Private Charters
Bespoke Services - Custom Pricing - Crew Charters
CONTACT US TO SET UP YOUR VACATION - OPTIONS FROM $11,000 - $20,000 + PER WEEK
The Sailing Collective team personalizes every private 7-day / 6-night package to match your group's unique vibe and interests, providing customized itineraries and tailored experiences. We will pair you with the perfect Sailing Collective captain and optional chef to lead your journey through these spectacular islands.
A Belize private charter season begins in November with pleasant weather through July with January to April being the peak months. We personalize the Sailing Collective 7-day vacation package to match your group's interest. A typical itinerary begins on a Sunday morning at 10:00 am and ends a 10:00 am the following Saturday. We have a variety of vacation package offerings including:
• Access to the largest fleet of monohulls and catamarans in the region
• Family travel with first-mates and chefs with childcare background
• Private friends charters on monohull and catamarans with up to 4 double cabins
• Honeymooners with private captain and chef
• Corporate retreats and team building regattas
Whether your group is interested in a more rustic DIY-vibe lead by a Sailing Collective captain or a luxury journey aboard a 60'+ premium sailboat with your private Sailing Collective captain, chef, first-mate team, we can match your budget.
Boat options: 40' to 55' monohulls, 38' to 52' catamarans ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 + for a fully crewed charter.
Contact Sailing Collective today to receive a custom private charter page with boat availability and pricing options for the Winter 2018 season!
email: info@thesailingcollective.com / +1 (347) 927 5487
Belize is a country in Central America. It used to be called British Honduras, but changed its name in 1973. Long before that it was part of the Mayan Empire. Some people in Belize speak Spanish or Kriol, but English is the official language and the most commonly spoken. This is because Belize is a former colony of the United Kingdom, while its neighbors were once colonies of Spain. Many people speak two languages. More than three hundred and thirty thousand people live in Belize.
"Belize is a small country in northern Central America just a bit larger than the U.S. state of Massachusetts. To the north is Mexico and to the west is Guatemala. The western Caribbean fronts the rest of Belize. One of its most remarkable features, making this destination splendid for a Belize sailing vacation, is the Mesoamerican Reef that stretches approximately 350 nautical miles from the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula down along most of the Belizean coast. Only Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is larger. In Belize, the reef shelters more than 400 islands and cays. Most are fringed with additional reefs comprised of at least 50 species of hard and soft coral. Manatees, whale sharks, and roughly 500 species of tropical fish thrive in these waters, and all manner of seabirds are plentiful, including the Magnificent Frigate and the Brown Booby. Unspoiled and less crowded than other parts of the Caribbean, Belize is a laid-back paradise very similar to the cruising grounds of the South Pacific. Known for world-class snorkeling and scuba diving, superior sailing in protected waters, and unparalleled natural beauty, a Belize jounrey is unique and special." -TUI The Caribbean coast is lined with a coral reef and about 450 islets and islands. The largest island, Ambergris Caye, is forty kilometres long. Many other islands are very small. In the water around the islands are coral reefs. The islands are locally called cayes (pronounced "keys). Three of only four coral atolls in the Western Hemisphere are off the coast of Belize. Over 60% of Belize's land surface is covered by forest. 20% is covered by cultivated land (agriculture) and human settlements. There are also important mangrove ecosystems across Belize's landscape.
Meet Up
9:00 am - 10: 00 am Sunday morning at the Laru Beya Marina, Placencia. Upon greeting your crew, you will settle in your cabin aboard your charter boat before a one-hour itinerary and boat briefing before departing to your first island location.
How to Get There
By air from Belize International Airport to Placencia Airstrip; then by taxi from the airstrip to the Laru Beya Marina. Flight is approximately 45 minutes.
By taxi to Belize City; then by bus from Belize City to Placencia via Dangriga. Bus trip takes a minimum of 6 hours.
International carriers into Belize City include:
Airport
Placencia Regional Airport is approximately a 45 minute flight from Belize City International Airport.
