Belize – Yacht Charter Destination

A week aboard a fully crewed, all-inclusive catamaran runs from about US$16,700 to US$22,000, depending on the yacht and the size of your group. Rates are in US dollars and subject to 10% tax. The rate covers the yacht, a captain and chef, all meals, the open ship’s bar, snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing gear, and your airport transfers. Crew gratuity, scuba diving, specialty fishing and anything ashore are extra. We also have crewed catamarans in Belize from around US$13,000 a week outside that all-inclusive programme, on different terms. One-way charters ending in San Pedro or Placencia carry a relocation fee of US$1,000 or US$1,400.

Belize sails all year. The standard season runs from 6 January to 18 December; the festive season, 19 December to 5 January, is priced higher and requires a seven-night stay. The easterly trade winds blow more or less continuously, and because the barrier reef sits between you and the open sea the anchorages stay calm whichever month you choose. Several airlines add seasonal routes into Belize between December and April.

Four nights is the minimum outside the festive season, and seven nights between 19 December and 5 January. Four and five-night routes cover the northern or the central cayes; seven nights lets you reach the atolls, or combine the northern and southern cruising grounds.

The northern route suits guests who want island life — beach bars, restaurants and time ashore — and families with children who would rather not sail for more than a couple of hours a day. The southern route suits guests who want the spectacular tiny islands that dot the reef and to see as few other people as possible. The two can be merged to take in highlights of both, which ideally needs six days or more.

Yes, and we have — but it takes a full day out and a full day back under sail, outside the shelter of the barrier reef, so it depends entirely on the weather and we will not take guests out in rough conditions. The Blue Hole is at its best seen from directly above or from below, so most guests prefer a scenic fly-over in a puddle jumper (two scheduled flights a week from San Pedro) or a dive trip from San Pedro or Caye Caulker. We arrange either on your behalf, at extra cost.

We do not carry tanks aboard, so diving is done as rendezvous diving: we work with the best dive shops from the north of the country to the south, which gives you the flexibility to dive the best sites wherever you happen to be. It is usually arranged by the crew around 24 hours ahead, based on where you will be anchored, and is charged separately. If you want to certify while aboard, we recommend doing the e-learning online first and the referral dives in Belize — that way the charter route is not tied to one area.

We offer captain-only charters rather than true bareboat. You are welcome to sail as much as you like; the captain is aboard for local knowledge and for looking after the boat.

Yes. We have extensive menus for different diets and can adapt even when only one guest is following one. Belize has an abundance of fresh produce from the mainland farms, plus fresh seafood and locally reared meat, so vegan, paleo and other requirements are no problem. The bar includes local beers, Belizean rum and wine, with a bottle of wine per couple per day; premium spirits can be picked up duty-free on arrival.