For the first day,
Belize Caving Expeditions took us to
San Jose Succotz Village where the Mopan River flows at the banks of the George Price Highway. The Belize Caving Expeditions team parked the SUVs at the side of the road and unloaded the equipment while we got suited up with our life jackets and helmets. I made our guides, Edward and Miguel, aware that I didn’t know how to swim. They were keen to reassure me that I was going to be safe on the kayak with the life jacket on. Edward had mentioned that the
Mopan River can range from two feet to thirteen feet deep – that’s scary for someone who can’t swim! Nonetheless, Edward and Miguel made sure that I felt safe in the water.
All geared up, I was ready to hop into my kayak and start paddling down the river. But, before I could do so, Edward had to explain the dos and don’ts while on the kayaks along with some preemptive measures if our kayaks were to flip over on the rapids. After the instructions, Edward assigned me a kayak that he found was suitable for me. Being at a little over a hundred pounds and five feet five inches, I was rather small compared to his regular customers. Albeit this, he didn’t fail to find equipment that was ideal for me.
I was the first one to be pushed into the river. My kayak easily slid down the slope of the riverbank and splashed the cool water on my lower body. One by one, we entered the water. Edward and Miguel advised us to paddle in the area to get familiar with our equipment before heading down the rapids. Miguel showed me a trick on how to get used to balancing on my kayak. He shook his kayak from side to side with his waist and I followed as he did. This was to establish that the buckles around my knees from the kayak fit me comfortably and for me to be able to balance well when navigating through the tongue of the rapid.
Soon, Edward headed the way down the river. Paddling was a bit difficult for me in the beginning since I wasn’t used to it – and lacked the upper body strength to maneuver the paddle in the water. Once I got the hang of it, I was speeding down the river, as if I was competing in the Ruta Maya. Approaching our first rapid, Edward went first to show us how it’s done. He advised us to travel in the middle where the tongue of the rapid is. That way, we don’t get stuck on the rocks and we just flow through the rolling waters. I was nervous about going through the rapid because of my fear of flipping over. And, since I couldn’t swim, I feared that I would be washed away by the river.
Luckily for me, I made it past the rapid successfully. Relief and a great sense of accomplishment washed over me that I raised my paddle and shook it in the air in victory. Just like this, I made it through all the rapids like a real kayaking pro. After getting comfortable in the river, and noticing that Edward and Miguel were close by, I wasn’t so scared to go wild on my kayak.
We paddled all the way down the river until we met the trail where we would go mountain biking. We got off our kayaks, dried off and drank some water before getting on our bikes. After kayaking, the thrill and excitement pushed us to pedal through the trail like madmen.
The trail was a bit muddy after a night’s rain. However, that didn’t stop us from riding through the trail. Surprisingly, our wheels didn’t get stuck in mud puddles – we managed to ride through them easily. Luis, Miguel, Sarita and I followed the trail all the way to where we would meet the main road. From there, we decided to ride back to where we started. Up and down hills, dodging rocks and speeding through the forest, mountain biking was extremely fun!
By the time we made it back to our initial location, it started to drizzle a bit. Our guides decided to pack up the bikes and equipment in their trailer and head for lunch. Going kayaking and mountain biking with Belize Caving Expeditions was a great experience. It was an adventure that I had never experienced before. Our guides, Edward and Miguel were super friendly and helpful to everyone! Not to mention, Belize Caving Expedition was well-equipped and timely.
The Belizing.com Team had a fun time kayaking and mountain biking with Belize Caving Expeditions – and this was only day one of our three-day adventures! Be on the lookout for our recap of
day two and
day three!
YouTube Videos:
Mountain BikingKayakingWould you like to go kayaking and mountain biking with Belize Caving Expeditions?
That’s easy! Simply browse through their listings and book it through
Belizing.com. Here are some tips for going kayaking and mountain biking with Belize Caving Expeditions:
What to wear to go kayaking and mountain biking in Belize?
Swimwear is most appropriate; however, you can wear a pair of light shorts and a t-shirt for the kayaking portion. For mountain biking, ensure that you have comfortable clothing to stretch your legs and comfortable shoes to pedal in.
What to bring for this kayaking and mountain biking tour?
You should definitely bring along a towel, sunblock, change of clothes, and water shoes.
What’s included?
This kayaking and mountain biking tour includes gears, equipment, lunch, water, and guides.