Guide in tan shirt stands at water's edge as Zodiac of Belize & Honduras travelers comes in, with small expedition ship in distance.
Small group of Belize & Honduras travelers stand with guide beside tall Maya ruins of stone & grass during a small ship cruise.
Aerial vie of Belize's Blue Hole dive site, a dark blue circle with tan coral reef & various shades of turquoise water around it.
Female Belize & Honduras traveler talks with local women dressed in cultural garb in a primitive open-air kitchen.
Frigatebird with long black feathers, pointy beak & inflated red chest pouch sits in tree of bright green leaves in Belize.
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Central America Belize Cruise

Belize & Honduras: Unexpected Encounters & Nature

Set off on an expedition cruise aboard 184-guest Le Bellot, into the heart of the lush landscapes and hypnotic shores of Honduras and Belize. Spend 8 days falling under the spell of the verdant tropical forest and mangrove scenery, and the shades of blue found in the region’s sea and lagoons. Encounter birdsongs, dense tropical forests and sandy beaches sheltering rich wildlife. From port to port, encounters with the local populations will punctuate your journey into the heart of the Caribbean.

Highlights include Jeannette Kawas National Park, a haven of peace where the forest melts into the sea; the island of Guanaja, full of treasures; the small Bonacca Cay and its Caracoles people, who take pride in their traditions; Cayos Cochinos with the welcoming Garifuna people and immense coral reef; and Cuero y Salado Wildlife Reserve, with old-growth mangrove forest, howler monkeys and small caimans.

In the small town of Placencia, learn about the Mopan and Kekchi Mayan civilizations, and delve into available local arts and crafts. The postcard-ready Half Moon Caye offers nesting frigatebirds and red-footed boobies close up. The Great Blue Hole cenote, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the world’s most stunning diving sites. And on Water Caye, the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System is teeming with many treasures for those who venture into its waters.

An experienced dive instructor is on board for the entire cruise, ensuring safe swimming and scuba diving opportunities. Additionally, your ship features 100% private balconies or terraces, innovative equipment, elegantly designed guest accommodations and welcoming lounge areas that open to the outside. A variety of onboard activities engage guests while the ship cruises, including the Blue Eye underwater lounge–a multi-sensory space in the ship’s hull featuring hydrophones, expansive underwater views and other amenities that create the feeling of being underwater beside the marine life that the ship is sailing past.

Read on for details about this trip, or learn more about AdventureSmith’s Belize small ship cruises and Belize active vacations.



Itinerary

Belize and Honduras: Unexpected Encounters and Nature Itinerary

This Belize and Honduras itinerary cruises round-trip from Belize City, bookended by charter flights linking Cancun, Mexico. Enjoy an onboard dive instructor for underwater opportunities at the Blue Hole and the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef.

Route map of Belize & Honduras: Unexpected Encounters & Nature cruise, operating round-trip from Belize City & bookend flights linking Cancun, Mexico, with visits to Placencia, Punta Sal, Water Caye, Cuero y Salado, Cayos Cochinos & Guanaja.
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Day 1
Arrive Cancun, Mexico

Arrive in Cancun, Mexico, be transferred to the group hotel and enjoy time at leisure until an included dinner at the hotel. Spend the night prior to an included group charter flight to Belize City for embarkation and the start of this once-in-a-lifetime journey.

Accommodations

Courtyard Airport Cancun Hotel, Fairfield Inn and Suites Airport Hotel (or similar)

Meals

dinner

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Day 2
Fly to Belize City, Belize & Embark

Belize City is the former capital and the country’s largest town. Located on the Caribbean Sea, this lively little town symbolizes the fusion of British, Spanish and Maya cultures. The departure point for flights over the Great Blue Hole and the barrier reef, it’s also the ideal gateway for discovering the treasures of Maya architecture: in the heart of the jungle, the grandiose and mysterious ruins of temples and palaces at the Lamanai and Xunantunich sites await you. Another unmissable experience: a trip to the mouth of the Belize River; with a little luck and care, you’ll get a glimpse of manatees, dolphins, crocodiles, iguanas and many aquatic bird species.

Accommodations

Le Bellot

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 3
Punta Sal, Honduras

In the municipality of Tela lies Punta Sal National Park, renamed Jeannette Kawas as a tribute to the environmental activist murdered in 1995. Between coral reef and green jungle, the park unveils a succession of white sandy coves along its coastline giving onto crystal-clear waters in a marvelous palette of blues. Inland, the tropical forest unfurls, a real reserve for wildlife that you will be able to explore in a Zodiac dinghy between mangroves, lagoons and rivers.

