Your itinerary

This is a sample itinerary. Weather or other outside factors may mean that your captain sets an alternative course.

Arrival Day

Embarkation is possible from 5PM. You can check in at the reception of the TradeWinds Tianna Rooms and drop off your luggage when you arrive. Town is only a 5 minute stroll away. Your catamaran will be moored right outside the Tianna Rooms at Placencia Point. Upon arrival you will be greeted by our base managers who will take you through the check in procedure. Then you will be introduced to your crew and fellow sailors and you will be shown to your cabin and helped to settle in to your new home for the week. After a refreshing Welcome cocktail we will cast off and head out into the bay of Placencia where you will enjoy a delicious dinner aboard followed by a good night’s rest before we set sail the following morning.

Cruising Day 1

Wake up for breakfast and have an early swim if you fancy it. Then we set sail to nearby Lark Caye which is around 10 nautical miles north east of Placencia. Here you will find calm waters for swimmers and wonderful mangroves awaiting exploration by kayak. We host our first snorkel competition here, with bragging rights on offer to the snorkelling enthusiast who finds our resident seahorses. Don’t worry, the crew know where they are just in case.

After lunch on board we set sail for the beautiful Queen Cayes, also know as the Silk Cayes. This small group of Cayes is made up of three of the most exotic sand Cayes you will ever see. Jump in for another amazing snorkel before sunset cocktails provided on the beach. Don’t forget your camera today as Queen Cayes has an unforgettable sunset.

Cruising Day 2

After breakfast it’s time for more snorkelling and for our scuba divers to get their first experience of the week on the second largest barrier reef in the world. A short ride in a dinghy brings us to a 60ft reef dive. Maybe this will be the first time this week you’ll see our Belizean dolphins?

After lunch, you can work off some of those holiday calories by helping the Captain hoist the sails for a 2 hour journey to the beautiful Ranguana Cay - 2 acres of paradise on Earth. There are hammocks set up on the beach for you to relax in before diving off the beautiful white sandy beach into the coral reef waters. For the fishermen, Ranguana Cay offers some of the best bone fishing Belize has to offer. These 'catch and release' fish are caught right off the beach, under the shade of the coconut trees. After cocktails and dinner aboard, adjourn to the front of the boat. The stars, so far from any light pollution, are incredible.

Cruising Day 3

Following a Sailors breakfast we will take the boat a short hop and anchor just inside the barrier reef at Walkabout Reef. Here you can snorkel the shallow inner water or the more adventurous deeper waters outside the reef. Either option is the perfect way to explore this underwater paradise. After lunch we will once again hoist those shady sails to make our way, outside the reef, to Tom Owen’s Cay. Throw out the fishing line and see if you can catch a whopper and put some dinner on the table. The freshest catch of the day indeed!

More snorkelling and kayaking are followed by a trip ashore where you can visit one of the Cays natural architectural wonders. Tom will show you around and explain the construction. Make sure you take a book to swap with him, as there is no Television reception. Cocktails are served aboard the yacht before settling down for another scrumptious dinner.

Cruising Day 4

After breakfast we will make a short sail to Northeast Sapodilla Cay. Here you can stroll on the sandy shores looking for treasures that wash ashore. Snorkel right off the beach and explore this under water paradise. For the scuba divers you will enjoy another reef dive just 10 minutes away by dinghy, outside the reef. After lunch the captain will move the boat inside the reef and drop you and your first mate "guide" off the boat onto Vigilance Reef. Whilst the captain watches from the yacht enjoy the heavenly underwater views.

Once back on board we’re off to spend the night at Hunting Cay. Here you dine ashore after having a chat with Polly who runs ReefCI. They’ll tell you all about the wonders of the underwater world and the measures Belize is taking to maintain and respect this "unbelizeable" ecosystem. Back on the yacht enjoy an after dinner liquor whilst watching the shimmering lights of Guatemala and Honduras on the far horizon.

Cruising Day 5

5 nautical miles west lays Seal Cay. You can enjoy snorkelling and diving right off the boat with an underwater reef with a depth on top of 15ft and a vertical wall dropping down to over 100ft. Like several of our anchorages this week, Seal Cay is a marine park which means there is no fishing allowed on or around the Cay. Because of this protected environment the Cay offers an excellent chance to see some of our bigger friends down under including lobster the size of footballs walking along the bottom without a care in the world.

With the sails perfectly trimmed, another beautiful sail east sees us arrive at Nicholas Cay. This all weather anchorage is the perfect spot to relax, identify and discuss all those terrific little critters that you spotted during the day. Cocktails are served in time for another great sunset and more mouth watering culinary offerings.

Cruising Day 6

Breakfast today is followed by an early morning snorkel on a wreck in shallow water between Lime Cay and Sapodilla Cay. With no moorings or anchorage it’s time to once again grab your first mate “guide” and wave goodbye to the Captain as he drops you over the wreck. With a quick wave goodbye to your new found under water friends, who have now made this wreck their home, it’s time to raise those sails again, drop the fishing line in the water and head North West for Colson Caye. On arrival we drop the anchor in time for a last lunch on board followed by one last swim. Keep an eye out for manatees as you re-enter the Placencia Cay area before heading back into Placencia and the end of the sailing part of our adventure. However, to compensate for that, tonight we dine out at our favourite local restaurant.

Departure Day

After breakfast onboard, it is time to gather your belongings and memories. Your crew will arrange transport back to the airport before exchanging fond farewells. Those of you who are staying additional nights in the Tianna Rooms will have their bags taken to their room, where arrangements for some land based activities can be made; whether exploring Monkey River or visiting one of the Mayan Ruins; you will already be planning your next TradeWinds adventure....