MACAL RIVER * CAVES BRANCH RIVER |
Slickrock is excited to announce our newest itinerary, a medley of our favorite Belize river runs via raft, kayak or inflatable kayak. This four-river assortment includes an underground river, which we navigate by headlamp through five miles of caves, the Macal River, which contains Class III - IV whitewater cascading through a deep jungle gorge, and two flatwater jungle river trips which focus on wildlife: one where the elusive manatee is often sighted, and the other winding beneath the jungle canopy where howler monkeys live protected by a sanctuary. No experience is required to join this trip, but pre-conditioning is advised (please request "Belize Supplemental Information" sheet.) This new itinerary is designed so that it can easily be added on to our most popular itinerary, the Sea Kayak Glover's Reef trip, as it ends at 5 p.m. on Friday, the time our sea kayak trip begins (photo above by Wah-leeta Steele.)Video available: We have a 20-minute video about our trips. As this is a new itinerary, the River Medley is not specifically covered, but footage is included of the Caves Branch and the Macal Rivers. 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. |
Monday, Day 1: Arrive Belize City Int'l Airport; taxi to the Chateau Caribbean by 5 p.m. to meet in the lobby/bar. Dinner there, then drive to Gales Point Village, stay at Manatee Lodge.Tuesday, Day 2:Driving along the Coastal Road, we put-in on the Manatee River. Lunch is served on the banks of the river. After being picked up by a motor launch to cross the Southern Lagoon, we transfer to a van and continue on to Ian Anderson's Jungle Camp.Wednesday, Day 3: Float the Caves Branch River in rafts or kayaks. We travel over 5 miles underground, using headlamps to navigate. We take several hikes to explore tributaries and sinkholes. After the take-out, if time permits we visit the internationally famous Belize Zoo. After completing this days activities we transfer to Chaa Creek Camp. Thursday, Day 4: Paddle raft or kayak (inflatable or hard shell) the Macal River, with over 7 miles of Class III-IV whitewater. This impressive gorge is surrounded by virgin rainforest and the granite riverbed forms rapids of a drop/pool nature. After dinner and a shower, we travel to the Community Baboon (Howler Monkey) Sanctuary where we stay at the Jungle Drift Lodge. Friday, Day 5: For our last day we float eleven miles of the Belize River through the Baboon Sanctuary; encountering numerous troops of monkeys as well as iguanas and every variety of birdlife such as parrots, purple gallinules, green-backed herons and cormorants. We may even spot an occasional crocodile. We return to Belize City by 5 p.m. to the Chateau Caribbean, our meeting place for the Sea Kayak Glovers Reef trip. No dinner or hotel is included for this evening. Those not continuing on to the sea kayak trip should make advance reservations at the Chateau or another hotel in Belize City. |
| The Macal River: The Macal drains the
central Maya Mountain rainforest, gathering tributaries in a large basin
before cutting its way out of the range through a fifteen-mile canyon.
The gorge contains a long series of rapids and waterfalls over the granite
bottom riverbed, which is enclosed by towering walls of white limestone
rising 1500 feet above the river. The entire region is still cloaked with
virgin jungle, and monkeys, birds, and fresh signs of tapir and jaguar
are seen along the riverbanks. The upper stretch of the gorge contains
unrunnable rapids and falls which have previously prevented it from becoming
a viable river for whitewater craft, but a road to the new hydro power
plant now allows access to the lower half of the canyon. Our trip begins
at the falls below the power plant and runs seven miles through challenging
rapids before breaking out of the gorge at Black Rock Falls. Several easily
negotiated portages are required. With the opening of this gorge, Belize
now offers challenging, top-level whitewater excitement. Slickrock offers
the only trip available down the Macal Gorge.
The Manatee River: We launch for our five-mile run of the Manatee River from the coastal highway, where we immediately plunge into the thick jungle and begin winding our way to the Southern Lagoon. This river is very small, and the dense canopy of jungle often completely closes in over our route. During our trip we pass through two different ecosystems; the "river-rainforest" belt we initially encounter, which features plants and wildlife of the jungle, and then the wetlands which surround the lagoon, with its maze of channels through the reeds and a vast array of birdlife. As the water slows and deepens approaching the estuary, we begin to spot manatees, which gather to enjoy the clear, fresh water. Time and weather permitting, we can swim with these rare mammals. A launch meets us for the two miles back across the lagoon, or guests may opt to paddle instead. The Caves Branch River: Launching from Ian Anderson's Jungle Lodge, we begin by traveling down the river through a citrus plantation before the rainforest covered hills engulf us. Our dramatic entrance into the caves lies at the base of a steep cliff, and as we float into the darkness we use headlamps to illuminate our way. Our passage alternates from low ceiling and "bore hole" caverns to large rooms, with occasional "windows" or entrances to the outside jungle caused by collapsed sinkholes. We also take several underground hikes to explore tributaries and side caves that we encounter. Our journey takes us through four separate caves which total nearly five miles in length. The river is fast moving but contains no rapids, and the thrill of paddling in the total darkness will be a memory that stays with you forever! The Belize River: The Community Baboon (Howler Monkey) Sanctuary is located along the banks of the Belize River. In 1985 the communities of Bermudian Landing, Double Head Cabbage, Isabella Bank, Burrel Boom, Flowers Bank, Willows Bank and Big Falls got together and voluntarily agreed to preserve the monkey's food trees and to leave corridors of jungle along the riverbank to provide aerial pathways for the primates. as a result, the monkey population is flourishing, and on our eleven-mile trip down this placid stretch of river we encounter numerous "troops" of howlers, as well as large iguanas, agouti, many species of birds, and occasional crocodiles. This trip is an unusual opportunity to view the Howlers at close range. |
| The Belize Zoo: The Internationally
famous Belize Zoo was started as a home for a collection of wild animals
which had been used in making documentary films about tropical forests.
