Island Hopping in Belize
Go island hopping in Belize across the calm, beautiful barrier reef waters. Sleep beneath the shining night stars, catch fresh fish, and explore peaceful island towns.
3-day Southern Reef Adventure
Island hopping in Belize is the ultimate way to dive head-first into the unspoiled beauty of the Caribbean. We’re talking crystal-clear waters, virgin beaches, and adventure at your fingertips, all without the crowds. On this three-day sailing trip, you’ll chart a course through the protected waters of the inner barrier reef, sailing from Caye to Caye in style.
You’ll get the best of both worlds: super-pristine marine reserves and access to the vibes of Dangriga, which opens the door to exploring the southern jungles of Hopkins, Placencia or even over into Guatemala. This trip isn’t about luxury, though. It’s about raw adventure and unfiltered natural beauty. You’ll be trading in your resort lounge for active spearfishing, coral diving and sleeping under the stars in a beachside tent. No frills, no fuss, just the ocean and the great outdoors.
Belize Barrier Reef
You better Belize it!
Sailing trip
From the reef to the deep
Rendezvous Caye
Your private island paradise
Island hopping
The ultimate Belize Escape
Highlights
Sailing the Reef: We’ll sail you across the calm, protected waters of the Belizean inner reef in style, while maximising your time spotting marine life. Grab a spot on the deck, settle in and enjoy the ride.
Camping at Rendezvous Caye: You’ll experience the ultimate Robinson Crusoe evening on a teeny, private coral island. We’ll set you up with comfy tents on the beach, and you can wake up to a breathtaking sunrise over the Caribbean Sea.
Tobacco Caye & South Water Marine Reserve: We’ll drop anchor in one of the most biodiverse marine reserves in the world, where you can snorkel through vibrant channels or just chill on Tobacco Caye, a 3.5-acre island.
Caribbean Dining: You’ll get to be an active participant in your meals, as we troll for fresh fish and even offer the chance to try your hand at spearfishing for the evening’s ceviche. Think of it as a right old Caribbean cooking class.
Trip description
Route: Caye Caulker → Rendezvous Caye
We kick off our sailing adventure early in the morning, boarding the boat in Caye Caulker and leaving the northern crowds behind. As we catch the morning trade winds in the sails, the crew will chuck out the lines in the hope of catching dinner. You can hang out on deck and watch for a bite, knowing that whatever we catch will likely end up on the plate.
The three to five hours or so it takes to get to Rendezvous Caye will give us time to drop anchor in a couple of prime snorkeling spots, where you can get up close and personal with stingrays, parrotfish and all manner of other sea creatures. If you’re feeling adventurous (and it’s safe to do so), the crew will even teach you a thing or two about spearfishing.
As the afternoon wears on, we’ll make for the teeny island of Rendezvous Caye – a gorgeous little strip of powdery white sand and coconut palms. You’ll set up camp on the beach, complete with comfy tents and all the essentials. And as the sun starts to set, we’ll fire up the grill and enjoy a beachside feast under the stars. Game of volleyball anyone? Open-bar happy hour? You name it.
- Logistics:
- Travel Time: 3 to 5 hours on the water.
- What’s Included: Catamaran transport, snorkel/spearfishing gear, camping equipment (tents, mats, sheets), lunch, dinner, open bar, marine reserve fees.
- What to Bring/Wear: Swimsuit, activewear, reef-safe sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat that doesn’t blow off in the wind, and a light long-sleeve shirt for the evening breeze.
Route: Rendezvous Caye → Tobacco Caye Channel → Tobacco Caye
The next day brings another cracking sailing day, as we make our way from Rendezvous Caye to the fabulous South Water Marine Reserve, where you can snorkel in the vibrant channels or hang out on the fabulous Tobacco Caye. We’ll drop anchor in style and give you time to explore the reserve, before making our way to our laid-back island for some chill time, a cold drink and a warm welcome from the Tobacco Caye crew.
You’ll wake up to the soothing sound of waves lapping gently against the coral sand. A steaming pot of hot tea and freshly brewed coffee will be waiting for you on the dining dock as you watch the sunrise over the barrier reef. Once you’ve packed up your tent, the boat will leave harbour at 8:00 AM – they’ll whip up a hearty breakfast on deck as you set off further south.
We’re looking at about three to four hours of sailing time, which should give us plenty of time to stop off at two amazing snorkelling spots. The captain will choose the perfect spots to snorkel, picking his way through the shifting blues of the reef. After lunch on the boat, we’ll aim to arrive at the Tobacco Caye Channel, a really unique and dynamic cut in the reef where the tides bring in bigger pelagic species.
As we arrive in the late afternoon, we’ll dock at Tobacco Caye, a beautiful 3.5-acre island perched right on the edge of the barrier reef. This tiny island was originally settled by Puritan settlers back in the 1600s, who grew tobacco using the island’s sandy soil. Later, English pirates used the island as a hideout to avoid the Spanish galleons – it’s a pretty dramatic history.
These days, Tobacco Caye is home to just a handful of small, colourful guesthouses. You’ll get to settle into your dormitory or private room, wash off the salt and have a chance to explore the island on foot – which only takes about 10 minutes. We’ll all meet up around the communal dining area for happy hour to share stories about the day’s marine encounters, and then a hot, local dinner will be served under the stars.
- Logistics:
- Time on the Water: About 3 to 4 hours of sailing time.
- What’s Included: Catamaran transport, all meals, open bar, accommodation cabana-style in Tobacco Caye.
- What to Bring/Wear: Dry clothes for the evening, flip-flops, a camera, some insect repellent.
Route: Tobacco Caye → South Water Caye → Dangriga
We’ll get going on our final morning on the water, packing up our gear and boarding our yacht at around 8:00 AM. Breakfast will be served as we set off for South Water Caye. We’ll anchor up at the South Water Caye Channel and take one last, epic snorkelling session before lunch. After that, we’ll head up to the island’s southern beach – the water is crystal clear and only knee-deep in some places. You’ll have an hour to wade through these immaculate shallows and enjoy some farewell cocktails in a setting that feels like a dream come true.
After a final lunch on the deck, we’ll head back to Tobacco Caye to pick up any gear we left behind, then we’ll transfer to a fast motorboat to speed back to Dangriga. We should arrive at the Riverside Cafe by 3:00 PM, right in the heart of Dangriga, the spiritual capital of the Garifuna people. This community is known for their amazing Punta drumming, which has its roots in West African and indigenous Caribbean music. From here, we can continue exploring Belize, going back to the international airport for your flight home, travel to Guatemala, Honduras or any other beautiful destination in Central America that we have on your personalized itinerary.
- Logistics:
- Time on the Water: 2 to 3 hours sailing; 45-minute motorboat transfer.
- What’s Included: Catamaran transport, motorboat transfer to Dangriga, meals, morning cocktails.
- What to Bring/Wear: Travel clothes packed near the top of your bag for an easy change when you arrive back on the mainland.
map, expenses & price
Island Hopping in Belize
Expenses included:
-Sailing boat or catamaran.
-Staff: Captain, guides, and a cook.
-All meals: food and drinks during the duration of the trip.
-Equipment: all camping & snorkeling equipment.
-All park entrance fees.
*This tour is exclusively available to guests who plan their trip with us.
