Sailing from Rio Dolce Guatemala to the Blue Hole Belize and Utila Honduras

[Ada Maria]

Howdy,
I discovered a passion for sailing about a year ago and recently I received an amazing opportunity: to skipper my friend's Beneteau Oceanis from Rio Dolce Guatemala to the Blue Hole Belize and Utila Honduras. It will be a 2 weeks trip and while Im very excited Im also worried about my lack of experience in planning. Im wondering if you guys have any recommendations about passages and anchoring places.In case you are a French or Spanish speaker, Im fine with both languages. Many thanks in advance! Best regards, Ada


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[model 10]

Are you kidding, 2 weeks? No problem with motoring or sailing to those places but you need to check in and out get food etc. etc. It would take me 2 weeks to get to Livingston alone and check out of Guatemala, never mind going to 2 other countries and back? No way, go to plan B.

[Ada Maria]

We have enough food and water on board. Watching the charts i thought that 2 weeks will be more than enough to get to Utila from Rio Dolce with a stop in Belize. In Belize I am thinking about checking in at Placencia (take the water taxi to Independence). I was told that if we tell them we are going to LIghthouse or the Blue Hole, we can check in and out at the same time.


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[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Ada Maria

We have enough food and water on board. Watching the charts i thought that 2 weeks will be more than enough to get to Utila from Rio Dolce with a stop in Belize. In Belize I am thinking about checking in at Placencia (take the water taxi to Independence). I was told that if we tell them we are going to LIghthouse or the Blue Hole, we can check in and out at the same time.


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You can make this whole circuit in a few days, but it leaves very little time to enjoy some of these great destinations.

Im always leery of asking any kind of favor from a Belizean official (...due to years of experience). You might just ask first for their advice in how you should do this. Myself and many others have usuually just cleared out and made a brief stop in the atolls without specific arrangements to do so. You can clear out for a slightly future time (like 24 hours) and then leave earlier than scheduled, thus giving you some more legal time in Belize. "Engine trouble" is usually an accepted reason if questioned and only a little past due.

[model 10]

The fastest place to check into Belize is PG. You could check out of Guat and into Belize the same day. It opens up some other possibilities...

[Ada Maria]

Thank you


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[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Ada Maria

... Rio Dolce ...

Just so ya know, its " Dulce"..."sweet"...as in "Sweet River".

[Ada Maria]

I know now Tks


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[model 10]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Just so ya know, its " Dulce"..."sweet"...as in "Sweet River".

It might have been sweet 300 years ago. It ain't no more. There are still some little gators swimming around though.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Guy

It might have been sweet 300 years ago. It ain't no more. ...

Huh? How so?

[model 10]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Huh? How so?

Have you been swimming in it and opened you eyes? Yuck. I'm thinking 300 years ago what you saw in the water was a bit more natural than it is today. You could probably have drank from it. How many people and cows live in that drainage now?

[belizesailor]

Used to swim in it all time off my place in Cayo Quemdo and at Tortugal. Its lake/river water originating from silty tributaries, so I doubt its ever been clear.

I would not go swimming just down stream or Fronteras or Livingston, but other wise I think the water is fine.

I know many locals who use it for washing and bathing and never heard of any ill effect.

[model 10]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Used to swim in it all time off my place in Cayo Quemdo and at Tortugal.

Off Tortugal is where there was a croc seen swimming too. Guess they are just like you, no swimming below the bridge.

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Guy

Off Tortugal is where there was a croc seen swimming too. Guess they are just like you, no swimming below the bridge.

Yeah, a good sized croc was spotted around Cayo Quemado a couple of years ago. Aside from the Western reaches of Lago Izabal they are pretty rare these days...people ate 'em all.

[Ada Maria]

Thank you very much for your suggestions . Sailing in Belize was an amazing experience. I highly recommend the Sapodillas Cays. Best,
Ada