Sea and River Kayaking
Trips and Tours
General Information
Belize Travel Agent Services
Member:
Belize Tourism Industry Association
Placencia
Humane Society
Peninsula
Citizens
for Sustainable
Development
(Board of Directors)
Placencia
Sidewalk Fund
(Board of Directors)
The Iris Foundation
for Education
(Board of Directors)
Belize Marine Mammal Stranding
Association
Belize Ecotourism Association
Email Us |
|
Kayak Toledo:
Sea and river kayaking
in the deep south of belize
|
The Toledo
District of Belize |
|
Punta
Gorda Town
|
The Toledo District is the
southernmost district of Belize and runs from the Belize-Guatemala
border north to the general area of Monkey River Village. |
The District's main
population center is Punta Gorda Town ("PG" as it's
known in Belize), which fronts on the Bay of Honduras. Some
people describe Toledo as the "end of the earth" -- but so what -- the
fewer the people - the
better the paddling.
|
Inland, the
Toledo District is full of caves, rainforest, rivers, rice fields, the
Mayan Mountains and small Mayan villages that look much as they did a
hundred years ago.
Kayaking
Locations
The Moho, Rio Grande
and Deep Rivers emptying into the sea are prime paddling waters.
Early mornings are great for birding and Howler Monkeys. As the
day warms up, iguanas and turtles start their daily chore of tanning
themselves in the warm Caribbean sun. |
Kayaking on Deep River
|
Agami Heron at Moho River |
Iguana in tree on banks of Moho River
|
Howler Monkey at Deep River
|
|
Several
cayes (islands) lie almost directly off the PG coast, including the
Snake Cayes and Albaloon and Frenchmen Cayes. Further north are
the Sapodilla Cayes, Punta Ycacos Lagoon, and Punta Negra, just south of Monkey
River. |
Camping at Lime Caye in the Sapodilla Caye Complex
|
Camping on Beach at Punta Negra
|
Caribbean Kayaking with PG in Background
|
Sunset off Nicholas Caye
|
Guides
|
|
Like
almost all guides in coastal Belize, Toledo guides
have been on the seas and rivers since they were children going out with their dads
to earn a little spending money catching and selling their fish.
Belizean waters are as familiar to them as the streets of their
neighborhoods are to our visitors.
Ovel Leonardo, Jr
is our primary kayaking guide. Ovel
has been guiding fishing, snorkeling and kayaking trips since 1997 and
has received ongoing formal guide training from Orvis, Scientific
Anglers and the Toledo Institute of Development and the Environmen
(TIDE).
Ovel is single and has an associate degree in business from the
Toledo Community College. He's been out on the water with his dad
since he was 9 -- partly out of self defense to escape the
clutches of his four sisters. Ovel's dad works for the
American Canadian Caribbean Line and fishes commercially
part-time. Mom, Kim Young Leonardo, is a homemaker.
Ovel has two boats, the Cool Runner I and the Cool
Runner II.
Ovel's uncles,
John Young (Ovel's
mother's brother) and
Alex Leonardo
(his dad's brother) also guide kayaking, fishing and snorkeling trips.
