- Accommodations
- Meals
- Excursions & Activities
- Get to Know Your Destination
- Study Abroad Advisory of Student Risk
- Student Experience
Accommodations
After your arrival in Belize, from June 18-21 you will stay at a relatively traditional resort at Jaguar Reef near Hopkins in southern Belize. This is will serve as orientation site and to help you understand how visitor serving facilities are designed and managed.
Accommodations in South Water Caye and Blue Creek will be in one of four dorms on site: each holding up to 12 students in bunk beds. The lodging is not “luxury”, but you will have ample space for living, storage, and workspace, and ample places outside for relaxing and working. You also do a lot of our teamwork in the field, and in the community rooms. For structured class time and lectures, there is a meeting space you will have access to. There is NO internet access at Blue Creek. All of our digital materials and files and data will have to be downloaded ahead of time, which we will organize in the pre-site remote sessions. There is Internet access at South Water Caye.
Meals
Once you are transported to IZE Blue Creek, which is the inland rain forest field station, all meals will be included in the program, as well as activities, class work and tours. Similarly, once you are transported (by van and boat) to South Water Caye, all of your time in South Water Caye will include breakfast, lunch and dinner (all local foods and cuisine) every day. You will only need money for incidentals and outdoor gear rental like fins and snorkels (if you want them).
Excursions & Activities
Each day you will engage in class studio planning and design work and some mini lectures and considerable discussion, but there will also be time for a class outdoor adventure activity (each day) that will help you understand the environment, history, culture and community of the region. In addition, at each site students will have ample free time to enjoy recreation like swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking, sand volleyball, mini-soccer, hiking, etc.
The following is a sampling of the planned tours and activities which are included as part of the class. Exact days, times and activities will vary with weather, availability of guides and tour sites, and the time we have available. Students are not required to do all activities, but strongly encouraged to “come along” even if you are not comfortable with certain activities like snorkeling or cave walking or swimming. There will always be opportunities for wildlife and natural area viewing and photography, walking/exploring and/or boat trips. For more information on activities available, accommodations, meals, and site facilities, go to IZE Belize web site (includes photos).
At Blue Creek, the following type tours are included (we will not be able to do them all):
- Short cave hike
- Cave snorkel and swim
- Iguana hike
- Monkey hike
- Bird walk
- Community service projects
- Ethnobotany and farming (including a chocolate farm)
- Lubaantun Mayan Ruins archeological site
At the South Water Caye site, the following tours/trips are included:
- Multiple snorkel trips to shallow and deep reef environments
- Boat trips to mangrove island and other small barrier islands
- Hike and tour around the island (South Water Caye)
- Tour of adjacent small resorts
- Night snorkeling
Get to Know Your Destination
- New York Times Coverage – Belize
- Travel Belize – Official tourism website of Belize
- Lonely Planet – Belize
Study Abroad Advisory of Student Risk
Participation in this UC Davis Study Abroad program requires travel to and extended living in a foreign location(s) abroad. UC Davis Study Abroad endeavors to reduce and mitigate risk wherever possible. However, the environments and risks associated with living in these locations are substantially different than those found during a regular course of study at UC Davis. All participants must download and review the following information prior to departure. Any questions should be directed to the Program Coordinator.
Student Experience
Global Learning Hub Student Blogs and Articles
Check out student blogs, global learning, and student life across a variety of program experiences.