8 days
Belize City, Belmopan region, Punta Gorda, Placencia, local Maya village
Tucked just below Mexico, the tiny haven of Belize awaits you. More than a quarter of the mere 9,000 square miles that make up this country is under a carefully managed system of reserves—and you'll get to know them well. Just remember to keep your eyes to the sky for over 500 different bird species in Belmopan region, your back straight as you snorkel in the coral cayes and your head down as you explore St. Herman's Blue Hole National park. 
  • Day 1: Fly to Belize • Belmopan region

    Meet your Tour Director at the airport

    Travel to the Belmopan region, where you’ll get a Belizean welcome and a history and culture presentation to give you an idea of what to expect in the upcoming week

    Enjoy dinner in the Belmopan region

  • Day 2: Belmopan region

    Participate in full-day biodiversity programming, during which you will:

    • Attend a lecture on conservation and biodiversity
    • Take a guided trail hike
    • Enjoy lunch
    • Canoe the Sibun river

    Enjoy dinner in the Belmopan region and try Belizean specialties like rice and beans cooked in coconut milk

  • Day 3: Belmopan region • Punta Gorda

    Participate in early-morning bird-watching with a local guide (optional) and keep an eye out for the nearly 500 species of native Belizean birds

    See flora and fauna during a day hike and learn about Belize’s complex ecosystems while observing and exploring this beautiful rainforest

    Enjoy lunch

    Travel to Punta Gorda, a fishing town on the Caribbean coast and your new headquarters for sustainable adventure

    Enjoy dinner in Punta Gorda

  • Day 4: Punta Gorda

    Be a Belizean Ranger for a day and play a role in the protection of the the Belizean forest corridor

    Enjoy lunch in Punta Gorda

    Participate in Garifuna drumming lessons under the thatched roof of the Garifuna Drum School, where you'll learn to play traditional drum styles and even how to create a drum

    Enjoy dinner in Punta Gorda

  • Day 5: Punta Gorda • Placencia

    Travel to the white beaches and mangrove fields of Placencia, a peninsula in the Stann Creek District 

    Visit the Maya archaeological site of Nim Li Punit, often called “Big Hat” by the indigenous locals because of the enormous headdress found on the stone stela sculpture overlooking it

    Enjoy lunch in Placencia

    Spend a half day exploring Placencia on your own

  • Day 6: Placencia

    Participate in an introduction to the Reef Eco System, one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world of which researchers have still uncovered only 10% of the species living there 

    Enjoy snorkeling in the nearby cayes and swim with more than 500 species of fish and hundreds of invertebrates and coral

    Enjoy lunch in Placencia

    Spend a half day exploring Placencia on your own

  • Day 7: Placencia • Maya village • Belize City

    Travel via a local Maya village and Blue Hole National Park to Belize City 

    Visit a Maya village and meet members of its community, where you’ll learn about authentic Maya culture from indigenous experts, try dance moves that are as old as their civilization, and taste coffee that has been harvested and ground right in front of you

    Understand the Maya chocolate-making process with a visit to a chocolate bean farm that uses age-old techniques, and be sure to either take a bar for the road or some powder to cook with at home

    Enjoy a traditional Maya lunch

    Take a self-guided cave exploration

    Visit St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park and jump in its crystal clear waters

  • Day 8: Return to Belize City and depart for home

Want to learn more about this program?
  • Day 1: Fly to Belize • Belmopan region

    Meet your Tour Director at the airport

    Travel to the Belmopan region, where you’ll get a Belizean welcome and a history and culture presentation to give you an idea of what to expect in the upcoming week

    Enjoy dinner in the Belmopan region

  • Day 2: Belmopan region

    Participate in full-day biodiversity programming, during which you will:

    • Attend a lecture on conservation and biodiversity
    • Take a guided trail hike
    • Enjoy lunch
    • Canoe the Sibun river

    Enjoy dinner in the Belmopan region and try Belizean specialties like rice and beans cooked in coconut milk

  • Day 3: Belmopan region • Punta Gorda

    Participate in early-morning bird-watching with a local guide (optional) and keep an eye out for the nearly 500 species of native Belizean birds

    See flora and fauna during a day hike and learn about Belize’s complex ecosystems while observing and exploring this beautiful rainforest

