Explore Belize Barrier Reef with Crewed Options
Try a flotilla or wellness charter along the world’s second-largest barrier reef, and combine it with an array of land excursions from Belize Sailing Vacations.
Fully crewed and captain-only options are available from the base in Belize City, where the family-run, full-service yacht charter company has offered all-inclusive sailing vacations since 2001. They also teach the American Sailing Association instructional curriculum.
Choose from a fleet of eight catamarans, including a Fountaine Pajot Saona 47, two Lagoon 500s, four Leopards (44 to 47 feet) and a Lagoon 44.
Vacation packages include captain, chef, gourmet cuisine, standard open bar, cabins with en suite head and shower, and equipment for snorkeling, kayaking and fishing. The charter rates include land transportation from the Belize International Airport to the base at Cucumber Beach Marina. Gratuity and hotel and sales tax of 10 percent aren’t included; peak week pricing also might apply.
Situated on the western border of the Caribbean Sea, Belize’s reef and some 450 islands are teeming with marine life. Diving excursions to the Blue Hole and other atolls beyond the barrier reef are available via puddle-jumper flights from San Pedro and Placencia. Charter itineraries to Rio Dulce, Guatemala, are also available. Inland excursions include tours of Mayan temples, tubing and canoeing through caves, horseback riding and zip-lining. For details, consult the website (belizesailingvacations.com).
Dream in the San Blas Islands
Dream Yacht Charter has partnered with San Blas Sailing to offer crewed and by-the-cabin charters in the pristine Panamanian archipelago noted for its indigenous Guna population. The ideal season to sail is between December and April, when the waters and winds are calm. For details, consult the website (dreamyachtcharter.com/destination/panama).
NW Explorations adds Canada
NW Explorations, with headquarters in Bellingham, Washington, has expanded operations to two sites on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Owned by Canadians Ross and Evelyn Tennant, the 16-year-old charter, brokerage and service company now provides maintenance at Canoe Cove Marina, North Saanich, and at a second facility at Port Sidney Marina, in Sidney. The company specializes in Grand Banks, and other trawler-style vessels available for charter and purchase. For details, consult the website (nwexplorations.com).
Moorings Adds Oceanis Model
The Moorings has added a Beneteau Oceanis to its charter fleet: the Moorings 46.3. Beginning in December 2019, the new Beneteau monohulls will be available for charter in the Caribbean in the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, and Martinique. With many features of a large sailing yacht, the monohull strikes a balance between comfort, luxury and performance. The Moorings 46.3 features a spacious layout with three en suite cabins and a convertible saloon, sleeping up to eight guests. It also includes a large forward master suite. For a complete list of amenities, consult the website (moorings.com/yachts/sail-fleet/monohulls/46-3-3-cabin).
