Daily ~ Activities
Team
Breakfasts, Lunch Picnics, and Dinners
Creative
Expression, Inspirational Discussion, Sharing, Reflection, Journaling,
Meditation, Rest, Relaxation, Recreation,
Fun Laughter, Friendship, Role
Modeling, Personal Insight, and Giving Back
Day 1 ~
Friday ~ Arrival
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Reflection™
The World Unfolds
at Your Feet
Natures Classroom™
Arrive in Belize City (BEZ) by 5pm.
Our special friend from the Bermudian Landing Village will pick us up from the airport and take us to our first stop Chaa Creek Resort in the San Ignacio Cayo District.
Talk Story™
Chaa Creek Resort Awards - Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Aeard (Best Resort in Central and South America): Conde Nast Magazine, Travel Standard Excellence Award: Web Marketing Association, World's Best Hotels & Best in Central and South America: Travel & Leisure Magazine, Top Ten International Eco-Escapes: Trip Advisor, and World's Top Hotels & Resorts: Zagat Survey.
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Day 2 ~ Saturday ~ Mayan Ruins
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Reflection™
You are Worthy
Natures Classroom™
Day Trip to the Caracol Mayan Ruins
Talk Story™
Caracol is located deep within the Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Caracol is the largest known Mayan site in Belize and one of the biggest in the Mayan world. Caracol was a Classic Period urban center that spread out over 55 square miles with an estimated population of 1800,000 people. Caracol's enormous central core area covered 15 square miles and was linked together by more than 20 miles of "sacbeobs" (causeways) that radiated outward from its epicenter. The temple "Caana" rises 42 meters above plaza level and to this day it the largest man-made structure in Belize. Over 70 formal tombs have been excavated and many hieroglyphic texts have been found on alters, and ball court markers, capstones, and wall facades. The Maya civilization flourished from 2000 B.C. to about 900 A.D. During the classic period from 250 to 900 A.D., the Maya built temples, craved fantastic artwork from stone and jade, made astonishing discoveries in mathematics and astronomy, and devised the most sophisticated writing system in eh Western Hemisphere. They also evolved a 1500-mile-long trade route running the length of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, and continuing through Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. Some experts speculate that drought and wars led to the eventual decline of this great civilization; others believe that the Maya simply evolved into a less centralized lifestyle, abandoning great cities for numerous small villages. At the height of Maya civilization, the population of what is now Belize may have reached one million - four times what it is today. although their numbers are reduced, the Maya still live in Belize, still speak Mayan dialects, and still practice ancient crafts and healing techniques.
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Day 3 ~ Sunday ~ Caves
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Reflection™
The World Unfolds at Your Feet
Natures Classroom™
Day Trip River Cave Tubing & Exploring
Our tour will follow a choice of trails through a forest with an abundance of flora and fauna. At the end of the trail we will tube down the Caves Branch River system relaxing on inflated tubes, allowing the gentle current of the river to draw you into and through amazing caves and caverns. Head lamps are provided, and the guides will make sure that nothing, including Maya artifacts, escapes our roving eyes. We will be combining river cave tubing and cave exploration on this adventure where we will be exploring spectacular crystal formations over 5,000,000 years old that cast eerie shadows into the black abyss as we explore and experience the most sacred area of the ancient Maya
Talk Story™
Belize boasts one of the most extensive cave systems in Central America. These caves tell the history of Belize, having been an intricate part of the Maya religion and culture. The Maya used caves as ceremonial sites and evidence of these activities can be found for substantial distances inside these caves. Relics, principally in the form of shards of pottery, are very common.
