Belize & Guatemala Expeditions

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February 6, 2022

Monkey River, Belize

16.367° S -88.48° E

Jeff Litton, Naturalist/Certified Photo Instructor

Starting in 2023, we are pleased to offer complimentary beer & wine aboard National Geographic Quest, National Geographic Venture, National Geographic Sea Bird, and National Geographic Sea Lion. See our new Free Bar Policy under special offers for details.

We're a winner of Conde Nast Traveler's 2022 Readers Choice Awards

The Beauty of Belize

Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic is again sailing to the breathtaking Belize Barrier Reef and venturing inland in search of elusive jaguars and mystical Mayan ruins. Experience this stunning geography aboard the National Geographic Sea Lion, a 62-guest expedition vessel once likened to Jacques Cousteau’s Calypso by National Geographic author Andrew Evans.

When we silence the engines and pause our excited conversations, a tranquil symphony emerges from the gently swaying canopy and undulating surf. Listen (sound on!) for a preview of your Belizean escape.

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Belize & Guatemala

New Belize to Tikal: Reefs, Rivers & Ruins of The Maya World

Special Offers

Duration

9 days

Jan
Feb

From

$6,060

Prices are per person

Special Offers (2)

Highlights

Belize & Guatemala

New Belize to Tikal: Reefs, Rivers & Ruins of The Maya World

Duration

9 days

Jan
Feb

From

$6,060

Top Highlights

Venture into the jungles of Guatemala with local experts to discover the spectacular temples and pyramids of both Tikal and Yaxhá
Spot rainbow-colored fish, turtles, and rays while snorkeling or diving the corals of the Belize Barrier Reef, one of the largest barrier reef systems in the world
Explore Belize’s coastal rivers by Zodiac, to sight toucans, green iguanas, and other wildlife
See dazzling birdlife and monkeys amid a towering forest in the Maya Biosphere Reserve—twice the size of Yellowstone National Park, it is home to over 400 bird species

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Special Offers

$700 AIR CREDIT
FREE BAR POLICY

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Belize & Guatemala

Wild Belize Escape: Wildlife, Reefs, and Rivers

Special Offers

Duration

6 days

Jan
Feb

From

$4,110

Prices are per person

Special Offers (2)

Highlights

Belize & Guatemala

Wild Belize Escape: Wildlife, Reefs, and Rivers

Duration

6 days

Jan
Feb

From

$4,110

Top Highlights

Paddle a kayak or stand-up paddleboard in turquoise lagoons and board Zodiacs to cruise wildlife-rich coastal rivers
Spot turtles, rays, and myriad species of colorful fish while snorkeling or diving the coral gardens of the Belize barrier reef
Join a naturalist for a hike in Mayflower Bocawina National Park and learn about the latest research on jaguars
Enjoy a festive drumming performance from the internationally acclaimed Garifuna Collective

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Special Offers

$700 AIR CREDIT
FREE BAR POLICY

View Itinerary Book Now

Expedition Highlights

Discover temples and forests teeming with life. See remarkable ruins of pre-Columbian Maya civilization. Delve into the mystery and history amid stone temples, palaces, and terraces cut by ancient people. And dive into a wealth of biodiversity in the Northern Hemisphere’s largest reef system at the Belize Barrier Reef. Revel among hundreds of species of fish, marvelous sea turtles, graceful rays, over 90 varieties of coral, and with luck, manatees. As only a small percentage of the reef has been studied, researchers believe hundreds, even thousands more species could be discovered in this protected zone.

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Life Aboard

Henry David Thoreau called it the "tonic of wildness." It’s what Belize and Guatemala, with their beauty and wildness intact, give you—a spirit lift. To compound this healthful effect, add the luxury of comfort to the privilege of being here—with a quality of shipboard life and a philosophy of wellness designed to relax and rejuvenate body, mind, and spirit.

Shades of blue water in the Belize Barrrier Reef

Broken-open cacao pod

Jaguar stands on a branch in a lush rainforest

Members of Belize's The Garifuna Collective perform

Why Belize Is a Bird-Lover's Paradise

Home to six Important Bird Areas, Belize is an avian oasis—crucial for endangered species like the yellow-headed Amazon parrot and the mouse-sized black rail.

