| Belize offers a good choice of yacht charter and this | | | | great yacht anchorages. There are hundreds of |
| includes; bareboat yacht charter, luxury crewed yacht | | | | cayes to explore with clear waters and white sandy |
| charter, skippered yacht charter, monohull and | | | | beaches. Some are deserted while others have |
| catamaran charter and both sail and motor yacht | | | | amenities for tourists. Those places that are |
| charterBelize is the only official English-speaking | | | | undeveloped will offer complete solitude to those |
| country in Central America. | | | | looking to get away from civilization on their yacht |
| Belize was a British colony for more than a century | | | | charter. Whilst there are too many to mention them |
| and was known as British Honduras until 1973. It | | | | all individually here are a few highlights to give you an |
| became an independent nation in 1981. The Maya | | | | idea of what awaits you on your yacht charter in |
| civilization spread over Belize between 1500 BC and | | | | Belize. |
| AD 300 and flourished until about AD 900. European | | | | Caye Caulker is a four mile long island is divided in |
| settlement began with British Jews, privateers and | | | | two and lies just about a mile east of Belize’s |
| shipwrecked English seamen as early as 1638. The | | | | Barrier Reef. This is a quiet town with friendly people |
| early settlement of Belize in the Bay of Honduras | | | | and some nice restaurants. The most popular dive |
| grew from Belize Town and St George's Caye into a | | | | destination is Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray |
| colony of the United Kingdom during the late | | | | Alley. A boat must be hired to visit and it is |
| eighteenth century. In the early nineteenth century | | | | approximately 30 minutes north of Caye Caulker. |
| the settlement was called British Honduras, and in | | | | With so much to see at various depths, all levels of |
| 1871 it became a Crown Colony. British Honduras | | | | snorkellers and divers can be accommodated here. |
| became a self-governing colony in January 1964 and | | | | Caye Chapel is the island that is home to the rich and |
| was renamed Belize on June 1, 1973. Full | | | | famous and boasts a new state of the art marina |
| independence came on 21st September 1981 after | | | | and championship golf course. It was developed for |
| delays caused by territorial disputes with neighbouring | | | | those searching seclusion. This is the most exclusive |
| Guatemala, which did not formally recognize the | | | | island in Belize where every amenity is available. The |
| country. | | | | marina welcomes yachts up to 45 metres in length. |
| A yacht charter in Belize enables you discover some | | | | Once here there are many picturesque beaches and |
| of the most unspoiled islands of the Caribbean. The | | | | exotic wildlife to discover as well as the natural |
| luminous turquoise waters of the Belize archipelago | | | | beauty the island views has to offer. |
| are made up of over 200 deserted tropical islands | | | | St George’s Caye is located south of Caye |
| and coral atolls and boast some of the most pristine | | | | Caulker, this island is one half mile from the barrier |
| beaches in the Caribbean. Belize has become a | | | | reef. St. George’s Caye is quiet and serene and |
| popular spot for yacht charters and diving vacations. | | | | a world away from the hustle and bustle of the city. |
| Most yacht charter companies have catamaran fleets | | | | Very few services are offered here with just a |
| because the shallow draft will assure easy navigation. | | | | restaurant, hotel and a bar. The diving is incredible |
| The coast of Belize encompasses has an unlimited | | | | with visitors sighting many dolphins just before |
| abundance of wildlife and sea life waiting to be | | | | descending down the caye’s wall. |
| discovered. Schools of tropical fish, Manatees, and | | | | Goff's Caye is a tiny island on the reef just north of |
| coral gardens abound here making snorkelling and | | | | the main channel, English Channel. It has good |
| diving expeditions an exciting adventure. There are | | | | snorkelling and a beautiful beach. |
| many archaeological and national parks along with | | | | English Caye has a lighthouse that marks the south |
| marine reserves in Belize. Check with your yacht | | | | side of English Channel. This island offers superb |
| charter company for help in making plans for land | | | | snorkelling 1000 feet south on a huge coral patch. |