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Day 4 ~ Monday ~ Adventure
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Reflection™
You are Strong
Natures Classroom™
Butterfly Farm
Aerial Trek Zipline Canopy Tour
Rappelling
Rock Climbing
We will be traveling to the Ignacio Cayo District where we will be spending the day at the Jaguar Paw Resort. Their Aerial Trek Zipline is an Above Canopy Experience where the adventurer gets a true Birds eye view of the pristine jungle while feeling the exhilaration of zipping along on a Double set of cables for added safety, from treetop to treetop. Upon embarking on this thrilling excursion, you are outfitted in "seated cable gear" with helmets, and while accompanied by your guide, proceed to walk a gradual flight of steps up a hillside leading to the first of 7 platforms. There, our guide will instruct us on how to traverse from platform to platform while also describing the many safety features we have implemented in order to assure your peace of mind and maximum enjoyment of this fabulous heart pounding trip. Our first run is the shortest distance, much like a "Test Run," and if you determine this is not your "cup of tea" and don't want to continue, they have provided a set of steps leading down to the ground. After zooming through separate five "runs" varying in length at an 80 foot height, you will end this memorable experience with a Grand Finale by Rappelling down to the ground for a final adrenaline rush. - Located just a minutes walk from the Aerial Trek Zipline on our property just the other side of the hill from the Hotel, Jaguar Paw's rock climbing course is a series of 4 pure limestone walls at your disposal to scale either all, or one. Each differing with various degrees of difficulty. From the first time beginner, to the hard core climber, they have a wall that is sure to challenge anybody.
Talk Story™
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Day 5 ~ Tuesday ~ Sanctuary
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Reflection™
You have Capacity
Natures Classroom™
Afternoon Activity with Woman of the Bermudian Landing Village
Giveback Dinner with the Women of the Village
PM Jungle Tour
The Community Baboon Sanctuary (CBS) is a pioneering project in voluntary grassroots conservation. The goal is to sustain the habitat of the Black Howler Monkey (called 'baboon' in the local Creole dialect) while promoting the economic development of the participating communities. The result has been an innovative project in sustainable ecotourism that protects the habitat for the endangered Black Howler Monkey and other species while offering a unique opportunity for visitors to experience the rainforest and witness Black Howler Monkeys in the wild. - Over 200 private landowners in seven villages, stretching over 20 square miles, have voluntarily pledged to conserve their land for the protection of the Black Howler Monkey habitat. Many of these landowners benefit directly from the Sanctuary thanks to ecotourism. Many more benefit indirectly through the educational programs. - In 1998, the Women's Conservation Group was formed, which currently manages the CBS.
At the heart of the sanctuary, lies the Creole village of Bermudian Landing, a former logging centre dating to the seventeenth century. The Bermudian Landing Village where we will be staying and giving back is the central village of the CBS, housing the CBS Museum and Visitor's Center, Environmental Education Center, and Restaurant where we will enjoy authentic Belizean dishes.
Talk Story™
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Day 6 ~ Wednesday ~ Giveback
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Reflection™
You have Purpose
Natures Classroom™
AM Jungle Tour
Attend Pre School to work with the children and pass out supplies
Attend Primary School to work with the children and pass out supplies
Library Giveback Project
Giveback Dinner with the Women of the village
PM Jungle Tour
The AM Jungle Tour is a guided walk on gentle trails in the forest essentially guarantees sighting the endangered Black Howler Monkey's in their natural habitat. The informed guides will answer questions about the wildlife and will share with the us the traditional medicinal uses of many of the rainforest plants. The PM Jungle Tour offers us an opportunity to see a different side of the forest. Through your ears (and your guide), we will discover the wonders of the forest at night. Headlamps are provided to ensure we will be able to experience the local wildlife when it’s most active.
Talk Story™
More Videos Coming Soon!
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Day 7 ~ Thursday ~ Connecting
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Reflection™
You are Whole
Natures Classroom™
AM Jungle Tour
Giveback Lunch with the Women of the village
Bus Tour of Belize City
Dinner in the Calypso Restaurant with Local Entertainment
Talk Story™
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Day 8 ~ Friday ~ Playing
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Reflection™
You have all you need right here, right now
Natures Classroom™
Barrier Reef Snorkel Trip and Ambergris Caye's Twn of San Perdo
We will take a boat to Ambergris Caye. On our way there we will stop to play in the Barrier Reef and snorkel. Once there, you will discover that the town is a picture postcard setting with small colorfully painted houses set alongside sand streets nestled beside the clear turquoise sea. Coconut palms sway and rustle in the gentle cooling trade winds. We will rent golf carts to get around. There are only ten streets, and no pavement! Most people go barefoot or sandals, everywhere. You can swim in the warm clear Caribbean Sea, protected by the reef. The color is beyond description. Many of us just stare at it for hours. The water is really warm, averaging about 82 degrees year round.
Talk Story™
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Day 9 ~ Saturday ~ Departure
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Reflection™
The World Unfolds at Your Feet
Natures Classroom™
9:30am Depart Princess Hotel for Belize City Airport (BEZ)
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