Belize Travel FAQ

Everyone sleeps in beach cabanas. We have eleven double beds and the rest are singles. Most cabanas sleep 2, some sleep 3 or 4. We provide linens, blankets, and pillows. Double occupancy is a necessity when trips are full, so single travelers may be roomed with another single traveler of the same gender. Families of 3 will all be roomed together. We cannot reserve specific cabanas in advance as the trip leader considers the needs of everyone before assigning cabanas; rooming is not confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis. We only have so many cabanas, some have double beds, some are duplexes, some have single beds. We take each person’s special request into account and of course try to give everyone exactly what they want, but since we can’t know the makeup of the group in advance, we reserve the right to do the rooming to try to accommodate everyone, not each family or single traveler in order of reservation.

On the island we have composting toilets, and bathe with well-water (not heated) pumped by the sun to a gravity flow tank; the shower stalls are completely private. Please note the bathroom facilities on our island are not attached to the rooms, requiring a walk of at least 50 feet. All inland lodging consists of standard guest rooms with flush toilets and hot showers. More information on all of our island facilities can be found elsewhere on our site.

We have no safes on the island, as they would rust shut in a matter of months. We keep cash ourselves on the island, we simply hide it somewhere in our luggage. We completely trust all of our staff and guests. All visitors to the island (there are not many) are met and escorted the entire time they are there. However, if we miss someone they are the only potential problem, they could be wandering un-escorted. That’s why we don’t leave our money sitting out in plain sight in our cabana.

Only when inland. On the island our communication systems are for staff and emergency use only, there is no internet. Please see the question below about emergency contact.

Please note that the island is extremely hard on electronics; waves break directly on our shore and the air is permeated with salt. Do not bring your computer with you, it will definitely shorten its life. Inland all lodges have electrical outlets in the rooms, and all devices that work in the US will work in Belize. On the island we have a 12 Volt electric system and cigarette lighter outlets with USB ports in the Dining Hall available for charging. To charge devices and camera batteries that do not take a USB cord, you can either get a charger that plugs directly into a car cigarette lighter or purchase an inverter to plug your regular battery charger into. About 95% of battery chargers will work on small inverters. We do not provide inverters because devices could be ruined by the wrong inverter, and we cannot be responsible for your electrical devices. You should test your charger with your inverter in your car before you come. If it charges in your car, your setup will work on the island. Note that you can only charge devices during daylight hours.

Unlike other locations in Belize, we have minimal mosquitoes and sand flies.

During periods of calm weather and after rain, there could be a few bugs present on the island, but we methodically treat the island once a week to keep it bug-free as much as possible.

The “wild side” of the island isn’t treated, so bug spray should be applied beyond the resort’s property.

We have discontinued half-weeks since 2020. Our Belize one week island itinerary is our most popular Belize package.

Some of our guests arriving Day 1 of their trip do not experience any problems getting there, however, there is a percentage that do. There are several daily flights to Belize, so if you miss your flight you may be able to still arrive the same day on a later flight, or a full 24 hours later than you originally intended. Arriving one day early is a way to avoid any problems in meeting the group on time.

Our Hints for a Better Vacation can be found else where on our site, and provides valuable information for planning your flight schedule. Learn about all flight options to Belize elsewhere on our site.

Our boat ride is 1.5 hours one way. The boat generally leaves around 10:30 a.m., arriving on the island just before lunch. The unload and reload for the departing guests takes 2 hours, and then the boat returns to Dangriga. We leave at 6:30 a.m., to get the other group off the island. We require the group to go over the safety orientation and be prepared the night before, for the quick turnaround of the boat shuttle, as the other guests need to get back for their international flights in a timely manner. On the end of the trip, you usually get back to Dangriga by 8 a.m.

For any sport you want to do, you must complete the orientation session. This is a safety issue. The sessions are not boring, nor a waste of time. We’ve been doing it a long time, and have developed our program as the fastest way to get a whole group up and running. Everyone is required to do the snorkel orientation the first afternoon on the island and the Belize sea kayaking orientation the next morning. We use the kayaks to access snorkel spots that are too far to swim to. We snorkel every day, the snorkeling is incredible. Sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate, and even though you thought you would be kitesurfing the whole time, the wind might not blow the whole week. There is no telling what will actually happen weather-wise the week you are there. We do not repeat the snorkel or the sea kayak orientations, which is why they are required. After they are out of the way, the other orientations like windsurfing, kitesurfing, and paddleboarding are offered as many times as people want them. Everyone tells us they didn’t understand the importance of these orientation sessions before they got to the island, but once they spent time there they realized the beauty of our system. It takes time to introduce this much gear to a group so that they can use it with or without a guide safely.

