Welcome to Belize
Itinerary
   Day 1 Arriving in Belize
   Day 2 Intro to Kayaking          and Belize Biogeography
   Days 3 - 7 Exploration
   Day 8 Homeward Bound
Getting There
   Airlines
   Travel Tips
What to Bring
   Travel Docs
   Money
   Insurance
   Clothes and Equipment
FAQs
Contact Us

Kayak Belize - What to Bring

Travel Documents
Exit/Entry Passports are required for travel to Belize. Proof of citizenship is required to enter Belize; you will need a passport valid for three months beyond your intended stay. If you are a citizen of any country other than the U.S. or Canada, please check with a local consulate or tourist office for the necessary information. For U.S. citizens, no visa is required for a stay of up to one month. When leaving Belize, a separate airport tax ($35 USD) will be requested in cash. Visas are not required for U.S. citizens.

Money and Additional Costs
There is no need to buy Belize dollars. US dollars are accepted throughout Belize. It's best to have small bills for easy exchange. There are no ATM's available for quick cash. Travelers checks are not always accepted and usually need to cashed at a Belize bank. Some places of business do accept traveler's checks and Visa/Master Card for payments, but not all, and an extra sales tax is levied on credit card transactions. Credit cards are not accepted during your expediton. You'll need cash for beverages, tips, gifts or souvenirs (approx. $300).

Tipping
If you would like to express your appreciation to the guides through a gratuity, please know that such recognition would be appreciated. As a reference point, 5-10% of your trip cost per guest is recommended. If there are several guides on your trip it's best to give your trip leader any tips and he will disburse these evenly amongst the guides and local staff.

Insurance and Medical
We strongly recommend that you protect your vacation through the purchase of a short-term traveler's insurance policy, covering baggage loss, accident and trip cancellation. Trip cancellation insurance can reimburse you for any non-refundable air and land expenses should you have to cancel your space due to family illness, as well as cover any emergency evacuation expenses should you become ill during the trip. Sea Trek accepts no responsibility for lost, damaged or delayed property. Sea Trek has an unblemished safety record. Although every effort is made to ensure a safe trip, you should realize that in the event of illness or injury, evacuation can be expensive. Please check your medical coverage and be sure it is adequate. Everyone is required to sign an Acknowledgement of Risk and Liability Release before the trip, acknowledgin their awareness that some risks are associated with ocean kayaking and wilderness travel.

Medical and Health
It is vital that trip members with any medical problems or disabilities make them known to Sea Trek by completely filling out our Confidential Health Questionnaire and returning it well before departure. All our guides have C.P.R. and advanced first-aid training. We have a well-equipped first-aid kit for emergencies and common problems. The conditions are those found on any long wilderness trip: inaccessibility to civilization and vulnerability to the elements. Immediate evacuation to the U.S. can be prolonged and difficult, so medical emergencies must be handled in the field. Sea Trek assumes no liability regarding provision of health care. Please review your medical insurance and the insurance options/additional coverage offerings in the travel insurance brochure.

Clothing and Equipment
Please follow the list as closely as possible and you will be comfortable throughout the trip. Bring only essentials, but you may adapt the list according to previous kayaking experience. Sea Trek provides all kayaking gear and waterproof dry bags. Participants need to bring clothing, snorkeling equipment (recommended) and items of a personal nature. Daytime air temperatures in April and May will range from 78 to 85 degrees, with light afternoon breezes. Nights can drop to the low 70's. During mid-day, light cotton clothing provides comfort and protection from the sun. We expect beautiful balmy weather, although stormy winds occasionally intrude from the north. Water temperature is 78-82 degrees.

Tops
__ 3 T-shirts
__ 2 long sleeved shirts: light cotton for sun protection
__ 1 wind jacket/paddling jacket: waterproof for light rain
Bottoms
__ 2 pair shorts: quick-drying nylon for kayaking
__ 5 pair socks
__ 2 pair lightweight pants, comfortable for hiking and in evenings
__ swimsuit
__ underwear
Footwear
__ 1 pair for walking (e.g., running shoes or light hiking shoes)
__ 1 pair for kayaking (e.g., Teva-type sport snadals, neoprene booties or Aqua Socks)

Miscellaneous
__ 1 pair paddling gloves (biking gloves OK but no thick pads)
__ 2 one-quart plastic water bottles
__ 1 bandanna to clean sunglasses, etc.
__ sun hat, visor or baseball cap with tie-down strap for wind
__ sunglasses with retention strap (e.g., Chums or Croakies)
__ waterproof sunscreen and sun block
__ toiletries: toothbrush, etc.
__ shampoo and soap
__ 1 small towel
__ personal first aid kit: special medication, lotions, vitamins, band aids...)
__ ditty bag to hold your personal toiletries
__ daypack or fanny pack for hikes
__ flashlight or headlamp + extra batteries
__ bug repellent (Off or Cutters work great)
Snorkeling
__ snorkel, mask, fins
Optional
__ camera-extra batteries, film, waterproof bag or dry box
__ binoculars
__ reading material
__ pen and paper for journal