Belize : Profile

Facts

• Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, fronts the Western Caribbean Sea and borders on Mexico and Guatemala.

• Belize's main attraction lies offshore, a 175 mile long barrier reef, second only in size to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, and the underwater scenery is reputed to be amongst the best anywhere in the world.

• Between the reef and the coastal strip are hundreds of uninhabited islands and cays, and therein lies Belize's popularity as a cruising destination; the number of secluded anchorages, unsurpassed diving and excellent fishing will ensure Belize's attraction as an alternative to the crowded Eastern Caribbean.

• Many of the navigation lights or marks are reported to be either out of action or missing and therefore night passages should be avoided. Even in daylight the barrier reef area should be navigated with caution.

• Yachting facilities are limited in Belize: Belize City has some repair facilities, good provisioning, a limited supply of hardware but very little yachting equipment. Frequent theft from boats and lengthy formalities means however that few boats now go to Belize City if this can be avoided.

• A more convenient and safe place to leave the boat if intending to visit the interior, which is another of the main attractions of Belize, is the new marina, Cucumber Beach Marina, just south of Belize City. It has been reported that the marina is also a good place from which to visit the Mayan sites in Guatemala, such as Tikal.

Security

The Caribbean Safety and Security Net (safetyandsecuritynet@gmail.com) gather information by anchorage or by island, so sailors can plan their cruising in the Caribbean with an eye to appropriate behaviour and precautions wherever they decide to go. Should you have information about a security incident, as well as contacting Noonsite please also forward details to the Caribbean Safety and Security Net, as theirs is the most comprehensive source of Caribbean security incidents against sailors on the net. Please be sure to include boat name, date of incident and anchorage/port where the incident took place.

Weather

The tropical climate can be hot especially February to May, although the prevailing wind helps to keep the coast cooler. During winter months the anchorages are rather exposed to the northerly winds which sweep down across the Gulf of Mexico. The hurricane season lasts from June to November.

Main Ports

Belize City * , Big Creek (Placencia) * , Caye Caulker * , Punta Gorda * , San Pedro (Ambergris Cay) *

*Indicates a port of entry.

Related Reports

New Free Caribbean Cruising Guide - A Thinking Mans Guide to Voyages South  (23 Jul 2011)

A Positive Experience in Belize (11 Jan 2011)

Belize and Guatemala: Dinghy Thefts 2009 (19 Apr 2010)

Belize - Our Experience (22 Oct 2009)

Moho River - Cotton Tree Lodge (08 May 2009)

Belize to Panama (14 May 2008)

Cruising Guide To Belize and Mexico’s Caribbean Coast (23 Nov 2007)

New expanded "Cruising Ports: Florida to California via Panama" now published (07 Jan 2003)

Related News

Warning About C-Map Error in the Caribbean (09 Mar 2011)

Alex - First Named Storm of the Atlantic Hurricane Season (29 Jun 2010)

Arthur Weakening, but Many Hurricanes Forecast  (05 Jun 2008)