Journey into the ancient Maya realm of Lamanai and Altun Ha, plus discover wonders of nature at the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary.
Trip Highlights
A three day inland adventure to Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, this trip combines easily with other IE trips, and is a great way to experience Belize’ astounding diversity of birds and wildlife, as well as its ancient Mayan culture.
- Stay at Birds Eye View Lodge in the heart of the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, habitat for thousands of tropical birds.
- Tour with highly experienced local guides, trained by the Belize Audubon Society.
- Visit the village of Crooked Tree, Belize’s oldest Creole settlement.
- Immerse yourself in the world of the Maya as we explore two ancient Cities - Lamanai and Altun Ha.
Trip Itinerary
Meals: Dinner
Welcome to Belize! Your guides will whisk you away from the airport to Birds Eye View Lodge in the heart of the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary, an area of lagoons and wildlife rich wetlands. In the evening stroll into the quaint village of Crooked Tree.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Today we immerse ourselves in tropical nature and ancient history. In the morning, from our verandah you can view hundreds of tropical birds feeding in the lagoons . After a savory Belizean breakfast we travel on the New River to the ancient Mayan city of Lamanai. Monkeys, toucans and parrots inhabit the riparian forest and the temples, courtyards and sacred altars of the ancients are revealed as we venture deeper into the jungle.
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
In the morning we travel by boat on the protected lagoons and wetlands in search of tropical wildlife and rare birds like the massive jabiru stork -one of the world's largest flying birds.
In the afternoon we travel inland to the ruins of Altun Ha. Considered one of the major Mayan ceremonial centers of Belize, the city functioned as an important trading center between the cities of the interior and the coast during the Mayan Classic Period 250-900 AD. Within this site, there are the remains of more than 275 archaeological structures.
We return to Belize City at approximately 4 pm to to link up with your next IE trip and can also drop off at the Belize International Airport or the Belize Biltmore Hotel.
The Places We Stay
A special location on the shoreline of the Crooked Tree Lagoons, Birds Eye View lodge offers a stunning encounter with nature matched with heartfelt Belizean hospitality. Superb local naturalist guides, clean and comfortable accommodations and the historic nearby Creole Village of Crooked Tree combine to make this a favorite lodge we have partnered with for close to 30 years.