Belize
Mission Trips

With a total population of just 300,000 people, Belize is the most sparsely populated country in Central America and among the least densely populated in the world. While English is the only official language in Belize, the country has attracted thousands of immigrants from neighboring Spanish-speaking countries, leaving it with an eclectic mix of Latin American, Afro-Caribbean, and Mayan cultures.

Residents live in towns set amid vast expanses of jungle, where you'll have the opportunity to work alongside fellow believers and community members who will warm your heart with their dedication and love.

Teams going to Belize may go to one of several different community locations. Experience Mission works closely with The Family of God Church network. This network of churches expands throughout the entire country of Belize. There are many communities within the country that have a need and desire for teams to come. The churches will decide where the need is strongest and we will notify your team leader then where your team will be serving.

Below is a basic schedule for the week, but we approach this with flexibility because our ultimate focus is on relationships.

Each morning, there is time set aside for devotions and quiet time. This is a valuable time and we strongly encourage all team members to spend it with God, journaling their thoughts and experiences as the days unfold. EM will provide a physical or printable devotional journal.

Average Daily Schedule

Day One
3:00-6:00 pm Groups Arrive
5:00 - Leader's Meeting
6:00 - Dinner
7:00 - Orientation Meeting
8:30 - Team Time (a time for your group alone)
11:30 - Lights Out


Days Two through Six
7:15 - Breakfast
7:45 - Devotions and Quiet Time
8:15 - Group Prayer
8:30 - Teams leave for Sites
12:00 - Lunch
3:30 - Finish Work for the day
4:00 - Break and Clean-up
5:00 - Leaders meeting
6:00 - Dinner
7:00 - Evening program (as a whole group)
8:30 - Team time


Day Seven
7:00 - Breakfast
7:30 - Cleanup/ Packing
9:00 - Pictures and Good-Byes

Lodging

Your team will be staying at a local church. Showers will be available, but they may be outdoor, makeshift stalls with cold water.

Food

Food will be prepared by EM staff and volunteers from the local church. You will have the opportunity to eat ample amounts of delicious Belizean dishes. There will be purified water at the church and at the worksites.

Due to a limited variety of foods available in Belize EM can not accommodate any nut allergies. Please inquire with an EM staff member for more details. EM's Food Policy

Flights

Destination Airport: Belize City

Team members are responsible for covering the cost of their round trip airfare into Belize City and should make plans to arrive between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm on the first day of your selected trip.

NOTE: The first meal provided for your team will be dinner on the evening you arrive. If your team plans to arrive before lunch, you should bring cash for each of your team members to purchase lunch after you arrive in Belize.

Return travel should be arranged with your departure flight after 2:00 pm on the last day of your selected trip. If you have trouble finding flights that fit into this time frame please contact us before booking your tickets to make special arrangements.

Exit Fee

When you leave Belize, you will be charged an exit fee at the airport for each individual. This will be approximately 40 US dollars per person, and you should bring cash for this payment. You will not be permitted to leave the country until you pay this fee. Note: Some airlines may include this fee in your ticket price. Check with your airline about exit fees before you leave on your trip.

Passports & Travel Documents

Each team member must carry a valid passport.

If you do not have a valid passport, it is of the utmost importance to apply as soon as possible. The processing time for a Passport can take several weeks once your application has been submitted. An expired Passport is not considered valid.

Notarized Letter of Parental Consent

All team members under the age of 18 must carry a written, notarized letter from their parents giving them parental permission to leave the country. They must carry the original notarized copy of this letter. It cannot be a photocopy of the letter.

1) If the minor is traveling without parents, both parents must sign the letter.
2) If they are traveling with one parent, the parent that is not traveling with them must sign this letter.
3) If their parents are separated or divorced and both parents do not want to sign the same letter, they must have a notarized letter from each parent permitting them to go.

Experience Mission can provide a sample copy of a permission letter or you can create your own letter that must include the following:

1) The full name of both parents and their formal signatures
2) The full name of the child
3) The full name of the Adult Chaperone serving as the Team Leader
4) The specific traveling dates for each country
5) The destination country
6) The reason for travel to the destination country (example- "youth group function")
7) The Airline itinerary (if applicable)

If you have further questions regarding required travel documents we advise you to contact the US State Department: www.travel.state.gov

Ground Transportation

Upon arrival to Belize, all transportation during your mission trip IS included!

EM's Health & Safety Plan:

Staff Certification
All Summer Staff are certified in First Aid and CPR.

Medical Kits
Medical kits that include first-aid supplies for general accidents and ailments are provided for each site.

Emergency Response Plan
Based on the severity of each emergency, EM has a plan for appropriate response.

- If a team member becomes seriously ill, they will be taken to a local doctor to receive appropriate medical attention and medications. If they are a minor, their Team Leader along with our staff will accompany them to the clinic. If needed, their parents will be contacted. Their recovery will be carefully monitored by our staff.

- If there is an accident that requires a doctor, but is not life-threatening and does not have the potential to cause permanent damage, Experience Mission staff will locate the Team Leader, contact parents or guardians (providing the injured is a minor), and provide safe but quick transportation to a local clinic.

- In the event that an accident occurs that is life-threatening or has the potential for permanent damage, emergency medical care will be secured and arraignments will be made if necessary, to transport the injured person to the United States as quickly as possible providing they are serving in one of our International locations. In our domestic locations, local 911 services will be contacted immediately. The family will be contacted immediately to assist in guidance for an appropriate response.

