Thanks very much for your interest in the St Petersburg Audubon Society's trip to Belize's Chan Chich and Hidden Valley lodges.  This will be our second trip--as a group--to a place most people swore they would never leave after the senses were attacked during the first ten minutes.  On our first visit to Chan Chich, we got out of the airport van and were greeted by a singing Red-capped Mannikan three feet from us at eye level.  The bird remained long enough that everyone got pictures.  I was tempted to touch it to make sure it was real!

I have put together a series of answers for the most frequently asked questions.  If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me.  I can not stress enough that there is great interest in this trip.  There are

12 spots left of the 14.  It takes only a $100 deposit per person to hold your spot.  Make checks out to St Petersburg Audubon Society and make a note "Belize trip."  Send your check to: St. Petersburg Audubon :: P.O. Box 49087 St. Petersburg, FL 33743-9087.  If there are further questions you may contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

FAQs

1.  First and foremost, this trip is open to all.  You don't have to be an Audubon member, a bird enthusiast or even a Floridian (real or imagined).  A healthy curiosity and a willingness to be awed are the only requirements.

2. January-February is prime time.  Temperatures are very much as they are here in Florida.  Humidity is low.  The two areas we visit will require shorts and tees in the jungle and a sweater at night in the mountains (see

#11 for more clothing ideas).

3. In the past, those flying out of Tampa were all on the same flight.

There are also flights from Orlando.  The national airport in Belize city is the destination.

I have made a quick search and found a Continental flight out of Tampa.

From Tampa to Belize City

January 28, 2009

Flight: CO1437 (transfer to CO1627 in Houston)

Aircraft: Boeing 737-300

Fare Class: Economy (T)

Meal: Snack  No Special Meal Offered.

6:45-11:27  with one stop in Houston

From Belize City to Tampa

February 5, 2009

Flight: CO1650 (transfer to CO606 in Houston)

Aircraft: Boeing 737-800

Fare Class: Economy (T)

Meal: Snack

No Special Meal Offered.

12:20-8:25 with one stop in Houston

609.00/person RT

I am requesting that all participants arrive at the airport in Belize City by 1 p.m. Belize time on the 28th of January.  Do not book your departing flight any earlier than 11:00 a.m. on February 5 to return to Tampa.  If either of these parameters prove difficult for you, please notify me immediately.  We will do our best to accommodate you.

4. The money should be paid as a DEPOSIT of $100 per person by July 1 to hold the reservation.  All payments must be in by November 15.  DEPOSITS are 50% refundable until September 1, and non-refundable after that. Prepayment is due and fully refundable 60 days prior to arrival  (November 28) and is non-refundable after that time.

5.  Cash?  Travelers checks are fine though I did encounter some difficulty using them in the airport with most vendors asking that you cash them at the airport bank first--which means converting the US check to Belize money.

There is a fee for the cashing and the rates are not as good as you might find elsewhere.  AND when you convert the money back to US, you pay another fee for conversion.  Because everything is paid for at both of our destinations, you probably won't need much cash.  I carried $200 and spent all of that on souvenirs.  Finally, most places gladly accept the lowly US dollar.

6.  There is no single supplement.  All prices have been created based on pairs.  Therefore, if you are a "single" and want to go, I will be pleased to give you the names and contact information of others on that singles list.  You may contact each other and agree to room.  There is plenty of space in each room at both lodges.  You will not be crowding each other.  We will also be certain to give you separate beds.

7.  Photographers!  If you aren't one now, you may be when we return.  Opportunities for great shots of wildlife abound.  The scenery is exotic. The Maya history surrounds you with ruins and beautiful smiles from the Maya people--yep, they are still there.

8.  This tour has no specific purpose.  That is, we are not there just to see the birds, though I am certain many of you will be looking in that direction.  Belize is a wonderful and varied experience.  You will be offered multiple opportunities to go on guided tours (Caracol, the waterfalls at HVI, horseback riding or canoeing at Chan Chich etc.).

9.  Degree of difficulty:

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being most difficult, this trip could range  from 2-5. The difficulty is entirely your own. We have had people who wanted to climb the Maya pyramids and did. I would rate that a 5.

Others were content to lay in their porch hammock and watch the hummingbirds--that is a 2, watching hummers can cause whiplash.