Belize Big Cats and Primates Research

I can honestly say that I have never had an experience like this one and probably will never have anything come close to it again. This trip was my first time traveling outside of the United States and the staff with Loop Abroad made it incredibly easy and smooth to get to where I needed to be. I was able to get some incredible hands on experience and was fully immersed into what field research looks like day to day. Dr. Kayla, Ray and Raj made it so much fun and inclusive throughout our short two weeks. Aside from the amazing animal experience, hands on learning, valuable knowledge and incredible country I got to explore, I made friends for life with everyone involved in the program. As a pre-veterinary student this trip was extremely valuable as I was able to realize that conservation is a path that is intriguing and possible for me to go down. If someone were to ask me if they should go on this abroad program, I would tell them a thousand times yes.

I am so glad I picked this program as it was one of the best experiences of my life. I have been around the globe, but Belize by far has been one of my favorite locations, from the scenery to the culture and people. Dr. Hartwell, Ray, Raj, and everyone on the trip made me feel incredibly welcome in a place I had never been before. I gained hands-on experience that I will take with me in my future career and learned much more than I had imagined. I arrived in Belize unsure of what to expect, and left with an unforgettable experience and lifelong friends.

Last summer I had several surgeries and thought I might not be able to walk again. Only 3 short months after finishing physical therapy, I was on this trip, hiking, swimming, and walking around the Belize Zoo. Dr. Hartwell, Raj, and Ray were a few of the many people who poured into us and made Belize feel like home! The curriculum was amazing and I learned more in my two weeks than I thought I ever would on these animals! You'll learn a lot and form friendships that will last a lifetime!