Slickrock Adventures is pleased to announce the third season of our Belize Adventure Week expedition. With twelve years of experience running trips in the country, we feel that participating in adventure sports is the best way to experience the natural wonders that have made Belize famous. This trip is designed for those looking for an active vacation, and although no experience is required, some days can be strenuous due to weather, river levels, and trail conditions. 

Adventure sports can be very equipment intensive and we provide a wide variety of gear for our guests. We realize that the quality of a sport experience relies heavily on the quality of the equipment, so we make certain that we provide only top-of-the-line, late-model gear for all of our adventures. Please see our equipment list on the back of this brochure.  

Accommodations on our trip range from tents on the beach to screened cabins in the jungle. Meals are prepared by our lodges, which allows for a wide variety of food ranging from fresh seafood feasts and tropical fruit salads to traditional Belizean and Mayan meals.  

Video available: We have a 20-minute video about our trips. This professionally produced show features live footage covering our adventures and will give you a real feel for what to expect. The video is free if you return it within a month, give us a call or visit the "Order Further Information" page.

Sunday, Day 2: Mountain Bike to Mayan Ceremonial Cave. We begin riding from Chaa Creek with an easy, warm-up ride on a dirt road through a farming valley. We then begin to slowly climb, crossing the rolling terrain of a citrus plantation, which ends at the foot of the Macal River Gorge. After this first 7-mile stretch, the skill level then changes into more advance biking on a single-track trail which culminates in a steep ascent to the Chech-Hem-Ha Lodge, where we have lunch. Less experienced riders may opt to hike the last 2 miles, as our van drives around to meet us, carrying extra bikes on the roof rack. After lunch we hike about 1/2-miles through the jungle to Chumpiate Cave which contains hundreds of undisturbed Mayan pots and a ceremonial altar. We explore the cave about a mile underground, then drive to Xunantunich ruins where Belize's highest man-made structure exists. Lodging that night is again at Chaa Creek.  

Monday, Day 3: Paddle Raft or Kayak the Macal River Gorge. This impressive canyon cuts through the Maya Mountains, where towering cliffs of white limestone jut out of the verdant rainforest. We run 7 miles of Class IV whitewater over a granite riverbed that creates steep drops with intermittent pools. After the run, we return to Chaa Creek for showers and dinner, then drive to Ian Anderson's Jungle Lodge for the night. On our late season trips (mid-March through April), the Macal River drops too low to run; we then switch to the Mopan River, a fun Class II-III run. The Mopan is ideally suited for kayak instruction, and guests may choose that option, or ride in the paddle raft.  

Tuesday, Day 4: Float the Caves Branch River Underground in Rafts and Kayaks. We begin by exploring this impressive river cave by headlamp for 5 miles underground. We navigate a lazy stretch of jungle river for a few miles before dropping into the first of 4 caves, which we then run in complete darkness. Stops include short underground hikes up tributaries and a visit to a Mayan 'totem pole' carved into a stalagmite. Time permitting, we also visit the internationally famous Belize Zoo on our return to Ian's Jungle Camp for a second night. A guided night hike through the jungle is also offered this evening.  

Wednesday, Day 5: Transfer to Glover's Reef Atoll, 35 miles offshore. Drive to Dangriga, passing through jungle-covered peaks, interspersed with citrus plantations. Arrive by 9 a.m. for a charter launch to Long Caye at Glover's Reef. We spend a full afternoon snorkeling right off our island shore.  

Thursday, Day 6-Friday, Day 7: After sea kayak orientation, we switch into "island time"; our guests choose between sea kayaking, fishing, snorkeling, kayak surfing, windsurfing, scuba diving or hammock lounging. A typical morning finds us paddling to one of the over 700 patch reefs in the atoll to snorkel from the kayaks. After lunch we may visit one of the other islands in the atoll, including Middle Caye, home base for the new National Marine Reserve, or try out the surf off the point of Long Caye.  

