EF Tours - Belize -2023

I partnered with EF Tours in 2023 to bring 10 of my students (and one parent) to Belize!  While EF has many types of tours to offer, I chose the STEM tours in order to engage my students in the content I deliver all year in Biology, IB Biology and AP Environmental Science.  

Next up - Costa Rica and Panama!




Belize is in Central America between Mexico and Guatemala.

Our itinerary brought us to many places.
Flying first into Belize City, then traveling to the Cayo Region, Punta Gorda, and the Southern Coast before returning to Belize City before our return to the States.

Our itinerary was filled with amazing environmental science and cultural experiences.  To learn more about the trip and see some of what we experienced check out a detailed account of each day by clicking on each day's links!

Day 1 - Arrival in Belize City and travel to Cayo Region

Day 2 - Belmopan Region - 

Day 3 - Belmopan Region and Punta Gorda -  

Visit a local NGO (non government organization)  named Ya'axche (pronounced Yash - chay) where we:

Day 4 - Punta Gorda - 

Visited a sustainable farm (Chubs Farm!) where we:

Discovered how agricultural practices are taught to community farmers by Ya'Axche workers
 Learned about climate-smart farming practices
 Tasted fresh fruits and vegetables growing on the farm

I was invited into their home to meet Chub's wife.

The entire group posing by a tree Chub planted 35 years ago.

Chub's turkey followed us and told us he was boss.

Cacao pod nearly ripe.

Visited the Indian Creek Mayan Arts Women's Group where we:

Learned about Mayan culture in a local village
 Made tortillas from scratch (and got to eat them!)
 Learned how chocolate is made from bean to bar, including grinding the beans to chocolate (which we got
to taste!)
 Learned about traditional basket weaving from palms and got to try our hand at it!
 Learned some traditional Mayan dances

Preparing fresh tortillas

Grinding the maize to a paste for making tortillas

Preparing palm fronds for weaving

Learning Mayan dances with our Tour Director Herbie

Day 5 - Punta Gorda - Day 2

Took a boat ride to explore the Port Honduras Marine Reserve where we:

Visited Punta Negra with TIDE for lunch and to see first hand how climate change, and coastal erosion are affecting the community.

Helped local scientists monitor the manatee population

Enjoyed Garifuna drumming lessons and a delicious locally sourced fish dinner cooked over a traditional fire hearth.

Day 6 -  Punta Gorda, Southern Coast, Placencia

Visited the San Pedro Columbia Village where we supported biodiversity by helping with a reforestation
project to help stabilize riverbanks, decrease erosion and improve water quality.

Traveled to the Southern Coast

Day 7 - Southern Coast, Belize City

Took another boat ride for a day trip to Tobacco Caye Marine Station, where we:

Snorkeled along the largest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere
 Participated in a nurdle hunt on the beach in an effort to clean up the beach from plastic pollution
 Dissected a Lionfish, and learned about invasive species.

James, the station manager for Tobacco Caye Marine Station

We handled (safely) Lionfish

Learned how they hold onto their prey

Collected 74 nurdles in 20 mins (Our traveling CAPS found the most nurdles from our entire larger group! 
Sko CAPS!)

Day 8 - Left for Raleigh from Belize City

Check out more on Instagram!