John has been guiding since 1995 and is an expert fly fishing guide as
well as kayaking and snorkeling guide. Like Ovel, Alex has been
guiding since 1997 and can't imagine doing anything other than
guiding, fishing and exploring the waters of his home. |
| |
Camping and Kayaking Gear
Most all
camping and paddling gear is included in Toledo Sea and River trips,
including:
 |
Tents |
|
|
Sleeping pads |
|
|
Bedding (sheets, pillow, sleeping bag if
needed) |
|
|
Chairs and tables |
|
|
Meals and drinking water |
|
|
|
Kayaks (Wilderness Systems' Sealution
single kayaks |
|
|
PFDs, paddles, skirts
and pumps |
|
|
First aid
supplies |
|
|
Licensed Belize
kayaking guide |
|
|
Solar Shower |
|
|
|
Campers/paddlers
must provide:
Trips and Itineraries
Toledo Interlude
|
.jpg)
Kayaking to Albaloon Caye |
3 days and 2 nights
of river and sea kayaking and camping - perfect for a taste of
Toledo during your Placencia vacation. |
Depart Placencia at 9 a.m. on Day 1, arrive in PG at 9:30 am,
start your kayaking trip by 10:30 a.m. and back to Placencia by
4:20 p.m. on Day 3, in plenty of time for dinner. (Minimum
2 persons) |
$678 USD per person,
including the following:
|
|
Roundtrip air
transportation between Placencia and PG |
|
|
Roundtrip ground
transportation between Placencia lodging and Placencia airstrip |
|
|
Roundtrip ground
transportation between PG Airport and kayaking departure point |
|
|
3 days of guided
paddling (river and sea) |
|
|
2 nights guided
camping (tents) |
|
|
All camping and
kayaking gear (as described above on this page) |
|
|
All meals on
kayaking/camping trip: 2 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners |
|
|
All sales tax on
guided kayaking/camping trip and meals |
Does not include:
|
|
Placencia lodging
before or after trip |
|
|
Transportation to or
from Placencia |
|
|
Snorkeling gear |
|
|
Meals other than as
specifically described above |
|
|
Alcoholic beverages |
|
|
Items listed above on
this page to be provided by kayakers/campers |
|
|
Gratuities |
|
|
Souvenirs |
|
|
Trip cancellation
insurance |
General Trip Itinerary
(subject to modification based on weather)
|
|
Day One:
Ground transfer
from hotel to Placencia airstrip. Depart Placencia at 9 a.m.
for air transfer to PG. Pickup at PG Airport, ground
transfer to boat landing. Boat transfer north on Belize
coast. Kayak to 7 Hills Sugar Mill. (Three hours
kayaking and then 1 hour hike to Sugar Mill and guided tour of
Sugar Mill, including history of sugar production in Belize.)
Kayak to cayes, set up camp, overnight camping in tents.
Lunch and dinner included.
|
|
|
Day Two:
Kayak from
campsite on inner caye to outer cayes through shallow grass beds
used as grazing areas by manatees and many species of fish.
Continue on to Albaloon Caye for snorkeling and fishing (nature
trail on Albaloon Caye). Set up camp on Albaloon Caye,
overnight in tents. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. |
|
|
Day Three:
Kayak to Mayan
site on nearby island, explore site. Kayak to Paynes Creek
National Park, guided hike through National Park. Boat
transfer back to PG, ground transport to PG Airport. Air
transfer from PG to Placencia departing PG at 4 pm, arriving back
in Placencia at 4:20 pm. Ground transfer from Placencia
airstrip to Placencia lodging.
|
Islands and Reef
|
Volleyball on Lime Caye |
7 days/6 nights/5
days kayaking at the islands (cayes) off the Toledo coast and at
the Meso-American Barrier Reef. (minimum 2 persons)
|
Cost is $1,258 USD
per person, including the following:
|
|
|
Roundtrip air
transportation between Belize International Airport and PG Airport |
|
|
Roundtrip ground
transportation between PG Airport and PG lodging |
|
|
Roundtrip ground
transportation between PG lodging and kayaking departure point |
|
|
2 nights
accommodations (double occupancy) in seafront air conditioned room
in PG |
|
|
5 days of guided
paddling |
|
|
4 nights guided
camping (tents) |
|
|
All camping and
kayaking gear (as described above on this page) |
|
|
All meals on
kayaking/camping trip: 4 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners |
|
|
All hotel taxes and
service charges |
|
|
All sales tax on
guided kayaking/camping trip and meals |
Does not include:
|
|
International air |
|
|
Belize departure tax
($20 USD per person) |
|
|
Snorkeling gear |
|
|
Meals other than as
specifically described above |
|
|
Alcoholic beverages |
|
|
Items listed above on
this page to be provided by kayakers/campers |
|
|
Gratuities |
|
|
Souvenirs |
|
|
Trip cancellation
insurance |
General Trip Itinerary
(subject to modification based on weather)
|
|
Day One:
Air transport
from Belize International Airport to PG Airport; ground transfer
from PG Airport to PG hotel. Trip orientation meeting.
