Belize: A Hidden Gem for Yacht Charter Adventures

Denison Charter Specialist Rose Jolis shares her experience at a recent familiarization trip in Belize and why it is one of the best charter destinations.

Sunny skies, warm blue waters, lush greenery everywhere–what more can you ask for from a tropical vacation? Surprisingly, a lot more. Denison charter specialist Rose Jolis recently visited Belize on a familiarization trip hosted by Belize Tourism and Boat International Magazine and she had much to share about the underrated vacation destination.

“I had a wonderful week with Belize Tourism and Boat International Magazine,” Rose said, “Belize is an incredible country that is truly untouched by the rest of the world–never mind the yacht market.”

Tell us about your trip to Belize.

It was an invitation from Belize Tourism and Boat International. Ultimately, we were there to be introduced to the country. It ended up in a very successful roundtable discussion with Belize Tourism and the Ministers of Tourism about how Belize can grow to be a popular yachting destination.

Simone Bell, Investment and Innovation Specialist at the Belize Tourism Board, was our host–she arranged and guided the whole trip. They were very curious and open to creating a really great environment for incoming yachts.

Is Belize a good charter destination? If so, why?

Belize has a lot of unique and special traits. The people are lovely and warm. It has a huge melting pot of people from around the world, leading to a very interesting flavor, in more ways than one. There are Mayan Indians, Carribean people, so many different types of people.

Belize has the second-largest barrier reef in the world. Diving on the outer reef is one of the highlights of a trip to Belize–I highly recommend this dive site.

Belize has a lot of wildlife, including monkeys and tucans. The animals in the country are a sight to see. It is also one of the biggest permit and bonefish fishing spots in the world.

Beyond the nature of Belize, being able to venture inland to Mayan ruins is another great appeal.

On the trip, we went to go see how chocolate was made from cacao, which is a fun family activity for visitors. There are also tours to see the growing sugarcane to make local rums.

The way I sum up Belize is: you can be at the reef and the rainforest on the same day.

What do you recommend clients do when visiting Belize?

Other than the previously mentioned highlights, there is plenty to do on a trip to Belize. We did a river trip down south from Placencia to Copal Tree Lodge, a resort owned by an American with the chocolate factory we visited. You transit through the mangroves to the rainforest, traveling through different ecosystems. The other tourists we met there were very well-traveled and sophisticated.

Belize is very family-friendly. There are a lot of islands off the coast that are private that you can rent–either for the day or longer.

The guides we used were all fantastic–on dives, tours, fishing–and really know the land. Many brokers were surprised and pleased to discover that English is actually the first language. This is great for visitors.

What makes Belize special?

Full disclosure, Belize is a third-world country, with not much of an infrastructure. However, I did feel that it is going through a big development spurt; many ex-pats are there right now with property. An industry colleague just recently bought property there also. Francis Ford Coppola has been down there for many many years and has built a few resorts; he was one of the very first names to go into ecotourism in Belize.

With all this unspoiled beauty, one of the major appeals of Belize is the natural, unkempt feel. Similarly to Costa Rica, we recommend eco-friendly-style lodging. The resorts currently in Belize are all currently eco-friendly.

Being in the growth phase, even the Four Seasons is developing a property with a marina set to open in 2024–the Four Seasons Caye Chapel will open up even more yachting and chartering possibilities. The tourism ministers are also in conversations with investors about a yacht marina complex around the Punta Gorda region in the Southern part of Belize.

On the culinary front, the food in Belize was excellent; they grow everything there. There is a big farm-to-table culture. The seafood was amazing–lobster, conch, fish, ceviche galore–all the seafood was incredibly fresh. They have local beer that was great and great breweries. They also have some distilled drinks made from fruits. What’s more, Belize has not been influenced by any fast-food or big chain restaurants, attending to its more down-to-earth vibe.

When is the most ideal time to visit Belize?

Springtime is ideal, from February/March to May. However, Belize is accessible year-round. They do have a hurricane season but they don’t seem to get hit as hard as surrounding areas.

Is Belize right for everyone? To what clients would you recommend going to Belize?

Belize is great for everyone–couples, families, friends, whoever.

What was the purpose of this trip?

Bringing awareness to the area. Yachts will make it there if people know about it. With a client’s interest, we can make a trip to Belize happen. There were several charter managers that were very interested in the area and in learning more. I love that the group was really interested and curious about exploring Belize for our clients and was really engaged in experiencing the local culture. The trip was lovely, and it will be for any clients interested in vacationing there.

Interested in traveling to Belize? Speak to a charter specialist for any questions you may have about chartering.

Speak With a Charter Specialist: