Environment & Culture in Belize
Adventurers, take notice: Jungle hikes, Mayan ruins, zip-lining and all-out discovery ahead.
From rolling green hills to the ocean floor, Belize’s rich biodiversity will be all around you. Learn how humans have interacted with this natural beauty by trekking to the ruins of Lamanai and Tikal, and feel closer to our animal ancestors as you snorkel in Shark Ray Alley and Hol Chan marine reserve .
-
Day 1: Fly to Belize
Meet your Field Director at the airportEnjoy dinner in the Belize City region
-
Day 2: Belize City region
Travel by boat to the New River Lagoon, Belize’s largest body of fresh water which supports exotic birds, colorful fish and crocodiles
With an expert guide, tour the Lamanai Ruins; Its name means “submerged crocodile," a fact you won’t forget as you discover crocodile artwork dating back to 1500 B.C.
Visit the Old Sugar Mill, which was actually imported from New Orleans and has become almost entirely intertwined with the jungle
Enjoy lunch in Lamanai
Enjoy dinner in the Belize City region
-
Day 3: Belize City region • San Ignacio
Travel via Peccary Hills and Caves Branch Outpost to San Ignacio
Participate in a jungle survival tour, with expert Maya survivalists at your side to teach you the techniques that kept their ancestors alive in the jungle
Soar through the air on a zip-line tour after your hike up to the jungle canopy
Enjoy cave tubing and enjoy the cool waters within one of Belize’s many astounding cave systems
Enjoy lunch
Enjoy dinner in San Ignacio
-
Day 4: San Ignacio • Tikal, Guatemala
Take an excursion to the ancient Maya site of Tikal
With an expert local guide, tour Tikal, one of the largest Maya UNESCO World Heritage archaeological sites and noteworthy in its evidence of the decline of the Maya state
Enjoy lunch
Enjoy dinner in San Ignacio
-
Day 5: San Ignacio • Belize City • Ambergris Caye
Travel via Belize City to Ambergris Caye
Participate in a traditional cultural Maya activity and try your hand at cooking local delicacies and crafting traditional pottery wares
Visit the Belize Zoo, a sustainably-minded zoo and research center, and home to over 150 native Belizean animals
Enjoy lunch en route
Travel by ferry to idyllic Ambergris Caye, located just off the tip of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula
Enjoy dinner in Ambergris Caye
-
Day 6: Ambergris Caye
Enjoy snorkeling at Hol Chan marine reserve, Central America’s first marine reserve
Enjoy lunch in Ambergris Caye
Spend time exploring Ambergris Caye on your own
Enjoy dinner in Ambergris Caye
-
Day 7: Return to Belize City and depart for home
Add more days
-
Day 7: Ambergris Caye
Spend the morning exploring Ambergris Caye on your own
Enjoy lunch in Ambergris Caye
Add this in-depth excursion:
Snorkeling in Coral Gardens
See one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems up close when you explore parts of the Belize Barrier Reef with an expert local guide. Board a boat bound for Caye Caulker, and snorkel through the stunning Coral Gardens. Depending on the season, you could observe manta rays, tarpon fish, and nurse sharks. You may even spot the magnificent West Indian manatee—a protected species that can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh upwards of 1,000 pounds.
Enjoy dinner in Ambergris Caye
-
Day 8: Return to Belize City and depart for home
-
Day 1: Fly to Belize
Meet your Field Director at the airportEnjoy dinner in the Belize City region
-
Day 2: Belize City region
Travel by boat to the New River Lagoon, Belize’s largest body of fresh water which supports exotic birds, colorful fish and crocodiles
With an expert guide, tour the Lamanai Ruins; Its name means “submerged crocodile," a fact you won’t forget as you discover crocodile artwork dating back to 1500 B.C.
Visit the Old Sugar Mill, which was actually imported from New Orleans and has become almost entirely intertwined with the jungle
Enjoy lunch in Lamanai
Enjoy dinner in the Belize City region
-
Day 3: Belize City region • San Ignacio
Travel via Peccary Hills and Caves Branch Outpost to San Ignacio
Participate in a jungle survival tour, with expert Maya survivalists at your side to teach you the techniques that kept their ancestors alive in the jungle
Soar through the air on a zip-line tour after your hike up to the jungle canopy
Enjoy cave tubing and enjoy the cool waters within one of Belize’s many astounding cave systems
Enjoy lunch
Enjoy dinner in San Ignacio
-
Day 4: San Ignacio • Tikal, Guatemala
Take an excursion to the ancient Maya site of Tikal
With an expert local guide, tour Tikal, one of the largest Maya UNESCO World Heritage archaeological sites and noteworthy in its evidence of the decline of the Maya state
Enjoy lunch
Enjoy dinner in San Ignacio
-
Day 5: San Ignacio • Belize City • Ambergris Caye
Travel via Belize City to Ambergris Caye
Participate in a traditional cultural Maya activity and try your hand at cooking local delicacies and crafting traditional pottery wares
Visit the Belize Zoo, a sustainably-minded zoo and research center, and home to over 150 native Belizean animals
Enjoy lunch en route
Travel by ferry to idyllic Ambergris Caye, located just off the tip of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula
Enjoy dinner in Ambergris Caye
-
Day 6: Ambergris Caye
Enjoy snorkeling at Hol Chan marine reserve, Central America’s first marine reserve
Enjoy lunch in Ambergris Caye
Spend time exploring Ambergris Caye on your own
Enjoy dinner in Ambergris Caye
-
Day 7: Return to Belize City and depart for home
Add more days
-
Day 7: Ambergris Caye
Spend the morning exploring Ambergris Caye on your own
Enjoy lunch in Ambergris Caye
Add this in-depth excursion:
Snorkeling in Coral Gardens
See one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems up close when you explore parts of the Belize Barrier Reef with an expert local guide. Board a boat bound for Caye Caulker, and snorkel through the stunning Coral Gardens. Depending on the season, you could observe manta rays, tarpon fish, and nurse sharks. You may even spot the magnificent West Indian manatee—a protected species that can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh upwards of 1,000 pounds.
Enjoy dinner in Ambergris Caye
-
Day 8: Return to Belize City and depart for home
Confidence • Curiosity • Global perspective • Empathy • Adaptability • Relatability • Self-Awareness
What's Included
-
Transportation
Various modes of transport are tailored to your program. While some transfers are included, others may come at additional cost.
-
Accommodations
Safe, comfortable lodging will be waiting for you at your destination.
-
Select meals
Enjoy a combination of included meals and the freedom to explore local cuisine on your own.
-
End-to-end support
Your dedicated EF team helps secure administrative approval and academic credit, provides enrollment tools, and helps establish your program’s ongoing presence on campus.
-
EF Global Learning Toolkit
We offer various tools to help educators facilitate student growth abroad and on campus, including academically enriched travel programs, industry engagement opportunities, global learning resources, and a Global Competencies Assessment tool.
-
Guided exploration
Gain insider knowledge and cultural perspective from licensed local guides: natural historians who provide cultural insights to enhance learning moments throughout the program.
-
Field Visits
Experience academics in action during engaging visits with relevant organizations, thought leaders, and partners.
