Further information
Belize (pronounced /bəˈliːz/), is a peaceful, English-speaking country just two hours away from 3 major U.S. Gateways. With a diversity of adventure opportunities unmatched by any other country, the Belizean people have protected over 40% of the country as parks and natural reserves.
Belize is on the Caribbean coast, nestled between Mexico and Guatemala. Placencia Village lies on the southern tip of a 16 mile long peninsula. It is located about 100 miles south of Belize City.
Weather
The overall climate of Belize can be described as sub-tropical. The humidity while high, is seldom oppressive for long and is most noticeable along the coast. The mean annual humidity is 83%, but many days the humidity is masked by the cooling sea breezes. The Belize coastal area is exposed to southeast tradewinds averaging 10-13 knots and attain an uncanny consistency during the month of July. Temperatures in Belize range from 50°F to 95°F with an annual mean of 79°F. November to January are traditionally the coolest months with a 75°F average and May to September are the warmest at about a 81°F average. Location is a big factor for temperature as Cayo to the west can be several degrees colder then along the coast and during November at night, temperatures can fall to a beautiful 46°F in Cayo. In the mountains, the coldest days and nights might seem relatively very cold and blankets will definitely be needed at night. However, the mean annual temperatures on in the mountains is a perfectly comfortable 72°F.
There are definitive wet and dry seasons in Belize, along with varied amounts of rain between the coastal and inland areas. The coastal regions can accumulate as little as 50 inches of rain annually, while the inland rain forest boasts over 160 inches per year. Generally, the dry season begins in mid January and continues through May - making Placencia, Belize a prime winter Caribbean tourist destination for residents from the cooler climates of the Northern Hemisphere. The rainy season is normally considered to be the months of June through November; with highest rainfalls in June, July, October and November.
What to bring
Please pack as lightly as you can. Most of our guests wear only a fraction of what they bring! All you really need are shorts, tee shirts and beachwear. In addition to this perhaps something a little more dressy for the two evenings you will be dining ashore. Soft luggage is preferable if you have it. We have some limited storage onshore for your empty bags, but please bring as little as you are comfortable with. Between meals, fresh fruit is available. If you like to eat more between meals, please feel free to bring snacks with you. It is unfortunately advisable to bring a change of clothes and toiletries in your hand luggage when flying to Belize. If your luggage gets lost enroute it will not be able to be delivered to you until days later.
It is advisable to bring a change of clothes and toiletries in your hand luggage. If your luggage gets lost enroute it will not be able to be delivered to you until days later.
If you are going to extend your stay with one of our tours we highly recommend that you bring; sun screen, bug spray, swim suit, hiking shoes/sneakers, cap, sunglasses and a towel. For the "Jungle" Tours (Monkey river, Cockscomb and Mayflower) some guests may prefer to wear long sleeves and/or long trousers (pants) as - after all- it is jungle and the bugs can be worse. However, if they have a really good bug spray then they would not need to wear these.
What shoes shall I bring?
You only need sandals or other shoes for the nights on shore as you will be barefoot whenever you are aboard.
Dry bags
You will be around water for the week. If you are concerned about getting your purse, wallet or watch wet, bring a small dry bag. These can be purchased from sports and outdoor vendors. Some of them roll up and trap the air inside which has the added benefit of making the bag float.
Fishing
All of our yachts have limited fishing gear onboard - we usually troll a line when sailing from island to island and will often catch yellow fin, wahoo, mahi-mahi or similar ...... which might become lunch!
Travel insurance
We strongly advise that all guests cruising with us have fully comprehensive travel insurance which will cover all eventualities such as hotel accommodation, lost baggage, theft, changes to flights or even cruise cancellation within TradeWinds 90 day period.
Please read our travel insurance recommendations for more information.
Vaccinations
We are not trained health professionals so we are unable to advise you, however your Government provide a service under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention where you can find information that may assist you further. Useful information can be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Electricity
The power is stable at 110 Volts AC, the same as in the United States.
Visas and restrictions
A valid passport is required for entry into Belize.
Citizens of the following countries are not required to obtain a visa in advance - United States, Canada, nationals of Caricom countries, the European Community member nations (Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, UK, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Finland, Sweden).
Visas are required for nationals of the following countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Bosnia, Brazil, Central African Republic, Chad, China, Columbia, Cuba, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Haiti, Honduras, India, Japan, Korea (North and South), Libya, Monaco, Mongolia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, and Zaire.
Please be advised that all visitors to Belize MUST be in a possession of a valid Passport, an onward/return ticket and sufficient funds (US $ 60.00 per day) to cover the cost of your length of stay.
Member all-inclusive fees
For payment of your all-inclusive fee travellers cheques are accepted without fees. "Travel Money" cards, or similar, will incur the normal credit card fees that are passed to us from the bank.
Useful links
Please note that all pricing was correct at the time of publication.
