old guy
Environmental Compliance Officer
We made our first trip to Belize in March 2023. As we sailed Celebrity Cruise Line we always use sanctioned excursions by Celebrity just seems safer. We were very surprised by the high prices on the excursions so we chose what was labeled as Scenic Wild Life River Safari at $60.00 each. To get to the port you have to tender which is about a 15 minute ride. Seas were a bit choppy that morning and even though the tender was a large size it was a rocky ride. We got to the port and were led on a short walk to board our boat for the excursion. There were about 30 people in our group and when we got to the boat I saw what was about a 40 to 50 foot boat. All the seats were fiberglass and hard as a rock, for those lucky enough to be in front of the line they got all the seats under the canopy the rest of us had to sit around the edge of the boat there was no elbow room so you sit shoulder to shoulder. As we started a guide told us we had a short ride to the river and were told to put on life vests just in case sometimes the sea is rough and it was that day. As we hit the open sea it was so choppy those of us on the starboard side having the wind at our backs would get soaked from the spray, as this was a two out board motor boat we were clipping along very fast. Once we entered what was called the jungle river it was very slow going. The jungle river turned out to be what I would describe as a canal about like those in Florida, it seemed we were traveling along in peoples back yards as houses lined the canal. A spotter rode at the bow of the boat and would call out wild life as we approached he yelled crocodile and those on the port side we able to see it before it slipped off the log back into the water, the spotter would call out Iguanas and you would see a large Iguana walking across someones back yard. Some type of bird was pointed out and a monkey which I never saw. Some Mantee were pointed out and I witnessed what I thought was a nose appear on top of the water for about two seconds. Then the ride back to port again on choppy seas this time the port side had the spray and all would holler when getting soaked. It was like riding one of those flume rides at an amusement park. The high light of the excursion was rum punch provided by the guides which I took full advantage of ! ! Overall not a bad excursion just not what I had envisioned. So if you don't mind getting slammed around in a 50ft boat, getting soaking wet, and sunburned go for it !