Coral Islands SUP with Norm Hann

You arrive at the Belize International Airport where an Island Expeditions’ representative will meet you and welcome you to the country.  You will be taken to the Tropical Education Center, which is adjacent to the Belize Zoo.  The accommodations are Forest Cabanas situated in the midst of idyllic tropical pine forest.  There are a network of interpretative trails and wildlife viewing platforms at your doorstep.  The Tropical Education Center has an Interpretive Center where you can explore the diverse ecology of Belize, and is the ideal starting point for the adventure that awaits you. 

After checking into your accommodations, you’ll have the opportunity to enjoy a ‘Welcome to Belize’ dinner with your fellow travelers.  As the evening unfolds, you can participate in a specially arranged nocturnal tour of the Belize Zoo.  The zoo tour is optional by donation, and is a great introduction to the jaguars, ocelots, tapirs and other animals native to Belize. 

Waking up to the sounds of the tropics is a pure delight with the chatter of parrots and parakeets flying overhead.  The fresh morning air scented with tropical blossoms adds to the expectation of an exciting adventure-filled day.  After breakfast you will travel the Hummingbird Route through the Maya Mountains to your motorboat charter.  You’ll travel by boat to Tobacco Caye, your first island on the Southern Barrier Reef and home for the next two nights.   Once you have settled into your accommodations, Norm and our certified staff will offer an introduction to tropical marine safety, and you will be led through the first snorkeling session.  Thorough instruction and demonstration are provided, and beginner to advanced snorkeling skills are reviewed.  These lessons take place at the Tobacco Caye cut and outer reef walls.

Following a tasty Belizean lunch, Hann will review the fundamental skills of paddleboarding and help you fine tune your existing skills.  Safety, efficient forward stroke development and touring techniques are typically covered. Once you’ve been shown the skills needed to use the equipment confidently, you’ll have the opportunity to practice and play in the calm turquoise waters near Tobacco Caye.

Situated on the Barrier Reef in the heart of the Southwater Caye Marine Reserve, our lodge is ideally positioned to explore the surrounding reefs and cayes.  Starting with a steaming mug of coffee and fresh tropical fruits, you can enjoy an early morning swim or island walk before breakfast. Today’s focus will be on discovering this amazing area by paddleboard.  Conditions permitting, you and your group will journey into the Tobacco Range - a cluster of mangrove islands and protected waterways teeming with pelicans, manatees, and frigate birds.  You’ll have the opportunity to paddle to nearby cayes and explore turtle grass beds, sheltered lagoons, and narrow mangrove channels.  After an exciting day of exploration and learning, you’ll return in the evening to Tobacco Caye.

Gazing south, (following the line of breaking waves along the Barrier Reef crest), you will be able to see the next island we will be travelling to today – Southwater Caye.  After bidding fond farewells to our hosts, you will paddle along the protected waters of one of the most beautiful sections of the entire reef system.  The waters are shallow and clear and you will see a tremendous variety of marine life, including southern stingrays, eagle rays, grouper, nurse sharks, and more.   

You will enjoy a leisurely paddle, snorkel, and picnic lunch as we travel towards tonight’s destination.  We cross Tobacco Caye cut, stopping to snorkel along the reef wall.  One of today’s highlights is a visit to the renowned Smithsonian Carrie Bow Caye Field Station, where scientists and their collaborators conduct research on the biology, ecology, and geology of coral reef ecosystems. 

As we make our way to Southwater Caye, with its coconut palms swaying in the wind - this is a day you will wish would never end.  You will paddle your board right up to the beach beside the lodge.  After settling into your room, you can enjoy an ice cold drink or explore the island before we meet for a delicious Belizean dinner.  Watching the tropical sunset from an open-air bar is an experience that should not be missed!  During your time on the island you may even be able to do a night snorkel on Southwater Cut.

You will have plenty of time to snorkel, paddle and enjoy the scenery and marine life of Belize.  You’ll explore different regions of the Barrier Reef including the inner and outer walls, patch and fringing reefs, mangrove ranges, and protected lagoons.  For diving enthusiasts or those who’d like to try diving for a first time, we can arrange Discover Scuba courses or dives with advance notice.

As we explore by paddleboard, it is not uncommon for our routes to cross those of the fishermen who make their living from the sea.   These candid interactions with the locals can be fun, and provide us with great insight into a way of life very different from our own.

Your last day on the cayes is usually spent paddling to Billy Hawk Caye in the Blue Ground Range.  We will enjoy a specially prepared lunch at the island’s Garifuna fishing camp.  Weather and wind permitting, Norm Hann will lead you on a fun downwind paddle as we challenge your developing SUP skills.  In the afternoon we return to Southwater Caye by motorboat and en route we stop for a final snorkel.  At sunset we will celebrate our last night together with a local Belizean meal and various island festivities.

After an early breakfast, our water taxi carries us back to the mainland and the town of Dangriga where the trip finishes.  Any extra luggage that was stored at our Operations Base will be returned to you to repack.  Taxis can be arranged for transfers to the Belize International Airport, or to local bus stations to continue exploring Belize on your own.

Travel note: For travelers who will be leaving Belize on Day 7, international connections out of the country require a departure after 11:30am.  To connect with Friday afternoon departures from Belize, a short domestic flight is required.  This flight is from Dangriga to the Belize International Airport.  Please call for details - our office can confirm pricing and book your domestic flight.
For travelers who will be leaving Belize the day after the trip ends be sure to ask us about our Flight & Hotel Packages. 

This is one of our most adventurous trips.  Weather conditions can greatly affect paddling conditions and may increase the level of difficulty.  Because of the distances travelled on this trip, previous paddleboarding experience is recommended.  We also believe that variability of conditions are what make this trip the best of its kind in Belize.

Please note all itineraries are subject to change depending on weather or safety considerations.  Flexibility as our guest and as an international traveler is the key to an awesome experience.