Central America is very much a mystery to the majority of us and somewhere that we don’t know a lot about. Home to hundreds of different ecosystems, traditions, customs and cultures, Central America really is a fascinating place to visit. Where else can you spend the morning swimming, snorkeling and diving in the Western hemisphere’s largest coral reef, whilst only being a few hours away from exploring and zip lining through the countries mountains and jungles. There are countless reasons to come to Belize and Central America on a luxury sailing holiday. Please find three below:

1) The Location and Climate:

Belize and Central America are much easier to get to than you may have originally thought. American Airlines fly direct to Belize City from a number of US Airports and have excellent rates and last minute deals. Even from Europe, all you have to do is to fly into Miami and join a connecting flight, which takes less than 2 hours. If you were thinking of heading to the Caribbean, you would probably have to do the same. The climate in Belize can be described as sub-tropical, however the strong Caribbean winds negate the high humidity levels. The annual average temperature is around 80 Fahrenheit or 26 Celsius.

2) The Culture and Traditions:

Belize is a melting pot of Spanish, Caribbean and English cultures and traditions. While the official language is English, Spanish and Criollo are spoken widely. The towns have a Caribbean feel to them and the way of life is often slow and relaxing, making it an ideal destination to come on vacation. There are numerous Mayan ruins all over the country and

these should definitely not be missed! If you are a wildlife fan or a bit of an adrenalin junkee, you have to check out the countries mountains, forests and jungles. Central America is well known for having a very large variety of wildlife considering its size, including 145 species of mammals, 139 species of reptiles and over 500 species of rare and beautiful birds.

3) The Beaches, Islands and Cayes:

The Islands and Cayes off Belize are nothing short of stunning and are waiting to be explored. Set sail and find your own secluded spot on a private beach. Belize offers some of the best sailing in the world, graced with the constant Caribbean trade winds at around 13 knots. The Beaches have soft white sand and the waters are amazingly clear, perfect for swimming, snorkeling and diving.

Having been to Belize, we cannot recommend chartering a luxury catamaran highly enough. DORIS would be our recommendation from Belize City and heading east towards Caye Caulker and then south past Tobacco Caye towards Placencia and beyond! She has 3 cabins, accommodating up to 6 guests, perfect for families. Her open plan layout makes her an obvious choice for entertaining and her crew are second to none! We look forward to your enquiries and please ask any questions you may have.

A vacation is one of the only times per year when you can completely shut down and try to forget about everything else. It is a proven fact that those who have regular vacations are much more productive and happy at work, as they are re-energized and motivated on their return. We have

recently been to the Spanish Virgin Islands, one of the best kept secrets of the Caribbean and designed this sample 7 day itinerary, which you may be interested in for your next vacation. We would highly recommend the 2013 Lagoon 450 luxury catamaran for this trip, as it provides both great space, style and comfort, as well as a fantastic sailing experience.

Sample 7 Day Itinerary:

Day One: Arrive at Marina Puerto Del Rey from San Juan International or a local hotel. Meet at 9:30 a.m in order to board the vessel by 10:00 a.m. You will then sail approximately 4 nautical miles northeast to the spectacular island of Isla Palomino.

Day Two: Head off due east towards the islands of Culebra and Cayo Luis Peña. The sail is about 13 nautical miles and you will be able to find great snorkeling spots and moorings on the southwest side of the island. A popular beach option whilst on Culebra is Playa Flamenco, one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Day Three: On Day three, you can sail eastwards to Bahia Tortuga on Culebrita Island, which is acclaimed to be one of the top ten beaches in the Caribbean.

Day Four: After spending the night overlooking Culebrita, take a nice downwind sail down the southern channel to Ensenada Honda, which is Culebra\’s main harbour, where you can explore the island and enjoy all that it has to offer.

Day Five: On Day Five, you will set sail southbound towards the beautiful island of Vieques. After you round the eastern tip, you will sail along downwind to Bahia de la Chiva.

Day Six: Cast the mooring line loose and sail leisurely down the undeveloped south coast of Vieques to Sun Bay. Witness the beauty of the natural coastline, which possesses fantastic snorkeling spots, as well as some of the best beaches on the island. Head a little further down the coast from Puerto Real and have a few Piña Colada’s, the famous drink of Puerto Rico in one of the bars in Esperanza.

Day Seven: You can opt to sail back up the east coast of Puerto Rico to Cayo Icacos, just east of the northeastern tip of Puerto Rico. Once back at base, you will do a quick refueling and de-briefing. Then why not explore the rest of the island, with popular stops at Ponce, as well as the western coast before your flight home from San Juan. Alternatively, Old San Juan is one of the oldest Spanish settlements in the discovery of the Americas, making it a fantastic place to explore.

See our yachts in the Spanish Virgin islands here.

Are you interested in exploring this part of the Caribbean? At www.boatbookings.com, we welcome everyone from sailing professionals to complete novices and will help you at every step of the way to make your dreams a reality. We have a team of highly skilled professionals who are extremely knowledgeable in their destinations and will be able to help you with any questions you may have.Watch this space for the latest industry show releases, news and gossip in the yachting world. If you liked the content on this page and our previous posts, please become a fan and like our Facebook page to receive up to date information on our publications.
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