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Fly Fishing, Photography and Belizean Culture Hosted Trip

A Jess McGlothlin Departure February 7 - 14, 2019

Copal Tree Lodge and El Pescador Resort, Belize

We Share Your Passion

BElize

Take Your Travel Experience Further: The Hosted Trip Difference Unparalleled Service and Knowledge Every Step of the way Dear Traveler, Belize has long been one of my favorite destinations — it’s where I caught my first bonefish, and each time I return I fall more and more in love with the country. I’m pleased to be returning once more to Belize to teach this photography-fishing-cultural combination trip with Frontiers! El Pescador always feels like coming home; after visiting lodges around the world, it remains one of my favorite destinations. The staff feels like family, the accommodations are comfortable and the rooms (and three pools!) are the perfect respite after a long day chasing sport fish on the flats. We’ll enjoy three days of guided fishing, where those who are interested in the photography aspect of the trip can shoot “on assignment” while they trade shots with their boat mate. After three days of fishing at El Pescador, we’ll travel south to the luxurious jungle escape of Copal Tree Lodge (formerly Belcampo Lodge) for three days of cultural adventures and photography instruction (optional). We’ll explore local villages, snorkel with the lodge chef, make our own chocolate bars from home-grown cacao beans, all the while enjoying the lodge’s fine dining and wellappointed rooms. There’s something special about Belize that continues to draw me back. Join me for a week of fly fishing, hands-on photography instruction and cultural adventures — and watch yourself fall in love with Belize! I look forward to seeing you there.

Jess McGlothlin

What to Expect

• Fish for bonefish, tarpon and perhaps even permit in the waters surrounding Ambergris Caye, the island home of El Pescador Resort. The Resort’s guides are excellent and excel with anglers of all skill levels and interests. • Enjoy optional, hands-on photography instruction from international award-winning photographer Jess McGlothlin. In the evenings, enjoy a cold drink while receiving photography assignments for the following day. • Enjoy cultural and gastronomic activities at the famed Copal Tree Lodge in southern Belize, including a Mayan Ruin and Village Adventure, handcrafting your own chocolate bar from boutique-grown cacao beans, and snorkeling with the chef.

About the Accommodations

El Pescador Resort: Experience the comforts of home at El Pescador and the hearty food that highlights the best of Belize! The staff at El Pescador Resort work together as a family unit with pure, dedicated enthusiasm that ensures all the guests feel welcomed during their stay. This is truly an unforgettable experience! Copal Tree Lodge: Experience a jungle lodge setting, an organic farm and 12,000-acre nature reserve, the best of local food and culture, active adventures, wildlife viewing in world-class accommodations and hospitality. Enjoy cooking classes with the Lodge’s chef or a full selection of services at the jungle spa!

Proposed Itinerary for Belize February 7 - 14, 2019

Thursday, February 7 - El Pescador Resort

Arrive at Philip Goldson International Airport, transfer via Tropic Air for a 15-minute flight to San Pedro. Upon arrival at San Pedro, you will be met by a representative from El Pescador Resort, who will escort you to the Resort via a 10-minute boat ride. Settle into your room and relax with a cold Belikin beer, or choose to go for a swim in the pool. At 5 p.m., we will meet for a meet-and-greet and discuss the plan for the week, including an introduction to the photography aspect of the trip for those interested. Evening dinner, drinks and relax; order your boat lunch for tomorrow morning.

Friday, February 8 - Sunday, February 10 - El Pescador Resort

Early morning breakfast — bring your fishing and photography gear, ready to go! Meet your guide; they will help you review your gear and ensure you have everything set up and ready to go for a day in the boat. Fishing during the day: work on your photography assignment while chasing saltwater species under the careful eye of El Pescador’s guides. Those who have chosen to not fish are welcome to enjoy the Resort, snorkel nearby or explore the local town of San Pedro. Boat lunch. Return to El Pescador mid-afternoon; shower, relax and review your images from the day. In the evening, we will gather for cold drinks, appetizers and a review of the day. Receive tomorrow’s photography assignment after we talk about the day’s fishing and photography. Evening dinner, drinks and relax; order your boat lunch for tomorrow morning.

