Friday January 12, 2001  Flew from Indianapolis to Belize City, arriving at 2:20 PM.  We were met by Herman of Cayo Adventure Tours and were taken to the Cahal Pech Cabins, San Ignacio in the Cayo District of Belize.

Saturday Began the morning by visiting the market in San Ignacio to view the produce and other merchandise available.  Then traveled by van to the Mayan site at Xunantunich where we toured the excellent visitors' center describing the structures and the history of the site and then wandered the site.  A highlight was climbing El Castillo, the second tallest man-made structure in Belize, and viewing the countryside below.  Lunch was at Clarissa Falls, a beautiful resort on the banks of the Mopan River.  We were able to swim and relax before a wonderful traditional Belizean meal.  We then traveled a short distance to Ix Chel Farm where we toured the Panti Medicine Trail  and learned about many of the plants and their medicinal values. After Ix Chel Farm  we visited a Butterfly farm and nature center. The farm raises the Blue Morpho butterflies and a guide gave a detailed description of the process and showed us all the stages in the life history. The nature center provided an excellent overview of the wildlife of Belize.  After our return to Cahal Pech Cabins we walked across the street to tour the Mayan site at Cahal Pech.  A major site of trade, the site was different from Xunantunich.  We were the only group on the site and were able to explore the well preserved and restored structures.

Sunday  After breakfast we stopped at Caesar's Place to investigate local handicrafts before continuing on the Western Highway toward Belize City for our morning at  Jaguar Paw.   The resort is at the end of a seven mile rough gravel road but is well worth the trip, it is nestled in a beautiful jungle setting.   At Jaguar Paw we embarked on a one mile jungle hike in our bathing suits, carrying inner tubes to the start of our subterranean river tubing adventure. Along the path the guide pointed out many of the plants we had seen along the Medicine Trail the day before. The tubing was a great fun activity, enjoyed by all. After we arrived back at the hotel we had lunch consisting of the traditional beans, rice, and stewed chicken. After lunch we traveled to the Belize Zoo to see many of the animals difficult to see in the wild. The zoo is a well maintained facility with excellent, informative signage. From the zoo we drove to Belize City to catch the small plane to Ambergris Caye, for the marine portion of the field experience.

Monday  Spent the day aboard the 48 ft. catamaran, Goliath.  First we stopped at Mexico Rocks, an extensive area of patch reefs north of San Pedro. Many of the 50 fish and most of the invertebrates the students had to learn before we left Indiana can be found in this area.  A short distance away we stopped to snorkel at the mouth of an underground cave and a small but interesting patch reef.  On the way back we snorkeled a shallow water pontoon wreck and because of the calm weather were able to swim to the reef crest through a cut in the reef.

Tuesday  Spent the day aboard Goliath first exploring the mangroves.  It was a perfect day to explore this important ecosystem.  We saw large schools of fish as well as some species not commonly seen on the reef.  In the afternoon we visited a diffuse patch reef area known as "Coral Gardens."  The area had large stands of Staghorn and Elkhorn coral as well as many other interesting organisms.  After dinner we conducted several beach seines catching a variety of interesting adult and juvenile organisms.

Wednesday  Had the morning free to explore the island, beachcomb, or souvenir shop.  In the afternoon we traveled to two of the best known snorkeling spots in Belize, Shark Ray Alley and Hol Chan.  Shark Ray alley provided students the opportunity to snorkel with large numbers of Southern Stingrays and Nurse Sharks.  After this interesting experience, there is an excellent patch reef nearby.  Zone A of Hol Chan National Marine Reserve included a cut through the reef and is an excellent spot to see large fish.  We saw a large tarpon and spotted eagle rays moving through the channel as well as a variety of large parrot fish and other fish on the walls of the channel and on the surrounding reef.  On the way home we stopped at a very unique location known as "Soft Coral Gardens," an area in the lagoon dominated by soft corals, principally sea plumes.  It is a very unique location with tall stands of soft corals and schools of fish like bonefish navigating their way through the forest of corals.  Dinner was at a beach barbecue followed by observing the Chicken Drop, a famous Belizean game of chance where individuals wage on the location where a chicken chooses to defecate.

Thursday  Spent the day aboard a typical Belizean sailboat the Rum Punch II.   Traveled back to Shark Ray Alley and Hol Chan.  After dinner we went for a  night snorkel, an experience most students don't forget.  We were very successful, observing among many other things, four octopus.

Friday The morning was free for last minute shopping, packing, or relaxing. We left the island at 1 PM  to arrive back in Indianapolis in the evening.  Miraculously we made our connections and arrived in Indianapolis on time.