Faculty-Led Groups
Bring Learning to Life with a Faculty-Led Program in Belize
Bring Learning to Life with a Faculty-Led Program in Belize
CELA’s Belize-based team brings unmatched local expertise, strong community connections, and in-country support to help you create an academically rich, culturally immersive experience for your students.
It’s why we were named Best Custom Programs in Belize in 2025 by GoAbroad.com.
Why Belize?
- 🌍 Wide range of fields: Global health, nursing, environmental science, marine biology, veterinary medicine, and more
- 🇧🇿 English-speaking destination: Belize offers easy communication and accessibility for international students
- 🌿 Extraordinary ecosystems: Coral reefs, rainforests, and diverse wildlife create unmatched learning opportunities
- 🏛️ Rich cultural heritage: Maya traditions, Creole cuisine, and vibrant local communities enhance cultural immersion
- 🎓 Experiential education: A dynamic setting that blends academics with hands-on, real-world experience
Why CELA?
- 🏢 In-country office: Our team is based in Belize, ensuring on-the-ground support and seamless program management
- 👩🏫 Experienced local staff: Knowledgeable professionals who understand the communities and culture
- 🔗 Strong local partnerships: Long-standing relationships with trusted organizations and partners across Belize
- 📋 Expert logistics: Insider knowledge to navigate planning, travel, and program execution smoothly
- 🤝 Culturally respectful programs: Designed with care to honor local traditions and perspectives
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Key Services
From itinerary design to on-the-ground support, we work closely with you to build customized programs that meet your academic goals while giving participants a meaningful experience they’ll never forget.
- Collaborate on itinerary design tailored to course objectives
- Create curriculum, coursework, and syllabi to meet learning goals
- Organize and schedule local experts such as tour guides, Belizean professionals, government officials, business people, and academics to offer lectures to your group
- Connect your group with NGOs, international organizations, health care providers, businesses or professional organizations
- Arrange research, service, or experiential learning projects for your group
Our Belize-based team handles all logistics, so you can focus on teaching.
- Arrange all local logistics, including airport transfers, local transportation, lodging, and meals
- Plan, book, and price an itinerary for your group based on your interests and budget
- Coordinate with vetted local vendors and partners
- Daily coordination and 24/7 support
We offer experiences that connect students with Belize’s culture and people.
- Cultural exchanges with local youth. students, and relevant professionals
- Visits to cultural heritage sites and wildlife reserves
- Service-learning and community engagement
- Guided reflections to deepen intercultural learning
- Optional excursions like snorkeling the reef or rainforest hikes
Our U.S.-based team supports you from day one. We help get your program off the ground and ensure your students are well prepared.
Assistance with university proposal process
Help with custom marketing flyers and recruitment tools
Student info sessions and pre-departure orientations
Travel documents checklist and packing guidance
Arrange group flights
- Emergency protocols and 24/7 emergency response
- Experienced in-country staff with local knowledge
CUSTOMIZABLE ITINERARIES
Every program is fully customizable to your group’s goals, timeline, and academic discipline. Recent programs include:
Pre-Vet, Vet Tech, and Animal Science
Nursing
Environment & Conservation
Global Health
History & Culture
Agriculture
Indigenous Studies
And much more…Just ask!
Create a custom faculty-led program in Belize!
Whether you’re just exploring options or ready to submit a proposal, we’re here to help.
Here’s how it works:
Let us know you are interested!
Take a minute to tell about your goals, timeline, and academic focus.Meet with our U.S.-based team
We’ll schedule a call to learn more about your vision, answer questions, and walk you through our process.Receive a custom proposal
We’ll send a draft itinerary, budget, and support materials to help you move forward with university approvals.Plan together
Once approved, we’ll handle the logistics while you focus on preparing for an incredible experience.
Interested?
Reach out to our U.S. staff in charge of custom programs in Belize, Maureen Buckley, at [email protected] or send us a message through the button below!
FAQS
Program Design & Academics
Programs typically run 7–14 days, but we have designed programs for much longer!
Yes, programs can be part of a credit-bearing course at your home institution. We can support learning outcomes and assessments.
For certain two-week programs that follow our open enrollment syllabi, we can offer credit through our partner university, Culver-Stockton College. See our programs page for more information.
