Chartering a 42.3 monohull in Placencia, Belize. Any must see spots? Any to avoid?

[Cool Hand Luke]

Hey guys,

I'm chartering a Moorings 42.3 monohull later this month in Belize. Leaving out of Placencia for 9 days. I've been to BVI (4 times), St. Martin (2 times), St. Lucia, and Phuket, Thailand. But never to Belize...

Any places that are MUST SEE? Any to avoid?

Any help will be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks

[Triumphant]

Search the forum for Belize Waypoints and posts by Belizesailer, loads of information

If you want to go outside the reef you will need a local skipper

Loads of nice places to see

Sapadillo Cayes, Tom Owens, Ranguana, Hideway Caye, Bluefields Range, Caye Caulker to mention just a few

We are currently at Placencia and probably heading slowly up to Caye Caulker later next week, returning to Placencia at the end of this month.

Depending on when you get here you may also be able to get involved in the opening of the lobster season, Lobster fest around 22nd of June

[Cool Hand Luke]

Originally Posted by Triumphant

Search the forum for Belize Waypoints and posts by Belizesailer, loads of information

If you want to go outside the reef you will need a local skipper

Why do I need a local skipper?

I'll definitely do a search and look up threads/posts by BelizeSailer. Thanks!!

As for Lobster Fest - DEFINITELY!! Planning to be in Caye Caulker for their Lobster Fest there:
https://www.facebook.com/cayecaulkerlobsterfest

[FabioC]

Chartering out of Placencia later this year... Please post a summary of your trip once it is done, very interested to read it.
Fair winds!!!

[model 10]

The reef is tricky and chartered boats are a danger to it. From what I hear the chartered boats can't go beyond the reef or out to the atols. Even without a local skipper you will have many places to explore. All along the reef is good swimming etc. but the south end is really nice.
For some reason I like the Drowned Cays if it's too windy out. As for places to avoid, Punta Gorda and BZ City

[belizesailor]

Yes, without a local captain, charter boats may not go outside the reef. Moorings also excludes a number of routes/destinations/anchorages which they will detail for you in their chart briefing. They exclude these areas with good reason. However, there are still extensive areas to explore inside the reef.

I encourage charter guests to hire a local captain, it opens up a lot of options, gets you more locally integrated, and helps de-stress your vacation (Belizean waters are complex...with near infinite opportunities to screw up).

A local captain also opens up the offshore atolls for you: the crown jewels of Belize.

I like the Drowned Cayes too. Very protected for bad weather and miles of bogues for dinghy exploring while you wait it out.

[FabioC]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

(Belizean waters are complex...with near infinite opportunities to screw up).

A local captain also opens up the offshore atolls for you: the crown jewels of Belize.

Could you elaborate on what makes the Belizean waters complex?

I am chartering there later this year and I did not consider getting a local captain, since we like to sail the boat... Are the atolls really worth it to get a local captain vs. the places you can visit on your own?

Thank you!

[AllenRbrts]

Just spent 2 years cruising the Caribbean. Of all the places during those two years I would put lighthouse reef at or near the top of the list of places we have been. If you can arrange to spend several days there, I highly recommend it. This photo is us in the middle of the blue hole on lighthouse reef.

[belizesailor]

Yes, Lighthouse is awesome. Glovers and Turneffe aint too bad either.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by FabioC

Could you elaborate on what makes the Belizean waters complex?



I am chartering there later this year and I did not consider getting a local captain, since we like to sail the boat... Are the atolls really worth it to get a local captain vs. the places you can visit on your own?



Thank you!

Extreme mix of water depth (you can be in 80', but run aground a boat length away), very complex reefs/shoals in some areas, very few nav aids, poor charts, ....

Whether its "worth it" only you can answer. You might also consider a mix: hire a local captain/guide for only a few days. You can still do the sailing, they are really just your local knowledge. Ive done trips like that for guests in Belize...aboard for a few days, take them places they cant go, then hop off.

Ive even booked local guides who dont know jack about sailing, but have detailed local waters knowledge, as on board local knowledge for charter guests.

[robert sailor]

In my opinion the outer atolls are the nicest areas in Belize but each of us likes different things. I didn’t particularly like the blue hole, sort of pretty to look at but way over sold in my opinion. Certainly the atolls offer clear water, good snorkeling and good diving plus some solitude if you wish. The idea of hiring a Captain excites me like another hole in my head but that’s the price of chartering I guess. Anyways wherever you go, have a great time!

[FabioC]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Extreme mix of water depth (you can be in 80', but run aground a boat length away), very complex reefs/shoals in some areas, very few nav aids, poor charts, ....

Whether its "worth it" only you can answer. You might also consider a mix: hire a local captain/guide for only a few days. You can still do the sailing, they are really just your local knowledge. Ive done trips like that for guests in Belize...aboard for a few days, take them places they cant go, then hop off.

Ive even booked local guides who dont know jack about sailing, but have detailed local waters knowledge, as on board local knowledge for charter guests.

Thank you for the info. I read your older posts when I was researching where to charter. Getting a local captain for only a few days is a good suggestion, I'll look into it.

[belizesailor]

Moorings used to include a copy of Freya Raucher's guide with a booking. Not sure if they still do, but it is the only comprehenive and accurate nav guide to Belize. Either way, get a copy for planning and definately for use aboard.

You can also find my supplemental notes on Amazon under "Belize Cruising Notes".

[model 10]

We ran aground our first night in Belize. Late that evening, a fisherman came by and said we needed to be 15 feet to the east. He helped us re-set the anchor and around midnight we were able to move off and re-anchor. If that had happened on the reef, it could have been bad.
Even with the Rauscher guide, you can get into trouble. I have a really hard time getting all the little cays into the proper perspective. We are totally dependent on some sort of charting to figure things out. Still, down in the southern reef, it feels like a crap shoot sometimes.. There are little reef patches everywhere but they are supposed to be deep enough.

[AllenRbrts]

Originally Posted by robert sailor

In my opinion the outer atolls are the nicest areas in Belize but each of us likes different things. I didn’t particularly like the blue hole, sort of pretty to look at but way over sold in my opinion. Certainly the atolls offer clear water, good snorkeling and good diving plus some solitude if you wish. The idea of hiring a Captain excites me like another hole in my head but that’s the price of chartering I guess. Anyways wherever you go, have a great time! [emoji3]

I agree the blue hole is not very spectacular visually except from the air, but we found the snorkling there and by Long Cay to be very special.