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CELA Belize

VerifiedProvider
4.7 / 5Student rating
413Reviews
9Programs
2010Year established

About CELA Belize

Center for Engaged Learning Abroad (CELA Belize), founded 2010, offers unique learning experience to students and professionals interested in moving out of their comfort zone. We offer internships, research, service learning projects, home stay opportunities, cultural immersions, and other field courses during summer and winter breaks. Students will experience new knowledge first hand through their field work and community service in Belize. These courses provide intensive, practical experience lessons that create powerful and meaningful learning. We support and deliver custom, faculty-led courses in partnership with colleges and universities throughout North America. Our staff is very creative and can connect local professors, community leaders, and business people to the courses, internships or faculty-led trips. Excursions to the wide variety of interesting and educational tourist destinations are included as part of the Belize exposure.

CELA Belize Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about CELA Belize

4.7
413 reviews

Rating breakdown

5
284
4
121
3
6
2
2
1
0

Top categories

Academics
4.6
Cultural Immersion
4.6
Program Administration
4.5
Living Situation
4.4
Community
4.4
Health & Safety
4.4

Participated in a CELA Belize Program? Share your experience now.

Review this Provider
Felix RayJune 2025
From: Wildlife Health, Ecology and Conservation

I want to stay!

The only thing I can imagine that would make this better is if it was longer! In two weeks you just get comfortable and then you want to stay! Our guide was the best staff member ever - always checking up on us while our instructor was an inspiration of a selfless life dedicated to conservation. My favorite activity was the spay & neuter clinic and the enrichment projects!

Natalie HensleyJune 2025
From: Wildlife Health, Ecology and Conservation

Could never do this at home

This was just a great opportunity - especially the spay and neuter clinics - those I would never have been able to experience like that in the US. We had such a great driver and guide and our instructor was such a good teacher and very passionate about conservation in Belize. There's nothing I would change!

Jannat LivingstonJune 2025
From: Wildlife Health, Ecology and Conservation

Such great staff

I have so many highlights from this program - snorkeling, the zoo, enrichment projects, the necropsy, body scans, volunteering at the vet clinic. I liked this program so much and wouldn't change a thing. And we had such great staff with us from beginning to end.

Sara FordJune 2025
From: Wildlife Health, Ecology and Conservation

Wouldn't change a thing

Swimming in the river was my favorite - such a great way to bond with the group and relax. Our leader made the trip really interesting and even our driver was a lot of fun and put up with our shenanigans. I wouldn't change anything!

Lori JuarezJune 2025
From: Custom Faculty-Led Group Study Trips in Belize

Our guides were wonderful and kind

This experience has been a wonderful introduction to Belize. The individuals we met and the presentations we heard were passionate about Belize and patient with us to share their experiences and culture with us. And our guides were wonderful and kind.

Gemma RichardsonJune 2025
From: Custom Faculty-Led Group Study Trips in Belize

So impactful

Our experience with Loop Abroad/CELA was so impactful. The staff made our experience an easy one, being flexible and creative in providing the best possible experience for what was (for many of our students) their first time in a new country.

Hafsah RangelJune 2025
From: Custom Faculty-Led Group Study Trips in Belize

I am excited to return.

Our Belize trip provided our university students an incredible cultural experience. The hospitality, culture, conversations, and community visits were hands down one of a kind. We loved our time and I am excited to return.

Effie BergerMay 2025
From: Custom Faculty-Led Group Study Trips in Belize

This trip was wonderful.

The trip was wonderful. The staff are incredibly informative and made the experience local and informative. They were always so helpful and really brought the energy everytime we worked with them. I'm so grateful to have had them on the trip.

Nannie CarpenterMay 2025
From: Custom Faculty-Led Group Study Trips in Belize

I feel so prepared for whats next

Before this trip I didn't know about education abroad. Everything from the places to the people was amazing! I feel so prepared for my graduate school and possible work abroad. This experience will stay with me forever.

Aisha BurnsMay 2025
From: Custom Faculty-Led Group Study Trips in Belize

Felt so safe

I had no idea how much Belize had to offer. I've learned so much and I never had to worry about my safety. They were so good at being flexible when the unexpected came. If you get the chance, sign up with CELA Belize

Lenny RothMay 2025
From: Custom Faculty-Led Group Study Trips in Belize

Belize is beautiful

This was my first time studying abroad and I felt so safe and cared for. I could tell that everyone cared about my education and my love for this country. Belize is beautiful and changed my perspective of the world.

Patricia BartonMay 2025
From: Custom Faculty-Led Group Study Trips in Belize

This trip changed my life.

CELA provided me with the opportunity of a lifetime. As a second generation Carribean myself, this trip gave me the chance to explore, compare, and contrast my own experience with those of the indigenous peoples. Through cultural exploration, I was able to leave with a greater understanding of our relation to the land, and food and community as pedagogy. This trip changed my life.

Leyla HamiltonMay 2025
From: Custom Faculty-Led Group Study Trips in Belize

Memories that will last a lifetime.