Accommodations

Le Bellot

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 4
Guanaja

The island of Guanaja is a little-known paradise, one of Honduras’ real treasures, and will reveal itself to you between lush vegetation, idyllic deserted beaches and unique encounters with the local population of Bonacca (also known as The Cay). Off the coast, the wildest and most remote of the Bay Islands rolls out its coral reefs, which attract diving enthusiasts from around the world. This jewel of the Caribbean Sea also shelters a mangrove whose secrets you will attempt to discover as you explore it during a Zodiac outing. Then, during hikes, accompanied by your team of naturalist guides, you will enter the heart of a rainforest dotted with majestic waterfalls and home to many bird species, like macaws. Here, the Caracoles people will welcome you and share their traditions with you on the small key of Bonacca (also known as The Cay). Do not miss this exceptional encounter!

Accommodations

Le Bellot

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 5
Cayos Cochinos

Lying northeast of La Ceiba, the Bay Islands are home to certain treasures that float on a palette of turquoise, dark or celadon blues. Les Cayos Cochinos, an archipelago made up of two islands, Cayo Menor and Cayo Grande, and thirteen coral cays, is one of them. Situated on the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System in a marine reserve created in 1994, its underwater scenery features coral gardens in which multitudes of tropical fish scatter and provide you with a feast for the eyes. In this idyllic setting, you will infinitely enjoy swimming while other water-based activities will offer a delightful interlude in the heart of exceptional nature.

Accommodations

Le Bellot

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 6
Cuero Y Saldo & Watre Caye, Isla Utila

In the heart of the Central American isthmus, Honduras is a little-known paradise boasting rich biodiversity, as evidenced by the Cuero y Salado National Park, a real refuge for wildlife created in 1987. This magnificent reserve, located on the estuaries of the Cuero, Salado and San Juan rivers, will provide you with fantastic opportunities for observing fauna and the plant kingdom. In a boat going across the mangrove, accompanied by the song of birds answering each other, you will not tire of observing the bright plumage livening up the thick green forest with bursts of color. As you watch the monkeys dancing from branch to branch, you will not know which way to turn. And if you are lucky, turtles and caimans will also make an appearance.

The Bay Islands archipelago is home to stunning cays: sheltered coral islets with warm, crystal-clear turquoise waters. Off the island of Utila, the white-sand beaches lined with palms and coconut trees and the reefs of the deserted islet called Water Caye offer a picture postcard setting that will delight fans of swimming and snorkeling.

Accommodations

Le Bellot

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 7
Placencia, Belize

Placencia beckons travelers with the opalescence of its idyllic beaches and the blue hues of the Caribbean Sea that edges it. Lying in the south of Belize, in the Stann Creek District, this former fishing village exudes an Afro-Caribbean atmosphere in an unspoiled paradise combining brightly-colored traditional houses and enchanting scenery. A veritable nature sanctuary both on land and at sea, Placencia has become an increasingly popular eco-destination in the Caribbean, particularly with diving and marine life enthusiasts. Its stunning lagoon is home to manatees, saltwater crocodiles and dolphins, among others, as well as numerous species of tropical fish. In addition to an excursion into the mangrove and some snorkeling, you will be able to discover the Mopan and Kekchi Mayan civilizations.

Accommodations

Le Bellot

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 8
Half Moon Caye

The tropical green crescent of Half Moon Caye is a natural monument of Belize stretching out over crystal-clear waters. The appeal of the oldest protected marine and ornithological area in Central America stems from its beaches lined with coconut trees, but most importantly from its incredible underwater world, which you will be able to explore with fins, mask and snorkel. Corals, sponges, sea turtles, spotted eagle rays, eels and groupers live in the turquoise waters, while on land the coastal forest is home to amusing geckos and a large colony of red-footed boobies, spectacular divers that penetrate the water at high speed to feed on small fish and squid.

Accommodations

Le Bellot

Meals

breakfast, lunch, dinner

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Day 9
Disembark Belize City, Belize, Fly to Cancun, Mexico & Depart

Say farewell to the ship’s crew, captain and guides, as well as new friends made during this memorable voyage. Disembark here, catch the return charter flight to Cancun and travel onward.

Accommodations

n/a

Meals

breakfast

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Details
Inclusions, Terms & Notes

Included

Transfers program (includes 1-night stay in a specified Cancun hotel plus dinner and beverage package on night 1, breakfast on Day 2, round-trip flights between Cancun and Belize City, transfer to the ship for embarkation on Day 2, and disembarkation day transfer from the ship to the airport); all meals while on board the ship; captain’s welcome cocktail and gala dinner; “open bar” (pouring wines, house champagne, alcohol except premium brands); evening entertainment and events; room service; highly qualified bilingual French/English expedition team; lectures presented by the expedition team; Zodiac and shore excursions; park entry fees into protected areas; complimentary unlimited Wifi on board; port fees and taxes (except for child passengers–see Families & Children); gratuities.

