A portrait of Caribbean destinations: Belize - coral reefs and magical holes

• Arrival: **
• Level of difficulty: **
• Versatility: ***
• Infrastructure: *

The area off the east coast of Central America, more precisely between Mexico and Guatemala, is a real insider tip for seasoned Caribbean connoisseurs looking for a new challenge. The cays lie protected behind a gigantic coral reef almost 250 nautical miles long. These are flat coral islands, sometimes overgrown with mangrove forest, sometimes covered with the finest sand. There is still little sailing tourism here. However, there is also hardly any infrastructure, let alone marinas. Crews should stock up on provisions before setting sail. Bars and restaurants are often only found in holiday resorts. Crews can eat there by prior arrangement.

Basically, however, people travel to Belize for its lush nature. Off the coast are some of the best diving and snorkelling spots in the Caribbean. The underwater world is colourful and there are many seabirds. Even manatees, sea cows, live here. Navigation is not always easy. There is a lack of good nautical charts. What is needed is constant careful navigation by sight based on the colour of the water (eyeball navigation).

Highlights

The remains of former Mayan settlements are worth seeing in Belize. Most crews visit them before or after the cruise. You should also definitely head for South Water Caye. You can dive on the reef off the palm island and observe sharks, groupers and rays. On land, there are beautiful sandy beaches and a resort with a restaurant. Make a snorkelling stop off Coco Plum Caye too! If you have a diving licence, you should take a day trip to one of the famous Blue Holes. In between, there are many smaller, secluded destinations such as Lark Caye, where you can anchor against a fantastic backdrop.

Journey

With an overnight stay, you arrive in Belize via the USA (usually via Houston or Miami). From there, small propeller aircraft fly on to Placencia. However, you need to plan almost two days for this journey, and the third flight to the destination naturally pushes up the price. In this respect, Belize is definitely one of the most expensive destinations in the Caribbean.

What crews should know about the country, people and cruises in the Caribbean

A brief portrait of other Caribbean destinations:

• The British Virgin Islands - the Caribbean bestseller
• Windward Islands - the island dream
• Leeward Islands - island hopping at its best
• Bahamas - endless sea of islands
• Cuba - Caribbean as it was 50 years ago

Caribbean cruise: The most beautiful harbours and bays in the British Virgin Islands