Belize

[nimbusgb]

I have been offered a free ride on a 45' cat in exchange for being the skipper. Now I know some here might want me to charge for the job but ...... are you kidding? I'd PAY for the pleasure

More seriously ..... what sort of itinerary for a week out of San Pedro? ( pity it couldn't be 2 weeks! )

 

[john_q]

General comments

First rule is lock your dinghy and outboard everywhere until you are well south of Belize city.

Best/only pilot book is by the Freya Rauscher Cruising Guide to Belize and Mexico's Caribbean Coast, including Guatemala's Rio Dulce, . But beware it is indicative rather than accurate in places

Be very careful using a chart plotter as the last survey was in the 1880’s you can be up to ½ mile out in a lot of places. Eye ball navigation works the best

Avoid night sailing especially north of Belize City unless you have very good waypoints, it is also very shallow

Holding on the Cayes can be fun- thin sand over rock/coral we use a Fortress which works well (THIS IS NOT AN ANCHOR THREAD). Along the coast is normally good thick mud

DO NOT HIT THE REEF, big fines and end of holiday

Be sure you know the rules for the marine parks

If you have SSB on board list to the NW Caribbean Net, 6209 USB at 08:00 local, lots of information and weather available

Provisioning places are far apart (San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Belize City (don’t take the boat there), Cucumber Marina, Dangria, Placencia.

Moorings do a forecast on Channel 72 around 09:00 am local , can be up to ½ late. They are based in Placencia

May be worth touching base with the TMM base in San Pedro for up to date information, suggestions.

Beautiful sailing inside the reef

Places to see

I do not have a chart in front of me so the following are from memory. We have spent the last 4 seasons cruising around Belize and love the country and the people.

We think the Cayes in the southern end of Belize are nicer, more sand and coral, better snorkelling. The lot of the northern Cayes are mangrove cayes – lots of “No see’ ems”

I assume you have a week starting and finishing in San Pedro so you may be pushing it to get as far south as Placencia and back, Think about the following

• Caye Caulker – popular with backpackers – lots going on
• St Georges Caye – We lost a Dinghy/outboard there
• English Caye – entrance to the Belize City Ship Channel
• Cucumber beach, a marina 8 miles south of Belize city

If you have the time then follow the Cayes inside the reef south until you run out of time and have to head north again

Places south of Belize City if you have time

• Placencia is nice but may be too far
• Ranguana Caye
• Hideaway Caye In the Pelican Cayes (not in the pilo,t small bar and restaurant)
• Laughingbird Caye
• Tom Owens Caye
• Wipari Caye – has a restaurant

Have fun and enjoy

 

[V1701]

Been diving from Caye Caulker & Placencia, recommended if you have chance...

 

[stevebirch2002]

I was posted there during my Army days, the pleasures and hotspots I visited were totally non-boaty but did include the occasional diving, visits to the doctor and night time fun... Those were the days!!!

Steve B