Airport Transfers: Two local airlines serve Belize, Tropic Air and Maya Island Air. The distance from the airstrip to the base is approximately 3 miles. Taxi fares are USD$3 per person with a minimum charge of USD$10.
Customs / Immigration Information
A valid passport (for each passenger) and crew list is compulsory for clearance. Expiration date must be no earlier than 3 months after your planned return. A customs declaration form must be completed at the port of entry.
Taxes / Departure Tax
Departure Tax: A tax of $39.25 USD per person is charged when leaving Belize; this must be paid in US Dollars ONLY.
Travellers entering Belize International by air and connecting to in-country flights are charged an additional $0.75 US security fee.
Car Rental
If you are planning to make a tour of the country, spending a few days in the mountains and a few days at the beach, you might want to rent a car. However, if you are just coming to the base, we suggest that you fly to Placencia. The scenery driving down is quite lovely, but chances are, once you make the drive down, you won't feel like driving back and if you are renting a car in Belize, you must return your vehicle to where you picked it up otherwise a one way drop off fee in Placencia will be charged. Car rentals in Belize range from $75 US to $85 US per day. It is possible to rent a golf cart in Placencia for local exploring and shopping.
What To Expect Aboard
Charter boats range from 40 ft to 55 ft with accomodating up to 8 travelers + Sailing Collective crew. Private charters a re given the boat details upon booking and our Journey Coordinators will confirm the boat and pricing upon booking. Boats used in Belize are all within 5 years new and our Journey Coordinator will notify you of the year of the boat in the booking package. Charter boats are well maintained managed by our local charter providers in the region. Please note, these are charter boats are subject to wear. Fleet technicians will fix any issue on the boat before we depart and if any issue arises during the week, we will have it fixed to the best of our ability.
Life aboard follows a family dynamic: we cook family style and we respect our fellow passengers as we would ourselves. A sailing vacation will change your outlook on life and expand your life experiences in a new unique and unforgettable way.
Although the accommodations differ from a hotel or a cruise ship you will quickly see the advantages of traveling on a sailing vessel as we visit hard to reach port towns and row ashore on abandoned beaches. Living space inside a sailboat is compact but comfortable. Cabins have small closets and cubbies for your belongings. Each boat has multiple heads (bathrooms) and showers. They are small, but you will be used to them shortly. Boats have a full galley (kitchen) and dining table below, but most meals will be set on a table in the cockpit on deck. The boats have refrigeration, 12 volt DC electricity (like in a car), stereos, and other amenities all fit together efficiently in the space available.
Food
Trips are provisioned with 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 3 dinners. Additional provisions can be purchased before departure at the near by grocery store at passengers own cost. Cooking aboard is family style and passengers volunteer for cooking and preparing food daily. Opting for having an onboard private chef is encouraged and if you opt out, your captain will help facilitate provisioning and meal preperation. All beverages including booze should be purchased before departure and is at each passenger own cost and arrangments for your captain to purcahse your alcohol in advance is possible.
IMPORTANT: Those with dietary restrictions must inform The Sailing Collective captains ahead of time.
ADDITIONAL COSTS AND EXPENSES
● $200-$400 restaurants and outings
● 10% - 15% gratuity for your crew is encouraged ($150 to $300 offered per traveler aboard)
● Alcohol, soft drinks, and additional snacks for the boat $30-$100 per person
● Airport taxi and other transpiration $5-$20
Payment for additional fees: Paid in cash to your captain or via PayPal and your captain will give you the information. You can also send gratuity to your captain through PayPal, ask your captain for instructions.
WIPPARI CAY
Wippari Cay is located 9 miles off the coast of Placencia, Belize and is a charming little island with a slow rhythms of island life. This small private island is home to two small remote hotels with little bars and restaurants and the perfect place to relax while snorkeling in some of the most pristine untouched waters,
SOUTH WATER CAY
Wippari Cay to South Water Cay – 22 nm. Heading north-northeast takes us up the Inner Channel to the Blue Ground Range. Shallow water navigation makes for exciting sailing through the passage to South Water Cay, finding our way between patch reefs. South Water Cay is part of the Belizean marine preserve and offers tremendous natural beauty. There are three restaurants and great snorkeling.