| expeditions to the Mayan ruins or the rainforest. | | | | Rendezvous Caye is a jewel of an island also located |
| Belize International is the main airport and is only little | | | | right on the reef. Another beautiful beach with |
| more than two hours from 3 gateways in the United | | | | excellent snorkelling all around, this is also a good |
| States. San Pedro, Ambergris Caye or Placencia are | | | | location for scuba diving on the 60 foot outside wall. |
| reachable by a 15 minute commuter plane with | | | | It is not however a safe overnight yacht anchorage |
| several connections a day. English is the official | | | | with its coral all around but a 'must see' day stop. |
| language and is widely spoken, as is Spanish. Other | | | | Bluefield Range provides a safe yacht anchorage and |
| languages include Creole, German, Mayan and | | | | the two fish camps usually offer a choice of fresh |
| Garifuna. US Dollars are used and major credit cards | | | | seafood for dinner. |
| may be accepted in hotels, restaurants and some | | | | Colson Cayes is another safe anchorage with several |
| shops. | | | | fish camps. The Cayes offer a shallow lagoon to |
| The yacht charter season in Belize is restricted by | | | | explore by dinghy with plenty of coral nearby for |
| the hurricane season to the months of November | | | | snorkelling. |
| through to May. From mid-December to May the | | | | Tobacco Caye is a fine overnight anchorage, unless in |
| trade winds blow. Temperatures are always around | | | | a northerly wind. There are several choices for basic |
| 25º - 30º C. | | | | meals and a few bars on the island. There's a dive |
| Most people are very comfortable sailing the waters | | | | shop for those who enjoy scuba diving and plenty of |
| of Belize but it does come with some challenges. | | | | good snorkelling. |
| Navigation is relatively easy and by line of site. The | | | | Laughing Bird Caye is just 11 miles from the coast of |
| most difficult part is learning how to read the shallow | | | | Placencia; the caye is located within a “faro”, |
| waters and recognize coral. It is imperative to keep a | | | | an atoll on a continental shelf. It is steep sided and |
| proper watch at all times. Bare boating outside the | | | | encloses a central lagoon. The attraction is the |
| reef is prohibited. The outer reefs are not well | | | | diverse variety of coral reefs. Because of the large |
| charted or marked making for the danger of running | | | | amount of visitors steps have been taken to ensure |
| aground. Once inside the atolls the shoal waters are | | | | the reefs and lagoon will be protected. There are |
| full of coral rock formations that lie in so many areas | | | | mooring buoys and channel markers in place to |
| and in such numbers that the charts simply do not | | | | protect the fragile ecosystem. |
| give clear insight to their locations. Communication on | | | | South Water Caye is about 25 miles from Placencia. |
| VHF is also non-existent, with mobile phones the | | | | South Water Caye is a reserve protected by the |
| most reliable means of communication, search and | | | | World Heritage Organization. Like the other marine |
| rescue is not very reliable and all this combined | | | | reserves in Belize it has an amazing array of |
| makes bare boating outside the reef untenable. | | | | underwater life and palm trees that line the waters |
| However with so much to see within the barrier reef | | | | edge. The clear blue waters of South Water Caye |
| venturing beyond is not necessary. | | | | give way to white sandy beaches. |
| Ambergris Caye is the largest island in Belize and the | | | | Sapodilla Cayes is another marine reserve that sits in |
| most commercially developed. Ambergris Caye has | | | | the most southern portion of Belize’s barrier |
| been the hub of maritime trade in Belize for hundreds | | | | reef. It is comprised of 14 mangrove and coral islands |
| of years. In the last twenty to thirty years the | | | | with unspoiled white sandy beaches. The waters are |
| incredible surroundings of Ambergris Caye has led to | | | | very shallow with some areas being less then 5 |
| a large growth in both the Belize dive and scuba | | | | metres. On Huntington Caye you will discover the |
| trade, yacht charters and ecotourism. | | | | lighthouse and a Belize Guard Station. The beaches |
| The main town of San Pedro still maintains itself as a | | | | here are the nesting grounds for turtles. Lime Caye is |
