"Infinity" Belize_Beach_Front

“Infinity” is a luxurious four cabin Belize catamaran that is also set up as a Belize live aboard diving catamaran.  You can explore the famous Belize Blue Hole, the Belize barrier reef, private Belize beach front vacation islands and Belize dive resorts.

We are happy to add Infinity to our Belize sailing charter fleet and to have her part of our Belize catamaran operation where we offer a personalized customer service and the flexibility to choose activities tailored to your special interest.  A yacht vacation with Belize Sailing Vacations is superior to all other Belize travel deals and Belize packages.  Our Belize luxury catamaran yacht charters are perfect for the family vacations to Belize, to those perfectly intimate couples vacation or Belize honeymoon getaways.

"Infinity" Belize_Catamaran_Vacation

Traveling Belize on one of our live-aboard catamaran yachts gives you the opportunity  explore the adventures Belize has to offer in ways no other resort or outfit can compare to.  We have built substantial relationships with local reserve park rangers, Belize dive shop operations and Belize dive tours, Belize barrier reef snorkel guides, Belize Kayak adventure guides, Belize fly fishing and Belize sport fishing guides so you will be able to enjoy a Belize vacation package completely catering to you Belize adventure ideals.  Our clients are able enjoy the peace of mind and excitement that everything Belize has to offer is easily and readily available right off any off our luxury catamaran yacht sailboats.

"Infinity" Belize_Adventure_Vacation

We are also now proudly able to offer our services as the only Belize catamaran based, ASA certified sailing school.  The curriculum includes a rich blend of technical skill, confidence building, and common sense coupled with a spirit of adventure and the pristine, unspoiled waters of  Belize.  Belize Sailing Vacations is dedicated to accommodate beginners just learning to sail, to experienced students interested in learning advanced ocean skills and coastal navigation. Our Belize catamaran charter sailing school will provide you the best learning environment with an all inclusive Belize experience.

Belize Sailing Vacations

www.belizesailingvacations.com

www.belizeluxurysailing.com

www.catchartersbelize.com

ROYAL BELIZE TO OFFER EXCLUSIVE YACHTING ADVENTURES

AND A PACKAGE TO CELEBRATE THE SERVICE

Stann Creek, BELIZE (December 12, 2011) — Royal Belize is pleased to announce a new resort experience option that will make guests’ visits to this private tropical island even more bespoke: exclusive use of a luxury yacht for the duration of their stay. Partnering with Belize Sailing Vacations, the leading luxury yacht charter company in Belize, the resort is confident this amenity will appeal those who are seeking the very best in private Caribbean vacations.

A seven acre private island dedicated to the exclusive use of a single party at a time, Royal Belize pampers its guests with a private chef and personal concierge, ensuring they can let down their hair and enjoy the many pleasures of paradise, including a WaveRunner, kayaks, diving on the World Heritage Site reef just a few minutes away, stunning views all around, unparalleled privacy, and an exceptional level of comfort.

Guests may now also enjoy their own fully stocked personal yacht, just waiting to be boarded for a leisurely sailing trip around the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, an offshore lunch, sunset cocktails at sea … whatever strikes their fancy.

The “Sand & Sail” Package includes the following:

• Exclusive enjoyment of the entire island
• Accommodations for two in Villa Alba, Royal Belize’s premier villa
• On-demand sailings on a crewed 47 foot or 50 foot luxury catamaran
• Meals prepared by a private chef
• All beverages, including wine and champagne
• Unlimited use of all island entertainment, including the WaveRunner, snorkelling gear, kayaks, and fishing equipment
• Full concierge services.

The Sand & Sail Package is available immediately, subject to availability; a three night minimum stay is required. The daily rate, not including a hotel tax of 9%, is $3,850 US; up to two additional couples will be housed in Casa Valentina and Casa Catalina at the rate of $1,600 per couple plus 9% hotel tax. Rates for additional couples or children are available on request.

Royal Belize offers a unique escape for guests seeking five star service in a tropical hideaway: an entirely personalized luxury leisure experience in one of the most spectacular settings in the world.