Discover

Discover Belize & Guatemala

Expedition Leaders

Veteran expedition leaders are the orchestrators of your experience. Many have advanced degrees and have conducted research or taught for years. They have achieved expedition leader status because they possess the skills, the experience, and the depth of knowledge necessary to continually craft the best expedition possible for our guests.

Naturalist

With a team of naturalists aboard you’re ensured a healthy diversity of specialties—marine biology, evolutionary biology, ornithology, archaeology, and more—and personalities. Choose to spend time with whoever shares your interests.

Undersea Specialist

Your undersea specialist will prepare you for snorkeling outings and offer a voiceover to the corals, fish, and marine species you discover. Plus, they'll don diving gear and capture footage of the deep to review in comfort during Recap.

Certified Photo Instructor

Every expedition aboard a ship in our National Geographic-flagged fleet offers an exclusive service—a Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic certified photo instructor. This naturalist is specially trained to offer assistance with camera settings and the basics of composition and to help you become a better, more confident photographer.

Video Chronicler

Video chroniclers accompany every expedition and shoot vivid HD footage—with no recycled footage ever—to provide you with a professionally edited and completely authentic memento of your expedition. Working during the day and editing into the night, they have your video ready for preview prior to—and available to purchase at—disembarkation.

Daily Expedition Reports

Daily Expedition Reports

1/14/2023

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National Geographic Sea Lion

Mayflower Bocawina National Park

Today was our last full day of activities before saying adios! We spent the day visiting a Maya site, and we immersed ourselves in culture while listening and dancing to the music of the Garifuna Collective at night. First up in the morning was an hour and a half drive from Big Creek to Mayflower Bocawina National Park. We split into groups according to people’s preferences, and the three groups set off with their respective guides. The emphasis in one group was birding, and guests saw several of the over 600 species of birds found in Belize. The other groups took different trails, and they learned about the medicinal uses of plants, what roots and fruits are edible, and, of course, what to avoid! Black poisonwood and the spiny pokonobwai palm are on the list of plants to avoid. Some guests got lucky and spotted howler monkeys frolicking in the canopy! After hiking, everyone was treated to a delicious Belizean lunch in Maya Center Village accompanied by Maya marimba music and dance. Later in the evening, guests moved from the ship to The Placencia Yacht Club for a show by the world famous punta rock band, The Garifuna Collective. They put on a dock-shaking performance that motivated everyone to leave their seats and move to the groove of this homegrown genre of music! It was the icing on the cake of an amazing day. Thus ended the first voyage of 2023 for National Geographic Sea Lion .

Daily Expedition Reports

1/13/2023

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National Geographic Sea Lion

Ranguana Caye

Our day on National Geographic Sea Lion started with an early morning. The weather looked a bit rainy while the ship was en route to our anchorage. As we pulled up and dropped the anchor, we got our gear ready to hit the beach on Ranguana Caye for a full day in the sun. Splash Tour organized our snorkeling and diving activities in the world’s second largest barrier reef. The beauty of the Belize reef is evident in the corals and fish populations. Fly anglers, snorkelers, and divers emerged from our ship and from the mainland. Everyone was eager to learn about and enjoy the area’s natural wonders. On the island, kayaks and paddleboards were ready for guests who wanted an adventure. Despite a little rain here and there, the weather was great in the morning. Our guide from Splash was ready to make the day an amazing experience. We enjoyed our time on the beach and diving and snorkeling in the water. After lunch, a bar was set up on the beach for an afternoon of fun in the sun. Our day ended with the sun shining on us from the west while we packed up our toys and transported guests back to National Geographic Sea Lion before heading to Placencia, where we will stay for the night. Life on National Geographic Sea Lion is the best, and we cannot wait for our next adventure.