| quaint fishing village although here one will find a lively | | | | often the most crowded with tourist boats arriving |
| nightlife. San Pedro only has a few streets with | | | | from Punta Gorda. The best place to anchor the |
| interesting shops, a few homes, and several | | | | yacht and spend the night is either Nicholas or |
| restaurants and bars. The airstrip is also located here, | | | | Frank’s Caye. The incredible reef system with an |
| so getting to your charter yacht is literally a | | | | abundance of colourful fish species will provide for a |
| stone’s throw away. The island is home to | | | | great snorkelling experience, even for beginners. |
| tropical savannahs, sparkling white beaches and | | | | Because Sapodilla is off the beaten path it is not over |
| mangrove forests. It has become the most popular | | | | run by tourists and remains a magnificent and pristine |
| tourist destination in Belize. | | | | group of islands that have very little in the way of |
| The amazing coral reef system lies half a mile east of | | | | amenities. |
| the shoreline and runs the entire length of the island. | | | | Just 25 short miles south of the Sapodilla Cayes lies |
| It is the second largest barrier reef in the world and | | | | the port of Livingston on the Rio Dulce of Guatemala |
| has made the town of San Pedro the dive and water | | | | where you are required to check in and out of |
| sports capital of Belize and Central America. It is easy | | | | Guatemala. A local restaurant provides a great stop |
| for snorkellers to discover hundreds of species of | | | | along the way where they'll pull your choice of fresh |
| fish right off the beach. Surrounded by lush tropical | | | | fish out of the live trap at the dock. |
| gardens, the transparent waters of Ambergris Caye | | | | Outside the Barrier Reef there are some well-known |
| are a paradise for divers, snorkellers, bird watchers | | | | dive sites that are popular. Since bareboat yacht |
| and fisherman alike. | | | | charters are not permitted to venture outside the |
| Begin your yacht charter in Placencia and you can | | | | reef, it is in your best interest to hire a local dive |
| explore the southern half of Belize. Placencia is known | | | | company if you wish to go there. If your yacht |
| for its lovely white sandy beaches and beautiful | | | | charter is crewed, then have the skipper contact the |
| mangroves. The main street is a three-mile stretch of | | | | local dive company to make arrangements for a |
| sidewalk in which there are a few local services, | | | | meeting place in order to explore with an |
| including a laundry service and small grocery. However | | | | experienced dive master. |
| if you are planning to leave on your yacht charter | | | | Glover’s Reef Marine is located 36 miles off the |
| from Placencia, it is a wise idea to have provisions | | | | shore of Belize. It is a group of islands encircled within |
| planned in advance with your yacht charter company. | | | | a turquoise lagoon and surrounded by a coral reef |
| The grocery store is not equipped to handle the | | | | that has one of the richest tropical marine |
| needs of a charter boat. In most cases the | | | | environments called Glover’s Reef Atoll. All six |
| provisions that you order are flown in from Belize | | | | sand cayes within the atoll are privately owned. The |
| City. This is not an active spot for nightlife and | | | | diving is legendary and cannot compare with any |
| restaurant dinners. This is paradise on earth, very | | | | other place in the world. There are over 80 square |
| tranquil and serene. Many sailing connoisseurs have | | | | miles for snorkellers and divers to explore with an |
| compared their experience of Placencia to memories | | | | incredible variety of fish. The southern part of the |
| reminiscent of the BVI 30 years ago before it was | | | | atoll is a conservation area that is used for research |
| developed. Placencia is also the gateway for a | | | | and recreational activities. Visitors are forbidden from |
| land-based tour of the many cascading waterfalls and | | | | taking anything from the area. Dive boats require a |
| the archaeological ruins of the Mayan culture. | | | | license to be there and divers must register with the |
| If sailing south from San Pedro or north from | | | | reserve manager. There is a resort located here as |
| Placencia there are numerous beaches that provide | | | | well but amenities for boaters are limited. |