GENERAL RETREAT DETAILS

Belize received the World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) highly popular

WHAT’S Not Included

  • International flights to and from Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, (BZE) in Belize City.

  • Passport / Visa Fees

  • Travel Insurance

  • Non-listed excursions, meals and activities

  • Items of a personal nature

  • Some lunches and dinners

  • Alcoholic beverages not included in tours

  • Tipping

Physical Activities

This tour involves a moderate amount of physical activity in caving, walking jungle trails, swimming, jumping and daily walking or biking on the island. We will do our best to accommodate all physical needs, however, please ensure that you are physically able to participate in those activities without pain. Please advise us of special needs. Some tours include alcoholic beverages.

Logistical DETAILS
We recommend that all participants hydrate and drink
responsibly while on tours and on island.

Travel INSURANCE

Trip insurance is highly recommended. Your premium is related to your trip cost, so you don’t have to worry about being
over-insured. Some recommended Travel Insurance providers are below. The Belize Tourism Board recommends the locally
owned and operated Insurance Company of Belize (ICB) which for a 21 day visit only costs $18. You can read FAQ’s here. It’s the participants responsibility to choose insurance policies that best meetstheir coverage needs.

Payments & PAYMENT PLANS

Due to vendor policies all payments to eLife Enterprises, llc DBA Sextacular are non-refundable and non-transferable unless
otherwise specified. Should you opt-in to our payment plan program, your invoice will clearly note your due dates and amount. We suggest you put this payment plan on your personal calendar. A $75 late fee will be applied to all payments made after the 3-day grace period. Your trip is subject to cancellation after two missed payments.

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Country Entry Requirements

Flights & Transportation

It is the sole responsibility of the participant to purchase their international airfare to Belize and transportation to Caye Caulker island. Transportation to the island can be arranged for you for an additional fee of $25 upon request. Book your flight to Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, (BZE) in Belize City as early as possible. Arrival time should be no later than 2pm on arrival day. There are two ways to get to Caye Caulker, either taking a 10-minute plane ride from the international airport or a 45-minute boat ride from Belize City. Flights cost $84.00 US one way or $168.00 US round trip. Scheduled flight times to Caye Caulker (CUK) from the International airport are 40 minutes after the

Logistical DETAILS

hour, every hour. The last scheduled flight is 4:40 PM. Flight time is 10 minutes with Maya Island Air, airlines Tropic Air . You arrive at the air strip where an island taxi (golf cart) can be arranged to take you to the Inn minutes away. If you prefer to travel by boat you must first take a taxi cab from the International airport to the Marine Terminal in Belize City. The cost is $25 -$30 flat (not per person) for 2 persons and the ride is about 20 minutes. A taxi driver in Belize City can be arranged to meet you at the airport and drive you to the Marine Terminal. From the Marine Terminal you simply catch the next boat to Caye Caulker with San Pedro Belize Express. The cost of the water taxi is under $25 one way and $50 round trip USD. The trip takes about 45 minutes. Plan to be at the dock no less than 30minutes prior to departure time to insure you do not miss the boat. If you use this link you can schedule the San Pedro Belize Express and shuttle to and from the airport for $81 round trip per person. Or, get the best of both worlds. Arrive by boat to enjoy the Caribbean ocean and fly back to see the Great Barrier Reef from above! If you want us to book island transportation we are happy to do so for an additional fee of $25 per person. Just contact drlori@drloriebert.com.

Money / Currency

Belize uses the Belize Dollar (BZD) as its currency but they also accept US Dollars. The currency exchange is $1.00 USD to $2.00 BZD. Visa, MasterCard, traveler’s checks and US dollars are widely accepted. American Express and Discover are rarely accepted. A number of businesses do add on a percentage (generally 5%) to use credit cards. Please bring cash for tips, restaurant expenses, and souvenir shopping. Upon arrival you do NOT need to change your USD to local currency (BZE) as both types of dollars are accepted. Be aware if you pay in USD you will typically get BZE in return. Plan on spending your Belize dollars before you

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Safety

Caye Caulker is a very laid back and you’ll find locals very polite, friendly, helpful, and happy. It is a very safe island to walk alone at night with alertness. Despite this, it’s not absent of petty thefts. It’s highly recommended that you do not flash money or displays of expensive jewelry, bags, sunglasses, etc. Do not leave phones, purses, cameras etc. unattended and use safes in rooms. And should an important item such as debit card, phone, etc be lost, more times than not it is honestly turned in and returned. Understand Caye Caulker is an island village run by a village council and tourism is its lifeline. So they want tourists treated well, safe and happy so everyone keeps a watchful eye to keep everyone in check. It’s a small island with big talk!

This Trip May Not Be For You if.....

  • You don’t like cultural immersions or do not want to participate in adventurous activities

  • You are not into trying new things or stepping outside of your comfort zone

  • You prefer to sit on a beach and drink Pina Colada’s all day. This retreat is full of activity and action along with free time built in.

