Natural sanctuaries & Caribbean encounters

Belize City is the former capital and the country’s largest town. Located on the Caribbean Sea, this lively little town symbolises 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.

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 marvellous 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. 

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 our 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!

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. 

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 colour. 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.  

Lying on the Honduran shores, the small community of La Ensenada will charm you with its gentle way of life and breathtaking landscapes. Make the most of a timeless moment to go and meet the local population and learn more about their day-to-day lives and their customs. The mangrove, a unique ecosystem teeming with life, will also reveal itself to you with the possibility of a river cruise aboard a local boat.

Off the coast of Utila, in the Bay Islands archipelago, the small uninhabited island of Water Caye offers a peaceful and deeply relaxing atmosphere. Its pristine white-sand beaches lined with palms and coconut trees are perfect for lazing, while its crystal-clear waters and abundant marine life delight swimmers and snorkellers alike.

Placencia beckons travellers 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-coloured 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, you will be able to discover the Mopan and Kekchi Mayan civilisations.

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.

Belize City is the former capital and the country’s largest town. Located on the Caribbean Sea, this lively little town symbolises 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.