Our Mission

     The original concept of Bird Island was and still is to provide a unique and affordable place to stay and get to share it with only your friends or family in total privacy (no other guests nor staff is staying at the island during your stay). Bird Island is easy to relax in because of its more-than-adequate comforts, but with the option of having a lot to do if one so desires.

       Over the years we have added many new features to the island in a conscious effort to make the island's experience better for our guests despite the fact it is not a typical resort, nor pretending to be. The commitment from it's start has been to still offer an affordable off-grid get away with a freedom to do as you please while staying in it. There are enough formal, fully catering and by far more expensive resorts available in the world already, it certainly doesn't need another. If luxury is your main interest please look elsewhere, if fun and freedom is what you are after, you will definitely come to the right place as one can surmise from the hundreds of very grateful guest reviews we have received over the  last 7 years.

                                                                        Other Things to Note
                                                                               (Updated January 8, 2023)
   
Important Information (Updated March 1, 2023)

>> Reservations: It is important that the reservation is indeed accurate as to the number of guests coming ~before~ arrival since it helps us plan for your stay.  Only 4-years old and younger are free. Best to invite others that are fully aware they are coming to a self-catering adventure, not a resort. Also please let us know your arrival information so we know where to meet you. We have a set 6-person limit, though the island can accommodate up to 8, depending on group composition and whether a cook is wanted or not.   

>> Price: The base price is $795 (2023) for the first two guests. $100 per persons per night beyond that.

>> Length of stay: We have a minimum of 4 days;  we leave a 24-hour window between guests for general cleaning and/or maintenance.  

>> The overall sequence of events for our guests on the day they are going to the island is: 1- Pick you up at local hotel or airport, 2- get vegetables, 3-swing by our office for equipment outfitting and finally do food shopping and off we go. The entire process takes approximate one hour.

>> General Meeting Place: Unless other arrangements have been made, the best meeting place is in our main office (Bird Island/Privasea Tour building) which is right on main street Placencia, where the sidewalk crosses the main road in the middle of town. 

   >> Getting to Placencia from Belize City Airport is now much easier with the opening of the new coastal road and there are three (3) choices available. 
~By Shuttle: There are a few shuttle services available from the Belize International airport. It is only a 2.5-hour ride to Placencia.
~By Rental Car:  approximately $100 USD a day. We have a good place to leave your rental car while at the island. 
~By Air: (Maya or Tropic Air) About $130 USD each way per person / 40 minute flight.
 
(Note: If going to Bird Island the same day as arriving, the shuttle/rental car route works well if one is arriving in Belize International Airport by 2pm or so;  it is now only a 2.5hr drive to Placencia, plus (1) hour for food shopping plus  20 minutes to get to the island. It gets dark  in Belize by 6:30pm. If arriving to Belize International well after 2pm it is best to ~fly~ to Placencia if leaving for the island on the same day. Staying a day in the village of Placencia prior to coming to the island is also a choice since it is a safe, fun place to be.

   >>  In order to help you with your logistics and food shopping, we can pick you up at the Placencia airport (or local hotel) at 11am (or later) when going to the island the same day. 

   >>  Exclusivity. Yes, when you book Bird Island, you will have the entire island all to yourself in absolute privacy. There is no staff on the island, which makes Bird Island the only truly totally-private island opportunity in Belize. 

>> Cook : If you would like a cook we have a good one available (owner's daughter). She also does house cleaning and serves as a very good guide on fishing, lobstering and getting conch around the island. $150 a day. 

   >> Accommodations: The island has 3 separate places to stay in (with 6 beds)  and each with their own bathroom plus a 4th place (small cozy cabana with a separate bathroom). There are many added places in the island to make use of with our extra cots and hammocks.

>> The trip from Placencia Village to Bird Island via boat is included in the price (18-minute run).  Pick-up from the island when returning should be about 2 hours before flying out of Placencia. A mid-stay trip (when staying 5+ days) to the mainland for necessary supplies is available;  however it is by far easier for us to get something needed to the island (via a passing boat) during your stay than us having to make multiple trips back & forth during unfavorable weather.

