Belize and Tikal

TYPE OF TRAVEL/DISTANCE: You will travel by foot as you explore the wonders of Belize and the Tikal culture. Transportation to and from accommodations will be provided by van.

LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: No previous experience is necessary to complete this trip. Enjoy an active adventure as you experience the jungles and temples of Belize first hand. Casual swimming for snorkeling and beach time will also take place.

WEATHER: Temperatures between January and March can range from 60 F at night to 95 F during the day at the coast and from 50 F at night to 85 F during the day in the mountains. Rainfall varies, you should expect some rain throughout your trip.

YOUR GROUP: The group size ranges from 8 to 12 participants, 1-2 Wilderness Inquiry staff, and a local guide while in Guatemala. Each group consists of people of various ages, backgrounds, and abilities, including people with disabilities.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Throughout the trip we will be staying in local hotels, B&Bs, and a guesthouse. The accommodations are simple yet comfortable. Typically there are 2-4 people per room, matched by gender or requests to room together. In most rooms, solo travelers have single beds and couples share beds. We make every effort to ensure privacy and cleanliness.

SINGLE TRAVELERS: If you are traveling alone you will feel at home with a welcoming group. If you would like to have your own room throughout the trip you may purchase a single supplement for an additional fee.

MEALS: All meals are made for you. Enjoy typical Belize fare, including fresh fish, chicken, and lots of fruit. The water in Belize is safe to drink from the tap and bottled water is readily available. On our trip, the only place we recommend bottled water is in Guatemala. We’ll enjoy happy hours, but the purchase of alcoholic beverages is not included in the trip fees.

EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: You will need to provide your personal gear which is outlined in the packing list.

MEDICATIONS: Please list all of your medications on your registration form. Consider bringing two sets of your medications: one set that can be kept with you, and another set that will be kept by your trip leaders. If you need assistance taking your medications, please explain on your registration form. Wilderness Inquiry will bring a collection of over-the-counter medications (ibuprofen, Advil, anti-nausea, etc.). 

CELL PHONES AND OTHER DEVICES: You are welcome to bring cell phones and other devices like cameras, but they are your responsibility to take care of. You may have inconsistent cell service, so we encourage you to unplug! Wilderness Inquiry is not responsible for any lost or broken electronic devices. 

SAFETY & EMERGENCIES WHILE ON TRAIL: All Wilderness Inquiry guides possess experience in administering First Aid, CPR, and Water Safety, carry fully-stocked first aid kits, GPS communication devices, and are trained on how to respond to emergencies while on trail. If a loved one is participating in a Wilderness Inquiry experience and you need to contact them due to an emergency, please call the Wilderness Inquiry main phone line at (612) 676-9400. We will work to get in contact with trip leaders as soon as possible.

COVID POLICY: We continue to monitor and update our COVID-19 policies. Wilderness Inquiry strongly encourages everyone to be fully up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccination and take other necessary steps for the health and wellness of all. We ask you to self-screen for any signs of illness before your trip’s departure. Please contact Wilderness Inquiry if you are exhibiting signs of illness. We will also continue to follow all guidance and requirements of locations that we travel, keeping in mind some international destinations do require vaccinations and/or negative COVID tests. We will update this policy as new information and guidance become available.

GROUP EXPECTATIONS: To facilitate a safe and inclusive environment where we can all come together as our true selves, feel supported, and enjoy the outdoors in community, we have developed community agreements that align with Wilderness Inquiry’s core values and brand promise. We ask that you review these before your adventure so you can help Wilderness Inquiry create an inclusive environment for all.

COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS AS WE ADVENTURE TOGETHER

☐ We are safety conscious so everyone can have fun!

☐ We seek to understand each other and celebrate our differences.

☐ We are curious, open-minded, and communicate respectfully.

☐ We are open to trying new things and pushing outside of our comfort zone.

☐ We support each other and collectively contribute to group tasks.

The landscape encompasses coastal mangrove forests, lush tropical rainforests, offshore “cayes” (pronounced “keys,” meaning islets and islands), and the MesoAmerican Reef—the second largest coral reef system in the world. The unspoiled rainforests and savannas of Belize are well-known homes to jaguars and other large cats, spider and howler monkeys, tapirs, peccaries and nearly 350 species of birds, many of which migrate between Belize and the United States. To complement the botanically rich world of these rainforests, Belize’s bountiful coastal waters stretch along the coast for over 240 miles, harboring manatee, dolphin, whale sharks, hawksbill turtles, crocodiles, iguanas, shorebirds, and diverse fish populations.

Belize’s tropical rainforest covers about two-thirds of the country and provides home to more than 4,000 species of native flowering plants, including 250 species of orchids and 700 trees. Some parts of this subtropical climate receive over 190 inches of rainfall per year to sustain its intense levels of biodiversity. Recent studies have shown that Belize’s protected areas have been extremely effective in protecting the country’s forests.

The marine areas offer breeding grounds for declining commercially important fish species, including grouper and snapper, conch and lobster, and sport fish species including permit, bonefish, and tarpon. Commercial and subsistence fisheries and marine ecotourism depend on these waters, and the region remains critical to maintaining the marine productivity of southern Belize and neighboring countries to the north and south.

Formerly called British Honduras, Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America. It became an independent nation in 1981. Located on the Caribbean side of Central America, Belize adjoins both Guatemala and Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Belize is a fairly small nation, a little smaller than the size of the U.S. state of New Hampshire.

A combination of natural factors—climate, the Belize Barrier Reef, over 1,000 offshore cayes, excellent fishing, safe waters for boating, scuba diving, and snorkeling, numerous rivers for rafting and kayaking, various jungle and wildlife reserves of fauna and flora for hiking, bird watching, and helicopter touring, as well as many Maya ruins—support the thriving tourism and ecotourism industry. Belize also has the largest cave system in Central America. Development costs are high, but the Government of Belize has designated tourism as its second development priority after agriculture.

Belize contains an interesting mix of cultures, predominantly Mayan and Garifuna, but remains the least densely populated nation in Central America. In the 1700s and 1800s, ships carrying slaves from Africa wrecked on the reefs off Belize. The survivors came to shore and met the Carib Indians, and formed what we now call Garifuna culture.