The Royal Belize Experience: Paradise, Personalized

About Royal Belize:

Located on a private Caribbean island, Royal Belize offers the epitome of exclusivity in an unspoiled setting of tropical beauty and absolute privacy, where guests are immersed in luxurious indulgence in one of three bespoke villas serviced by a dedicated and discreet staff. Available for booking by only one party at a time to ensure the ultimate in serenity, yet close to world-class natural attractions, Royal Belize offers an escape for guests seeking five star service, a relaxed environment, gourmet meals prepared by a personal chef, and captivating surroundings. Above all, Royal Belize provides an entirely personalized luxury leisure experience in one of the most spectacular settings in the world.

Royal Belize is situated within a World Heritage Site and the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, approximately nine miles off the central coast of Belize. For more information or reservations, contact Royal Belize via telephone at 011.501.610.1701; website (www.PrivateVacationIsland.com); or email (vip@royalbelize.com).

Belize Sailing Vacations:

www.catchartersbelize.com
www.belizesailingvacations.com
www.belizeluxurysailing.com

PRESS INFORMATION

Carlyle Fairfax Smith

Carlyle International

Ph: 703.898.1333

Carlyle@CarlyleInternational.us

It’s a haven for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, especially those who want to be on, or in, the sea – in this case, the Caribbean.

The entire country is only a tad bigger than Prince Edward Island, and the only Central American nation with English as its official language. (Known as British Honduras until 1973, Belize gained independence in 1981.)
If your clients seek a place less trodden, where “no shoes, no shirt, no problem” is a mantra, then this could be a destination match.

As for the diving, Gib counts Belize among his favourite sites. “The snorkelling and scuba diving are tremendously exciting and the coral is breathtaking with a rich diversity, including multicoloured fans swaying in the currents. The reef teems with countless fluorescent fish of every shape and size.”

More than 200 cayes, many of them uninhabited and most with their own coral reefs, dot the coast between the shore and the barrier reef – the world’s second largest at almost 300 kilometres long. (It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, protected by the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System.)

Larger islands like Ambergris Caye are home to major dive resorts, and guides take guests to such sites as Lighthouse Reef Atoll, named for the 1848 lighthouse on its eastern side.

This is one of the Caribbean’s few true coral atolls. It’s also one of the top dive sites in the world, famed for its Great Blue Hole in the middle of the atoll, so big (about 305 metres across and 122 metres deep) and so blue it can be seen from outer space. Lack of sunlight prevents coral growth along the inclining walls and leads to a scarcity of fish, but reef sharks and limestone formations can be seen at the 39-metre level.

Near the Blue Hole is Half Moon Caye Natural Monument, encompassing Half Moon atoll and surrounding waters. Half Moon provides an unparalleled diving opportunity along its reef, which slopes gently to a precipitous “wall” plunging sharply to depths of more than 457 metres. Half Moon Caye is home to diverse wildlife but its main inhabitant is the Red-footed Booby, keeping company with some 98 other species of birds, reptiles (including loggerhead and hawksbill turtles), and small mammals.

Resorts at Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are popular bases with divers and snorkelers.

Cave Into Mayan History
Water activities draw visitors by the thousand to Belize, but the country has many other things to offer – like some of the best preserved Mayan sites on the continent.

Credit: beliz

The other blue hole, in St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park, is a great swim stop.

An easy trip from Belmopan brings visitors to St. Herman’s Blue Hole National Park. Here, a 7.5-metre-deep cenote (sinkhole) with its clear blue water is a popular swim stop. Surrounded by sheer rock walls in a jungle setting of hardwood trees and tangled vines, it was an important site in Mayan ritual, and pottery vessels, spears, and torches have been recovered from nearby St. Herman’s Cave. Also within the park system is Crystal Cave, requiring a guide to navigate its huge caverns. (Enter from Hummingbird Highway.)

Among the most visited Mayan ruins are those at Xunantunich, near San Ignacio in the interior. Many visitors stay in the scenic Cahal Pech village with its thatched-roof cottages and magnificent view over Belize River Valley and the Maya Mountains.

