A Luxury Belize Adventure

The Toledo District is known for its top-quality cacao, which is used to make chocolate. At the organic Agouti Cacao Farm in the village of San Pedro de Columbia, farmer Eladio Pop and his family teach chocoholics how the sweet stuff is made, from bean to bar. See first-hand how cacao is harvested, dried, roasted, and ground and have an opportunity to make hot chocolate from scratch—the ancient Maya way. You will also learn about the local area and culture.

Board a small boat and float through the lush jungle, listening to the calls of river birds and howler monkeys. Your experienced river guide will point out some of the region’s abundant wildlife including Morelet’s crocodiles, iguanas and an array of bird species. You’ll then enjoy a jungle hike to spot troops of howler monkeys, toucans, snakes and other rainforest flora and fauna. Learn about the various plants that are used in herbal medicine. before wandering through Monkey River Town, a small fishing village.

Head to the Mopan river where a vehicle will transfer onto a hand cranked ferry to travel across the river, before driving to the Xunantunich Maya archaeology site. Learn about this small,  fascinating site on a guided tour and enjoy amazing vistas of the surrounding rainforest landscape from atop the main temple.

Head through the Mennonite Community of Upper Barton Creek to the river at Barton Creek. Equipped with canoes and high powered lights, gently paddle along the river into the cave system known as Xibalba (she-bal-ba), which is Mayan for underworld. Stalactites hang high overhead as you float past impressive calcite crystal formations. Knowledgeable guides discuss the relevance of the cave to the ancient Mayan people and the archaeological significance of this 7.5km limestone cave system, which was used for ceremonial purposes and as a burial site by the ancient Maya people.