Welcome to Belize! Upon arrival at the airport, you’ll be greeted by Therapy Abroad staff and transferred to the Tropical Education Center. After settling in, you’ll join your fellow participants for a welcome dinner and orientation. This session introduces the week ahead, including your role in OT-related community activities, group expectations, and how your participation aligns with professional competencies and cross-cultural learning.  

Enjoy a welcome dinner consisting of traditional Belizean food.

 Your day begins with a half-day visit to Ms. Emily’s Resource Center, a locally run initiative that supports children with diverse learning and developmental needs. You’ll spend the morning interacting with staff, learning about the challenges and triumphs of inclusive education in Belize, and getting a firsthand look at how local caregivers and educators work with limited resources to make a meaningful impact. It’s a powerful introduction to the social and educational context of your clinical work.

In the afternoon, you’ll head to Hermit’s Blue Hole, a serene freshwater cenote tucked in the forest. You’ll have time to swim, relax, and enjoy the peaceful surroundings before heading back to the Tropical Education Center. The day blends heart, perspective, and nature—giving you a grounded start to your journey in Belize.

 Start your day by conducting basic school-based motor and developmental screenings in a local primary school. You’ll observe and assist with informal assessments related to handwriting, fine motor skills, and school participation, guided by Therapy Abroad’s professional staff. In the afternoon, you’ll attend a classroom session introducing OT frameworks and culturally responsive practice. After dinner, get ready for a night safari at the Belize Zoo, where you’ll explore local wildlife in a nocturnal setting and learn more about Belize’s environmental richness. 

Today, you’ll work in teams to lead activity stations for local children that integrate OT-based principles like motor coordination, sensory integration, and daily living skills. You’ll take a hands-on role in designing and facilitating structured play, adaptive crafts, and skill-building exercises—all supervised by licensed OT professionals. This experience gives you direct, applied exposure to the kind of work you’ll do in your future clinical rotations. 

 After several meaningful days of clinical work and community engagement, today is all about fun, adrenaline, and adventure. You’ll spend the day exploring the lush Belizean rainforest with two unforgettable experiences.

First, you’ll gear up and soar through the jungle on an exhilarating zipline course, gliding from platform to platform above the treetops. Then, you’ll cool off with a guided cave tubing expedition through Belize’s underground river systems. As you float through cathedral-like caverns, your guide will share stories about the ancient Maya who once used these caves for ritual and ceremony.

This day offers the perfect balance of nature, culture, and recreation—giving you time to recharge, connect with your peers, and experience the beauty of Belize in a completely different way.

 Your day begins with a visit to The Inspiration Center in Belize City—an outpatient rehabilitation clinic that serves children with disabilities and developmental delays. During your time there, you’ll tour the facility, meet with local therapists, and learn about how speech, language, occupational, and physical therapy services are provided in a resource-limited environment. You may also observe therapy sessions or engage in conversations with clinicians about the challenges and innovations involved in their work.

Following this enriching visit, you’ll make your way to the water taxi terminal for your transfer to Caye Caulker, where you’ll check in to Island Magic Hotel. The rest of the afternoon is yours to relax and enjoy the island’s laid-back pace—whether that means beach time, exploring, or simply soaking in the ocean views. 

Head out on a boat excursion today for guided snorkeling to see nurse sharks, rays, and many beautiful fish and coral! The Belize Barrier Reef is the second largest barrier reef in the world, and the largest in the western hemisphere. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Belizeans work hard to manage this resource sustainably. Our snorkel provider will provide snorkel equipment and life jackets we require all students to wear during the snorkel trip.

Spend your final afternoon relaxing in the sun, swimming, shopping, or exploring the island. Tonight we will have a farewell dinner at one of our favorite spots on the island.

Take the water taxi back to Belize City to catch your flight home! Exchange information with new friends to stay connected! Please reflect back on all of the amazing things you did on your trip.

Share your experience with family, friends, peers and professors! Please be sure to tag us in your social media posts and leave us a review on GoOverseas.com.