After months of stay-at-home orders, travelers in Belize look forward to touring the tropical, year-round weather and explore all the adventures Belize has to offer – safely. And as of October 1, you can! Besides not having to worry about crowds that could increase exposure to the coronavirus, you can discover the lush landscape with your Gold Standard Certified Tour Operator alongside some changes. With Belize reopening on October 1, here’s what to expect on your next tour in Belize.
WHAT TO EXPECT ON TOUR
Face masks are required where social distancing is not possible. However, on tours, face masks are not mandatory given environmental factors (like heat, humidity, and sweat) affecting efficiency. Similarly, your tour guide will ensure separation between the different tour groups and encourage tour group limited to families only. Guests can easily access hand sanitizer, or other disinfecting methods for hand hygiene, throughout the tour. Tour equipment will be limited to employees, while sharing of tour equipment between guests is prohibited. Rest assured – all tour equipment, especially reusable supplies, is thoroughly sanitized prior to use by any guest, as outlined in the Enhanced Tour Operator Guidelines.
AT THE DESTINATION
At each adventure destination, tour guides will outline the site-specific protocols stipulated by the private or public tour site. Be sure to practice 6 feet minimum of physical distance when patronizing artisans and gift shops. If you’ve worked up an appetite, you can access food vendors that have implemented enhanced health and safety measures. However, pre-prepared ‘packed’ lunches can likewise be provided by establishments. Above all else, the Tourism Health & Safety guidelines for Tour Operators is to instill comfort in how travelers can roam responsibly, with confidence.
TOUR GROUP OCCUPANCY:
- Marine – 8 guests to 1 guide
- Land – 15 guests to 1 guide
Article written by the Belize Tourism Board for the 2020 Belize Gold Book, found on page 54.
