If you’ve always wanted to try stand-up paddleboarding—or SUPing, as it’s known—you’ve got to try it in Belize. The tranquil Southern Barrier Reef has long been an epic destination for snorkellers and divers—and now SUPers are adding themselves to the list of travellers looking for a good reason to visit this little-seen stretch of sand.
This trip, geared toward novice and experienced paddlers alike, is being coordinated specially by Norm Hann Expeditions and Island Expeditions. You’ll spend days SUPing and snorkeling around off-the-beaten-path areas of the reef, trekking across uninhabited islands, exploring coral reefs and meeting abundant marine life. You’ll stay in family-run lodges and get a chance to explore other features of beautiful Belize.
Spectacular beauty of the Mesoamerican reef. (John Anderson Photography-iStock)
Itinerary Highlights
Days 1-2: Arrive and settle in before a day of passing through the Maya Mountains and reaching the island of Tobacco Caye for SUP guidance and tutorials.
Days 3-4: SUP around the South Water Cave Marine Reserve, Southwater Caye and the Smithsonian Carrie Bow Caye Field Station, with options for snorkeling along the way.
Days 5-7: Here you’ll get a broader chance to discover the reef by paddleboard or snorkel, then paddle to a fishing camp on Billy Hawk Caye and eventually return to the mainland by boat.
Photo courtesy of VIK Approved/Flickr Creative Commons
ISLAND EXPEDITIONS
- Phone: 800.667.1630
- Length/Departs: 7 days / check with operator for current dates, and if it’s an annual trip
- Accommodation: Lodges
- Price: From $1,900 USD
- Difficulty: Beginner–moderate
To learn more about this trip or to book it now, click here.