COCOA PLUM CAY (THATCH CAY RESORT)
South Water Cay to Cocoa Plum Cay – 11 nm. Sailing north just inside the barrier reef, favoring the reef side of the passage, brings us to beautiful Tobacco Cay. After we drop anchor there will be the option to enjoy some superlative snorkeling during our lunch stop. Then we sail on to the north-northwest toward the southern tip of Garbutt Cay before turning south to the moorings at Cocoa Plum Cay’s Thatch Cay Resort. There’s a nice restaurant at the resort, as well as Internet access. Thatch Cay Resort is very popular, especially with children, because of the many coatamundi that roam freely around this cay.
LAGOON CAY
Cocoa Plum Cay to Lagoon Cay – 16 nm. Our morning sail is an easy broad reach down the Inner Channel, with the picturesque and remote Belizean coast stretching out across the brilliant turquoise waters. As we enter the Victoria Channel just south of Quamino Cay, we will make a short tack to the northeast to reach our next overnight anchorage. Lagoon Cay is also great for fishing and bird watching. Ospreys, frigate birds, pelicans, and cormorants roost on the trees of the inner lagoon.
QUEEN CAY
Lagoon Cay to Queen Cay (Silk Cay) – 17 nm. Sailing on a southeasterly heading down Victoria Channel, we will pass Little Water Cay and then proceed east to Queen Cay. The Queen Cays (locals call them the Silk Cays) offer unforgettable snorkeling and diving along the edge of the barrier reef. Anchored near the beach, we can go ashore at Southern Cay and have a picnic in the shade of the palms.
RANGUANA CAY
Queen Cay to Ranguana Cay – 8 nm. Sailing southwest across clear, open water takes us to Ranguana Cay, an excellent overnight anchorage affording an opportunity to go ashore for dinner and enjoy some local food. NO NAME POINT (PLACENCIA HARBOUR) Ranguana Cay to No Name Point (or Placencia Harbour) – 18 nm. Situated just 8 nautical miles from Placencia Harbour, No Name Point is a well-protected anchorage and a good jump off point for a Monkey River Tour. Going ashore to explore the village is delightful. There are many restaurants serving a variety of fare, including Creole, Italian, French, and Indian.
LARU BEYA MARINA - FINAL MORNING
No Name Point (or Placencia Harbour to Laru Beya Marina – 10 nm. Saturday morning we'll return and depart the boat after a delightful morning sail back through Placencia Lagoon.
On board the Oceanis 45, harmony reigns supreme: everything is in its place on this beautiful yacht, a chart table that is also a living room table, a bilge increasing overall comfort, an open bathing platform making access to the sea easier. Comfort is built in.
Innovative, spacious, bright, and sophisticated only begins to describe the exciting Beneteau 50.5. Designed by Berret-Racoupeau and built by Beneateau, she features a sleek coachroof, long side windows, a fully-integrated mainsail arch and all the ergonomic ease of detailed design to make the most of each area. Fitted with 4 main cabins, 1 crew cabin and 4 electric heads, large salon and linear portside galley the 50.5 offers an abundance of interior space and comfort. Located forward is an additional cabin, accessed via a hatch, with berth and head. Plenty of opening ports and hatches provide excellent ventilation throughout the yacht. On deck, her spacious cockpit, foredeck and dual helm makes this yacht comfortable outside as well.
The Lagoon 400 S2 boasts plenty of room and comfort for life aboard. Cabins and interior living spaces are filled with natural light while the expansive deck space will beckon passengers outside at all times of day. Speed offered with a smooth ride makes the Lagoon 400 S2 a perfect choice for Ocean and Coastline sailing.
Explore photos from our past journeys