BELIZE
WORLDSCHOOL HUB
Explore Belize Hub
01/19/25-02/14/25
WEEK 1
The Mountains
01.19.25-01.23.25
Let's Get Acquainted!
1.19.25
Welcome to the Explore Belize Hub! We begin our time together by sharing a meal in San Ignacio. Dinner and the first drink are on me! I will post the restaurant here as soon as I decide which one!
We will take a guided tour of the Mayan site of Xunantunich. The site is very well excavated and documented, and the temples are quite large. We will spend the morning here with a knowledgeable local guide.
High in the mountains of the cayo district, we head to Rio On Pools, a beautiful playground of natural pools, slides, and small waterfalls. With a wide variety of depths, this is a great spot for all ages.
We head into the cave on kayaks. This is a guided tour and safe for all ages, but obviously you need to be ok with darkness and caves. Everyone will have lights, and there are lights on the boats! This is a great way to experience the caves if the ATM cave is not the right fit.
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Actun Tunichil Muknal The ATM cave is an incredibly special place. Quite possibly the most magnificent sacred cave on earth, it is one of Belize's most well known destinations. There is no age limit, but there is a height limit of 40 inches. You also need to be comfortable with moderately strenuous hikes, including through water. You need to be comfortable walking in wet clothes and shoes. Though there are not super tight squeezes, if you're very claustrophobic, this might not be the right tour. There are also skeletons still in the cave, and guides do explain how those skeletons got there, so a child with serious fears around darkness, death, etc may not enjoy this. All that said, this trip is phenomenal. In addition to skeletons, you'll see pottery and magnificent stalactites and stalagmites.
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Family Co-op Gathering by the river
1.23.25
The co-op will be by the river in San Ignacio and it will include lunch and snacks, as well as supervision for those requesting childcare.
We are lgbtq friendly and neurodiversity affirming. This program is a safe space for your children. I have queer children and don't allow bigotry or bullying. I also have children who are autistic, adhd, bipolar, and pda. This is why it is important to me that children have the option to stay home for the day if they need to but the rest of the family wants to adventure. Everybody needs a break. Only you know if your children will be alright without you, but I know it helps me to know a parent is familiar with neurodivergence before leaving my children with them. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free meals can all easily be arranged. Please let me know ahead of time. Contact me with other dietary restrictions, and I will let you know if it's possible.
WEEK 2
JUNGLE BASE
1.27.25 - 1.30.25
Called the best little zoo in the world, this is one of a small handful of zoos I will go to. All the animals here are native to Belize, and all have been imprinted on humans, injured, or are part of a captive breeding program. The enclosures are large and natural. With jaguars, tapirs, spider and howler monkeys, crocs, and more, this is a really fun place. We will have a guided tour where we get to help feed some of the animals and a picnic lunch on the larger grounds.
Gales Point
1.29.25
Small kriol village founded by runaway slaves. We will watch a cultural drumming and history presentation from master drummer and drum builder Emmeth Young followed by a traditional kriol lunch. If you think you might want to buy a drum in Belize, this is the place to do it. Emmeth makes all his drums by hand using techniques handed down from generation to generation. After our lunch, we will head out into the lagoon to see if we can see some manatee. Finally we will go up the road to see Emmeth's traditional Belizean farm. His family has been farming in this area for generations, and he will tell us how and what he farms and give us a chance to taste a few things as well.
Family Co-op Gathering St Herman's Blue Hole
1.30.25
The co-op gathering will be at the inland blue hole, St Herman's, and it will include lunch, snacks, and supervision for those requesting childcare. This is a beautiful cenote and a great spot for a swim and a picnic.
We are lgbtq friendly and neurodiversity affirming. This program is a safe space for your children. I have queer children and don't allow bigotry or bullying. I also have children who are autistic, adhd, bipolar, and pda. This is why it is important to me that children have the option to stay here in my home for the day if they need to but the rest of the family wants to adventure. We all need a break sometimes. Only you know if your children will be alright without you, but I know it helps me to know a parent is familiar with neurodivergence. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free meals can all easily be arranged. Please let me know ahead of time. Contact me with other dietary restrictions, and I will let you know if it's possible.
Weeks 3 & 4
Hopkins Beach
02.03.25-02.14.25
Cockscomb has beautiful trails, plants, waterfalls and even a wrecked plane. After a beautiful morning hike, we will have a traditional Mayan lunch at the Che'il Chocolate Factory. After lunch you can choose to go to the butterfly pavilion where you can see butterflies flying around and in various stages of metamorphosis or you can take a tour of the Che'il chocolate farm and factory, where you can help make chocolate the traditional way.
Monkey River Tour
02.05.25
We will drive to Placencia village early and hop on a boat for a beautiful boat ride through the mangroves and up monkey river to a trail where you are guaranteed to hear and likely see howler monkeys (also tons of birds, iguanas, and sometimes crocs, tapirs, tarantulas or wild cats). Incredibly knowledgable guides point out animals, plants and tracks both on the river and up the trail. Then we will have lunch in the village and head back to Placencia, looking for manatees along the way.
Family Co-op Gathering Bocawina National Park
02.06.25
The co-op gathering will be at Bocawina National Park, and it will include lunch, snacks, and supervision for those requesting childcare. This is a beautiful park with lots of hiking trails and waterfalls. There is also rappelling and zip lining on site for those who are interested.
We are lgbtq friendly and neurodiversity affirming. This program is a safe space for your children. I have queer children and don't allow bigotry or bullying. I also have children who are autistic, adhd, bipolar, and pda. This is why it is important to me that children have the option to stay in my home for the day if they need to but the rest of the family wants to adventure. Everybody needs a break. Only you know if your children will be alright without you, but I know it helps me to know a parent is familiar with neurodivergence. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free meals can all easily be arranged. Please let me know ahead of time. Contact me with other dietary restrictions, and I will let you know if it's possible.
Garifuna cooking and drumming experience with Mama G
02.10.25
Bread and Butter Caye fishing, snorkeling and island party
02.12.25
Family Co-op Gathering floating the Swazey River plus kids gathering at my house
02.14.25
Tugucina Gloria is a traditional Garifuna restaurant. Mama G is so good at what she does that she was chosen to cook for Prince William and Princess Kate when they came to the village. She also showed them how to prepare some traditional foods. She can teach us too! She will show us how to prepare the traditional Garifuna dish, hudut. Be prepared to help! When we cook, we get to eat! After lunch we go right next door for traditional Garifuna drumming and dancing. Originating in different parts of Africa, Garifuna and kriol drumming are very different, and you'll hear the difference.
Out to the islands we go! We will hop on a boat for a short trip to a tiny caye called Bread and Butter. We will do some snorkeling and a little fishing and then enjoy a delicious barbecue right there on the island. There is sand, sea, hammocks, and food. It's the good life.
Our last family gathering will be floating down the lovely Swazey River in inner tubes. There are a few mild rapids, but this is really a relaxing float, and we will likely see the magnificent Scarlet Macaws, as well as an abundsance of other wildlife. It's a great way to celebrate Valentine's Day with the family! If adults would like to go out for the evening, I will be offering childcare at my home in the form of a kids' Valentines party. We have crafts, games, art supplies, video games, and of course traditional valentines nerf guns. Lunch is provided for the river float, and the kids will be fed snacks and dinner at the kids' party!