The itinerary is more structured at the beginning and completely flexible by the end of the week. No one is required to participate in any sport, but if you want to try a sport you must first attend an orientation/safety session, regardless of your past experience. So the first 24 hours on the island is busy while we complete the mandatory orientations so everyone can get started having fun. Snorkel orientation is the first afternoon, then sea kayak orientation is the next morning. Those we do not repeat. After that, remaining orientations will be repeated as many times as necessary. You may join a guided activity or go off on your own as long as you have a buddy and as long as you have already attended the orientation session. We do reserve the right to veto a plan we feel is unwise.

We have updated our package from a Friday, to a Saturday arrival to reflect this.

The trip starts from 6:30 p.m.  on Saturday, with the island being from Sunday to Sunday.

The only way to arrive late or depart early is to charter your own boat. Our boat runs to and from out of Dangriga every Sunday. The boat that takes you out to the island brings back the departing group from the week before. It’s a 1.5 hour ride, so our boat must leave Dangriga by 10:30 a.m. It is not possible to delay this boat ride even a few hours. Also, sometimes we have to leave Dangriga to go out to the island even earlier than usual due to an impending weather event. Therefore guests going out to the island have to arrive the evening before, we need everyone right there so we can leave when we need to. Guests who arrive late because they can’t meet our schedule will need to stay in close contact with us. Occasionally extreme weather means we have to delay our boat a day, so rather than fly on to Dangriga you would meet the delayed group and go out with us the next day. You need to contact the office right before you leave home to make sure “Plan A” is still a go.

Guests who wish to arrive late for some reason, or who miss a flight and must arrive late, will be responsible for chartering their own boat from Dangriga, Belize (not Belize City) out to the island. The cost is currently $750 for the boat and $95/person for the flight between Dangriga and Belize City. When guests charter a boat, we will arrange it for the guest, but the ride itself is outside of our responsibility and is at the risk of the guest, we cannot be responsible for it. We only arrange with captains we have had good results from in the past, but these individuals are not our employees and it is not an official part of the trip package. Guests must carry $750 US in cash to pay for this boat ride on site. Please do not wait until you get to Belize to try to procure cash. To meet the charter boat, guests must first fly 20 minutes to Dangriga on one of two airlines: Tropic Air or Maya Island Air. Tickets can be purchased on the website of either airline up until 3 days prior to the flight. After that reservations must be made by phone. Advance payment is not required. Dangriga is 35 miles from Belize City, and the boat ride could take roughly 1.5 hours to 4 hours, depending on the weather. Because the weather can never be predicted, the latest time of day that you could safely leave Dangriga and make it to Long Caye before dark in any weather would be 2:30 pm. This means the last flight you could take is the 1:45 pm flight on Tropic (arriving in Dangriga at 2:00 pm). Maya Island Air’s last flight that meets this schedule is the 1:30 pm flight (arriving in Dangriga at 1:45). All later flights these airlines offer get to Dangriga too late to gather your luggage, get picked up, be driven to the dock, get loaded on the boat, and get out to Glover’s Reef before dark, leaving extra time for problems. Guests must be responsible for following these guidelines. Belizean captains will leave any time you ask to make you happy, and they have been known to make a poor judgment call in this regard. It is the guest’s responsibility not to get on any boat leaving Dangriga after 2:30 pm. If your flight is delayed or you are delayed for any other reason, you should overnight in Dangriga and go out to the island the next morning. If you find that you will be late, you need to contact our office via email (slickrock@localhost) or phone (1-800-390-5715) so that we can contact the island and let them know you will come out first thing the next morning.

Occasionally guests will make their own boat arrangements without consulting us. If you choose to do this, be sure the boat you hire has two engines and be sure the boat has lifejackets and be SURE you wear the life-jackets. Belizean captains will not insist on this.

