Join us as we support primary schools and explore the beauty of Belize.
Work alongside Belizean educators and primary-aged students, create new friendships, and become global citizens! Partner closely with youth in a new culture as you share your skills!
Explore Belize: Encounter native animals at the Belize Zoo, climb the historic Mayan ruins, explore new fruit at the local San Ignacio market, make chocolate from cocoa beans with a Maya family, relax on a beautiful island, and snorkel the one-of-a-kind island reef!
Program Details:
Dates: March 5 - 13, 2025
Cost: $3,400/person (10-11 travelers) or $3,325/person (12+ travelers)
Costs are all-inclusive: round-trip international airfare, all lodging, meals, land and water transportation, guides, excursions and gear, entrance fees, service materials, etc.
Not included: luggage fees, souvenirs
Airfare: Roundtrip group airfare is arranged via American Airlines. Flight details below.
Wednesday, March 5, 2025:
[Flight AA2326] • Des Moines (DSM) to Dallas (DFW): 5:00am - 7:16am
[Flight AA2451] • Dallas (DFW) to Belize City (BZE): 12:24pm - 3:18pm
Thursday, March 13, 2025:
[Flight AA2132] • Belize City (BZE) to Miami (MIA): 1:35am - 5:45pm
[Flight AA3558] • Miami (MIA) to Des Moines (DSM): 7:40pm - 11:35pm
Payment plans can be made available (flexible!)
Enrollment deadline: October 1, 2024
Payment schedule
Deposit due: $500 - October 1, 2024
Payment 1: $1,500 - December 5, 2024
Payment 2: $1,325 or $1,400 - January 19, 2025
Scheduled Informational Meetings:
Meeting #1: July 2, 2024
Meeting #2: December 18, 2024
Program Leadership
Anna Van Dusen Messerlie, Educator, Baxter Schools
Kelli Soll, Director, Global Service Partnerships
Jake Martinez, Belize Guide
Kelli Soll
Program Lead + Director, Global Service Partnerships
Jake Martinez
Program Lead + Belize Guide
ITINERARY (details subject to minor change):
Day 1 // ARRIVAL + INTRODUCTION
Arrive at the Belize City International airport and transfer to our home base lodge, the Tropical Education Center. We will get settled into our accommodations, relax, and enjoy our welcome dinner. Our dynamic Belizean guest speaker, Mrs. Emily Martinez Palacio, will introduce us to the history and culture of Belize to bring the big travel day to a close.
Days 2 & 3 // SERVICE IN PRIMARY SCHOOL + LOCAL ADVENTURES
Breakfast will be served and we will make our way to the local village primary school for full service days in the classroom. After our full day of service at the school, we return to our home base for dinner. After dinner, we make our way to The Belize Zoo for a one-of-a-kind night tour to see the unique birds creatures of Belize. The Belize Zoo, coined the “Best Little Zoo in the World” and home to only native species, will consist of our up close and personal tour provided by licensed zoo guides upon arrival.
Day 4 // CULTURE OVERLOAD
Following breakfast, we make our way to a hands-on chocolate making demonstration in the heart of San Ignacio town. Learn more about the cocoa bean and its importance in the Mayan history and culture. Visit the Green Iguana Conservation Project (GICP). The local Saturday San Ignacio Market, a wonderful opportunity to share how locals purchase groceries, sell art, buy various home needs, etc., is a short walk from the GICP. Lunch will be enjoyed at local restaurant in a nearby village and we head to the Xunantunich Maya Ruins (“Stone Lady”). A beautiful climb to the top of the ruins is a 360-degree panoramic view of Belize and Guatemala. We return to our home base for a delicious dinner.
Day 5 // THE ISLAND IS CALLING
Breakfast will be served and we promptly depart for the water taxi in Belize City. We take in the beautiful view of the crystal clear Caribbean Sea as we land on the island of Ambergris Caye. We settle into our island accommodations upon arrival, the Caribbean Villas. We enjoy an open afternoon on the ialsn and dinner is served at a local restaurant.
Day 6 // SNORKEL THE SECOND LARGEST REEF IN THE WORLD
Breakfast will be served and then we head to our snorkel shop to be fitted for our gear and hop on the boat. This day brings a spectacular opportunity for snorkeling alongside sea turtles and other colorful sea life. We return to the island and dinner is served at a local restaurant within walking distance from the hotel.
Days 7 & 8 // SERVICE IN PRIMARY SCHOOL + LOCAL ADVENTURES
Breakfast will be served and we will make our way to the local primary school, Better Tomorrow Preschool, for two full service days. After our full day of service at the school, we return to our home base for dinner and local evening activiites.
Day 9 // DEPART + GLOBAL CITIZENSHIP
Breakfast will be served and travelers will spend their final moments picking up last-minute souvenirs or taking in the beachside sunrise views on the beach. We transfer back to the Belize City airport via the water taxi and prepare for departures.
INCLUDED FEATURES (Your all-inclusive adventure Includes):
Round-trip international airfare from Des Moines, Iowa to Belize City International Airport
All overnight accommodations and meals (3 meals per day)
Mainland accommodations: Tropical Educator Center
Caye accommodations: Caribbean Villas
All trip transportation transfers: land and water
Unique service experience: preparation, guidance, materials, supplies, and facilitation in local schools
Guided cultural excursions: Historic Mayan Ruins, local market, chocolate making demonstration, The Belize Zoo, Garifuna + Creole dance workshop, snorkeling the Belize Barrier Reef, etc.
All admissions fees and gear for excursions
Experienced, licensed local guides
Detailed travel and destination information to assist in your planning
It only takes a $500 deposit to reserve your spot on this unique Belize trip!
Congratulations on your decision to join our international service trip in Belize, Central America! You are now on your way (and continuing your impactful journey) to global citizenship.
In order to complete your program registration, simply click on the big green registration button below. We kindly ask each traveler to complete the brief form and submit the nonrefundable deposit of $500 to confirm your registration. Deposits are applied to the full program cost.
If you have questions about what is and what is not included with your trip or our refund policy please click the expanding links below.
+ What's Included...
What’s Included?
Registration includes all in-country expenses including: round-trip international airfare, all service-learning materials, lodging with three healthy meals per day, all in-country transportation (land and water) with licensed guides, airport and water ferry transfers, country-expert presentations, professionally guided educational and cultural excursions with licensed guides, tips, and gear rental, 24/7 professional full-time supervision and logistical support.
What’s NOT Included?
Your program has been designed for you to not worry about any expenses throughout the duration of your program. The only items not covered on your program are luggage fees, souvenirs, and incidentals.
+ Refund Policy...
The fee charged to participate in the Program is paid in installments. Participant understands and agrees that after Participant has applied for and confirmed participation in the Program, GSP will make arrangements for the Program based on Participant’s attendance (for example booking lodging and not accepting other Program participants for the slot taken by Participant). For this reason, in the event Participant cancels participation in the Program after making application and confirming participation, all monies paid on or before the notice of cancellation shall be retained by GSP in order to offset its loss of business and ninety days prior to the Program departure date, all monies paid shall be retained by GSP. Thus, if Participant withdraws from the Program within the ninety day period immediately preceding the Program departure date, no portion of the Program fee will be returned. All deposits are nonrefundable.