We specialize in pre-health, global health, nursing, wildlife conservation, veterinary science, cultural studies, and more—but can build programs for nearly any field.
Absolutely. Interdisciplinary programs (e.g., nursing and global health or wildlife conservation and veterinary medicine) are very popular.
Of course! Just reach out. We organize different types of customized programs like faculty development groups and private student groups all the time.
Planning & Support
Ideally 6–12 months in advance. However, we can generally accommodate shorter timelines if necessary.
Yes. We can provide sample syllabi, learning outcomes, risk management documents, and budget templates to support your process.
Yes. You’ll work with a U.S.-based coordinator during planning and our Belizean team during the program.
Our Belize-based team can quickly adjust the itinerary if weather, transportation, or safety concerns arise.
Cost & Inclusions
Prices depend on what you want to include, how long you will be in Belize, how many people you are bringing, and the type of accommodation you request. We are happy to work with you to customize the program to fit your budget and educational goals, and you will have a personal advisor from CELA to work with you directly on every step of the process.
Generally: lodging, meals, transportation, excursions, in-country support, guides, and coordination. International airfare, insurance, and academic credit are typically not included.
Yes. We can adjust lodging levels, included meals, and excursion options to meet your goals.
Student Experience
It depends on the program location! Groups typically stay in hotels, local guesthouses, or student-friendly eco-resorts. Homestays are also available.
Meals are generally in local restaurants. We can accommodate dietary needs like vegetarian or gluten-free on request.
Yes, with international roaming or a local SIM card. Most accommodations also have Wi-Fi. Groups will communicate with our staff through WhatsApp.
We require all program participants to have travel medical insurance, which we do not provide. If you are not covered by a university policy, we can give you direction on how to purchase it. (It’s quite affordable!). Plese note: Travel medical insurance differs from travel insurance, which insures the cost of your trip in case of emergency and can be quite expensive.
U.S. and Canadian citizens do not need visas for short-term programs in Belize.
Each participant must fill out a medical form prior to travel. We provide updated travel health guidelines in your pre-departure materials based on CDC and Belizean requirements. Currently there are no vaccines required to to travel to Belize.
Interested?
OUR PARTNERS
At CELA Belize, we are fortunate to work with great organizations across the country when bringing you the educational experience of a lifetime. These connections enrich each program and support our partner’s efforts as well. Our valued partners include:
Community Baboon Sanctuary
The Community Baboon Sanctuary (CBS) is a pioneering project in grassroots conservation whose goal is to sustain the habitat of the Black Howler Monkey (“baboon” in the local Creole dialect) while promoting economic development in local communities.
Protected Areas Conservation Trust (PACT)
PACT is a strategic partner in the funding management and sustainable development of Belize’s natural and cultural resources for the benefit of Belizeans and the global community.
Forest Department - Gov of Belize
The Forest Department is a leading modern and committed government agency with a well trained, accountable and professional staff efficiently coordinating resources for the sustainable management of Belize Natural Resources.
Tumul K'in Center of Learning
Tumul K’in Center of Learning is a registered non-governmental Maya Organization that responds to the challenges of poverty and marginalization in rural Toledo by promoting a sustainable development with identity through intercultural education, training and research fusing modern and Maya values, knowledge and philosophy.
Friends of Conservation and Development
FCD is a respected organization whose role in the national conservation agenda is fully recognized by both the Government and the general public. It continues to build its networking capabilities both locally and internationally, while capitalizing on its strengths as a reputable community-based conservation organization.
National Institue of Culture and Heritage (NICH)
NICH encourages Belizeans and persons interested in Belize to better understand Belizean’s historical and ethnic roots and instill pride about the country’s unique cultural heritage and shared national identity. The Institute of Archaeology focuses on the Protection, Preservation and Promotion of Belize’s rich cultural heritage.
Belize Bird Rescue
Belize Bird Rescue started “rescuing” birds in April 2004 and continues to offer care for sick and injured birds on their private reserve in Cayo District of Belize.
Belize Botanic Gardens
With 45 acres of native plants in their garden and arboretum, the Botanic Gardens sits between the Maya Mountain foothills and the Macal River.
The Belize Zoo
The Zoo provides a home for a wild animals that were previously orphaned or rehabilitated. It was started in 1983.