Our Belize family resort is the ultimate destination for your whole family. However, if some members of your family could not join you, leave our office number in the United States with your relatives for emergency contact, but inform them that it could take over a day to get through. We do not pass on messages of a non-emergency nature.

As of 2021, there is a nearby cell phone tower, so your cell phone will should work on the island. Please make sure you have roaming agreed with your provider, as fees can be rather excessive without a pre-agreed plan.

Staff members are trained in First Aid and phone contact is maintained at all times. Evacuations by boat can be arranged, but you will have to pay all expenses. There is a helicopter in Belize, but this can cost US$5-7k. If inland, transportation to Belize City is easily arranged, but also at your expense. Be sure you have funds on hand to pay for any emergency. Hospitals in Belize do accept credit cards. See Our Hints for a Better Vacation for our recommendations for travel insurance.

Belize City has had a somewhat unsavory reputation. As with most financially deprived cities around the world, the best advice is not walk alone at night, but it is safe to walk around during the day provided you adopt a confident attitude. If you’re worried, stay at one of the better hotels and take cabs within the city. If approached for money (the most common occurrence), always be polite. Simply treat people how you want to be treated, and you shouldn’t have any big issue.

They are rarely dangerous, but once you acknowledge them, they’re hard to get rid of. Act like you know where you are going, and watch out for scams like “fund-raisers.” When taking a cab in Belize, always settle the price before getting in (make clear it is per cab, not per person.) Surprises are common in this region and one should be prepared to accept canceled reservations, closed businesses, or broken commitments. Our staff makes every effort to insulate you from these problems, but we too must live with their system.

Passports are required for travel to Belize. For an application, contact the U.S. Post Office. You will send the U.S. Passport Service a certified birth certificate along with passport photos and the completed form. Your passport must be valid throughout the duration of your stay in Belize with proof of return ticket. If you do not have proof of a return ticket, your passport must be valid for six months past your entry date into Belize. Of course, almost all travelers will likely have a planned return ticket. Visas are automatically distributed on the plane to U.S., Canada, and British citizens. Persons from other countries need to contact their consulate. When packing make two copies of the first page of your passport and carry one in a different place from your passport and leave one with a friend.

In general, late November – May is the “dry” season, with February – March enjoying the most ideal weather. Ideal weather means a temperature in the low 80s during the day and the low 70s at night, and winds at 10-15 mph. During some years the early parts of the dry season are still fairly stormy. June through early November is the “rainy” season, but out at Glover’s it’s not nearly as wet as on the mainland. The worst weather of the year is during September and October. Online weather forecasts are for Belize City, there are no forecasts for Glover’s Reef. There is no way to predict the weather for specific dates!

The most productive thing you can do is read the material about your trip, and read it as soon as you sign up. We will mail you complete trip documentation when you sign up. Many factors influence your enjoyment of your trip, and many of these hinge on being prepared. We consider the following to be required reading for those joining us: (1) the detailed itinerary sheet of the trip you are on, (2) this page, (3) the Belize Supplemental Information sheet, and (4) Our Hints for a Better Vacation. Our staff will be happy to answer all of your questions, give us a call.

We cover everything except alcoholic beverages, Belize exit tax, scuba diving, advanced kitesurfing lessons, tips, and taxis to and from the airport, which can add up to several hundred dollars. If you or your luggage were delayed, an already difficult situation would be greatly compounded if you were relying on credit cards or unreliable ATM machines. It can cost up to $750 for one person to catch up with the trip. Please see our packing list for Belize for further information; request this document by email or phone.

• Possible boat evacuation for emergency – $750
• Flight to international airport if evacuating – $95 per person (can use credit card)
• Helicopter evacuation $5k – 7k
• Rum and wine, if desired – $100
• Airport exit tax – $25 per person (included in flight cost now)
• Tips for staff at end of trip (standard amount is 10-15% of trip cost)

Tips should reflect your satisfaction with crew performance and are not required. Tipping is often organized as a group tip (one guest collects the entire tip from all members of the group and presents it to the trip leader at the end of the trip). The trip leader then splits the tip between all staff members. Staff members include trip managers, guides, cooks, and island caretakers; company owners are excluded. Tips may not be put on guest credit cards. The standard in the industry for each guest is 10-15% of the trip price.