Exclusions

Optional add-on excursions or packages; ground services before or after the cruise, aside from Transfers program; visa expenses; possible immigration reciprocity taxes; luggage handling; beverages beyond those in Inclusions; laundry, hair salon, spa treatments, onboard medical consultations and other personal charges; cancellation, luggage, assistance, repatriation, medical and insurance of any kind; scuba dives (€460 for 4 dives or €610 for 6 dives in 2024-2025).

Payment & Cancellation

In order to confirm this trip, a deposit of 25% of the total trip cost is required per person at time of booking. The balance of the trip price is due 90 days before the departure date. Special holiday payment and cancellation terms apply. Guests who must cancel their trip for any reason must do so in writing. Standard cancellations beyond 14 days after booking confirmation are subject to the following per-person penalties, based on number of days prior to departure:
365 days or more – $250
364 to 211 days – 10% of total trip cost
210 to 91 days – 100% of deposit
90 to 0 days – 100% of total trip cost

Terms & Conditions

This trip is subject to AdventureSmith Explorations Terms and Conditions. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A Traveler Information Form, which includes a release of liability, must be completed and signed by all travelers. Your Adventure Specialist will send you a unique link to complete this form along with a packing list and extensive pre-departure and travel insurance information upon booking confirmation.

Arrival & Departure

The Belize & Honduras cruise begins and ends in Cancun, Mexico (CUN). We highly recommend arriving one day prior to your trip start date in case of any flight delay, cancellation or lost luggage issues. Recommended flight arrival and departure times are specific to each voyage; consult your Adventure Specialist for guidelines relating to your departure. If you would like assistance with international flights, please visit our Booking Flights resource page.

Internal Flights

Round-trip Economy class group charter flights between Cancun, Mexico and Belize City, Belize, are included with this trip’s itinerary; see the Transfers program information listed above under Inclusions. Charter flights are unique per departure and details will be confirmed in advance. The flight to Belize City is expected to depart after breakfast on Day 2 of the itinerary. There is a luggage limit of 50 lbs (23 kg) checked luggage and 18 lbs (8 kg) cabin baggage on the flights between Cancun and Belize City for Economy class. Premium Economy seating is available upon request for an additional charge. The luggage limit for premium economy is two 50 lbs (23 kg) checked luggage and 22 lbs (10 kg) cabin baggage. Additional baggage allotment can be requested and purchased (ask your Adventure Specialist for price) and is based on availability. On the final day of the itinerary, the ship is scheduled to arrive at the pier and breakfast is held on board. Disembarkation follows breakfast, with a transfer to the airport for the return charter flight to Cancun.

Activities

Optional activities on your Belize & Honduras cruise include practicing photography, Zodiac cruising, swimming and snorkeling, shore-based excursions and possible added-cost diving (advanced, certified divers carrying a medical certificate less than 1 year old and their up-to-date dive book only). In addition to these off-ship excursions, a multitude of onboard activities keep guests engaged, including live music, dance and theater; spa treatments; exercise and stretching classes; specialty food, wine and cocktail tastings; organized games; and lectures by guides and possible special guests.

Room Configuration

Select double-occupancy cabins may be available for single occupancy with a single supplement fee. This supplement may vary depending on cabin category and remaining capacity per departure. A willing-to-share program is not available. Triple and quadruple rates may be available in select cabin categories; contact AdventureSmith for details.

Families & Children

Children 1 year and older at time of travel are welcomed on this cruise. Children under 18 years old at time of travel may receive special discounts when sharing a cabin with two full-fare adults. A child sharing a cabin with a single adult is considered to be a paying adult. Contact AdventureSmith for details.

Travel Insurance

A medical form for all travelers is required for every departure. Protect your travel investment with insurance. Our partners at Travelex Insurance offer a variety of plans and policies to fit every trip and budget. Coverage for a pre-existing medical condition is also available if you purchase the Travel Select plan within 15 days of the initial trip payment; refer to plan details. Learn more about travel insurance or get a free quote.

Itinerary Notes

Use the itinerary as a guide only. Itineraries may be altered due to weather, wildlife, national park regulation or at the captain’s discretion. The ability to be flexible makes this type of small ship cruising unique.

Rates & Dates

Cruise Rates & Dates

Rates are variable per remaining availability and are subject to change.

Dec 19 - Dec 27, 2024
Le Bellot • 9 days
From $4540USD
Per Person
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Accommodation

Learn About the Small Ship on Your Itinerary

Expedition Ship
Le Bellot

The 184-guest Le Bellot is a modern, luxury expedition ship cruising the Arctic and Caribbean. She offers an upscale onboard ambiance, impressive service, and an engaging expedition program of both onboard lectures and off-ship excursions.

Book with the confidence that comes from experience.

100+ combined years of experience, 7 continents explored, decades of expedition cruising around the world & here to help you find & book your dream trip.

Extend Your Trip

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Belize & Honduras: Unexpected Encounters & Nature

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