Belize is a small developing nation on the Caribbean coast of Central America. About the size of Massachusetts, the population of Belize is about 200,000, a quarter of which live in Belize City, leaving the rest of the country sparsely populated.

Home to the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, miles and miles of undeveloped coastline, rainforests, crystal clear rivers, and very friendly people, Belize is truely a naturalist's paradise and home for Tropical Field Stations Belize.

The field stations are fairly remote. Our mode of travel is mainly by boat, using 25-foot fiberglass dories with outboards. Well equipped and maintained, these boats are highly maneuverable on the narrow waterways and around coral reefs.

A school bus is used for inland trips. Depending on your groups needs, a portion of your trip can be spent at Possum Point for terrestrial studies and a portion on Wee Wee Caye for marine studies. Or you can stay at either place for the entire time.

WEE WEE CAYE MARINE LAB

Located approximately nine miles off the coast of southern Belize in the Stann Creek District, Wee Wee Caye is occupied solely by the Marine Lab. The small, mangrove island exhibits the textbook zonation of the mangrove species and is home to several genera of land crabs, lizards and a healthy population of the Central American Boa constrictor.

Established in 1988, Wee Wee Caye Marine Lab was designed as a biological field station to host groups and researchers from schools and colleges. We act as a support facility to provide field experiences to augment your academic programs in tropical studies. Our mode of transportation is 25-foot fiberglass boats operated by experienced, licensed guides. The Marine Lab can accomodate up to thirty people in rustic cabins with a maximum of four people to a room. Three meals daily are provided in a large dining hall that can also serve as a lecture hall. Another building is available for any scientific equipment you might want to bring with you. In developing the Caye, great care has been taken to minimalize impact on the mangrove habitat with boardwalks connecting some cabins.

The surrounding crystal clear Caribbean Sea supports lush turtle grass communitites and coral reefs teeming with colorful fish and invertebrates. Nearby Cayes and reefs offer unlimited study potentials for the entire Belize Barrier Reef ecosystem. A large dock extends out from the island and offers a bird's-eye view of brilliant fish, spotted eagle rays, porpoises, and colorful coral.

Located on the Sittee River in Belize's Stann Creek District, Possum Point Biological Station is the mainland's counterpart to the Wee Wee Caye Marine Lab. Situated in a lowland tropical flood forest, the Station consists of cottage style housing for up to thirty people with a central dining hall/classroom.

There are no roads to Possum Point - guests are transported by boat from the Village of Sittee River, about one mile up river. The grounds immediately surrounding the cottages are well manicured while the remainder of the 23 -acre property has been left in its natural state with over a mile of interlocking trails for study purposes. Sittee River is estuarine for nearly ten miles, supporting freshwater flora and fauna on the surface while manatees, rays, and saltwater fishes inhabitat the deeper water.

Groups have the option of spending time at either one or both of the field stations during their visit. Our experienced local staff caters to the needs of each individual group and programs can be tailored according to specific interests.