TIDE Tours

TIDE Tours, a subsidiary of the Toledo Institute for Development and Environment (TIDE), was established in 1999 to promote ecotourism in the Toledo District. Its primary objectives are to provide an alternative and sustainable means of livelihood for area residents, to help reduce poverty in the Toledo District by introducing more profitable economic opportunities, and to generate funding for TIDE’s conservation work.

TIDE Tours offers a variety of half-day, full-day, and multi-day tours to immerse yourself in the nature, culture, and history of Belize:

Bird Watching Expedition Starting at 6am, this tour will take you hiking up Cerro Hill, just five minutes from Punta Gorda Town. As you journey up the trail, your guide will point out local flora and fauna that you pass, and of course, the many diverse birds found in this area.

Cave Swimming Expedition At Blue Creek Cave The hike to the cave is on a gentle incline, and towards the top areas where you will need to clamber up and climb around small rock formations, so a certain level of fitness and agility is required for this tour.

Drumming & Cooking Experience For a full day experience, you can paint maracas made from local materials, or make your very own travel size drum from bamboo, both of which are sure to be excellent Belizean souvenirs.

Farm To Table Cacao Experience Chocolate Farm – Eladio’s Chocolate Farm Indulge in the sweet art of chocolate making at Eladio’s chocolate farm during this half day tour.

Lubantuun The site is unique in this region due to its rounded corners on structures and the way the limestone blocks have been carved to fit together, rather than using mortar.

Maya Cultural Experiences Start with a tour of their traditional home, learning how natural products found in the forest are used to build homes, make kitchen utensils and musical instruments, amongst other things! Then, learn how the Maya prepare fresh corn and cacao using a traditional grinding stone, known locally as a matate, and enjoy a refreshing cacao drink.

Monkey Watching & Sweet Stop Traveling back down the coastline, stop at the village of Punta Negra, a tiny community only accessible by boat. The ladies of the village will prepare a fresh seafood lunch, then you will learn how to make Miss Paula’s fresh coconut fudge. You will also have time to enjoy the quiet beach and take a swim.

Nim Li Punit Maya The structures are centered around three plazas. Within these three areas, you can find the Plaza of the Stellae where the 26 monuments were discovered, and the Plaza of the Royal Tombs, where three tombs have now been excavated. There is also a ballcourt – and whilst the rules of the game are unknown, the ball was made from rubber extracted from local trees, and often included a ritual sacrifice to the Gods.

Rio Blanco Waterfall Tour Visit the spectacular waterfalls in the Rio Blanco National Park on this half day tour. Just a short walk from the highway, you will feel like you are a million miles away from civilization at this site.

River Tubing – Medina Bank Immerse yourself in adventure and local culture with the Medina Bank community. After traveling an hour north of Punta Gorda, you will be greeted by a local guide who will welcome you to Ketchi Maya village of Medina Bank. After a short village tour, where you can see the local fruits that grow.

Snorkeling At Port Honduras Marine Reserve You will have the opportunity to visit the TIDE marine ranger station in the heart of the reserve to learn from rangers about the management of the reserve, and relax on the sandy beach of West Snake Caye and in the shallow clear blue waters.

Spa Package Be pampered by the amazing Indira Andrewin, certified massage therapist and yoga teacher. This package includes a one-on-on outdoor yoga session, a facial, and your choice of massage and body wrap. Massage choices include deep tissue, hot stone, Swedish, and much more. Wrap your entire body in luxury with body wraps such as chocolate

Zip Lining Adventure At Big Falls From a birds-eye view you will feel the luscious forest surround you. Expanding over miles of forest high in the wildlife you are sure to see nature from a whole new perspective.