Guests can be as active or laid back as you so wish.

There is the chance to be fairly active, which includes walking, bending over, scrambling up, lugging kayaks over rocks, getting in and out of kayaks, swimming, falling into the water from your windsurf board and getting back on, etc.

It isn’t required, but one could focus on all-body conditioning prior to your trip. Hydration, eating, and sunscreen are the top three things that can help with such heavy workouts.

Children under 18 must travel with both of their parents, or documentation from the absent parent is required. A new Belize law (2010) requires any children under 18 to have a notarised letter from each of their parents giving permission to enter the country if either or both parents are not present. For further explanation on this topic, visit our Family Vacation page, and read the section entitled Special Documentation Required When Taking Kids To Belize.

Please request our packing list. We can send it to you mail or by email.

No, you should never touch coral. We encourage everyone to be conscientious about preserving an area we feel fortunate to have access to.

Yes; in “cold” weather (60-65 degrees) the extra layer extends the warmth of your other clothes. Cold spells can happen at any time of the year, and long underwear is something most people already own, plus it doesn’t take up much room in your luggage.

Many sports require special gear that we do not provide as it is personal gear and must fit your body (or in the case of fishing in Belize, the fishing is fantastic at our island for those who don’t require instruction). Request our full packing list that can be mailed or emailed to you. For our recommendations for the best fins for snorkeling and other gear, visit this page on our website.

Snorkeling vacation packages are available to our private island every week from December – June.

There is no restaurant on the island, all of our meals are served buffet-style. Our Belizean food menu is designed to take advantage of the fresh seafood of Belize and fresh fruits and vegetables available in the local markets. A typical dinner includes one appetiser, one entrée (fish, chicken or pork), two side dishes including fresh vegetables and carbohydrates, and dessert. Fresh homemade breads and salads are often served as part of the meal. Inland, we eat home-style Belizean meals at the lodges we use (we can provide a copy of their menus).

We are happy to accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other diets, but due to the nature of our remote island camp and kitchen, we will need advance notification of dietary requirements.

Guests may not utilise our kitchen to cook their own food, it is used by our staff only.

Life-threatening allergies. Guests who carry an epinephrine pen for a food allergy can be assured we will either not serve, or completely quarantine, those items for that week. For example, if someone carries an epinephrine pen for a nut allergy, we remove nuts in all dishes except the granola (which is made in large batches in advance) for the full week for the full group.

We use a rainwater collection system, and this water is then purified. We have a solar-powered refrigerator to chill our beer and soda, which is included in the trip price. Diet drinks are not available from our distributor (we only use returnable bottles). We also have fresh orange juice and juice concentrates for mixing with water or for cocktails. Regarding alcohol, we supply beer; and guests have to bring their own rum or other alcoholic beverages which can be purchased in Belize. There is no ice.

We can’t offer daily excursions; our shortest trip is seven nights on the island. Long Caye is 36 miles from Dangriga and 65 miles from Belize City.

We don’t rent our gear for many reasons. Transport and duty fees double the value of gear and there is no way to replace it. Our equipment is based at our private island resort 36 miles offshore, which is reserved solely for our guests.

We do not rent our Belize accommodations only. Our island is extremely remote, and our transport only runs one day a week. There is no restaurant other than our Dining Hall. The only way to visit our island is to purchase a package which includes hotel and restaurant meals in Dangriga before the trip, transport to and from the island, lodging and meals on the island, beer and soda, and complete use of our sports equipment, which includes instruction. There is no discount if you don’t want to participate in one or more of the sports. We have very limited availability, and everything is there for you regardless of how much you take advantage of it.

While other lodges focus on accommodations, we focus on sports. We have over 40 sea kayaks for 24 people (so your kayak fits you), multiple windsurf set-ups for beginner, intermediate, and expert sailors, top-of-the line surf kayaks, surf boards for those with experience and chosen for our wave, a huge selection of paddleboards, professional kitesurfing gear, and special kayaks for fishermen. All of this gear is driven over 3000 miles to Belize. No resort in Belize comes close to the sports experience we provide. At our place you won’t find maid service, flush toilets, wifi, or umbrellas in your drinks. But you will get the best sports experience available in the country. If accommodations are your priority you have many options. Our programme is not for everyone, but it is no less expensive to deliver this kind of experience. Not to mention the fact that we have a private island. It’s the best island in Belize, with all the best toys.

