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Occupying the southeast coast of the Yucatán Peninsula, and once home to the mysterious Maya civilisation, Belize sometimes feels like a forgotten world. On land you can visit haunting archaeological sites such as stone temples or excavated tombs camouflaged by dense jungle, while beneath the surface of the sea there is an underwater network of sink holes, caves and unique ecosystems just waiting to be discovered.
The Belize Barrier Reef is a 300km section of the Mesoamerican Reef, the second largest uninterrupted reef in the world – second only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and yet far, far less visited – which offers miles of protected cruising grounds. The wide variety of coral also attracts hundreds of species of tropical fish as well as large marine wildlife, such as manatees and whale sharks, making it one of the world’s premier snorkelling and diving destinations.
Though Belize City has good restaurants where you can try dishes such as Creole chicken stew and a smattering of bars and nightclubs, Belize is not known for its nightlife, at least not in the normal sense of the word.
Of course, Belize is not completely devoid of hotspots – just north of San Pedro, in the north of the archipelago, the Rojo Beach Bar is a great place to enjoy ice-cold drinks and home-cooked food as you paddle your feet in the water, while at the Barefoot Beach Bar on the Placencia peninsula way south, you might come for the lobster grilled cheese but you’ll stay for the music. If you make it this far south, then be sure to drop by the Muy’Ono Resort – Belize’s most luxurious – where you can order cocktails to the swim up bar. However, with your own VIP club onboard, you might want to save the partying for later.
A Belize yacht charter is ideal for those with an adventurous spirit – you can go scuba diving in the Great Blue Hole – the largest sinkhole in the world – go clear-bottom kayaking in the glassy waters of Lagoon Caye or take a more intrepid expedition to the less visited southern islands, such as Tobacco Caye.
Alternatively, you can swim beneath waterfalls, take a challenging hike or zip wire through the trees at the Mayflower Bocawina National Park, still very much off the tourist trail.
Nature enthousiasts will want to keep a keen eye out for the keel-billed toucan – Belize’s national bird – or listen out for howler monkeys on their travels or try to spot an elusive jaguar at the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary.
The largest of the 200 cayes that dot the coastline of Belize. Ambergris is 25 miles long and a little over a mile wide in some places and is located in the clear shallow waters of the Caribbean Sea. The town on Ambergris Caye is called San Pedro and is clustered with wooden houses. A short walk into town will make you feel the friendliness of the people.
Ambergris Caye only opened as a private island in 2019, so the natural beauty still remains mostly untouched and ready to be explored at your own pace. Enjoy the unique opportunity to spot a number of rare tropical migratory and native bird species ranging from hummingbirds to Osprey, due to the island’s unique position within multiple migratory routes.
One of three atolls offshore of Belize, the waters of Glover’s Reef are renowned for their remarkable clarity and the profusion of marine life. A UNESCO World Heritage site, you can dive Jack Cousteau’s favourite Long Caye Wall and go kayaking, paddle boarding or fishing in the stunning lagoon.
Glover’s Reef is one of only four atolls found in our hemisphere, which makes it an unusually special place to explore. This elliptical reef is thought to be the richest marine environment in the entire Caribbean Sea, with cays, patch reefs, mangrove forests and lagoons which are home to approximately five hundred species of fish, three varieties of sea turtles and a large population of West Indian Manatees.
Some of the most spectacular snorkelling in Belize happens just a short swim off the powder-white sands of Goff’s Caye, a tiny, uninhabited island just a 30-minute boat ride to the southeast of Belize City.
With nothing but some coco palms and a couple of palapa-covered (open-air shelter with a thatched roof) picnic tables, the idyllic island sits right beside the Belize Barrier Reef with a healthy community of resident corals, lobsters, conch, stingrays, colourful fish and more. An excellent place to try out your yacht’s toys.
A nesting ground for the rare red-footed booby bird, the Half Moon Caye natural monument is the most visited of the Lighthouse Reef islands, and for good reason. Its palm-lined beaches are castaway-cool, its verdant, tropical interior nurtures a stunning array of life and its crystalline underwater surrounds are ideal for peeking in on coral and sea critters.
Also situated within the Lighthouse Reef, The Great Blue Hole is a world-class destination for recreational scuba divers attracted by the opportunity to dive in crystal-clear waters and see myriad species of marine life including tropical fish, nurse sharks, giant groupers, and several types of reef sharks such as the Caribbean reef shark and the Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus).
Perched at the southern tip of a sandy peninsula in southern Belize, Placencia is a laidback beach town. As all commerce and activity has traditionally been done by boat, the village’s ‘main street’ is a narrow concrete footpath less than 1m (3ft) wide.
Apart from beaches and water sports, which this town has in abundance, there is also fishing, bird and manatee watching, overnight camping on remote cayes, and excursions to jungle rivers and the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary. The latter is home to jaguars, armadillos, and other colourful wildlife.
This is an uninhabited island sitting right on the barrier reef and is one of Belize’s pristine gems. This caye is sensational for snorkelling, kayaking and beach combing. It's a great location for both beginner and experienced snorkelers, due to the range of depths offshore. Diving the coral walls is also fantastic, as on a sunny day you can have visibility of 80 feet.
Hop aboard a catamaran from the main island, and explore the crystal Belizean waters and the hemisphere's largest barrier reef. Sea water frequently flushes the reef keeping it healthy, with a mix of marine life enjoying the hard and soft coral habitat. Afterwards, kick back and relax on the private beach with a burger and rum punch from the beach bar.
Belize’s newest protected marine area, Turneffe Atoll, is the largest and most biologically diverse atoll in the Americas. At 30 miles long and 10 miles wide, the area is alive with coral, fish and large rays, making it a prime destination for diving, snorkelling and catch-and-release sport fishing.
It was only in 2012 that environmental groups succeeded in protecting the 131,690-hectare area now dubbed the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve, and the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association in Belize City manages it.
Thanks to its subtropical climate, a Belize charter charter benefits from year-round balmy easterly trade winds, although it’s best to avoid rainy and hurricane season from May to November. From December to April, the main charter season, you can expect average temperatures of around 82°F (28°C) so you will be grateful for your charter yacht’s Jacuzzi, or better still, a beach club so you can dive right in.
What is the currency of Belize?
The Belize Dollar (which usually equates to around 2 US Dollars) is the official currency, though US Dollars are widely accepted in Belize.
Language spoken in Belize
English is the official language of Belize, but many locals also speak creole patois and the languages of Yucatec, Mopán and Kekchí are spoken by the Maya population. The Mestizos population speaks Spanish.
Time zone in Belize
Belize follows Central Standard Time, making it GMT – 6 hours.
Know the month you would like to travel? Then our charter experts can give you some incredible options on destinations and the right yachts to take you there.Edmiston creates a bespoke itinerary to meet your needs.