Monday, February 11 - El Pescador Resort and Copal Tree Lodge

Pack your bags and enjoy an early breakfast at El Pescador, then transfer by boat to San Pedro Airport for your mid-morning flight via Tropic Air’s 50-minute flight. Transfer to Belize City, and then onto Copal Tree Lodge. Upon arrival at Copal Tree, settle into your luscious jungle room, grab a quick lunch at the Lodge and relax — this is the perfect time for a swim in the jungle side pool or a quick nap! This is also a great time to schedule an optional spa treatment for that afternoon’s downtime. In the evening, we will gather for cold drinks, appetizers and a review of the day. Receive tomorrow’s photography assignment after we discuss the day’s travel photography. Evening dinner, drinks and relax.

*Itinerary subject to change

Tuesday, February 12 - Copal Tree Lodge

Today we’ll enjoy a relaxing breakfast at the Lodge before departing for the “Snorkel with the Chef Experience.” This guided day cruise to the Gulf of Honduras takes place on a quiet, comfy river boat with seating for eight. We’ll start the morning from the dock and proceed down the river to one of our local cayes, where you’ll enjoy snorkeling in the warm, clear Caribbean Sea. You’ll see an impressive array of sea life and coral while the crew dives for conch, lobster, crab and possibly lionfish, an invasive species we eradicate by eating! The shaded river cruiser is outfitted with tables and benches, as well as easy access steps into the water, so you can spend as much time as you wish onboard, in the sun, or in the water. After snorkeling, our onboard barman will mix you a tropical drink or offer you a cold Belikin beer or glass of crisp white wine. Toast to the good life while one of our talented cooks prepares an incredible lunch featuring the catch of the day. Excursion includes marine reserve park fees, fins and snorkels, lunch and all beverages. Upon return to the Lodge, we’ll take time to refresh and look through our images before reconvening for cold drinks, appetizers and a review of the day. You’ll receive tomorrow’s photography assignment after we talk about that day’s photography experience.

Wednesday, February 13 - Copal Tree Lodge

After our relaxing breakfast at the Lodge, we’ll head out for a half-day adventure to the local village and ancient Mayan Ruins of Lubaantun. We’ll pass through several villages on our way to the Ruins, where we’ll explore, take photos and enjoy the surrounding jungle. We’ll stop at Coleman’s Café for some authentic local cuisine before returning to Copal Tree. Upon return to the Lodge, we’ll join in on a Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Class, offering a very unique opportunity to understand and participate in the entire process of transforming high-quality organic cacao into chocolate. The brandnew chocolate workshop is air conditioned and contains state-of-the-art equipment for professional quality chocolate bars. The workshop also contains large granite surfaces and traditional volcanic matate (stone tool used for processing grains and seeds) for hand tempering and grinding. Bring the cameras — we’ll start off with a visit to the cacao nursery where you will see cacao seeds sprouting and watch expert hand grafters hard at work grafting rare, indigenous criollo cacao onto heartier high yielding varieties. We’ll crack open a pod and you’ll taste the pulpy, white, fresh cacao fruit. You’ll learn about the fermenting and drying process, walk through the Garden of Exotic Flavors and then, return to the farm center where we’ll roast some cacao and watch the universal concher (machine with a rotating pestle and mortar) churning out smooth, velvety chocolate liquor. Roll up your sleeves and don an apron — Copal Tree’s instructor will guide us as we learn to temper, both by hand and machine and mold your own chocolate bar to take home. Afterward, enjoy a few hours of downtime. This is the perfect opportunity to enjoy a treatment at Copal Tree’s luxurious spa, take a swim in the pool, grab a kayak and explore the nearby Rio Grande River, or simply kick back and enjoy a nap in your room! Don’t forget to take a little time to review your photos for the evening workshop! In the evening, we’ll meet one final time to look at photos from the day, talk travel photography and answer any lingering questions. Enjoy a relaxed dinner at the Lodge, and your final night in the Belizean jungle. Prepare for tomorrow’s flight home.

