Belize as the Ultimate Adventure Vacation Destination

English Caye - Photo: Flickr

One of the most favorite adventure vacation destinations of people nowadays is Belize, a small nation on the eastern coast of Central America. And why not? Being a place that is strategically located on the Caribbean Sea, Belize has all the adventure and has to offer compared to any place there is. 

Belize can be found between the Hondo and Sarstoon Rivers, Belize is popular for the Belize River that flows down at the heart of the country. Geographically speaking, the north of Belize is characterized by flat and swampy coastal plains. Other places are heavily forested and consist of flora that is highly diverse. 

Its south area is composed of low mountain ranges of the Maya Mountains while its Caribbean coast is lined with soft coral reefs and some 500 islets and islands called "cayes." Belize boasts off the Belize Barrier Reef which is known as the longest in the western hemisphere and is considered as the second longest in the whole world, next to the Great Barrier Reef.

Off to an extreme adventure 

When people speak of Belize, only two words will come to mind—romance and adventure. If you are planning to go to Belize for an adventure vacation, it is a must that you familiarize yourself with the place by knowing a dose of its rich history. You should also familiarize yourself with going around the place such as knowing various means of transportation such as buses, cars, motorcycles and bicycles. You should also have any idea what to expect from the place in terms of accommodations, foods, and activities that you can do. 

For an ultimate adventure vacation, the following are just some of the romantic things and exciting activities and places that you can visit:

1. The Great Barrier Reef. Being one of the world’s greatest treasures, a trip to Belize would mean nothing if you have not visited the longest reef in the western hemisphere, The Great Barrier Reef. You will definitely the visit because it doesn’t not only give you an amazing nature experience but a sense of adventure as well. 

2. Visiting the caves. Caving is indeed one of the most adventurous activities that you can do while in Belize. Here, you can witness various formations of caves with abundant limestone and wet climates.

3. Exploring the island by land. This can be very tiring but thrilling because you get to explore the place on your own and at your own pace. You can do your exploration by taking a golf cart ride, cattle cars, and though bikes that are available for rent.

4. Sea adventure. Exploring the seas can be as exciting as rediscovering the land. To relish the beauty of the island and its waters, rent a charter boat with a guide to go around the island or you can rent a kayak that will take you to various parts of the island. You can also rent boats for boating; you can go fishing, and do various water sports such as jet skis, wave runners, diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, kite surfing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, and catamarans.

Aside from the activities mentioned, one great thing that makes Belize a favorite adventure vacation destination is the climate which, is tropical and is generally very hot and humid. This makes it a perfect getaway destination for people and couples who love beaches while basking in the warm and pleasant weather.

Although the climate here is generally hot, rainy season also occurs from May to November so don’t opt to go there during those times. 

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The Ultimate Adventure with Caribbean Sailing Vacations

Photo: Pixabay

The Caribbean is indeed one of the beautiful places on Earth. With its mesmerizing aura and sights to behold, more and more people are planning to go on Caribbean sailing vacations. But, just like any vacation destination, Caribbean sailing vacations can be a hassle and much more, a tiring experience if you don’t prepare for it.

Planning your sailing vacation

There are so many ways to prepare for a sailing vacation in the Caribbean. One is gathering as much information that you can get so you won't be a loss during the trip.

To gather information, you can ask those people who have experienced it for first-hand comments and opinions. Probably, these people who have gone to the sailing trip are the most authorized to talk about it because they have experienced it themselves. You can ask them about their personal impression on certain places as well as tips in order to make the trip more enjoyable and worthwhile. If you are getting information from these people, make sure that you ask those that you know personally. Since observations can be subjective, you might be getting wrong information and impression.

Another means of planning for Caribbean sailing vacations is by reading about the place that you are planning to visit. Today, there are so many travel magazines that feature almost all places in the world. If you are buying one, make sure that it includes all the places you would want to go so you can save on some money. In the articles inside the magazine, everything about the place will be featured and you will have an idea what to expect.

If you want faster and updated information, surf the Internet and browse various travel websites. Here, you can visit multiple sites all at the same time. You can even ask online inquiries and get travel updates on the date you wish to sail. If you are lucky enough, you can even get discounts from various travel agencies once you book early.

Another means of planning your sailing vacation is to "schedule" what you need to do during the trip. "Scheduling" means that you have to specify which are the activities that you want to do in a specific time, date, and place. You have to set your priorities so you can maximize your trip and your money.

Things to consider in planning your Caribbean sailing vacations include the food, your accommodation, and the schedule of boat transfers if there are any.

The places to visit should also be of major consideration. The places to visit would depend on your interest and your curiosity. If you don’t have any specific place or places in mind, conduct a simple research through the Internet.

Before you leave

Although you have planned your Caribbean sailing vacation well, there would always be glitches just before you leave. This major glitch involves the things that you need in the duration of the vacation. To ensure that nothing will be left behind and you will be bringing the things that you need, make sure that you list down all the things that you will be needing before you pack.

The most important things that you should consider when going on a Caribbean sailing vacation include storage spaces such as duffel bags, pieces of clothing, tools or devices for relaxation, important documents, medication or first aid kit that contains aids for in simple ailments, money for emergency and shopping purposes, toiletries, and protectors from the sun's rays such as sunglasses, hats, and lotions with UV protection.

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Adventure Sailing is More Fun When You Own The Yacht

Photo: Pixabay

You can charter adventure sailing vacation to almost any destination in the world. The only problem is that it will cost you a lump sum paying for the crew, the meals and the fuel for the trip. You can probably save money on a sailing vacation when you own the yacht but only if you know how to navigate and control it. 

The advantage of owning a boat is that you can go on a sailing vacation at any time. You don’t have to call your travel agent or make any reservation online since the boat is just sitting at the dock waiting for you to come aboard. The only thing you have to do is buy food and fuel which should be enough to get you back to port. 

The boat also brings financial benefits because when you are not using it, this can be rented out to those who want to go on their own sailing vacation as long as they are able to pay your rate. This, of course, means additional revenue for you so the ship stays in good shape. 

This makes it also ideal for those who want to conduct business on board because this is a tax-deductible once you register your boat as a place of business. To see how this works, get in touch with your tax advisor

Another financial benefit of owning your own yacht is the fact that this is considered to be a second home. This is as long as the boat has at least one berth, a permanent gallery and a head which is the requirement of the IRS. 

If you can’t buy your own yacht, there is something called fractional boat ownership which means for a certain period during the year, you can do whatever you want with the boat. This will allow you to use it to go on a trip with your family. 

The best thing about this is that a group of you share the cost of owning the yacht which already includes its maintenance, insurance, moorage, equipment, fuel, and repairs. 

This can only happen of course after you have completed a boating safety class and a safety orientation. This will not be a problem for you if you are already certified to sail a boat and know how to use all the equipment like charts, compass, and GPS on board. 

The other option is to join a boat club. Unlike part-time sharing, you don’t get to own a boat. But as a member, you are entitled to up to 4 advanced reservations at any given time and access to powerboats or to sailboats that are up to 30 feet in length. The club for its part will shoulder all the other expenses such as maintenance, cleaning, storage, and insurance. 

There are many of them around so you won’t have a hard time choosing one. Some cater to one market while others cater to all. They also offer boating classes for those who want to do this for fun or commit themselves in the sport. 

Adventure sailing vacation is truly better when you own the yacht as the only thing you have to do is drive on over to the docks, stow your gear on board and then sail off into the sunset.

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