Biodiversity in Belize
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Day 1: Fly to Belize • Belmopan region
Meet your Field Director at the airportTravel 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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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 Cayes
Enjoy lunch in Placencia
Spend a half day exploring Placencia on your own
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Day 7: Placencia • Maya village • Belize City region
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
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Day 8: Depart for home
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Day 1: Fly to Belize • Belmopan region
Meet your Field Director at the airportTravel 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 Cayes
Enjoy lunch in Placencia
Spend a half day exploring Placencia on your own
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Day 7: Placencia • Maya village • Belize City region
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
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Day 8: Depart for home
Confidence • Curiosity • Global perspective • Empathy • Adaptability • Relatability • Self-Awareness
What's Included
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Transportation
Various modes of transport are tailored to your program. While some transfers are included, others may come at additional cost.
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Accommodations
Safe, comfortable lodging will be waiting for you at your destination.
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Select meals
Enjoy a combination of included meals and the freedom to explore local cuisine on your own.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Field Visits
Experience academics in action during engaging visits with relevant organizations, thought leaders, and partners.