Overnight in PG. Meals on your own. |
|
|
Day Two:
Ground
transport to kayak departure point. Power boat
transfer to Moho Caye (about ten miles from PG). Kayak among
cayes around Moho Caye, snorkeling and swimming from Moho Caye.
Set up camp. Overnight in tents. Lunch and dinner
included. |
|
|
Day Three:
Kayak up a
range of islands passing through shallow grass beds where manatees
are usually grazing. Continue to Albaloon Caye where the
afternoon is spent snorkeling and fishing. Set up camp.
Overnight in tents. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. |
|
|
Day Four:
Transfer by
power boat to Meso-American Barrier Reef. Kayak along reef
and snorkel. Set up camp on a reef caye. Overnight in
tents. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. |
|
|
Day Five:
Continue
kayaking along the Meso-American Barrier Reef toward other islands
where time is spent snorkeling, fishing, swimming. Set up
camp on a reef caye. Overnight in tents. Breakfast,
lunch and dinner included. |
|
|
Day Six:
Kayak outside
Meso-American Barrier Reef and along nearby islands. Power
boat transfer to PG. Ground transport from landing to PG
hotel. Overnight in seafront PG hotel. Breakfast and
lunch included, dinner on your own. |
|
|
Day Seven:
Ground transport from
PG hotel to PG Airport. Air transport from PG Airport to
Belize International Airport for connection with international
flight. Meals on your own. |
History and Marine Life
|
Birds at Payne's Creek National Park |
6 days/5 nights/4
days kayaking at inner cayes and Paynes Creek National Park,
including 7 Hills Sugar Mill, Mayan sea site and guided hike
through Payne's Creek National Park. (minimum 2 persons) |
Cost is $1,062 USD
per person, including the following:
|
|
|
Roundtrip air
transportation between Belize International Airport and PG Airport |
|
|
Roundtrip ground
transportation between PG Airport and PG lodging |
|
|
Roundtrip ground
transportation between PG lodging and kayaking departure point |
|
|
2 nights
accommodations (double occupancy) in seafront air conditioned room
in PG |
|
|
4 days of guided
paddling |
|
|
3 nights guided
camping (tents) |
|
|
All camping and
kayaking gear (as described above on this page) |
|
|
All meals on
kayaking/camping trip: 3 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 3 dinners |
|
|
All hotel taxes and
service charges |
|
|
All sales tax on
guided kayaking/camping trip and meals |
Does not include:
|
|
International air |
|
|
Belize departure tax
($20 USD per person) |
|
|
Snorkeling gear |
|
|
Meals other than as
specifically described above |
|
|
Alcoholic beverages |
|
|
Items listed above on
this page to be provided by kayakers/campers |
|
|
Gratuities |
|
|
Souvenirs |
|
|
Trip cancellation
insurance |
General Trip Itinerary
(subject to modification based on weather)
|
|
Day One:
Air transport
from Belize International Airport to PG Airport; ground transfer
from PG Airport to PG hotel. Trip orientation meeting.
Overnight in PG. Meals on your own. |
|
|
Day Two:
Ground
transport to boat departure point. Power boat transfer
north along the coast to kayak departure site. Kayak to 7
Hills Sugar Mill. Three hours kayaking and then one hour
hike to the Sugar Mill and guided tour of the Sugar Mill including
history of the mill and the Belize sugar industry. Lunch
following tour, then kayak out to area caye for overnight camping.
