FAQs

Do I need experience to join the trips?
No experience is necessary for any of these trips, but unpredictable weather can create strenuous conditions, so you should be in good shape. We recommend working out on a rowing machine or swimming laps before your trip. The better shape you are in, the more you will enjoy yourself. Full instruction is included in all sports, and the 80-degree water is an ideal setting to learn or improve your skills. Our Sea Kayak Glover's Reef trip is the easiest trip we offer, as you schedule your own days. Both the Glover's trip and the Adventure Week itinerary can be enjoyed by those in good shape but with no prior experience.

Is there an extra charge for a single? 
There is no extra fee for single travellers. All guests are booked double occupancy if possible, which means guests travelling alone are booked in hotel rooms with other guests of the same gender. If there is no other single person of the same gender without a roommate, we pay the extra cost for a private room for single travellers. Depending on the couple/single breakdown on a full trip there may not be enough two-person cabanas for everyone at our inland lodges and we may have to get creative (putting 3 singles in one room, or booking rooms at a different lodge altogether). We do our best to accommodate everyone, but as these are small, remote lodges we have to go with what is available. When in a tent on the island, single travellers do not share with anyone else. If you prefer single accommodations, you may choose a tent on the island if Belize Adventure Week is not full. Otherwise, double occupancy is a necessity. If you ARE travelling alone don't worry about rooming with someone else, we spend little time in our cabanas. Most people are very active and if they are chilling out they are just as likely to be 'hanging out' (literally) in our hammock palapa as in their cabana. Mostly you go there to change clothes and fall fast asleep, to get up the next day and do it again!

 

Do I need a passport?
Passports are required for travel to Belize. Passports are good for ten years and cannot expire within six months beyond completion of travel or you will not be allowed into the country.

 

Is the sea kayaking too difficult for beginners?
The Glover's itinerary is perfect for beginners, as our longest paddle without a rest is usually two-three miles. We have found that people in average shape have no trouble, especially with preconditioning as mentioned previously.

Will there be enough sea kayaking for an advanced kayaker?
Depending on the group, your guide may lead longer excursions, paddle outside the reef in the open sea, or allow advanced kayakers to paddle on their own with a "buddy". There is more to see at Glover's Reef than one could ever cover in one week.

Are the inland activities really suitable for beginners?
No experience is required for any activity (e.g. on the Belize Adventure Week itinerary novice river-runners can go down the Mopan in a kayak with no prior experience), although our inland activities are more strenuous than our island sports. Inland we spend up to six hours a day participating in moderately strenuous adventure sports. Some guests may find the activities very strenuous. If a guest would like to skip one particular activity, they are free to join our shuttle driver to drive around to pick up the group. On the Caves Branch River there is a portage which adds to the difficulty of the trip. There is no substitute for being in good physical shape.

Where do we sleep on the island?
We have two options, cabanas or tents. We have three double-bed cabanas and the rest have two single beds. We provide mattresses, linens, and pillows for both cabanas and tents. The tents are large, well-ventilated tents set up under palm-thatched roofs. Adventure Week participants are always housed in tents as they are joining a group in progress on the island. Everyone on the Sea Kayak Glover's Reef itinerary stays in a cabana, but if singles prefer not to be housed with someone else, they may choose a tent for more privacy if Adventure Week is not full. If it is, double occupancy is a necessity. We will not reserve specific cabanas in advance as the trip leader must consider the needs of everyone in the group before assigning cabanas.
 

What are the bathroom facilities like on these trips?
Out on the island we have composting toilets, and bathe with well-water (not heated) using outdoor showers pumped by the sun to a gravity flow tank; the shower stalls are completely private. Please note the bathroom facilities on our island are not attached to the rooms, requiring a walk of at least 50'. All inland lodging facilities consist of guest rooms with flush toilets and hot showers.

Will insects be a problem?
Unlike most other locations in Belize, we are blessed with a virtually bug-free island, and we treat for bugs if present. Late in the season and during rare periods of calm weather there could be a few "no-see-ums" or mosquitoes present on the island. Inland guests can expect a few mosquitoes in the evening in the jungle, but our accommodations there are screened

 

What kind of food do you serve?
Our menu on the island is designed to take advantage of the fresh seafood of Belize and fresh fruits and vegetables available in the local markets. While inland we eat home-style Belizean meals at the lodges where we stay. Guests with special dietary needs are accommodated as much as possible but we are not able to cook entirely different dishes for individuals. Because there is no grocery store on the island, all of the ingredients are carefully planned for each meal.

 

 

Why do we need to bring money if your trips are all-inclusive?
Our trips cover everything except alcoholic beverages, Belize exit tax, SCUBA diving, tips, and taxis to and from the airport. This can still add up to several hundred dollars. Also, if you or your luggage were delayed, an already difficult situation would be greatly compounded if you were relying on credit cards or unreliable ATM machines. It can cost up to $400 to catch up with the trip.

 

Is it customary to tip the staff?
Tips should reflect your satisfaction with crew performance and are not required. For those who do want to tip, tipping is normally organized as a "group tip" at the end of the trip (one guest collects the entire tip from all members of the group). The trip leader then splits the tip between all staff members. The standard in the industry for each guest is 5-10% of the trip price. Our inland crew includes: trip leader, local guide, driver, and assistant river guide(s); our island crew includes: trip leader, local guide(s), cook, assistant cook, and island caretaker.