Manatee River and Lagoon 3 nights $300 USD per person

This table is designed to show what is included in the Manatee River and Lagoon package, make sure to:

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Day 1: 1:00 PM pick up in Belize city or San ignacio (transport from other locations can be arranged) We will be driving along the Western Highway to the village of La Democracia where the Coastal Highway begins its path to the south through the coastal plains which offer great views of the Maya Mountains and the limestone foothills coming up out of the flat savana. After about an hour and a half of driving, with some optional swimming hole stops along the way, we will reach the Maroon Kriol village of Gales Point Manatee. The road to the village veres north following teh village out into the Southern Lagoon along the narrow 1.5 mile long peninsula that is the namesake of the village along with the friendly creatires that make their home in these coastal waters, the West Indian Manatee. We will drive almost to teh tip of this peninsula to the Maroon Kriol Drum School and Methos Coconut Campground where you can settle into a cabaña and enjoy one of the best sunset views on this side of the Caribbean as the sun sinks through the bubbly forest covered foothills of the Maya mountains. Dinner will be provided by the Sugar Shack Cafe and is allways filling and tastey. The Maroon Kriol Drum School, is a stronghold for Belize's Kriol Culture and its African roots. The teacher there Emmeth (Methos) Young, will offer a short history of his village and also a sample of the various rhythms and songs that have been played and sung by his people for ages... Depending on the energy levels we can start a fire and have some drumming and music under the stars.

Day 2: After a great breakfast by the Lagoon, we will load up and head for the Manatee River Bridge, back out on the Coastal Highway. Here we will become acquainted with our paddling equipment which consists of paddles, lifevests, and sit-on-top kayaks. These boats are a great way to explore Belize and since they don't take on water, they are very safe and stable. This river is an excellent place to paddle for both beginer and advanced kaykers. Your guide will monitor your energy levels and keep an easy pace for the whole group while interpreting the amazing natural world that we will be floating through. Where we start teh river is flowing through savana with thicker jungles and bamboo forests along its banks. The bridlife is always a great treat as kingfishers and herons are commonly sighted. Other wildlife that is often viewed here are green iguannas and river otters at play. As we move along downriver, we can stop along the banks on a rock or sandy beach for a pack lunch prepared for us that morning by the excellent chefs at the Sugar Shack. The palm and banboo forests give way to mangroves which grow closer to the lagoons and coastal areas. There are many creeks and side channels to explore along our way to the Southern Lagoon where we will sight the drum school from the mouth of the river and take the best route for Manatee watching on our way back across. Upon arrival, you can shower and relax as dinner is prepared and there is always the option of getting a drum lesson from Methos.

Day 3: Any visit to Gales Point should include a paddle out to the place that the locals call 'Bar Mouth'. This is where the lagoon system drains into the Caribbean Sea. There is a nice sandy beach there where Sea turtles make their nests during the sprin full moons. After Breakfast we will start our paddle from the drum school and make our way out across the 'manatee hole', a place in the lagoon where there is geothermal energies that the manatee love to hang out in, because of this and good food sources, there is a higher concentration of West Indian Manatee here than in any other part of Belize.

We will paddle from the hole towards the eastern side of the lagoon and dissapear into a maze of mangrove channels which will merge with a main creek and twist its way out to the Bar Mouth. We will have another tastey packlunch picnic there on the beach and perhaps try our luck at hand line fishing since the Bar Mouth is a great place for fish to congregate as the tides flow in and out of the lagoons through this point.

After a while of exploring the beach and looking for turtle tracks (sea turtles may have come up to nest the night before) we can start our paddling back through the mangroves to your cabaña and another excellent dinner. There will be more opportunity to arrange drum lessons in the evening and maybe show off some of your newly learned skills around a fire. Other options are to relax with the sunset for your last evening in Gales Point.

Day 4: After a last lagoonside breafast. we will bid farwell to the colorful village of Gales Point Manatee and drive you back to San Ignacio or Belize City (transport to other destinations can be arranged).

3 nights $300 USD per person

Consider combining this trip with any of our other packages!

There are also many coustom options to extend your trip from this area, such as chartering a support boat and taking some kayaks out on the barrier reef. There are many small cayes that we can camp on and there are fishermen in Gales Point who would love to give us a lift and go fishing for a few days. We could learn a few fishing tricks from them and maybe catch some dinner from our kayaks, not to mention the excellent snorkeling and even stops for SCUBA equipment can be arranged. Let us know what you want to do and we'll make it happen.

Another possibility which is highly reccomended is to stay afterwards at the Maroon Kriol Drum School and take a drum carving class from Methos. In a few days time, you could carve out your very own coconut or even Mahogany drum as well as learn how to put the skin on and surely you will be playing drums and learning how to play it the whole time. The village of Gales Point Manatee is definitely worth spending some extra time in, and there is the possibility of having a discounted rate on one of our Kayaks while you stay there so that you can keep your fishing skills improving and visit the manatees for sunrise.

If you are travelling to Belize, Don't miss a trip to Gales Point Manatee!!!

The absolute best times to be in this village are during the Christmas holiday when the people drum and dance and sing for two, sometimes three, days! The Easter holiday is usually another great time of song and dance in Gales Point. Other great times to plan for are the Full Moons when there is often a Sambai held where there is a circle made around a fire and the Sambai rhythm is played. There are songs sung and each takes a turn dancing one at a time around the fire. Often an elder from the village will step out and tell a Anansi story which is old folklore rooted in their African past. make sure to pass through this village during your visit to Belize. Contact Conservation Adventure Tours for more information on accessing this village and the amazing wilderness that surrounds it