The mountains are fringed with tropical broadleaf forest, home to a variety of wildlife including howler monkeys, iguanas, and the elusive jaguar, and to yet more cave systems.

Credit: beliz

Belize boasts some of the best preserved Mayan sites in the area like Altun Ha.

From Belize City, the ruins at Altun Ha (discovered in 1963) are just an hour’s drive.

This was a Mayan trading and ceremonial centre, settled about 250 BC. Its 275 structures are divided into two central plazas with temples, tombs, and altars. It was here that the jade head of Kinich Ahau, the Mayan sun god, was discovered. The image adorns Belizean dollar bills.

Around & About
The nation is connected by a paved, two-lane highway system and a network of local airline and boat services. (Consider using local airlines to maximize your clients’ itineraries, advises Belize Tourism.) It’s easy to mix and match destinations to include reefs, rainforest, Maya history, and living cultures.

Northern Belize
Sugar cane-lined highways lead to remnants of Maya heritage, seen in temples and ceremonial sites. The cultures of Mestizo and Yucatec Maya live on here, where Spanish is commonly spoken. The New River, once a major waterway for the Maya, is now a haven for wildlife.

The Corozal region rubs shoulders with Mexico, with the peaceful fishing villages of Consejo and Sarteneja sitting off the busy tourist track. Conversely, this is also home to the Corozal Free Zone, with its hotel, casino, and shopping outlets.

The Orange Walk district finds more Maya temples and the primal jungle is home to a multitude of exotic birds. Spanish is a strong influence here, in architecture and culture, seen particularly in Orange Walk Town (pop. 15,000).

Credit: beliz

The fertile Belize River Valley is home to myriad bird sanctuaries.

Central Belize
The fertile Belize River Valley with its howler monkeys and myriad bird sanctuaries includes the former capital Belize City and the aforementioned Altun Ha excavations.

These inland waterways were once busy thoroughfares for colonial mahogany cutters, and scattered along their banks are old Creole villages with intriguing names like Double Head Cabbage, and Crooked Tree, home of the Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary with its collection of Jabiru storks, and the Community Baboon Sanctuary.

Belize City
Belize City is the largest town (pop. 65,000) and although no longer the political capital it remains the major business centre. It’s a melting pot of cultures and, for most visitors, the country’s introduction, close to the international airport and the port. Larger hotels are here as well as limited conference facilities. Scheduled boat services take passengers from Belize City to Ambergris Caye, Caye Chapel, and Caye Caulker.

Colonial architecture includes St. John’s Cathedral (the oldest Anglican church in Central America) and Government House, the Governor General’s former residence and now the Culture Museum.

A variety of day trips offer archaeology tours, jungle river adventures, and attractions like The Orchid Garden Eco-Village with more than 100 varieties of orchid and bromeliad and tropical savannah and woodland. Forty-plus species of birds are seen along the trail winding through a wetland wildlife habitat and an iguana sanctuary.

Western Area
In the west, the tiny capital city of Belmopan (pop. 16,000 and proclaimed capital after Hurricane Hattie devastated Belize City in 1962) nestles in Cayo district, and the “no shirt” policy doesn’t apply here. But the area is surrounded by a plethora of ecotourism opportunities among the rivers, waterfalls, caves, and mountains.

The district has more than 356,000 hectares of reserves and parks, and is a nature-lovers dream, catered to with a range of accommodations from upmarket jungle lodges to small resorts.

The lively towns of San Ignacio and Santa Elena and the quiet border town of Benque Viejo del Carmen introduce visitors to the friendly locals and provide a base from which to explore the varied surroundings.

Credit: beliz

Southern Belize is marked by gorgeous beaches at places like Placencia.

Southern Belize
This area is marked by the gorgeous beaches of Hopkins and Placencia.

Descendents of the Garifuna, Mopan, and Kekchi Maya retain their traditions as much as possible. Maya chocolate is a must-taste here!

The colourfully named Hummingbird Highway leads to Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, a 40,470-hectare jungle climbing to the summit of Victoria Peak. It’s home to the Jaguar Reserve, established in 1984 to protect the big cats and other resident wildlife.