    Enjoy lunch

    Travel to Punta Gorda, a fishing town on the Caribbean coast and your new headquarters for sustainable adventure

    Enjoy dinner in Punta Gorda

  • Day 4: Punta Gorda

    Be a Belizean Ranger for a day and play a role in the protection of the the Belizean forest corridor

    Enjoy lunch in Punta Gorda

    Participate in Garifuna drumming lessons under the thatched roof of the Garifuna Drum School, where you'll learn to play traditional drum styles and even how to create a drum

    Enjoy dinner in Punta Gorda

  • Day 5: Punta Gorda • Placencia

    Travel to the white beaches and mangrove fields of Placencia, a peninsula in the Stann Creek District 

    Visit the Maya archaeological site of Nim Li Punit, often called “Big Hat” by the indigenous locals because of the enormous headdress found on the stone stela sculpture overlooking it

    Enjoy lunch in Placencia

    Spend a half day exploring Placencia on your own

  • Day 6: Placencia

    Participate in an introduction to the Reef Eco System, one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world of which researchers have still uncovered only 10% of the species living there 

    Enjoy snorkeling in the nearby cayes and swim with more than 500 species of fish and hundreds of invertebrates and coral

    Enjoy lunch in Placencia

    Spend a half day exploring Placencia on your own

  • Day 7: Placencia • Maya village • Belize City

    Travel via a local Maya village and Blue Hole National Park to Belize City 

    Visit a Maya village and meet members of its community, where you’ll learn about authentic Maya culture from indigenous experts, try dance moves that are as old as their civilization, and taste coffee that has been harvested and ground right in front of you

    Understand the Maya chocolate-making process with a visit to a chocolate bean farm that uses age-old techniques, and be sure to either take a bar for the road or some powder to cook with at home

    Enjoy a traditional Maya lunch

    Take a self-guided cave exploration

    Visit St. Herman's Blue Hole National Park and jump in its crystal clear waters

  • Day 8: Return to Belize City and depart for home

Want to learn more about this program?

Learning outcomes on this program

Confidence • Curiosity • Global perspective • Empathy • Adaptability • Relatability • Self-Awareness


EF Global Learning Model Post-Study Abroad Learning Resources
Academic resources

With this program, you get access to our Global Learning Resources, which include:

  • Discussion questions
  • Sample assignments
  • Journal prompts
  • Webinars
  • EF's Global Competency Assessment, a pre- and post-program assessment to measure competency development
See the resources you get
EF Global Learning Model Post-Study Abroad Learning Resources
Academic resources


With this program, you get access to our Global Learning Resources, which include:

  • Discussion questions
  • Sample assignments
  • Journal prompts
  • Webinars
  • EF's Global Competency Assessment, a pre- and post-program assessment to measure competency development

See the resources you get



Your experience includes

  • Round-trip airfare

    Your price includes round-trip airfare for your whole group.

  • Accommodations

    Safe, comfortable hotels with private bathrooms will be waiting for you at your destination.

  • On-tour transportation

    Land transportation

  • Regional-style meals

    Daily breakfasts and select local dinners are included in your program. Generally, we leave lunch up to you so your group has an opportunity to explore its own tastes.

  • End-to-end support

    Your team helps to secure administrative approval and academic credit, provides recruiting tools and helps establish your program's ongoing presence on campus.

  • EF Global Learning Toolkit

    To capitalize on moments for building empathy, awareness, and adaptability in a global environment, we offer a number of different tools designed 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.

  • Full-time Field Director

    Your expert Field Director is with your group 24/7, providing deep local insight while handling all program logistics.

  • Entrances

    Bird watching; Tropical forest observation; Cave exploration; Maya Center; Organic Garden tour; Nim Li Punit Mayan site; Snorkeling

  • Expert Local Guides

    Your expert local guides are natural historians, adding cultural insight and enhancing teaching moments wherever your curriculum takes you.

  • Worldwide support, safety and security

    EF has over 500 schools and offices in more than 50 countries worldwide. We provide 24-hour emergency support service along with a comprehensive $50 million liability policy that covers you and your institution while abroad.

  • Flexible payment options

    Give more students the opportunity to study abroad by offering them two different payment plan options, along with our TripFunder website to help fundraise for the program.


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Programs in real life

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EF College Study Tours blog page     Blog →

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