Destinations: Ambergris Caye, Hopkins Village

Duration: 8 days

*Price Range: $$$

*Rates inclusive of full vacation experience – hotels, tours, domestic transfers, and tax (excluding international airfare).  Actual price based on length of travel, number of travelers/rooms, seasonal rates (high, low, peak), number of tour activities, and mode of domestic transportation.

$$$: At or under $1,200 per person

$$$: $1,200 – $1,800 per person

$$$: $1,800+ per person

1. Day 1

   Fly into Belize Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE). After passing through immigration and collecting your luggage, head to the domestic terminal for your 30-minute flight to Ambergris Caye. Once you’ve arrived to San Pedro, step outside the domestic airport to be greeted by an employee from Las Terrazas who will assist you with your luggage and bring you to the resort 3.5 miles north of town. Check into your luxurious suite and dive into the 70’ infinity edge pool complete with poolside service. Peek inside the 5-star PADI dive shop, White Sands, to say hello to the staff and dive masters. There are 30-40 named dive sites within a 15-30 minute boat ride from Las Terrazas Resort. Tonight, enjoy a gourmet dinner on site at O Restaurant, one of the best restaurants on the island.

2. Day 2

   An early start will have you departing Las Terrazas around 5:30am for a 2.5 hour boat ride out to the most photographed dive site in the world, the Great Blue Hole. This 1,000 foot circular coral reef drops 400 feet into a cavern with beautiful natural formations. Since it’s a deeper dive, there is only a 8-10 minute bottom time with a slow ascent back up the wall for a total dive duration of 20-25 minutes. Your second dive is to a National World Heritage Monument and one of the best dive sites in Belize, Half Moon Caye. It’s a Multi Level Dive with a maximum depth of 60 feet with 45 minutes of bottom time. Surely after two dives you’ve worked up an appetite, so head ashore Half Moon Caye for a picnic lunch. Your third dive is at The Aquarium near Long Caye with a maximum depth of 50 feet with 40 minutes of bottom time. Return to Las Terrazas Resort to freshen up and head into San Pedro this evening to explore one of many delicious restaurants.

3. Day 3

   Another early morning will bring you out to Turneffe Atoll to dive the famous Turneffe Elbow, rated #1 as a World Class Dive Site. This site contains a 3,000 foot wall with converging nutrient rich currents, creating one of the most exciting dives in the Caribbean. Your second dive at Billy Bob’s is a wall dive that takes you to canyons, tunnels, and swim throughs. Your third and final dive for the day is another wall dive at Myrtle’s Turtle. Return to Las Terrazas in time for sunset and happy hour. Head into San Pedro for dinner and try to catch some live music at a local beach bar.

4. Day 4

   Sleep in a little later today and enjoy relaxing at the resort the rest of the morning or snorkel Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley in the morning before your early afternoon flight to Dangriga. A private transfer will be waiting for you at the Dangriga airstrip and will take you to Hopkins Village. Stop at the famous Marie Sharp’s factory outside of Dangriga for a quick tour of the hot sauce production and then purchase some sauce and jelly souvenirs. Continue onwards to Hamanasi Adventure & Dive Resort, a beachfront oasis and award-winning eco-resort located in the friendly Garifuna village of Hopkins. Enjoy a delicious hook-to-fork and farm-to-table meal while listening to live music.

5. Day 5

   Enjoy a fresh, tropical breakfast consisting of homemade sweet breads, fruit, locally made yogurts, granola, eggs, hot tea, coffee, and fresh juice. Then, hop aboard one of three dive boats at Hamanasi for a day of diving. Hamanasi’s dive trips to the Barrier Reef take place within the largest marine reserve in Belize, the South Water Caye Marine Reserve. A 30-40 minute boat ride will take you out to the first dive site. Some of the more common sites include Jason’s Wall, Carrie Bow, Elsie’s Aquarium, South Water Wall, Hell Hole Trick Ridge, and The Abyss. Enjoy two to three dives, a delicious lunch, and head back to the resort for a refreshing beverage in the pool.

6. Day 6

   Enjoy another day of diving the world famous Mesoamerican Barrier Reef. Choose between Glover’s Reef Atoll with incredible diversity at sites such as The Pinnacles and Long Caye Wall or head out to Gladden Spit Marine Reserve for seasonal whale sharks (April – June after the full moon). Intermediate and experienced divers can also try spearfishing for lionfish to bring back to the resort for an expertly prepared dinner. Night dives are also available for Advanced Open Water divers.

7. Day 7

   Enjoy your last full day at Hamanasi Resort enjoying the pool and beach. Splurge on an in-suite massage or take out the complimentary kayaks, paddleboards, or bicycles. If you still haven’t had enough of the barrier reef, head out on a snorkeling trip to South Water Caye Marine Reserve where you’ll have an opportunity to see frigates and brown boobies at Man-of-War Caye. Enjoy local Garifuna drumming and dance this evening as your celebrate a successful dive trip to Belize.

8. Day 8

   Take a short, two-hour private ground transfer back to Belize City for your international flight home.