Belize is a short flight from many US airports, nestled below the Yucatan Peninsula. Here, you can combine a Caribbean holiday with history and jungle time. Head home with memories that go beyond the beach.

Day 1: A driver will meet you at the airport in Belize City to take you north to your home for the next two nights, a riverfront oasis surrounded by lush greenery.

Days 2-3: Take a tour and river safari to see Mayan ruins dating back to 1500 BCE. Join an evening boat ride with a research biologist and crocodile wranglers who try to tag and release the mighty predators. Proceeds from your visit support crocodile research, education, rescue, and conservation efforts. Consider a visit to Central America’s largest bird sanctuary. Or just take it easy, letting your body adjust to the tropical weather and easy pace of life.

Days 3-6: Fly from the town of Orange Walk to Ambergris Caye. This is your gateway to the Caribbean’s underwater playground, the world’s second largest coral reef. Snorkel or SCUBA dive in Hol Chan Marine Reserve, a national park teeming with marine life. Go further afield to the Great Blue Hole, a circular sinkhole that Jacques Cousteau identified as one of the top ten dive sites in the world. If you aren’t a diver, snorkeling there is equally rewarding! Round out your days on Ambergris with a sunset sail and plenty of beach time. You’ll be able to walk to restaurants and shops or hire a golf cart for driving around the island.

Day 7: Relaxed and having done more than just lounge on the beach, fly home via Ambergris Caye and Belize City.