This trip was honestly so eye-opening. I got to see and experience things I never imagined. I made an amazing group of friends and memories that will last a lifetime. I would highly recommend to anyone looking to explore different cultures.

Maria MichaelApril 2025
From: Custom Faculty-Led Group Study Trips in Belize

Very welcoming

This study abroad program was truly amazing. The staff was great which made the experience so much better and welcoming. I love the connections I made with the people who were with me on this trip and how we all were able to learn and see things from first hand. I loved how we were able to see and talk to people who were from here and gave us great information and were very welcoming toward us.

Ariana LeonardApril 2025
From: Custom Faculty-Led Group Study Trips in Belize

100% recommend.

I am so happy I did a study abroad program. I've never been out of the country before, but this program did a fantastic job injuring I was safe and enjoying myself. I 100% would do this again and recommend it to anyone who is thinking about studying abroad.

Ava-Rose RiggsApril 2025
From: Custom Faculty-Led Group Study Trips in Belize

A terrific opportunity

This has been an amazing experience. I truly enjoyed Belize and the culture. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone looking to learn and forge strong bonds. It was a great opportunity that I'll always appreciate.

Aleeza DeckerApril 2025
From: Custom Faculty-Led Group Study Trips in Belize

Extremely educational

This program was extremely educational. I was enlighted on the diverse cultures and history of Belize. It has also encouraged me to start practicing Spanish again. It's left a huge impression on me. Thank you, Belize!

Gwen DotsonApril 2025
From: Custom Faculty-Led Group Study Trips in Belize

I loved it so much!

This is an awesome opportunity for me to embrace more cultural facets of life. I learned so much about the people and cultures. Belize was great. I loved it so much! Can't wait to come back. Thank you, CELA Belize!

Shelby RoyApril 2025
From: Custom Faculty-Led Group Study Trips in Belize

Eye opener.

It was an experience a wide variety of majors can benefit from. I learned so much about different cultues and their histories. Definitely an eye opener. I wouldn't trade this experience for anything ever.

Cecily BellMarch 2025
From: Custom Faculty-Led Group Study Trips in Belize

Magical

This was life changing, even as a chaperone. I never pictured myself enjoying a tropical location, but I fell in love with the people, the culture, and the atmosphere. I didn't want it to end. I found myself saying "I can't believe I'm experiencing this." The staff also made the trip unforgettable. Thank you for making my trip magical!

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Get in Touch

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CELA Belize Interviews

Read interviews from alumni or staff

Brooke Suraba

Brooke Suraba

Participated in 2018

Alumni

Brooke is a recent graduate of Cleveland State University with a bachelor's degree in Anthropology and a minor in Native American Studies. She has tra...

A combination of dreams, fliers posted my professor, synchronicities, past travel abroad experiences, grant availability at Cleveland State University, and personal interest in traditional healing and agricultural practices.

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Filiberto Penados

Filiberto Penados

Interviewed in 2014

Staff

Dr. Filiberto Penados, from the village of San Jose Succotz, Cayo, Belize, is an indigenous studies and education scholar and community activist. He c...

Well, first of all it is important to note that there are some key underlying elements to our philosophy. The first is that local communities have a wealth of intellectual, material and cultural resources that are or can be mobilized to achieve sustainable well being, and that they know best what well being means to them and should be the ones defining both the pace and direction. Two, that they are engaged in actions that are already pursuing their well being.  That sustainability in addition to the conventional focus on environment needs to build on the assets and actions already in process and respond to the aspirations of values of the community. Three, that our engagement with communities needs to be sustained over time and not be a one-time action. It must be based on a long-term partnership. Otherwise, while the specific can be fun and produce the most amazing learning experience for our students it may contribute very little to local communities.

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Cristina Coc

Cristina Coc

Interviewed in 2014

Staff

Cristina Coc has been an activist for Maya Land Rights and forest conservation since 2003. She has worked directly, over the last 10 years, with the M...

The first step to establishing a service learning program in Toledo where over half the population is of Maya heritage, is to recognize where a mutually beneficial partnership can be forged. Being able to determine whether or not the partners engaged in service learning have a common goal where one can learn from the experience to better improve their own development, but also provide service to a community in rural Toledo and meet a need that enhances the community well being. Making a suitable match requires that there is a common understanding of the community, its cultural and customary values and way of life, and at the same time understanding the expectation of service learning groups/students, their areas of interest, and expertise.

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Nancy Adamson

Nancy Adamson

Interviewed in 2014

Staff

Nancy has 25 years of work in higher education under her belt, from university administration to Provost and President! She’s also a registered nurse!

Your programs focus strongly on their best feature – the fact that they are located in stunning Belize! Programs incorporate Belize’s natural beauty and resources. What is your favorite feature of Belize?

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Recognitions & Awards

Awards and accreditations earned by this provider

Top Rated Program Study Abroad in Belize 2025
2019 Notable Mentions
GoAbroad Top Rated Organization 2017 (Notable Mention)

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