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North & Central: 7-Night Belize Itinerary

Belize City to Belize City

The classic first week in Belize: mangrove channels alive with dolphins and manatees, the sleepy sand streets of Caye Caulker, a protected marine reserve, and the barrier-reef islands that look like they were invented for postcards.

7 Nights Aboard a Crewed Catamaran

The route

This route runs north from Cucumber Beach Marina (Old Belize) into the Drowned Cayes, on to Caye Caulker and the marine reserve, then works its way back south through Colson Cayes, Tobacco Caye and the Bluefield Range before finishing on the sandbar at Goff’s Caye. It mixes island culture, some of the healthiest reef in the country and a great deal of very quiet water.

Departs: Old Belize marina, Belize City · Crew: captain and chef · Transfers: included from Belize International Airport

Day	Anchorage	What the day is for
Day 1: The Drowned Cayes	Drowned Cayes	Kayaking the mangrove channels
Day 2: Gallow’s Reef and Caye Caulker	Caye Caulker	Snorkel the reef, then island time
Day 3: Marine reserve and St George’s Caye	St George’s Caye	The reserve, then a page of history
Day 4: Colson Cayes	Colson Cayes	Hours on an untouched patch reef
Day 5: Tobacco Caye	Tobacco Caye	Five acres of palm island on the reef
Day 6: Bluefield Range	Bluefield Range	Kayak the channels, fish for dinner
Day 7: Goff’s Caye and Bannister	Goff’s Caye	The sandbar, then the manatee grounds
Day 8: Back to the marina	Old Belize	A leisurely sail home

A sample week. Your captain adjusts the route daily for wind, sea state and what the group wants to do.

Drowned Cayes

Day 1: The Drowned Cayes

The Drowned Cayes are mangrove channels and islands that serve as breeding grounds for much of Belize’s marine life. Pods of dolphins and manatees live here alongside herons, egrets, pelicans, frigates, cormorants and the occasional roseate spoonbill. The anchorage is sheltered and the inlets are narrow, which makes it a perfect place to head out kayaking or paddleboarding — you get close enough to watch all of it happen. Green mangrove against azure water makes for a striking first sunset.

Caye Caulker

Day 2: Gallow’s Reef and Caye Caulker

Sail north to the sleepy island of Caye Caulker, fishing along the way and swimming on arrival. No shirt, no shoes, no problem is the island’s motto and it tells you everything: white sand, ocean breezes, fresh seafood and a fantastic stretch of barrier reef on its doorstep. Before you anchor, snorkel Gallow’s Reef — or try your hand at spear fishing for lobster or snapper with your captain guiding you.

St George’s Caye

Day 3: Marine reserve and St George’s Caye

Declared a marine reserve in 1998, Caye Caulker Marine is rich with colourful sponges, blue-and-yellow queen angelfish, Christmas tree worms, star coral, redband parrotfish and yellow gorgonians. Afterwards you sail to St George’s Caye, which was the first capital of the British settlement in Belize. The island is mostly private homes now, but it makes a fine base for snorkelling, diving or simply walking the sandy shore.

Colson Cayes

Day 4: Colson Cayes

A magical spot: a collection of mangrove islands with a couple of small sandy inlets, drawing manatees, dolphins and a wide array of birds. The real draw is Colson Reef, a large patch reef sitting in front of the cayes where you can snorkel for hours. Hard and soft corals, sea rods, sea fans and vivid red sponges — because it is remote and rarely visited, this is some of the healthiest reef in Belize.

Tobacco Caye

Day 5: Tobacco Caye

As the sun comes up over the barrier reef you sail south to Tobacco Caye, a five-acre palm-fringed coral island perched directly on the reef — you can snorkel or dive straight from the shore, and its central position puts some of the best snorkelling in Belize within ten minutes by boat. There are a couple of laid-back little resorts and a tiny beach bar pouring fresh coconut water and cold rum cocktails, with hammocks to lounge in. Thirty-nine islanders call this rock home, and it is a great place to learn about their way of remote island life.

Bluefield Range

Day 6: Bluefield Range

A mangrove cluster teeming with wildlife and one of the finest kayaking destinations on the coast. Paddle through the narrow channels, keep an eye out for manatees, and take some bait and a line with you — there is a decent chance you catch dinner.

Goff’s Caye

Day 7: Goff’s Caye and Bannister

Sail to Goff’s Caye, a two-acre island sitting right on the barrier reef — it reminds you why postcards were invented. Snorkel straight off the shore, or stand in the shallows on the sandbar with a cold Belikin. Then sail up to Bannister Bogue, a group of mangrove islands that is home to manatees, dolphins and a great many birds. Manatees are gentle, slow-moving herbivores whose closest living relatives are elephants and aardvarks; they reach over 13 feet and 3,500 pounds, and although endangered they are present in Belizean waters year-round. Swimming with them is not permitted, and seeing them is never guaranteed.

Old Belize

Day 8: Back to the marina

A leisurely sail back to the marina at Cucumber Beach, with transfers waiting for the airport or Belize City.

What’s Included

One rate, almost everything in it

One weekly rate covers the catamaran and a dedicated crew of captain and chef / first mate, all meals from breakfast through canapés to dinner and dessert, an open ship’s bar with beer, rum cocktails and wine at dinner, air-conditioned queen cabins with private bathrooms, and the full kit for snorkelling, kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing. Transfers from Belize International Airport or Belize City are included. Outside the rate sit crew gratuity, scuba diving, specialty fishing and anything off the boat — spa treatments and restaurant dinners ashore.

Before You Book

How fixed is the route?

This route is a sample. The sailing is shaped by the weather, the sea state, what your group feels like doing and the judgement of your captain, who knows which anchorage will be comfortable on any given night. Charters are planned around a midday arrival in Belize City; a later flight shortens the first day.

FAQ

Yes. It mixes island culture with reef and quiet water, the passages are short and it takes in both the northern cayes and the central ones. If you want beach bars and restaurants ashore, this is the route; if you want to see as few people as possible, look at the southern routes.

Four nights is the minimum outside the festive season; between 19 December and 5 January the minimum is seven. Charters are planned around a midday arrival and a midday departure, so a late flight shortens the first day.

No. Every charter is tailored — the pre-arrival preference form shapes the week, and the sailing is then adjusted day by day for weather, sea state and what your group feels like doing. Your captain knows which anchorage will be comfortable on any given night.

Yachts for this itinerary

Belize Sample Itineraries

Yacht Charter Itinerary (Belize)