Daily Expedition Reports

1/12/2023

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National Geographic Sea Lion

Monkey River and Laughing Bird Caye

We began our morning as the sun broke the horizon off the coast of Monkey River Village. Our objective with this early wakeup call: visit the wildlife that call this river home with local guides. Zane, born and raised in Monkey River Village, is working as a guide and raising his four children in the town of 150 people. No matter the distance, he can spot each lizard, every camouflaged bunch of bats, and each bird no matter how big or small. It’s incredible. There is a story to tell behind each animal, each flower, and each bend along the way. Just as we approached our turnaround point, we spotted a troop of howler monkeys hanging in a Cecropia, or a trumpet tree. What first appeared to be four individuals turned into five as a baby monkey curled out of its mother’s arms. It dangled from the branches and from momma’s tail before returning to the safety of her side. Grateful for our wildlife sightings, we headed towards the ship and encountered a short rainfall. Knowing It wouldn’t be the tropical rainforest without the rain, we continued, smiles and all. After a gorgeous brunch put on by our galley and hotel department, we had a talk on Reef Fish Identification by undersea specialist Katie M.O. We learned how to best describe fish to identify them: body shape, swimming style, and least importantly, color, as fish commonly change colors to camouflage. Post talk and geared with new knowledge, we sailed to Laughing Bird Caye National Park. On shore, we met with local guides from SPLASH, a local dive company, to snorkel through the healthy coral habitat surrounding the island. Some of the highlights included colorful parrotfish, butterflyfish, barracudas, brain coral with Christmas tree wrasse, and more. Some of us snorkeled for hours while others gave paddleboarding and kayaking a try. How could a day get any better? The answer: rum on the sundeck. That’s right, our hotel and bar department wowed us with a Belizean-themed cocktail hour and locally inspired meal to celebrate the spectacular country we are visiting. Hearts full and bellies fuller, we finished the evening with a nightcap of locally crafted rum presented to us from the southern district town Punta Gorda. Another day in paradise here aboard National Geographic Sea Lion .

Daily Expedition Reports

1/11/2023

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National Geographic Sea Lion

Blue Hole and Half Moon Caye

Our first day in Belize started with a bang as we awoke anchored just off Half Moon Caye, serenaded by the guttural sounds of hundreds of frigatebirds eager to find a mate. Once ashore, half our group departed on a short hike to a bird colony where guests can enjoy front row viewing of frigatebirds and red-footed boobies. The parental boobies were warming eggs on their nests and nurturing small chicks while trying to ignore the cacophony of frigatebirds circling overhead. Not an easy feat! After the hike, we went snorkeling in the warm, shallow sea that surrounds the island. We were treated to up close sightings of barracudas and countless reef fish. In the afternoon, we jumped on a speedboat and motored over to one of Belize’s most popular attractions, The Great Blue Hole. Here we snorkeled the interior rim, and those who were brave enough swam to the center to look down into the abyss. Sharks and rays frequent the blue hole, and many snorkelers were treated to sightings of both. Weary after a long day in the sunshine, we all returned to our shipboard home for our first recap of the trip and cocktail hour. Just another day of paradise here in Belize!

Daily Expedition Reports

2/13/2022

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National Geographic Sea Lion

Maya Sky/Placencia

Today we woke up to a beautiful sunrise o n National Geographic Sea Lion in Belize. We are getting ready to do an inland activity that will take us to a waterfall to enjoy part of the day and the possibility to do tubing down a river called South Stan Creek River. It was my first time and I was very impressed by the natural beauty of the waterfall and the rock formation. We enjoyed about an hour at the falls then took a drive to the tubing site. We passed by land once used for growing oranges and bananas. At the private waterfall and river access, we did some swimming and tubing. Some guests saw scarlet macaws while tubing. It was a great expedition to the foot of a Mayan mountain. This afternoon, after a spectacular lunch, we rode Zodiacs to a place called the Yacht Club. Here we got the chance to enjoy a performance by the Garifuna Collective, a group that plays a kind of music known as punta. It was a fond farewell to Belize.

The geography is really remarkable—with a great diversity of ecosystems and an abundance of land and marine species. On the human side there’s fascinating diversity as well. The region contains many cultures and languages and has a rich history.

Sven-Olof Lindblad

1.800.397.3348

1.800.397.3348

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Central America 2023

Belize & Guatemala

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