Belize – Research & Conservation Experience

A combination of habitat loss and human impact have affected Belize’s endangered manatee population as well as other marine species and ecosystems that call Belize waters home. Volunteer with a manatee conservation group working to gather statistics and data to continue to keep boats away from the reserves  and prevent oil development in Belize to protect these vulnerable creatures.

To achieve our purpose, head out by boat with a marine biologist to collect data on currents, size and populations of manatees, location, and overall health of the reserve, which will be used to better protect these aquatic mammals. This information is crucial for the marine biologists and the NGO you’ll work with who rely on Discover Corps travelers to be able to better track these gentle creatures and gather this crucial data.

(Volunteer Time = 12 hours, or 3 half-days)

Lend a hand to the experts who are dedicating their careers to preserving the endangered manatee population. Venture out to three different ecosystems including calm lagoons surrounded by mangrove trees, the Caribbean Sea, and along jungle rivers to see these beautiful creatures in the wild. Help to measure the salinity of the water and currents, collect the size, weight and number of manatees as well as other wildlife, and observe their overall health. Learn about the conservation initiatives underway in Belize to save these marine animals and how to accurately record data. If you or your child has dreamed of being a marine biologist, you’ll get a real taste on this trip!

During this time, you’ll experience the natural beauty of Belize. Live amongst mangroves where colorful parrots take to the sky for the first part of the trip. Then venture to a quaint seaside town that puts the world famous Port Honduras Marine Reserve at your footsteps for the second half of the trip.

Spend your days exploring the sandy beaches, blue waters, and verdant jungles of this Central American country. Venture to a 20 ft. high waterfall that leads into a clear blue swimming hole one afternoon and learn to make coconut oil from the locals the next. Take a boat to the white sand beaches of a tropical caye for snorkeling (weather permitting), and kayak through the mangroves scouting for wildlife.

On land, get to know the culture with a traditional Creole drumming lesson. You’ll also enjoy an afternoon with with a Maya family making tortillas and cocoa as well as trying traditional dances. If you’re still on the search for more adventure, opt for an adventure supplement zip-lining or river tubing.

In the picturesque seaside town of Hopkins, start your journey with one night in a coastal hotel before splitting your time between two of Belize’s unique ecosystems. Stay two-nights first at a rustic cabin tucked into the Payne’s Creek Nature Reserve. With a wonderland of natural beauty at your doorstep, mingle with the Belizean rangers who call this remote space home. Next, move on to a hotel in the laid back coastal town of Punta Gorda with all the amenities of home (including air conditioning, something Payne’s Creek is missing!). This is the prime jumping off point for exploring the caves, waterfalls, jungles, and Maya ruins of southern Belize. End your night in a bungalow on a nature preserve closer to Belize City with hammocks for all.