All medical care is the sole responsibility of the team member. Experience Mission requires every team member to be covered by domestic medical insurance and recommends that team members traveling abroad carry additional international travel insurance to cover any medical needs their domestic medical insurance may not cover.

Check out EM's current Covid Guidance

Experience Mission has specific policies regarding team registration and withdrawal. Please refer to the document below for specifics.

View EM's Mission Trip Registration Policy

INDIVIDUALS

All volunteers on a week-long EM mission trip to Belize must be part of a team of at least 10 people, with at least one team member age 21 or older to serve as the Team Leader. Not part of a group? All young adults ages 18-30 are eligible to apply for EM's IMMERSION program.

Is the place where we are staying safe?
Yes. While there is always a risk when traveling abroad, we make certain our housing facilities are safe. In every community where we work, we partner with trusted local people who are responsible to ensure team safety.

What airport will I fly into?
Mission trip team traveling to Belize typically fly into Belize City (BZE).

How will I know where to go at the airport? Who will I meet?
You will have access to specific instructions on how to go through customs and where to meet our staff at the airport once you register for your trip. We will also provide you with the phone number of our staff on the ground to call should you get lost. You can expect a call from this person the week of your trip to communicate any special details.

Will there be clean water to drink?
Yes! Purified bottled drinking water will be provided for all team members at the lodging location and throughout the day at work project and ministry sites.

What will we be doing on our mission trip?
Mission trips in Belize typically consist of a mixture of highly physical construction projects and children's ministry, called Kids Club. Be sure to check the details for your specific trip because individual trips may vary.

What is the cell phone coverage like in Belize?
Some cell phone companies do have service in Belize, but coverage is limited in rural locations. Often, for an additional charge, you can add a temporary international calling plan to your phone. Each team member should check with their respective cell phone carrier about service and plans. We encourage teams to have at least one team member with an international plan.

Will we have internet access in Belize?
There is no reliable internet access at the facility where you will be staying, but EM staff members will have internet access on their smartphones to communicate on behalf of team members in the case of an emergency.

What shots and immunizations do I need to get before my mission trip?
In addition to being up-to-date on all childhood vaccinations and boosters, we strongly recommend all participants check with the Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) as well as their local physician and closely follow their directions for recommended shots and immunizations.

Will I need to purchase additional travel insurance on my mission trip?
We strongly recommend that every team member has personal medical insurance. All applicants should check with their personal medical insurance provider regarding international coverage. If your personal insurance will not cover you, we strongly recommend purchasing additional travel insurance. Short-term travel insurance can be purchased separately through a local insurance company.

If you cannot obtain travel insurance through a local provider, upon team registration, we will direct you to a link for "Travel Insurance" on our website. This link will connect you and your team members to "Group International Travel Solutions," a trusted travel insurance company.

Are there any extra fees related to my Belize mission trip I should be aware of?
There is an exit fee of about $40 due upon departure from Belize. Most airlines cover this is the cost of the ticket, so check with your airline after you book flights.

How much do Belize mission trips cost?
See "Upcoming Trip Dates" section below for available dates and per-person cost for each trip. This fee covers ground transportation, lodging, all of your meals, trip-related expenses, and funds to support local staff who will be leading your trip.

What seasons do you offer Belize mission trips?
Trips are offered in Belize year-round! Don't see a date that works for you? Contact us about planning a custom trip.

Do you offer spring break trips in Belize?
Yes! Belize is a popular destination for spring break mission trips. Teams for spring break typically arrive on a Saturday and return home the following Friday.

Will we work with children in Belize?
Yes! You will work with children in a variety of settings, most notably, when your team leads a Kids Club.

What paperwork is required for this mission trip?
Each team member will need to fill out a team member registration form and liability waiver and all adults are required to pass a background check. Additionally, each team member will need to have a valid passport that expires at least six months after traveling to Belize.

Will I need a visa for a Belize mission trip?
You will not need to apply for a visa ahead of time. You will go through customs upon arrival and provide information about the nature of the trip. We will provide you with all the resources you need for this prior to your departure.

Where will my team stay in Belize?
Teams will stay at a local church. There is access to running water and electricity, but teams should expect rustic-style lodging with no air conditioning, and we do recommend bringing along bug nets for added comfort.

Are meals provided for Belize mission trips?
Yes! All meals will be prepared by local Belizean staff! This is a unique opportunity to try local Belizean cuisine.

What time can I arrive in Belize?
We ask that teams arrive between 11am and 2pm on the first day of their selected trip. If you are unable to arrive in this window of time, please contact your mission trip support person prior to booking airfare so that we can ensure that you will have transportation available upon arrival.

Is airfare included in EM trip fees?
No. Airfare is a separate expense and you will book this on your own.

What local culture will we experience on our Belize mission trip?
Teams will experience authentic Belizean culture and hospitality by local guides. All meals will be prepared by local cooks and you will have the opportunity to learn about the complex history from local people during your trip.

How does this trip impact the local community?
All work projects are focused on community development and decisions about what the projects will be are left almost entirely up to local leadership. As a result, real community needs are being met and projects have a lasting impact.

Does EM have any Covid requirements for teams?
We ask that teams bring 1-2 masks/person and 2-4 rapid tests in the event that someone on your team becomes sick during the trip. Outside of that, we simply recommend that teams follow current CDC recommendations regarding travel, testing, and what to do if you're exposed or get sick. View EM's Current Covid Guidance

Does EM offer any other mission trips to Latin America or the Caribbean?
Yes! We offer trips to Jamaica, Costa Rica, Cuba, and Puerto Rico.

Have more questions about Experience Mission trips? Check out our general FAQs, or call our support team at 888-475-6414.