Belize Announces Adventure Travel Packages for the Fall Season

BELIZE CITY, Belize, Oct. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Belize, considered to be one of mother nature's best kept secrets, today announces exciting adventure travel packages for the fall season.  These itineraries are designed for the traveler who wants unrivaled access to nature through activities that stray far from the typical vacation.  With 40 percent of the country under some form of protection, Belize is one of the world's best places to experience nature and adventure.  

Caving and Cave Tubing
For a thrilling trip down rivers and through the limestone caves of Belize, visitors can take advantage of the many cave-tubing adventures offered throughout the country. Caves Branch River, Barton Creek Cave and Crystal Cave all have skilled tour guides to take visitors on an adrenaline pumping ride down the rivers of these ancient caves, some of which still hold Maya relics.

For a slower-paced adventure, hiking through jungles, wading across streams and climbing rock formations all await travelers in various caves available to explore throughout Belize. Mostly found throughout the Toledo District and southern region of the country, the magnificent underground caves and rivers provide travelers with an extraordinary experience as they investigate stalactite and stalagmite formations and pottery shards of ancient Maya civilizations.  Caving expeditions that are ideal for beginners include the Che Chem Ha, Barton Creek and Actun Tunichil Muknal Caves in the Cayo District, as well as the Rio Frio Cave of the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve.  To learn more about the thousands of Caves in Belize, click here.

For travelers looking to get the adrenaline pumping, the Cayo District is second to none.  Ian Anderson's Caves Branch Adventure Co. and Lodge is one of many hotels and tour operators offering adventure packages this fall, featuring the Black Hole Drop Tour.  This tour consists of hiking for about 1.5 hours, instruction on how to repel into the 300-foot deep sink hole and lunch on the jungle floor. The guide then leads the group to the entrance of the massive cave where you can explore the outer portions of the cave and surrounding area. This tour is a full day for $105.00 US per person plus sales tax.  

Anderson's also features Jungle Survival packages that teach guests how to build a shelter  from natural materials found in the jungle, hunt their own food when possible, use natural bush medicine and adapt to the confines of the jungle for two nights / three days. The cost of the expedition is $450.00 US per person plus 10 percent tax.  Package does not include the lodging the night before the expedition.

Fishing
For travelers who would rather be fishing than doing anything else, Belize's Cayes and Atolls are world-renown.  El Pescador Resort on Ambergris Caye has introduced private island camping expeditions for anglers interested in the "total outdoor fishing experience."  The package starts at $699 per person, includes two days of fishing and one night of camping, boat, tent, guide, six local beers per person, two lunches, one dinner, one breakfast and all taxes. 

Birding
For great birding, Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary is located just 30 miles northwest of Belize City.  Created especially for resident and migratory birds of Belize, Crooked Tree features inland lagoons and swamps and a widely diverse population of birds such as the massive Jabiru Stork, whose wingspan stretches to 12 feet. For more about birding in Belize visit www.travelbelize.org, or click here.

About the Belize Tourism Board
The Belize Tourism Board (BTB) is a statutory body within the Belize Ministry of Tourism, and it is governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Minister of Tourism.  The BTB works in conjunction with members of the private sector - including the Belize Hotel Association, Belize Tourism Industry Association and Belize National Tour Operators Association – and is dedicated to building tourism in the most economically and environmentally sustainable manner.  As a part of its responsibilities, the BTB promotes Belize as a premier tourism destination to both in-country and international consumers.  Among its outreach to the international travel market, the BTB markets the country's unique attractions to travellers, members of the travel trade industry and media outlets in key markets.

The BTB is also dedicated to developing and implementing tourism programs that will help strengthen and grow the Belizean tourism industry; promote good destination stewardship; and instill high quality standards for accommodations and travel experiences.  For more information on the BTB and its services, visit www.travelbelize.org.

CONTACT: David Heinzinger, 212-967-5895, [email protected]

SOURCE Belize Tourism Board