Private Journeys

Signature Belize: Rainforest, reef and ruins

12 days

Belize

Places visited

Overview & Highlights

A comprehensive highlights holiday in one of the world’s best eco-destinations. Includes the less visited south, embracing jungle wildlife, active adventures, Mayan ruins and a vibrant Caribbean culture.

On this good-value holiday packed with adventures, you can enjoy many cultural and wildlife-focused experiences. Visit communities of the Mayan and Garifuna peoples, and find out how they live in harmony with nature and the modern world. You even get to visit an artisan chocolate factory.

English-speaking Belize is rapidly becoming one of the world’s premier eco-adventure destinations, with a bunch of excellent, high quality lodges scattered through the undisturbed Mayan Mountains and along the coral-fringed Caribbean coast.

The small-scale, eco-friendly accommodation we have chosen is appropriate for lovers of sporting activities too: go caving, hiking, tubing down fast-flowing rivers, kayaking and snorkelling. Experienced guides will be with you all the way.

Visit the ATM caves
Choice of activities including jungle wildlife spotting, nature trails, and boat rides Lamanai Outpost Lodge
Guided tour of Lamanai Maya ruins
A range of active and cultural activities at the Lodge at Big Falls
Visit to Hokeb Ha cave and Ixcacao cocoa plantation
Relax or enjoy water-sports and seaside activities on a Caribbean beach
Visit the feeding grounds at Placencia lagoon

THE UK’S № 1 SPECIALIST IN TRAVEL TO LATIN AMERICA

Paul Winrow-Giffin

Travel Expert

Talk to our experts

Outline itinerary

Day 1

Arrive Belize City, transfer to mountain lodge.

Day 2

Excursion to the Actun Tunichil Muknal caves.

Day 3

Optional excursion to Tikal or Caracol Mayan ruins.

Day 4

Transfer to lagoon-side, multi-activity lodge at Lamanai.

Day 5

Visit to Lamanai Mayan ruins.

Day 6

Transfer to eco-resort in the southern district Toledo.

Day 7

Optional active and cultural adventures.

Day 8

Excursion to Hokeb Ha cave and Ixcacao cocoa plantation.

Day 9

Transfer to Caribbean beach resort at Placencia.

Day 10

Optional water sports and wildlife spotting.

Day 11

Further beach time and sea-sport opportunities.

Day 12

Transfer to Belize City airport for international flight.

View full itinerary

Things to do

We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.

GUA11_Tikal_shutterstock_92508058_freewithcredit

Visit Tikal, ruined Mayan city

Visit Caracol Mayan ruins

col01-wildlifecolombiaamazon-free-proexport

Spot the elusive manatee

Ixcacao Mayan chocolate experience

Visit Belize’s Port Honduras Marine Reserve

bel03-swimming-whalesharks-free-robsgrove

Swim with whale sharks

Accommodation

Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation . Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you’ll relax in utter comfort.

Belize / Toledo and the south

The Lodge at Big Falls

Belize / Maya mountains and jungle

Pook’s Hill Lodge

Belize / Maya mountains and jungle

Lamanai Outpost Lodge

Belize / Caribbean cayes and coast

Laru Beya

Itinerary Essentials

What our clients say

The day we visiting the Frida Kahlo and Trotsky museums and also the canal. As well as all the wonderful pyramids and the Copper Canyon extension were among my highlights. We were very impressed with our first experience of travelling with JLA. We have been to several Central and South American countries before and had underestimated the impact that Mexico would have on us. It had such a variety of experiences to offer, the colour, the music, the many different and dramatic archeological sites and political history. The ethnic mix added to the diversity and the people were all a delight to meet. JLA allowed us to experience this in its selection of places, accommodation, excursions and especially the tour leader.
JD, Buxton
Jan 2014
Stunning landscape / scenery in Patagonia together with Iguazu Falls were the highlights.
DM, Sale
Jan 2012
Jacana was a fascinating, very well organised 3 week tour through Brazil, Paraguay, Bolivia and Lima taking in the highlights of each country. Every day gave us a new experience which will stay in our memories for a long time to come.
VT, London
Apr 2016
It was a wonderful trip. It was all good. In saying what I say next that is not to denigrate anything else. However, here we were at the vineyards outside Mendoza. It is a beautiful day weather-wise. We have had a fine tour of the vineyard and winery. The vineyard is itself beautiful and peaceful. Now we are in a lovely modern building for the 'lecture' and tastings. I am feeling very happy. Can it get any better? Yes. I look beyond the lecturer out of the window and there I see the beauty of the vineyard and 'just' behind that of the high Andes. Breathtaking!
I have been travelling for over half a century but his was my first organised tour and it was wonderful. As I said on my return I would go again next week if my diary was not full, I needed a rest and was not minded to spend as much again so soon.
IM, London
Apr 2017
There were many wonderful memories. Iguacu was amazing and Machu Picchu was intriguing. Landscapes were fascinating & the people were friendly. Lovely to see the colourful costumes & markets.
JP, Nottingham
Jan 2014
An excellent specialist company with great attention to detail, abundance of local knowledge and great customer care. I have travelled twice with this company and will certainly travel with them again.
AL, London
Nov 2017

0 1 2 3 4 5

Our expert's view

-

Get in touch Meet our experts

Inspired by this trip

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

View Extraordinary Inspiration

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Other
Discovering my favourite country in the world: Belize
Learn more
View Extraordinary Inspiration
Other
Turtle and tortoise spotting in Latin America
Learn more
View Extraordinary Inspiration
Other
Our favourite off-the-beaten-track activities
Learn more

BEL_boatCayes_shutterstock103306586_freewithcredit

Fear of flying fix

Learn more

mex05-snorkelling-on-the-riviera-maya-free-mtb

Best destinations to travel to with kids in Latin America

Learn more

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

Get in touch Meet our experts

Millie Davies - Travel Expert
Having caught the travel bug as a child, Millie has travelled all over Latin America before making her home in Buenos Aires for 3 years.
Hannah Waterhouse - Travel Expert
Hannah had an early introduction to Latin America when her family moved to Ecuador and she returned to study in Buenos Aires for a year before backpacking across the continent.
Sophie Barber - Travel Expert
Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.
Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert
Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.
Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert
Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.
Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert
After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!