Belize

Well, we bid the Rio Dulce goodbye and set our course for Belize. In spite of the many stories warning us off Belize we have decided to check things out for ourselves. As we head north we soon realize that many of the Cays offer little to no protection from the NE winds. As we bypass Frenchmans Cay, Gibbs Cay and Bedford Cay we set our sights on Wild Cane, however we soon find that the anchorage at Wild Cane is no longer open to us, so make a note on your charts. We make our way into New Haven Lagoon and drop the hook after a brisk 40nm haul.

' Secret Garden', Placencia

We’ve decided to check in at Big Creek, so we anchor off of Placencia Settlement and take the dinghy into the harbor. For those coming into Belize from the south we suggest holding off until Big Creek to check in. All three offices, Immigration, Customs and Port Authority are located within easy walking distance and the folks are great, we had no problems and the cost was minimal contrary to the stories we have heard.

beach time, Rendezvous Cay

more beach time, Southwater Cay

sea monster

end of another day, Southwater Cay

the shallows, Turneffe Cay

Our plan is to work our way through the islands off the coast of Belize over the course of two weeks before making our way to Mexico. This will involve daily hops 0f 20-30 miles through the outer and inner reefs, for the most part it’s deep water however there are several areas that require a close watch.

a morning caller, Bokel Cay

Half Moon Cay preserve

One of the highlights for those heading to Belize is the Blue Hole at Lighthouse Reef. We make our way across the shallows and anchor off of Half Moon Cay where we explore the islands nature preserve and Boobie nesting area. With the sun over our shoulder we snake our way through the coral heads and reefs to the blue hole where we opt to snorkel the edge rather than dive into the 500’ former cave. This is a monumental snorkel as it is Vicky’s first swim with a shark. Her new friend is a 4-5 foot black tip that had no real interest in us, thankfully.

dragons of Half Moon Cay

nesting Redfooted Boobie

a couple of big Boobies

Vicky on bow watch

Chula on bow watch

dark spot equals coral heads and reefs

more coral ahead

a Sunday afternoon, Ambergris Cay

where to next

Our final destination in Belize is Ambergris Cay where we settle in for a few days of relaxation before our overnight trip to Cozumel, Mexico. The route from Belize to Mexico is a simple one and we have a very good weather forecast which should allow us to actually sail the 200nm, that’ll be a treat. Our plan is to get ourselves to Isla Mujeres for a few weeks rest and to enjoy our last island in the Caribbean. After Isla Mujeres it’ll be a long haul across the Gulf of Mexico to Texas. Well, that’s for later, for now we are still in the Caribbean.