• Blue Creek

• Cave's Branch River

• The Cayes

• Hopkins

• Placencia

• Lodging
• Eco-tours & Guides

Clicking on an icon will open a page of small photos taken during the CASKE expedition.

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• Rendez-Vous Caye: You will have to paddle there or charter a boat and  camp (there are no facilities), but WOW what a place to be marooned for a day. It's literally 200 feet long with a couple dozen palm trees and is  surrounded by its own coral reef. Sharks, rays, tropical fish, they're all there. 

• Goff Caye: You will have to paddle there or charter a boat and camp. There is a shelter on the tiny island, a popular day spot for tours and cruise ships, but it's deserted and lovely at night. 

• South Water Caye:  This larger island is part of the Tobacco Range. It is quite developed and has a number of lodging options but all are charming. and tasteful. It's located right on the reef and the diving and marine-life is incredible. Contact IZE, International Zoological Expeditions, below for more information.

• Long Island, Glovers Atoll:  This atoll sticks up out of the Caribbean about ten miles out beyond the barrier reef. Long Island lies inside the atoll. It's a beautiful half-mile long strip of sand. IZE has a basic compound on one end, Slickrock Adventures on the other. Kayak surfing the reef break and snorkeling are the big draws. See information below.

Island Tours: multi-day, island-hopping Hobie Cat tours from Hopkins with Under the Sun see below

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Hopkins

This village is one of the northernmost Garifuna communities. Traditionally the Garifuna have been self-imposed isolationists and although life in Hopkins is beginning to change, the music, religion and lifestyle are fascinating. Fishing, subsistence farming and a little bit of tourism support the villagers. For travelers, the few boarding houses are quite rustic, but the food is worth the visit. Sarita the Sweet Bun lady supports her family with her back yard baking. Incredible! A few restaurants serve local specialties such as conch, fish, and game from the jungle (ask for Gibnut); all are excellent.

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Placencia

This Creole village south of Dangriga lies out on a peninsula framing a lagoon. Its atmosphere and location are lovely. With a nice beach, a selection of lodgings for all budgets, and access to cayes, Garifuna villages, and other tour options (Monkey River, Blue Creek and the Jaguar Reserve) it is a perfect place from which to base your explorations of southern Belize.

Click here for recommended lodgings

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Blue Creek

This lodge and nearby Mayan community of the same name are located in southern Belize. Nestled beneath 100-foot canopy on the banks of a river, the setting is stunning. Tours and classes in survival skills, iguana tracking, traditional cuisine, and weaving can be arranged with Kekchi and Mopan Mayan villagers. The main attraction is the spelunking tour through the river-cave, a ten-minute walk upstream. Check our full section on the Kekchi Indians and Mopan Mayas, and on Blue Creek.

"Help A Village" donation project !

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Ian Anderson's Jungle Lodge and the Cave's Branch River

Located in the interior of the country, the San Ignacio district, Ian's place is completely hidden in a tract of prime-growth forest. The region is home to the largest cave network in Central America. It is the subject of much of the Mayan lore about the afterworld. Some caves contain carvings, statues and human remains from ritual sacrifices. Much of it remains un-explored. Ian is the most famous caving pioneer in the region and organizes tours and expeditions based on your level of adventurousness from day trips to extreme week-long treks. one of the most beautiful jungle lodges we've seen. As well he coordinates a cave-paddling tour on the Cave's Branch River with Slickrock Adventures, Inc. Read Luke's account: Speyakalunking the Mayan Underworld.

Click here for lodging information