Arva: two weeks’ cruising in Belize

August 2018. Here we were, aboard Arva, a Leopard 44. Two families aboard, with four adults, five children and teenagers. We left the Placencia peninsula, with its lovely colorful village. The first stop was at Wipari Caye, a peaceful anchorage, first dives, first lobster. Then North Long Cocoa, a heavenly little island, with its shacks on stilts, reefs, coconut trees, paths bordered with seashells, and the dog Shiba, who accompanied us in the water. A bit further on, we discovered Hatchet Caye, whose reef is directly accessible by swimming from the cat. The next stop was probably the most beautiful, Ranguana Caye. The anchorage was a bit ‘rolly’, as the island is small and not very protected; the exterior reef is only half a mile away, with a large pass close by. The island is occupied by a small lodge under the coconut trees, a beach bar, a small white sand beach, transparent, turquoise water, surrounded by reefs and with some nice lobsters to hunt. Then came Lagoon Caye, no beach but a peaceful lagoon where manatees live, which we didn’t succeed in seeing however during our trips on stand-up paddle boards. Other idyllic anchorages at South Water Caye, and finally Tobacco Caye, one of the only islands inhabited by fishing families. Belize is an out-of-the-ordinary destination. The anchorages are generally deserted, the coral reef is intact, the fauna is rich, with lobsters, nurse sharks, rays. Note that the month of August is the low season, with low prices and deserted hotels and anchorages as a bonus. It’s the hurricane season, but finally we had almost no rain. As most of the islands are privatized, access to the hotels’ beaches is perhaps more complicated in the high season.

Who:               The Lauryben family

Where:            Belize’s coral reef.

Boat:               Arya - Leopard 44

Blog:               www.laurybencrew.blogspot.fr