Set up camp. Overnight in tents. Lunch and dinner
included. |
|
|
Day Three:
Kayak from
campsite to outer cayes through shallow grass beds used as grazing
area for manatee and fish. Continue to Albaloon Caye where
the afternoon is spent snorkeling and fishing. Set up camp.
Overnight in tents. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. |
|
|
Day Four:
Snorkeling and
kayaking to a Mayan site on a nearby caye. Lunch and then
kayak to the nearby Paynes Creek National Park. Set up camp
at Paynes Creek National Park. Overnight in tents.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. |
|
|
Day Five:
Early morning
hike in the National Park. Paddle up Paynes Creek to fresh
water area, return to camp site for lunch, snorkeling and swimming
after lunch. Power boat transport back to PG. Ground
transport from landing to PG hotel. Overnight in seafront PG
hotel. Breakfast and lunch included, dinner on your own.
(Good chance to see crocodiles on this portion of trip.) |
|
|
Day Six:
Ground
transport from PG hotel to PG Airport. Air transport from PG
Airport to Belize International Airport for connection with
international flight. Meals on your own.
|
River Adventures
|
Turtle on Branch in River |
Four day/three
night/2 day kayaking trips on either the Moho River or the Deep
River.
|
The Moho River trip
features a jungle hike and overnight in a Mayan Village, with a
chance to see a variety of birds, iguanas, hicatee turtles and
Howler Monkeys. The Deep River trip features a tour of the
Seven Hills Sugar Mil and the chance to see crocodiles, manatee
and a variety of jungle flora. (minimum of 2 persons) |
Four day/three night/2
day kayaking trips on either the Moho River or the Deep River.
The Moho River trip features a jungle hike and overnight in a Mayan
Village, with a chance to see a variety of birds, iguanas, hicatee
turtles and Howler Monkeys. The Deep River trip features a tour
of the Seven Hills Sugar Mil and the chance to see crocodiles, manatee
and a variety of jungle flora. (minimum of 2 persons)
Cost is $675 USD per
person, including the following:
|
|
Roundtrip air
transportation between Belize International Airport and PG Airport |
|
|
Roundtrip ground
transportation between PG Airport and PG lodging |
|
|
Roundtrip ground
transportation between PG lodging and kayaking departure point |
|
|
2 nights
accommodations (double occupancy) in seafront air conditioned room
in PG |
|
|
2 days of guided
paddling |
|
|
1 night guided
camping (tents) |
|
|
All camping and
kayaking gear (as described above on this page) |
|
|
All meals on
kayaking/camping trip: 1 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 1 dinners |
|
|
All hotel taxes and
service charges |
|
|
All sales tax on
guided kayaking/camping trip and meals |
Does not include:
|
|
International air |
|
|
Belize departure tax
($20 USD per person) |
|
|
Snorkeling gear |
|
|
Meals other than as
specifically described above |
|
|
Alcoholic beverages |
|
|
Items listed above on
this page to be provided by kayakers/campers |
|
|
Gratuities |
|
|
Souvenirs |
|
|
Trip cancellation
insurance |
General Trip Itinerary
(subject to modification based on weather)
|
|
Day One:
Air transport
from Belize International Airport to PG Airport; ground transfer
from PG Airport to PG hotel. Trip orientation meeting.
Overnight in PG. Meals on your own. |
|
|
Day Two:
Ground
transport to kayak departure point. Full day river
camping, some jungle hiking on Moho River trip. Set up
riverside camp. Overnight in tents. Lunch and dinner
included. |
|
|
Day Three:
Continue
kayaking downstream from campsite to pickup point for transfer
back to PG. Ground transport from landing to PG hotel.
Overnight in seafront PG hotel. Breakfast and lunch
included, dinner on your own. |
|
|
Day Four:
Ground
transport from PG hotel to PG Airport. Air transport from PG
Airport to Belize International Airport for connection with
international flight. Meals on your own. |
Please
contact us for
custom Toledo paddling itineraries, or with any questions you might
have.
|
|
