jungle are ringed by the spectacular Cockscomb Mountains. The wonders and diversity are accessible to both the casual visitor and the serious naturalist through a series of nature trails. These trails vary in degrees of difficulty ranging from an easy hour-long stroll along the river to a four (4) day challenge of conquering Victoria Peak. The Victoria Peak trail is only accessible during the dry season and requires a permit and a tour guide which can be arranged through Exotic Belize Tours.

Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary is home to all five (5) of Belize’s cats: Jaguar, Puma, Margay, Jaguarundi and Ocelot. It is estimated that over 80 resident Jaguars are in the area. The preserve is believed to have the world's highest density of Jaguar as well as several other cat species. Belize’s national animal, the endangered Baird’s Tapir also inhabit the Basin and over 290 different species of birds have been recorded. No wonder why the Jaguar Preserve is leading in birdwatcher’s destination in Belize.

DETAILED ITINERARY

Start your day with a 45 minute drive to Maya Center Village through the banana field and citrus groves. Maya Center is also the entrance to the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. We will stop briefly to sign in and to view the beautiful hand-carved slate plaques, baskets, clothing and jewelry made by the local Mayan women. The continuation of the drive is very slow, spent listening to the sounds of nature that surround us. Sometimes the call of a Keel-Billed Toucan can be heard in the distance. An occasional stop will be made for photo opportunities, as well as to view native birds, and even the occasional monkey.

At the ranger’s office, we will check in at the font desk, followed by a brief orientation and history of the park. Next we will visit the original cages built by the founder Alan Robinowitz and stop at the visitor center. The day continues as we depart on a nature trail hike with your naturalist guide. Your guide will take you on several established trails, each with its own unique characteristics. As you walk, the guide will interpret the flora and fauna that makes the preserve such an amazing place.

We will return to the ranger station for lunch and brief rest as the fun continues in the afternoon. After enjoying our home-cooked lunch we pick up our inner tubes and hike to the river. Once there, we will cool off floating down the South Stann Creek River. The current will gently take you away while you take advantage of the opportunities for taking pictures of this breath-taking jungle river float.

After the journey down the river, we will proceed with a hike to the local waterfall for a refreshing swim. You will have the chance to swim under the waterfall and receive a natural massage from the flowing water. The adventure continues with a natural waterslide, created by the flow of the river. We will slide, jump and swim our way downstream. We recommend an underwater camera with flash for this adventure. The tour doesn’t end till we get back to Placencia or at your resort.

With an abundance of over 500 species of colorful birds, Belize is quickly becoming a birdwatcher’s paradise in Central America. Let Exotic Belize Tours be your guide to the fascinating world of Belize birds.

Unusual birds such as the Jabiru Stork, the largest in the Western Hemisphere with a height of 5 feet, can be found here. There is a healthy population of Jabiru Storks, and Roseate Spoonbills are on the increase. Both species can be found feeding at some of the shrimp farms around the Placencia Area. Other exciting and endangered species of birds include the Keel-billed Toucan, Blue-crowned Motmot, and Orange-breasted Falcon. These falcons nest on cliffs on high outcropping in the Maya Mountains, and on steep walls of sinkholes. The Harpy Eagle, with a wingspan of 7 feet and height of 3 feet, making it the largest eagle in the world, has been seen soaring near the ruins of Caracol. Other interesting and/or threatened species includes the Ocellated Turkey, Chestnut-bellied Heron, Solitary Eagle, and Crested Eagle. The Black Catbird is making a comeback at a small reserve dedicated to its existence on Caye Caulker.

The largest population of Scarlet Macaws can be found in areas around Red Bank and at Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. Belize is also the winter home for many migrants from North America such as Baltimore Orioles and many species of wood warblers. Basilio Mes will be your specialized guide on this tour. Born to a Mayan couple in the deep rainforest of southern Belize, he grew up in the Maya Village of Red Bank and started birding over 5 years ago. He has found some of the most fascinating sites near and around Placencia. He is ready to take you on a tour of some of these incredible sites for bird watching, such as the Jaguar Preserve, the Banana dump, the shrimp farms, the open pine savannah and of course his home, Red Bank.

Of course, you can see birds at any time of the year, but the best viewing times will depend on the type of bird you are looking for. For instance, the endangered Scarlet Macaws come to feed from December to March every year at the foothills of the Maya Mountain just out side Red Bank. These are birds that you definitely don’t want to miss. Basilio will take you to see them as they feed in the trees overhead.

For serious birders, we will start at sunrise. We can do two locations a day for three days around Placencia. And if you want more, there are other places around Belize such as the Agua Caliente in the Toledo District, the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary in the Belize District and Blue Hole National Park in the Cayo District on the Hummingbird Highway. Extra locations and group packages can be arranged in advance by contacting our reservations department. Basilio has spotted over 350 species of birds throughout Belize. Make sure to print our bird list before you come on the tour.

Monkey River Town is the northernmost village in the Toledo District. This small, sleepy Creole village sits on the southern bank of the mouth of the Monkey River.

The village is very rustic, the houses are mainly wooden, few being made from concrete. A police station, which is rarely used, is on the east end. The entire village has one community center, one school, one church, two shops, two hotels, and two restaurants. A small boardwalk borders the lagoon at the back where fishermen dock their boats. A roving sand bar protects the river mouth. Wide sandy beaches stretch out along the entrance of the river and the east side of the village. Monkey River is not just a village or town, but also home to the Black Howler Monkey, Alouatta pigra which are also known in Belize as the "baboon". They are also the largest monkey in the country and one of the largest in the Americas.

Black howler monkeys live in groups of between 4 and 8 members. Each troop has its own territory in which it feeds and lives. The size of the territory depends on the size of the troop, ranging from 3 to 25 acres. Baboons defend this territory from other troops through vocalization. Their howling is one of the loudest sounds in the tropical forest of Belize