Shortly after this backyard "zoo" began, the zoo's creators realized that
the Belizean visitors were unfamiliar with their native species of wildlife.
This helped form their commitment to develop the zoo into a wildlife education
center. The Belize Zoo believes that by bringing the people of Belize closer
to the animals native to their country, they will feel proud of these special
resources and want to protect them and their habitat for future generations.
Over 10,000 Belizean school children visit the zoo each year. The zoo exhibits
over 125 animals, all native to Belize, and all were either orphaned, born
at the zoo, or rehabilitated animals. The enclosures are large, natural
pens. As many of the animals native to Belize are nocturnal, visiting the
zoo is often the only way to see these exotic animals.
Gales Point Village and the Manatee: The village of Gales Point is located on a thin peninsula of land that extends two miles into Southern Lagoon. Gales Point is about 15 miles north of Dangriga and 20 miles south of Belize City. The Southern Lagoon is part of an extensive wetlands ecosystem surrounded by thick mangroves, and is lined with rich beds of sea grass on the shallow bottom of the lagoon. This environment supports one of the largest populations of the endangered West Indian Manatee in Central America. The village community works with the government to set regulations to help protect the manatees, which are often seen basking on the surface of the water, or coming up for air. The manatee is a fully aquatic mammal that can grow to be thirteen feet long and weigh up to 4,000 pounds. Because they only feed on plants and have no natural predators, the manatee has adapted to a relaxed lifestyle of eating, resting and playing. Community Baboon Sanctuary: Eight neighboring villages along the banks of the Belize River have pledged to conserve the natural habitat of the Black Howler monkey, locally called baboons. The villages follow conservation steps to ensure the mutual harmonic coexistence of man and monkey, set up by a conservation organization. Due to the unique nature of the sanctuary, it is the only one of its kind in the world and is considered by scientists, researchers and wildlife preservation groups to be a model of land stewardship and conservation for the rest of the world to follow. |
| Chaa Creek Jungle Camp: We sleep on
cots in large tents on covered platforms tucked beneath the jungle canopy.
On one recent visit, we heard howler monkeys, spotted several toucans,
a grey fox, an armadillo and a flock of parrots without leaving the camp!
With flush toilets and hot showers, this is the most deluxe of our remote
lodges. Meals are prepared by Mayan cooks on an open hearth. If time permits,
guests may tour the nearby Ix-Chel Farm where traditional Mayan medicines
are made from plants of the rainforest.
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. The Manatee Lodge: A beautiful tropical hotel located on the tip of Gales Point peninsula, the Manatee Lodge is an ideal location to launch our river adventure. Rooms are spacious, have private bathrooms, and are connected to the main building by elevated walkways. A stiff breeze blows almost continuously off the nearby sea, and our meals are prepared by their excellent staff who are descendants of the original settlers of the village. The view from the lodge to the west across the lagoon toward the Maya Mountains is one of our favorite sunset spots in Belize. A freshwater spring near the lodge is a popular gathering spot for manatees, which are often seen right from the premises! Jungle Drift Lodge: This charming lodge is set on a bluff above the Belize River. These comfortable cabins with large porches overlooking the river are set on beautifully landscaped grounds; this is the perfect spot to observe the howler monkeys high above our heads. This is the most accessible of our jungle camps, and offers hot showers and flush toilets. |
| Included | Not Included |
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 |
Any services not listed in itinerary |
|
Slickrock T-shirt |
Hotel and Dinner Day 6 |
Alcoholic beverages (available in Belize) |
Hard shell river kayaks:Corsica, Pirouette,
and Matrix by Perception
Accessories: Paddle jackets, lifejackets,
safety kit, dry bags
Inflatable river kayaks: Cherokee by
Riken
Paddles: Werner by NW Design
Rafts: Super Puma by Aire