Gap Year Belize

Programmes in Belize

Belize - Whale Shark, Conch and Turtle Studies

Divers get involved with work such as lobster, conch, fish, coral reef and invertebrate surveys. The project work for 2010 currently includes working on Whale Sharks, spawning fish aggregations (which attract the whale sharks), lobster and conch surveys, indicator fish surveys, water quality assessment, plankton study, habitat study, social-economic impact on the reef, pollution assessment, nursery habitats, turtle monitoring and sea grass studies. What more could you want?

Destination Guide

Location

During the week you have the unique opportunity to stay on Hunting Caye. This is a true 'castaway' coral
caye island with a few home comforts thrown in!!!! It is extremely idyllic and an amazing true ‘get away’
experience. No mobile phones, television or internet, a place where you can totally relax. Hunting Caye is part of the Sapodilla group of islands, located in the south of Belize. It is a World Heritage Site and a Marine Reserve. It is an extremely beautiful island where you can snorkel, dive, kayak, play volley ball or sunbath during the day and watch the stars or chill out on the veranda at night.

At the weekend your location is a traditional Belizean Mayan town called Punta Gorda. There are plenty of bars and restaurants. There are also internet cafes and a bank where cash can be accessed by switch or credit card.

The town is a pretty place with the sea on one side and the jungle on the other. Located in southern Belize near to the border of Guatemala. Perfect for land based trips to Guatemala, waterfalls or the jungle at weekends.

Our guests experience the ‘real’ Belize in Punta Gorda, affectionately know as PG by Belizeans. PG gives
our customers the unique opportunity to integrate into a society that is not spoiled by tourism. People
enjoy nights out dancing punta rock, playing pool with the locals, or going to the very colourful market on
Saturday mornings. PG has a very social environment where everyone goes home with new friends! It has been stated on numerous occasions that ‘PG will forever hold a place in my heart’.

Accommodation

During the week you stay on a small secluded Caribbean island, which has a large living area, a restaurant and bar as well as stunningly beautiful white sandy beaches. The island is an idyllic 5 acre coral caye, so if you've ever wanted to experience your own secluded Caribbean island this is it!!

The accommodation is in a brand new building that was donated to the University of Belize for research and education purposes. The rooms are clean and comfortable, the building is run on solar power and all rooms have fans.

Other things to do

• Take a trip to the ancient Mayan ruins (dating back to 500AD).
• Lim Ni Punit or Lubaantum are both about a 45 minute drive from Punta Gorda. Lim Ni Punit has
the most amazing views over the jungle and Lubaantum is famous for its crystal scull!
• Caracol near San Ignacio is a vast Mayan city hidden deep in the jungle, the largest in Belize, its
population was circa 150,000, more than half of Belize’s population today!
• The famous Tikal in Guatemala, one of the world’s most impressive Mayan sites. It is so big that
you need at least 2 days to see the major parts.
• Visit other Cayes such as the travellers favourite Caye Caulker or the popular Ambergris Caye and
dive the famous ‘Blue Hole’.
• Visit the nearby Blue Creek National Park for spectacular rivers and waterfalls. Swim through the
amazing caves at Blue Creek where you eventually get to an underground waterfall. Visit the
stunning waterfalls at San Antonio and Rio Blanco
• Take a combined trip to include Mayan Ruins, jungle tours, visiting traditional Mayan villages and
the amazing waterfalls.
• Stay at Cotton Tree Lodge deep in the heart of the jungle. The perfect place to chill out, take a
jungle walk or kayak on the river. You can often spot the howler monkeys swinging in the trees. A
huge variety of birdlife includes the Montezuma bird, the toucan, warblers and different parrot
species. You can pick your own fruit for breakfast….oranges, grapefruits, mangos, bananas,
pineapples etc.. There are a number of different activities that you can do including horseback
riding, chocolate making, night jungle walks, river trips etc, etc. Visit:
www.cottontreelodge.com
• Take a weekend break to Livingstone, Guatemala and visit the gorgeous Rio Dulce where you can
stay in beautiful jungle lodges at extremely good rates!
• Visit neighbouring Mexico, Guatemala or Honduras.

Country Fact File