Photo: Michiel Ton ↗THE JOURNEY IN DETAIL
The planet’s second reef, from inside.
The Belize Barrier Reef runs for almost 300 kilometres and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Between the reef and the mainland lies a band of sheltered water a few metres deep, scattered with mangrove and sand islets, the cayes. We leave Placencia on a catamaran and spend a week in the southern lagoon: Laughing Bird, the Silk Cayes, Ranguana and South Water Caye.
- Snorkelling with manatees and rays at the Silk Cayes
- Laughing Bird Caye National Park
- Anchorages off uninhabited mangrove cayes
- An optional day of diving at Glover’s Reef
With old friends or new ones
Join a group or arrange a separate departure for your own team. Before travelling, we get to know each other, discuss everyone's experience and find suitable dates. You can also prepare together.
DAY BY DAY
Your daily itinerary.
A provisional itinerary. Weather, group readiness and local conditions may change the order and length of the stages.
- DAY 1 · Handover
Placencia and boat handover
Fly into Belize City, then a short hop or drive to Placencia. Boat handover, provisioning and an evening on the village boardwalk.
Overnight: Yacht, Placencia marina - DAY 2 · 12 nautical miles
Laughing Bird Caye
A first 12 miles east to a tiny national park on a shelf atoll. Reef snorkelling, lunch under the palms and a night at anchor in its lee.
Overnight: Yacht, Laughing Bird Caye - DAY 3 · 18 nautical miles
Ranguana Caye
Eighteen miles south-east to an islet with a single hut and a reef all round. Swimming off the boat by day, dinner on the sand by night.
Overnight: Yacht, Ranguana Caye - DAY 4 · 10 nautical miles
Silk Cayes and Gladden Spit reserve
A short leg to three sand islets right on the barrier reef. Snorkel with turtles, rays and reef sharks in the Gladden Spit marine reserve.
Overnight: Yacht, Silk Cayes - DAY 5 · 25 nautical miles
Along the reef to South Water Caye
The longest leg, 25 miles north inside the reef with a steady easterly. Anchor off South Water Caye, where the reef comes right up to the beach.
Overnight: Yacht, South Water Caye - DAY 6 · 14 nautical miles
Tobacco Caye and turning back
A morning 6 miles to Tobacco Caye, an island the size of a football pitch. Snorkel from the jetty, then head for the Pelican Cayes on the way home.
Overnight: Yacht, Pelican Cayes - DAY 7 · 12 nautical miles
Back to Placencia
The last 12 miles across the lagoon to the peninsula. Boat return and a farewell dinner in Placencia.
Overnight: Yacht, Placencia marina - DAY 8 · Transfer
Departure
Breakfast and transfer to Placencia airstrip or Belize City.
Overnight: —
Included in the estimated price
Double cabin on a 40–45 ft catamaran
A professional skipper
Breakfasts and lunches on board
Transfer from Placencia airstrip
Snorkelling kit and a kayak
End-of-charter cleaning
Not included in the price
Flights to the meeting point
Personal travel insurance and visas
Personal equipment
Single-room supplements and personal expenses
Kitty for dinners ashore, fuel and water
Belize marine reserve and national park fees
Domestic flight Belize City — Placencia
Scuba diving
YOUR PREPARATION
Arrive ready for the route.
No experience needed; the water inside the reef is calm. The one particular skill is eyeball navigation by water colour, which Ivan covers before departure.
Prepare with IvanROUTE QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE MEET ON THE TRAIL
What to prepare in advance
- A soft bag rather than a hard suitcase
- Shoes with clean, non-slip soles
- Sun and wind protection, and a light rain layer
- Personal essentials suited to your experience at sea
Once we choose a date, we agree on the equipment list, meeting point and transfer time. Please wait until the programme is confirmed before booking flights.