If your clients want sophisticated nightlife, Belize is not for them. Evening entertainment is mostly limited to hotel bars like Radisson Fort George’s courtyard on the shore, Paradise 21 with its Friday jazz concerts, Copa Cabana, or Princess Hotel and Casino in Belize City. But if your clients want some of the world’s best diving and snorkelling, Mayan ruins, nature reserves, and a unique introduction to Caribbean Central America, Belize is sure to be a success.

More Belize
For more information on Belize, call 1-800-624-0686 or visit www.travelbelize.organd click on Travel Trade in the top bar. For more information about Belize’s national parks visit www.belizeaudubon.org. The Belize Tourism Industry Association’s website iswww.btia.org.

www.belizesailingvacations.com

www.belizeluxurysailing.com

www.catchartersbelize.com

Exploring the Belizean Waters

Belize has some of the most pristine, unspoiled, natural beauty you will find anywhere in the world. The ocean waters of Belize offer a unique and wonderful cruising experience with the world’s second largest barrier reef, literally hundreds of sun swept tropical islands to explore, and three major offshore atolls. The barrier reef provides over 130 miles of protected waters from the ocean swell and a reef that is teaming with fish, coral, and creatures. The coral forms colorful, surreal landscapes with jutting heads, sand bottom canyons, arches and spires that offers great snorkeling and diving for both the novice and the more experienced.

Whether your interest are fishing, diving, snorkeling, or sailing the islands for a week or a day here is some information and stories to start you on your island adventure.

Boat Charters

Belize Charter Catamarans

If you are familiar with the Bahamas or the Virgin Islands, Belize will seem vast and untouched. No crowded anchorages, no competing for access to moorings, no making reservations to hole up in a protected bay. Belize offers a diversity of cruising grounds from the more developed Ambergris Caye to an endless string of uninhabited tropical islands and white sand beaches in the south.

Chartering a Belize catamaran is the ultimate way to sail Belize and explore some great sites at your own pace on your own private yacht. The barrier reef offers not only unlimited dive locations, but also great protection from the large open ocean swells. Most people find this a very comfortable place to cruise and it is certainly not without its challenges. Navigating is easy and you nearly always are within sight of an island. The challenging part is learning to read the shallow waters and recognizing coral. There are very few navigational markers and the cruising guide provides a good guideline but does not replace local knowledge and good light at your back so you can see the tricky spots. Going with a crewed yacht charter or hiring a captain is your best bet to enjoy the sailing while letting someone else worry about getting through the coral heads. Catamarans are the most popular vessels while sailing Belize due to their shallow draft through the Belize islands. Below are a few catamaran charter companies located in Belize.

Charter Boats La Gaviota, Luis Nunez, Sailing and Offshore El Gato, Sailing and Day Trips, Geraldo Badillo Katkandu, Catamaran Charters Tzabcan, Reef Camping Coral Beach Hotel & Dive Club, Alan Forman Tanisha Tours, Daniel Nuñez Reef Runner Glass Bottom Boat Winnie Estelle Sailsports Belize SEAduced by Belize, Elito Arceo TMM Belize, Catamaran Charters Sirena Azul Belize Sailing Vacations The Boatyard

• Belize Sailing Vacations is based in Belize City and offers full service luxury crewed charters on multiple catamarans for varying budgets. This is a family run business with over 10 years operating catamaran charters in Belize. The Wilson family will provide you with the ultimate Belize charter catered to your special interests and desires. Rates vary depending on the catamaran and range from $795 per night to $1,295 per night. Contact Belize Sailing Vacations, Cliff Wilson, Mile 5.5 Western Highway, Belize City. Toll free telephone 866-873-1171 or in Belize 501-664-5300. email reservations@belizesailingvacations.com
• Tortola Marine Management (TMM), located at The Palms in San Pedro. TMM has a small fleet of catamarans (sail and new motorized cats) for bareboat and skippered chartering. Rates vary depending on the boat and time of year, but range from around US$2,200 to more than US$6,000 a week, not including provisions or a US$20 per-person sailing fee. Skippers are an additional US$100 per day. Contact TMM (Belize) Ltd., Coconut Drive, San Pedro, tel. 501-2-63026, fax 501-2-63072, e-mail tmmbz@btl.net.
• Crewed Charters, based in the United States Virgin Islands, says it offers just that in Belize. Contact Crewed Charters, 5100 Long Bay Road, St. Thomas, USVI 00802, tel. 800-522-3077 or 340-776-4811, fax 340-776-3074, e-mail crewedcharters@worldnet.att.net.
• The Corpus Christi Sailing Center and Captain Christopher Day offer a few group sailing cruises in Belize, mostly sailing from or to Isla Mujeres in Mexico. Rates are around US$1,050 per person for a week’s sail. Tel. 512-881-8503

