What I Pack for my Paddling Trips to Belize

Post paddle happy hour sunset on the reef at Glovers Atoll

BELIZE. Just the word conjures up visions of aquamarine blue waters, reef fringed atolls with palm tree covered islands, and lush tropical rainforest. Belize is a special country where I have been guiding multiday standup paddleboarding expeditions in partnership with Island Expeditions since 2015.

Southwest Caye and Glovers Atoll

Belize, an english speaking Central American country nestled between Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the south, is a culturally diverse region with a mix of Mayan, Garifuna, and Creole people. Belize is known for its incredible natural ecosystems and diversity. The 165 mile Belize Barrier Reef System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the longest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere. It enfolds seven marine protected areas and three coral atolls under its umbrella. Hundreds of tiny cayes and miles of beaches and hidden coves offer world-class standup paddleboarding, snorkelling and fishing.

Our Coral Islands trips , at the end of January and beginning of February have been really popular and usually sell out each year. Upon arrival guests spend their first night at Bocawina Rainforest Lodge located in Mayflower National Park and the following morning we take a boat ride beyond the barrier reef and out to Glover's Atoll, one of three atolls in Belize. Glovers is one of my favorite destinations where we explore the atoll by paddleboard, experience world class snorkeling and fish in Belizean style with a hand line. After three night at the Southwest Caye base camp we boat shuttle back 16 miles across the Carribean Sea to the meso american barrier reef and spend our last couple of nights at Tobacco Caye, the fishermen's island. We continue to paddle the barrier reef but also have opportunities to look for Manatee's in the calm mangrove ranges that line the inside of the reef.

Wilderness Tents at Southwest Caye Basecamp.

For our trips this year I flew down with my new Sea Gods West Coast inflatable paddleboard. In 2024, owners Mandy and Ryan, reached out to me to help them design a performance touring inflatable and after many prototypes we finally created the new "West Coast Expedition." Sea Gods is known for their beautiful boards featuring the stunning artwork of well known artists. The West Coast Expedition is no different and I am very proud that it showcases my friend and well known Canadian artist Roy Vickers incredible west coast scene.

Sea Gods x Norm Hann Expeditions "West Coast Expedition" Touring Board

One of the real benefits to owning an inflatable paddleboard is the ability to travel with it. Sea Gods have designed a really solid wheelie ISUP bag with padded shoulder and hip straps, heavy duty wheels, dense canvas construction, with ample handles and pockets. What I like best about the bag is that it is oversized. Aside from not having to struggle to get your board in, I can pack a bunch of gear for my trip including:

• 3 piece Blackfish Andaman Travel paddle
• Sea Gods Manual Pump
• Sea Gods Coil Leash
• Mustang Survival Khimera PFD
• Freediving fins, mask and snorkel.
• Drybag
• Towel
• Waterbottle

Gear for Belize packed in the travel bag.

Paddling the spectacular Belize Barrier Reef.

Looking for Manatees in the protected waters of the mangrove ranges.

The West Coast performed beautifully in the tropical waters of Belize. We designed this board to be fast, stable and efficient with V nose and reinforced with special Aramid fiber panels that increase rigidity and stiffness. Clients loved paddling the West Coast Expedition as for the board was a standout in flatwater, on downwind runs and provided the stability needed as they looked for sharks, rays and the hundreds of different reef fish.

I am already looking forward to getting back to Belize in 2026 for our next trips and I will for sure be bringing down my Sea Gods West Coast Expedition board again.

Reach out if you have any questions about our new West Coast Expedition touring board. If you are looking to purchase please use my affiliate code which will save you 10% on the West Coast Expedition or any other board or accessory on the Sea Gods website including paddles and leashes.

The impressive and over sized ISUP travel bag.