Belize tours
Belize honeymoon

Special Belize Tours

Chocolate Week | Scuba Dive Belize | Rainforest Weddings | Snake Caye

Chocolate Week

8 days / 7 nights, limited availability
Valentine's Chocolate Week February 9th to 16th, 2008
Toledo Cacao Fest Chocolate Week May 22nd to 29th, 2008
rates start at $1,382.50 per person based on double occupancy

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This hands-on workshop is designed to give you a practical education on processing cacao to make chocolate.

You will work your way through the entire practical process from scratch, starting with the cacao fruit on the tree and ending with the chocolate in your mouth. In addition, you will learn local Mayan chocolate preparation techniques, attend lectures on the history and politics of chocolate, meet members of the Toledo Cacao Grower’s Association, and attend a chocolate making workshop.

Day 1: Arrive by boat via Moho River. Get acclimated and tour the farm. Pick and sample the fruit of the cacao.

Day 2: Cacao orchard visit and Mayan Chocolate Making Workshop. Participate in harvesting the cacao and making chocolate with a Mayan family.

Day 3: Modern Chocolate Making Part I: fermenting, drying, roasting, winnowing, crushing and the start of conching.  Hands on workshop turning the cacao seed into cocoa liquor.

Day 4: Toledo Cacao Grower’s Association and Green and Black’s Chocolate Company and learn how the world’s first Fair Trade cocoa coop got started.

Day 5: Free day to enjoy non-chocolate related activities. Guided tours of the rainforest and surrounding countryside.

Day 6: Modern Chocolate Making Part II: the finish of conching, tempering, molding, and packaging.  Hands on workshop turning cocoa liquor into chocolate bars.

Day 7: Cooking with Chocolate: Practical Workshop exploring a range of chocolate dessert preparations.

Day 8: Farewell breakfast and return to the U.S.

Note that some of the Chocolate Week activities listed above are less than full day so you will have time for activities on our grounds (swimming, kayaking, hiking, and our medicinal plants tour).The May itinerary will vary from the above and will include a visit to the Toledo Cacao Festival.

 
 
       

Dive into the Rainforest Packages

   

Scuba Dive Belize

Combine your trip to CottonTree Lodge with a scuba diving trip to a remote island with Reef CI. Trips include 2-4 dives per day, training in marine research survey techniques, and all necessary diving equipment as well as all meals, accommodation, and airport transfers.

About Reef Conservation International
Reef CI is located on the private castaway island of Frank's Caye in the Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve. They focus on reef ecology and offer recreational scuba diving and marine research survey dives. ReefCI trips are laid back and focus on conserving the environment and at the same time enjoying a well earned break. The choice is yours — you can be involved in non intensive or more intensive marine conservation work. Experienced divers, people who want to learn to dive and non divers are welcome. PADI certification available.

8 days / 7 nights with either 3 or 4 nights at each location. $1,400 per person based on double occupancy.

Snake Caye Day Trip

($290 for 1-4 people, $50 per additional person). Activities include snorkeling, fishing, and beach combing.

Day trip to Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve. Scuba Diving available.

A Magical

Rainforest Wedding

Are you dreaming of getting married and spending your honeymoon in an exotic, secluded location where the wonders of nature abound?

We have just the spot. CottonTree Lodge can arrange for your wedding to take place within our tropical rainforest – either in the jungle or on the banks of the remote Moho River. You’ll have an extraordinary environment in which to share your vows and your dreams. Once your ceremony is over you can retreat to a private candlelight dinner alone, or share the experience with a close group of family and friends. At the end of the night, retreat to your honeymoon cabana where your own Jacuzzi and view of the river awaits.

Our wedding package for $1,000 includes:

  • Fees for wedding license, registration and minister or marriage celebrant
  • Bride and groom’s choice of ceremony location in the rainforest or along the river in our gazebo
  • Bridal bouquet of flowers and groom's boutonniere
  • Bottle of champagne to toast your union
  • Romantic 3-course Candlelight dinner for two with festive table
  • Professional photographer with two rolls of 36 exposure undeveloped film or 72 digital images on a high resolution CD rom.

If you have your wedding at CottonTree Lodge, you can reserve the honeymoon cabana for 10% off the regular rates.
CottonTree Lodge can provide up to nine other cabanas for your wedding guests. Our staff can also arrange for any or all of the following: a meal with your guests, music for the ceremony and/or dinner, a wedding cake, flowers for groomsmen and bridesmaids, additional flower arrangements, massage therapy, bar service . . . and whatever else your imagination might inspire.

Requirements for a Civil Wedding in Belize are easy to arrange.

Requirements for a Civil Wedding in Belize

IF NEITHER OF THE PARTIES HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY MARRIED

  • Fully completed marriage license application form notarized by J.P.
  • Photocopy of front 2 pages of passport and page showing arrival date into Belize.
  • One of the parties must be in the country (4) four days prior to filing the petition of the license.

IF EITHER OF THE PARTIES OR BOTH HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY MARRIED

  • Fully completed marriage license application form notarized by J.P.
  • Photocopy of front 2 pages of passport and page showing arrival date into Belize.
  • One of the parties must be in the country (4) four days prior to filing the petitions of the license.
  • Final divorce decree.

IF EITHER OR BOTH PARTIES IS A WIDOW OR WIDOWER

  • Fully completed marriage license application form notarized by J.P.
  • Photocopy of front 2 pages of passport and page showing arrival date into Belize.
  • One of the parties must be in the country (4) four days prior to filing the petitions of the license.
  • Copy of death certificate.

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