Sample Itinerary for Sailing Belize

Sailing Belize offers approximately 3,000 square miles with literally hundreds of islands and three major offshore atolls. I have been sailing here for over 10 years and have not seen all the islands or everything that Belize has to offer. Belize offers such a diverse experience depending on your interests and time. The northern portion of Belize offers some great diving, snorkeling, and beautiful islands to explore along with the local culture and nightlife of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. The southern portion of Belize offers the same great sailing and diving with more of a remote or off the beaten path experience and no big towns (with the exception of Placencia). While sailing Belize’s southern cayes you will find postcard perfect islands with maybe one dive shop and a small resort or with no inhabitants at all. Click Here for more details on additional sample itineraries and islands to visit while sailing Belize.

In addition to sailing Belize, you can also visit two other countries within a 100-mile radius that offer completely different cultures and experiences. The Rio Dulce, Guatemala is a rainforest river system that offers a completely different environment from the cayes of Belize. This includes sailing between towering limestone cliffs, riverbank hot springs, flocks of parrots and giant macaws, howler monkeys and lush tropical vegetation. Rio Dulce offers a variety of interesting activities including, hot waterfalls, horseback riding, birding, and visits to the fabulous Maya ruins at Tikal. The Bay Islands, Honduras is just another hop away and equally as diverse and interesting. This is a great SCUBA diving destination and each of the five islands has its’ own personality. Sailing is fun and there are many sheltered bays and coves.

.

Belize Dive Charters

With the second largest barrier reef, Belize is renowned for its excellent diving and snorkeling in pristine waters. Dive charters are available in many different forms from liveaboard dive boats to day trips from almost any beach resort in Belize. You can also rent dive equipment from your catamaran charter company or you can arrange a trip with a local dive shop and be picked right on the boat from any location. For optimum safety and specific locations, we encourage you to dive with the local dive shops.

Liveaboard dive boats are an option for those seeking a diving focused vacation. The two best-known operations are Peter Hughes Diving with its 120′ Belize Wave Dancer and the Aggressor Fleet, with its similarly sized Belize Aggressor III. Per-person rates shown include a seven-day trip with around 5 1/2 days of diving, food, drinks and airport transfers. Port charges about an additional US$45.

• Peter Hughes Diving, 1390 South Dixie Highway, Suite 1109, Coral Gables, FL 33146, tel. 305-669-9391 or 800-932-6237, fax 305-669-9475, e-mail dancer@peterhughes.com. Rates US$1595 to US$1695
• Aggressor Fleet, P.O. Box 1470, Morgan City, LA 70381, tel. 800-348-2628 or 504-385-2628, fax 504-384-0817, e-mail: 103261.1275@compuserve.com. Rates US$1,695.

Day Trips

Day trips to the islands are available daily from your resort or local tour operators. There is a wide array of activities available from snorkeling, diving, fishing, manatee and bird watching. Below are some of the operators found in Ambergris Caye offering day tours on the water.

The Winnie Estelle is a former freighter (or “island trader”) now doing day trips and some charters The Winnie Estelle, an island trader motor sailor based in San Pedro, sometimes does charters along the Belize coast. Contact Roberto Smith at 501-2-62394, or at the Blue Hole Dive Center, San Pedro, tel. 501-2-62982, e-mail bluehole@btl.net.