Not at all. Long Caye offers the ultimate blend of adventure and relaxation. Depending on your ability and fitness level, each sport can take several days of practice to begin to feel proficient. And, everyone likes some hammock time.

Yes. Depending on the group, your guide may lead longer excursions, paddle outside the reef in the open sea, or allow advanced kayakers to paddle on their own with a “buddy”. There is more to see at Glover’s Reef than one could ever cover in one week.

Each sport has a required orientation session before you are authorized to use the gear for that sport. We are not renting you the gear, this is a guided, multi-sport trip. Guests with extensive experience in a particular sport may receive a special, abbreviated orientation so they can get started earlier, but this is not always possible for every sport. Our guides are guiding the whole group, not just one person, and they must balance their time between everyone so that everyone is safe in the water. If you have only one sport you are interested in, our guides will do their best to get to the orientation as soon as possible, but it may not happen the first day you are on the island, or maybe not even the second day. Guides are responsible for everyone and can’t guide more than one thing at a time. Persons interested in only one sport will have to adjust their expectations as this is a multi-sport trip, not a single-sport trip, and all sports require a guide or buddy, especially when the conditions are extreme. We find that guests who show up thinking they will only do one sport quickly realize the beauty of this location is that you can try so many things. You’ll want to do everything; there are few places on earth where you can experience this many sports in one week. Individuals can certainly choose to focus on one sport, but we offer everything every week. The primary factor in what sports we are doing on a particular day is of course the weather.

No experience is necessary for any of our trips, but unpredictable weather can sometimes create strenuous conditions. The island trip is perfect for beginners; unless otherwise requested, our longest paddle is two miles. Full instruction is included for all sports, and the 80-degree water creates an ideal setting to learn or improve your skills. People in average shape have no trouble.

Many of our guests are single travelers. We offer group activities all day every day, someone else on the same activity can easily be your buddy. If you wish to do an activity without a guide, you would have to find a buddy, but there are usually plenty of people looking for activity partners.

We do not charge a single supplement, singles pay the same as everyone else.

We know that singles do not want to share, and we do our best to make that happen.

It is more likely you would not share on the island but possibly share inland.  We pay the extra cost when a single gets their own room; our prices are based on double occupancy.

Our island is the best all inclusive family resort in Belize. The Adventure Island at Glover’s Reef trip is great for kids ages 3+. However, most of our gear is adult gear, and we do not offer kid-specific activities. Families love our island trips because the itinerary is so flexible. Parents may wish to hire a babysitter, which we arrange.

On the Glover’s Reef trip our maximum is 30 guests.

Occasionally we overbook under special circumstances.

If you are pregnant you may be wondering if you can join us for your vacation. The answer is yes, as long as you are prepared to travel pregnant, and know what to expect.

Our two biggest concerns for pregnant participants on our trips are our distance from medical care and the boat ride out to the island. You will need to talk to your doctor and explain that you will be approximately 2 hours from medical care, first a 1.5 hour boat ride, a 20 minute flight, and ten minute drive to a private hospital. Your doctor will need to write us a letter that gives her/his permission for you to join, specifically mentioning that up to 3 hours from medical care is not a concern for you.

The boat ride out to the island can be rough. You should bring a belly strap, like the kind you use when you run. You can read more about the boat ride on our website.

Active females will be able to participate in most of our sports. You will only be somewhat limited on the sports you can join. There are no problems snorkeling pregnant and sea kayaking pregnant (use a surf kayak instead of a sea kayak, it’s a sit-on-top and easy to get into and out of). Although you can snorkel pregnant, you cannot go scuba diving, too much pressure on your belly. You won’t be able to windsurf because the sail can fall and hit you in the belly. Surf kayaking is a maybe, you can see what you think about that when you get there. Fishing pregnant is also no problem.

The first and second trimester are the best times to come– it gets harder to participate in all of the sports when you have less energy and are very pregnant.

The only item on our Belize menu that you won’t be able to eat is the yogurt (unpasteurised).

Be sure to rent a wetsuit from home to bring with you, get one several sizes larger than you normally wear.