  >>  Snorkeling / Fishing equipment: Either bring your own, specially a mask that you are comfortable with or borrow one from us from our tour shop on the mainland. We have every size of good-quality Cressi snorkeling fins equipment available which are usually cumbersome to bring. Also a few  lightweight fishing rods. If you want to do bottom fishing, make sure to buy some shrimp bait when food shopping, we do have many hand-casting reels at the island also. 

>>  Wading slipper-type shoes. The island is surrounded by shallow sand flats and within 100 feet a spectacular reef with live coral; bringing soft shoes that cover your toes and ankle are a good thing to have when walking about.  We do have many for sale in our shop.

>>  Food Supply: Bird Island is a self-catering scenario, so the plan is just to bring enough meats, vegetable and drinks (i.e. liquor, ice) for your stay. We do assist you with your food shopping. The island does have a very well-stocked kitchen with a myriad of condiments such as cake mixes, flour, rice, spices, oils, paper towels, garbage bags, etc., so you are not required to think of every little thing.  IF you are into coffee with a Keurig machine, bringing some pots (other than 'Donut Shop' which we can get locally) from the US is appreciated, hard to get those in Belize. Food shopping is a very simple affair and will be the very last step before leaving for Bird Island. The island has a big refrigeration, ice cooler and 2 Yeti coolers at the bar to maintain ice.

   >>  Drinking Water: The island has a well-filtered rain-water system for all general uses. However, we still provide purified bottled drinking water for drinking. No need to worry about bringing drinking water yourself.

>>  Refrigeration: The island has an electric large-size refrigerator with an  ice compartment.  Bringing at least six (6) bags of ice when food shopping is recommended.

>>  Power. The island runs on solar-power and has a wind generator. Considering it is solar, power usage should be kept in mind during your stay;  though the island has a whisper-quiet, but powerful generator that you can run anytime as long as you like.

>>  Communication:   The island has very good (and unlimited) High-Speed Internet and a 32' Smart TV. A local phone is at the island so you can make local calls.

>>  Entertainment: The island has Bluetooth (2), many great board games and an extensive library of books. If you love reading, you will find no finer selection of books. 

>>  Side Tours (while staying in Placencia or Bird Island): We have our own tour company ( Privasea Adventures right on main street) which like Bird Island caters more to small-groups interested in private tours. We include an excellent lunch and the use of the best equipment with them. One tour we highly recommend while staying in Bird Island:  a fishing trip which will provide all the fish you will need the rest of the week.  Also the Laughing Bird Caye tour is a  good one to go on.

   >>  Security: Though Bird Island is only 6 miles away from town and inside its own atoll, we share a security association with other islands. The new Coast Guard station is in an island within sight of Bird Island.

  >>  Getting around the atoll. There are 2 single-person and 2 new double-person kayaks; and now also two (2) Paddle boards to cruise the atoll that surrounds the island.  

  >>  Sun Tan Lotion (and Bug Spray). Remember, it is the tropics; the best type of suntan lotion is one of a high Block Factor (50), either lotion or spray type. There tends to be many types at the island.

  >>  Bugs (i.e. sand flies, mosquitoes). Unlike the mainland or most other islands, Bird Island just doesn't have them, in fact it is one of the things our guests really appreciate the most. We have never have had to even spray for them either. 

  >>  Places to stay in Placencia Peninsula: if arriving before your stay in Bird Island,  there are many places to stay nowadays right on the Placencia beach, and within walking distance to where we depart from.  If you need a recommendation, we can provide it.

  >>  General weather pattern:
January-June 15th: is considered the 'dry season'. 
June 15th-July 15th: the first seasonal rains tend to occur.
July 15th-September 15th: usually is very nice weather, interrupted by the occasional 30-minute passing shower.
September 15th-October 20th: the second seasonal rains tend to occur, again passing showers.
November 1st-December 30th Occasional thunderstorms here and there but great weather in long stretches between them.  

  >> Nothing ever stays the same in Bird Island, we are always changing in order to improve our place for the benefit of ours guests. We reserve the right to make changes without notice. 

                                                -----------------------------------

                                                -----------------------------------