The Sirena Azul (Blue Mermaid) has a sunset sail, and is also available for snorkeling and charters. The 40 foot traditional style sailboat is made out of hardwoods found in Belize, including Santa Maria, Bullet and Mahogany. The boat has a unique style with its cabin shape and wide beam. Beto Munos says it was the largest wood sailboat ever built and launched in Sarteneja. The boat capacity is 20 people plus 2 crew.

For boat transportation around Ambergris Caye, the Coastal Xpress leaves from San Pedro many times a day going north and returning every hour or so. For further details and their schedule, click here.

Belize Fishing Charters

Belize offers some diverse and world renowned deep sea and fly fishing. While fishing in Belize, it is possible to fly fish every day of the year. Belize Tarpon, Permit and Bonefish get top billing but over 25 other species can be caught the on fly. These species include shark, several species of mackerel and jacks, tuna, sailfish, dolphin, barracuda, grouper, snapper, redfish, snook and wahoo. Utilizing poling skiffs and local guides, you can get to the most productive Belize fishing areas at the most productive times to help you land the fish of a lifetime or even that sought after Grand Slam. Fishing guides and trips can be booked from your catamaran charter service, through local tour operators and local fishing lodges. The Belize River Lodge near Belize City offers a liveaboard fishing boat, a 58″ Hatteras. Tel. 888-275-4843.

Also check the companies listed in our fishing section, click here.

Belize Sailing Stories

The following provides more information and stories about sailing in Belize. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments and I will be glad to help out in any way. See you soon!!!!

Cliff Wilson, Belize Sailing Vacations, Toll free from the U.S./Canada 1-866-873-1171, email reservations@belizesailingvacations.com.

BELIZEAN SAILING STORIES:

• Click here for a story on sailing a small catamaran by Josh Adams from Sail Magazine.
• Click here for more information and reports from liveaboard trips.
• Click here for one woman’s story on sailing the Belize atolls on a catamaran from TMM.
• Click here for a story on sailing to Belize from the North Carolina.
• Click here for a story on sailing from Miami to Cuba.
• For more on sailing and the tides, click here
• Click here for more information on general Belize weather patterns.
• Click Here to learn more about cruising outside the reef to one of the atolls.
• Click Here for a link to Freya Rauscher’s Cruising Guide of Belize and Mexico’s Caribbean Coast, including Guatemala’s Rio Dulce.

Click here for our old boat and charter page, which has a few other stories, among them “What’s in a boat name?”

Commons Island Community History Visitor Center Goods & Services Search Messages AIM Info

Copyright by Casado Internet Group, Belize ]]> http://belizeluxurysailing.com/blog/?feed=rss2&p=23 256 http://belizeluxurysailing.com/blog/?p=1 http://belizeluxurysailing.com/blog/?p=1#comments Thu, 06 May 2010 15:59:47 +0000 admin http://belizeluxurysailing.com/blog/?p=1 Belize Charter Specialist

Why charter Belize with Belize Sailing Vacations? We are a Belize based, family owned full service Belize yacht charter business sailing

Luxury Belize Sailing Catamaran Charters

Belize and Guatemala since 2001. Belize Sailing Vacations is dedicated to providing the best all-inclusive Belize vacation, offering you a 5-Star vacation experience with the most competitive Belize Catamaran rates compared to other Belize Sailing Charters or Belize Bareboat Charter companies.

Sailing in Belize with Belize Sailing Vacations offers you the ultimate opportunity to explore all that Belize has to offer. Belize Sailing Vacations offers all the amenities of an all inclusive Belize Resort aboard your own private luxury catamaran tailored to your specific interest. have multiple private luxury crewed Belize catamarans to choose from 50 feet to 42 feet, to meet all your needs, desires, and budgets.

Imagine sailing Belize aboard your own private catamaran charter exploring the world’s second largest barrier reef, sailing to sandy palm studded beaches, and discovering the amazing under-water world of Belize. Your private Belize sail charter will take you to some of the world’s best Belize snorkeling, Belize scuba, Belize diving, Belize fishing, and Belize kayaking sites. In addition, there is plenty of opportunity to explore inland rainforest adventures and Mayan ruins.