Saturday, Day 8: Island activities in the morning, then after lunch we return by motor launch to Dangriga where we meet our van and drive back to Belize City, arriving by 5:00 or 6:00 p.m. A buffet awaits us for our farewell dinner party; overnight at the Chateau Caribbean in Belize City.  

Sunday, Day 9: Breakfast with the guide, then transfer to Belize International Airport in time for your return flight to the United States. 

Caving: Belize is famous for its extensive cave systems, many of which have been the focus of major expeditions. The crystalline drip stone formations found in Belize rival any in the world. We visit two caves, beginning with a 2-mile underground hike through Chumpiate Cave to view hundreds of large Mayan ceramic vessels. The second cave system we traverse in rafts and kayaks, following the Caves Branch River, which winds nearly 5 miles underground. This exhilarating trip combines river running and caving, a rare experience!  

Mountain Biking: The dry season is the ideal time to mountain bike the Belizean jungles. Our route begins on easy dirt roads (7 miles) and ends up on a tough single track ascent. Inexperienced riders may opt to hike the single track section (2-3 miles), which is demanding enough that this jungle hike is nearly as fast as biking!  

Mayan Ruins: Our trip traverses an area rich in archeology. In addition to visiting Chumpiate Cave with its array of undisturbed ceremonial relics, we also tour Xunantunich, which contains the largest man-made structure in Belize. Perched high on a hill along the Mopan River, this complex was a major ceremonial and administrative center during the classic period of the Maya. Beautiful stucco reliefs and carved stelae are on display, and excavation projects continue.  

River Running: We run two rivers by paddle raft and kayak (hard shell or inflatable). First, a whitewater run on the Macal River, featuring many Class IV rapids and four portages. This inaccessible canyon is newly explored; this is the third season it has been offered. The gorge is hemmed in by 1500' walls of limestone and steep slopes covered with virgin rainforest. Wildlife such as tapir, monkey, and jungle bird-life abounds. On late season dates (approximately mid-March on), the Macal is too low to run, so we switch to the Mopan, a Class II-III river. On this trip kayak instruction is added to the offerings as this is a perfect place to work on kayak skills.  

We also paddle underground through five miles of caverns on the Caves Branch River. The limestone flanks of the Maya Mountains are the remnants of a plateau which this river carved through. Our journey through the darkness is punctuated by views through windows into the rainforest above.

Ian Anderson's Caves Branch Jungle Camp: Two-person cabanas and an eight-person bunk house are perched above the Caves Branch River. Here we enjoy Belizean meals served family style. Pit toilets and cold showers are used at this remote location. By far the favorite activity is playing with Julius, Ian's pet monkey.  

Long Caye at Glover's Atoll: This is the most luxurious base camp you will ever experience! Tents with mattresses and linens are set up on the beach beneath thatch palapas. The kitchen cabin is the center of island life, complete with solar-powered radio, propane stove and refrigerator (cold beer and soda!) and our extensive library. Other than our photovoltaic system, there is no electricity on the island. Our local staff provides us with seafood feasts daily. Our water supply is from a rainwater collection system; we bathe with well-water heated by the sun, and composting toilets have recently been installed. Groups share the island with our concurrent Glover's Reef trips but our spacious island and rustic facilities ensure that you are comfortable, without compromising the adventure of living on an undeveloped island.  

Chateau Caribbean: An elegant, colonial-style hotel located on the waterfront in Belize City, the Chateau has been our hotel of choice for years. With the bar/ restaurant overlooking the sea, this is a perfect place to end our week of adventure. 

All transport and meals in itinerary

Flights USA to Belize

Hotels listed in itinerary (booked double occupancy if possible)

Taxis to and from Belize International Airport

Guides

Belize entrance/departure tax: approx. $20.00

Sports equipment listed below

Any extra expenses due to late arrivals/ delays

Tents, linens and sleeping pads

Any services not listed in itinerary

Slickrock T-shirt

Fees for scuba activities

Alcoholic beverages (available in Belize)

Glover's Reef Nat'l Park visitor fees ($5/day)