BELIZE
BELIZE
a bright barrier reef, crystal caves, and cultural heritage /
JOIN THE BELIZE RETREAT
NOVEMBER 5 -11 2023
NOVEMBER 5 - 11 2023
explore & restore on the coast with the most
in the southeast region of belize, on the shores of the carribean sea, you’ll quickly catch the laid-back vibes as you wander through one of belize’s most diverse regions. from mayan to garifuna to kriol culture, the great mayan reef to abundant jungle wildlife, our six-night, seven-day itinerary will feature can’t-miss experiences + plenty of free space to add-on what’s just right for you, be it wandering ancient ruins or settling in for chill days on the beach.
about belize and placencia /
the small country of belize – about the size of the state of new jersey – features large regions of undeveloped tropical forest, the most mayan ruins in the area, and is the most sparsely populated country in central america. a leader in eco and agro-tourism, belize also celebrates it’s cultural diversity and warmly embraces its land, water, people, and visitors.
our home for the week will be in placencia, off a peninsula in the southern region of belize. evolved from a sleepy coastal fishing town, the village of placencia is rich with opportunities to connect to land and water.
placencia is an ideal location for exploring the surrounding flora, fauna, and geography, both on land and by sea. the world’s first jaguar sanctuary, thousands of acres of preserved mountain jungle, and belize’s stretch of the unesco world heritage site of the great mayan reef are just a few of the area’s natural attractions.
the climate in belize is tropical, and you can plan for the heat and humidity to help encourage the slow pace and laid-back vibes that the welcoming village is so well-known for. expect temperatures in the low to mid 80s, with a drop into the 70s overnight.
our early november visit to belize will coincide with the tail end of rainy season, just at the cusp of high season – a great time to experience the electricity of the upcoming seasonal peak without all the crowds. though belize is known to get some showers or storms even in dry season, we bet you’ll find any pop-ups to be refreshing respites, and you can still expect to enjoy many periods of dry skies.
one of our favorite random facts about belize? you’ll find plenty of global cuisine options, but you won’t find a single chain/franchise fast food restaurant!
about your trip /
DAY 1 • SUNDAY / arrive into philip goldson international airport (bze) within our arrival guidelines and join the group transport to our beach home for the week. settle in with a refreshing tropical welcome drink and enjoy the incredible ocean views before a group dinner and evening rooftop yoga session.
DAY 2 • MONDAY / morning yoga, breakfast, free time to explore the village, beach, or add-on excursions, group dinner, evening yoga
DAY 3 • TUESDAY / morning yoga, breakfast, garifuna cultural heritage experience to include lunch, free evening in town (no group dinner), evening yoga
DAY 4 • WEDNESDAY / morning yoga, breakfast, great mayan reef exploration, group dinner, evening yoga
DAY 5 • THURSDAY / optional excursion to mayan ruins + cave tubing (includes breakfast + lunch), free evening in town (no group dinner), evening yoga
DAY 6 • FRIDAY / morning yoga, breakfast, free time to explore the village, beach, or add-on excursions, group dinner, evening yoga
DAY 7 • SATURDAY / morning yoga, breakfast, group transfer (within departure guidelines) back to bze
*itinerary subject to change
*evening yoga sessions may be adapted to accommodate nighttime add-on excursions
what’s included /
6 nights double or triple-occupancy accommodation in placencia, belize
round-trip ground transportation between bze and placencia, within arrival/departure guidelines
tropical welcome drink & group beach celebration
daily breakfasts and four dinners (allowing two open evenings for traveler’s choice to explore how the caribbean cultures share their versions of global cuisine)
two group excursions, including immersions in garifuna and mayan heritage and nature
service gratuity for all group meals and included excursions or activities
a staff photographer + digital photo album of retreat highlights
scheduled yoga and mindfulness practices throughout the retreat
a society verde travel well kit including resources to support exploration and restoration during your retreat
what’s not included /
airfare to philip goldson international airport (bze)
ground transportation for any elective wandering
optional add-on activities or excursions
beverages between meals, alcohol, or additional meals not specified in itinerary
souvenirs, extra purchases or services or admission fees, hotel incidentals/breakages
personal, medical, and trip cancellation insurance
accommodation & rates /
for our retreat to belize, we’ve reserved a beachfront group home with a private pool and palapa just steps away from the waves.
your double or quad-occupancy room for the week will be bright and airy, featuring cool stone and rich wood design.
amenities in placencia include indoor and outdoor living space, a/c + ceiling fans, wifi, safe, use of washer + dryer, full-size kitchen with potable water, hot water shower + soap + blow dryer, wifi, ceiling fans and sustainable (evening + nighttime use) air conditioning.
lifestyle considerations for our itinerary in belize:
language / most belizeans communicate in english, spanish, and creole, though you may hear other languages spoken throughout the local mayan and garifuna communities.
getting around / group ground transportation is included for our arrival and departure into belize, as long as travel is within the retreat’s flight guidelines. flight guidelines will be sent shortly after deposits are submitted (or can be requested by emailing hello@societyverde.com). the trip from the airport to our hotel will take about three hours. group transportation is also included for any scheduled group excursions, and will be part of the package for any add-on optional excursions that are outside of town. within placencia, you’ll find most destinations within walking distance.
you’ll find fairly flat elevation as you explore the sea-level peninsula, but the maya mountain range sits just inland from the mainland, full of nature excursion add-ons for those who love to explore.
noise / though we’ve chosen accommodations in a less densely built section of the town, we are still staying within village limits; light sleepers may choose to pack earplugs or eye masks.
belize retreat investment starting at $2600 / return traveler starting at $2300
all rooms are priced for double or quad occupancy. solo travelers are always welcome, but no single occupancy upgrades are currently available. solo travelers will be paired with another solo traveler.
why society verde + why belize /
our philosophy is that travel truly makes you richer, and our carefully curated trips offer a depth of unique experiences, a spotlight on rich cultures, and new ways to encourage courageous connection to community and the planet. through our small group travel offerings, we invite you to share our values of sustainability, discovery, and connection.
we believe group travel creates new bonds as you connect on a meaningful level with your house and travel mates over shared experiences in premier locations. we do the research and build the networks so we can fill our itineraries with special excursions that elevate our relationships to people and the land– like preparing fresh foods with the local garifuna community and exploring humans’ role in ocean reef protection and regeneration.
our explore and restore itineraries combine just enough cultural engagement and education with time to restore through intentionally-scheduled downtime facilitated by society verde founder mkm, an experienced, educated provider of physical and energetic restoration through movement and mindfulness practices. melissa’s retreat philosophy is that restorative mat practices can help ground us, wherever we are, so we can meaningfully explore off the mat, fully and authentically connecting to the world around us.
find out if you would travel well with society verde — check out our traveler guidelines.