Thursday, February 14

Say goodbye to Belize! We’ll enjoy a final breakfast at Copal Tree Lodge before transferring to the Punta Gorda airport and boarding our Tropic Air flight to Belize City. From Belize City, everyone will board for their flights back home!

About Jess McGlothlin

Frontiers Marketing Consultant “McGlothlin is as much a journalist as an angler, creating a visual with words and images like a modern-day lady Hemingway.” - Outdoor Hub Jess McGlothlin works as a freelance photographer and writer in the fly-fishing, travel and adventure travel industries. While on assignment in the past few years she’s learned how to throw spears at coconuts in French Polynesia, dodge saltwater crocodiles in Cuba, stand-up paddleboard down Peruvian Amazon tributaries and eat all manner of unidentifiable food. She’s worked with some of the largest brands in the outdoor sector, in roles ranging from staff copywriter to annual campaign photographer to marketing consultant, and has won numerous international awards for her photography. We are delighted to have Jess as part of the Marketing Team at Frontiers! Teaching is one of her favorite things — she’s taught photography workshops in the U.S. and is pleased to return to Belize for her second photography workshop at El Pescador. Hailing from Montana, she grew up with a fly rod in hand and enjoys chasing fish all over the world (usually with a camera slung across her shoulder).

Rates

Combination El Pescador Resort and Copal Tree Lodge Package Package rates based on double occupancy / shared guides. 7-night / 3-day guided fishing / 3-day cultural package based on double occupancy / shared guide: $4,805* per person. Single supplement rates quoted upon request. Inclusions: Accommodations, daily photography instruction, fishing guides (at El Pescador), all meals, soft drinks, complimentary local Belizean beverages (both non-alcoholic and alcoholic) served in the bar area only at El Pescador, in country-round trip charter flights, hotel tax and GST tax. At Copal Tree Lodge enjoy daily afternoon snacks, laundry services, use of gym, complimentary activities (self-guided kayaking / canoeing / mountain biking, onsite hiking), use of pools, 9% hotel tax, 10% Guest Service charge and 12.5% GST taxes and all alcoholic beverages (other than premium wines). Exclusions: International commercial airfare, gratuities to lodge staff and guides (at El Pescador), alcoholic beverages other than Belizean brands (at El Pescador), rod rentals, Belize fishing license, other guided excursions not listed on hosted itinerary, spa treatments, gift shop purchases and Belize Departure Tax (US $55.50) per person. Deposits payment refund policy: A non-refundable deposit of 50% of the land cost is due at time of reservation. Balance payable 60 days prior to departure.

*Rates subject to change.

Your Airline Connection

Delta, one of our preferred carriers to Belize, offers non-stop service daily between Atlanta to Belize City which is an easy choice with an extensive route network within the United States. In addition, American Airlines offers daily nonstop flights to Belize City through Dallas and Miami and United Airlines offers daily nonstop flights from Houston. Contact our Air Department to coordinate your flight needs.

Frontiers Contact Our team of highly specialized advisors coordinate every last detail of your trip. For this hosted departure, please contact: Denise Schreiber

Senior Program Manager, Belize dschreiber@frontierstravel.com Toll Free: 1-800-245-1950 Phone: 724-935-1577

United States Office 600 Warrendale Rd., Gibsonia, PA 15044 Toll-free 1-800-245-1950 Phone 724-935-1577 Fax 724-935-5388 Email info@frontierstravel.com Website www.frontierstravel.com

European Office Kennet Cottage, Kempsford Gloucestershire, GL7 4EQ, England Tel +44 (0)1285 700 940 Fax +44 (0)1285 700 322 Email info@frontierstrvl.co.uk Website www.frontierstrvl.co.uk

The air holidays and flights in this brochure are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number is ATOL 3315

FRESHWATER FISHING

SALTWATER FISHING

ELEGANT JOURNEYS

WINGSHOOTING

PHOTO SAFARIS