  • You don’t play well with others. This is a group experience with lots of interaction and vulnerable sharing with one another.

  • You are expecting a high end luxurious pampering island trip. Caye Caulker is low key, casual “go slow” kind of island with an exotic charm and friendliness that is contagious.

FAQs

Yes, passports are mandatory along with proof of return. Visas are not required from the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. Always travel with a photocopy of your passport so if your original gets lost the replacement process will be easier and faster.

Getting to Caye Caulker is possible by either taking a 10-minute plane ride from the international airport or a 45-minute boat ride from Belize City.

Flights cost $84.00 US one way or $168.00 US round trip. Scheduled flight times to Caye Caulker (CUK) from the International airport are 40 minutes after the hour, every hour. The last scheduled flight is 4:40 PM. Flight time is 10 minutes
with Maya Island Air, airlines Tropic Air.

If you prefer to travel by boat you must first take a taxi cab from the International airport to the Marine Terminal in Belize City. The cost is $25 -$30 flat (not per person) for 2 persons and the ride is about 20 minutes. A taxi driver in Belize City can be arranged to meet you at the airport and drive you to the Marine Terminal.

From the Marine Terminal you simply catch the next boat to Caye Caulker with San Pedro Belize Express. The cost of the water taxi is under $25 one way and $50 round trip USD. The trip takes about 45 minutes. Plan to be at the dock no less than 30 minutes prior to departure time to insure you do not miss the boat.

Get the best of both worlds! Arrive by boat to enjoy the ocean and fly back to see the Great Barrier Reef from above!

If you want us to book any of these we are happy to do so for an additional fee of $25 per person. Just contact drlori@drloriebert.com.

A week before your travel dates we will provide you with detailed arrival information and pick up details. In general this is what you can expect.

If you arrive by water taxi:

The Inn is located about 1/4 mile from the Water Taxi dock or about a 10 minute walk. If you would like help with your luggage you can use one of the local porters with bicycle carts or hop on one of the taxi cabs (golf carts) that meet the arriving water taxis. The cost for each is $2.50 US per person or $5 BZE

If you arrive at the airstrip:

If a taxi cab (golf cart) is not already waiting for incoming flights simply ask one of the agents for the airline to call one. We’re located about 3/4 mile from the airstrip so it’s about a 10 minute taxi ride.

Standard 110 volts, A.C. (compatible with appliances used in United States). Adapters are available at the front desk. If you do not wish to bring a hair dryer, we have a couple at the front desk that our guests can use during their stay with us.

Visa, MasterCard, traveler’s checks and US dollars are widely accepted. A number of businesses do add on a percentage (generally 5%) to use credit cards. The Inn is not one of those businesses. The exchange rate is set at $1.00 USD to $2.00 BZE dollars. There is also an ATM at the local bank (Atlantic Bank) that dispenses Belize dollars. Plan on spending your Belize dollars before you leave the country because they are difficult to exchange outside of Belize.

Tipping in Belize is how most people make their living on top of very low hourly wages. Cash and small bills (5’s, 10’s and 20’s) are best to bring and use. Cash tips are certainly appreciated and workers are also used to tips as part of their pay checks. Belize people are prideful and like to please and serve and tips are the reward as much as your happiness! Customary is 20% of service or more if you’re super happy!

It’s customary to tip tour guides and excursion crews, wait staff, hotel staff, bag handlers, massage therapists, hairstylist, nail technicians, etc. or for special help (i.e. deliveries, stops, extra tours.)

The average taxi fee is $10 BZD. That is for standard ride, with minimal luggage to main areas during regular hours. Tips are appreciated but isn’t necessary – unless they stop for food, carry luggage to cart, up stairs, etc. If you come super early or late, with excessive baggage (as many do) or need to go to far ends of island – the taxi fee will be more. The best advice it to ask the driver first and negotiate so expectations are clear for everyone. Keep in mind they are responsible for mechanical maintenance which is pricey as well as gas which can be $10 a gallon!

There is a very nice, well-maintained beach right at the Inn. The beach features lounge chairs, umbrellas and easy access to the water – a great place to enjoy a drink and catch our magnificent sunsets. The swimming is typical for Caye Caulker – shallow waters out to about 300 feet, sand floor with some sea grass.

The complimentary continental breakfast is served at the bar from 7:00 AM until 10:00 AM.

Each room is equipped with a small hotel safe that allows you to set your own access code. They can easily store most valuable items… documents, cash, jewelry, cameras and laptop computers. For your security, we encourage you to use the safes.

We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance in case of any trip cancellation, medical expense, lost bags, airport delays, or hurricanes.

The best time to visit Belize is during the dry season, December until May. Temperatures are cooler and rainfall is decreased, though it is not unusual to have rain. The driest months are February and March, and the temperature then peaks in April and May. Reduced rates are offered on the off-season and a good time to visit is during our Lobster Festival which takes place at the end of June beginning of July.

If you are traveling solo but would like shared accommodations please contact us at drlori@drloriebert.com and we will do our best to help facilitate roommate matching!