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Explore Belize & Rio Dulce, Ultimate Caribbean Sailing Vacation.
Aubisque, your private luxury catamaran, provides
you the ultimate opportunity to explore the second-longest
barrier reef in the world, as well as Belize's unspoiled rainforest.
Aubisque Catamaran Yacht Charters offers you variety and flexibility
in choosing activities tailored to your special interest.
For example rendezvous scuba diving or fishing expeditions can
be arranged while others in your party may prefer sailing, snorkeling, kayaking or going ashore
for island exploration or a day at the spa.
Upon receiving
your Guest Information Profile, our concierge and captain
will design a tailored itinerary to meet your group's special
interest. The following are a few sample itineraries that
show the many possibilities of discovering Belize or the Rio
Dulce aboard your private luxury sailing yacht.
Sample Itinerary -- 11 Days/ 10 Nights
Exclusive Yacht Charter Package
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Day
3 Explore Belize, Ultimate Caribbean Sailing Vacation |
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In the morning we set sail from South Water Caye to
Placencia, a peaceful seaside village located
at the southern tip of a long narrow peninsula about
30 miles south of Stann Creek.This charming fishing
village is bordered by a lovely, crescent-shaped beach
trimmed with rows of palm trees.
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town explore the small village shops, walk on the beach
and meet the locals. In the evening enjoy a sample of
fine Caribbean dining on your seaside terrace overlooking
the village. |
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Day
4 Explore Belize, Ultimate Caribbean Sailing Vacation |
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In
the morning Aubisque sets sail to the Rio Dulce,
Guatemala arriving in the afternoon at Livingston
to check into the country and explore the town.
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Livingston
overlooks the Caribbean from a low hill at the mouth
of the Rio Dulce. This isolated settlement is only accessible
by boat or plane.
During the late 1800's Livingston was Guatemala's primary
seaport, shipping coffee, bananas, and tropical hardwoods
from the Guatemalan highlands. Today Livingston is a
backwater town, home to about 3000 BlackCaribs, Mayans
and Mestizos'.
The center of Livingston is at the top of the hill,
which is bursting with small almacences and tientas
(stores). Our guests enjoy visiting the Tucan Duga
resort with its beautiful vista overlooking the
harbor. El Tiberon, the restaurant at Tucan Duga
offers a great sampling of local cuisine which can also
be enjoyed poolside.
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Day
5 Explore Belize, Ultimate Caribbean Sailing Vacation |
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Aubisque
heads up the Rio Dulce river to Fronteras.
The Rio Dulce is ranked as one of all time ultimates
in Caribbean cruising. From Livingston we follow the
Rio Dulce river as it twists and winds for 6 miles through
a spectacular gorge of 300-feet towering limestone cliffs
backed by dense walls of tropical green foliage.
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After
the first bend, we will come to a long limestone wall
of graffiti where generations of mariners before have
left their mark. In the 17th century, the Rio Dulce
offered a safe sanctuary for Spanish galleons heavily
laden with gold plundered from the Inca Empire in Peru.
Here they sought refuge from the pirate - infested waters
that plagued the Caribbean.
Along the river you will feel like you have gone back
in time. We are always in awe as we watch the young
Mayan children and women paddling in their cayucas (dugout
canoes carved from mahogany logs) across the river to
sell their daily fish catch of the day or fresh baked
tortillas. Most of the native homes on the river are
made of stick walls with palapas (thatched roofs made
of palm leaves) surrounded by lush land that provides
bountiful fruit & vegetables.
Gradually the river gives way to El Golfete a
10-mile long bay. Located on the shore of the bay is
the Biotopo Chocon Machacus, a manatee
reserve and national park that includes 18,000 acres
of the northern bank. This is a great place to enjoy
the park's self- guided nature trail where you will
see many species of tropical birds, butterflies and
the Panchito spider monkeys.
After leaving the El Golfete we follow the river to
the town of Fronteras, where we will stay at Mario's
Marine for the night. Depending on the time of day
we arrive, we will explore the Rio via the tender to
check out the different sites along the river and town.
In this part of the Rio Dulce you see the classic case
of cultures in collision, as modern Guatemalans and
cruisers meet traditional Mayans. |
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Day
6 Explore Belize, Ultimate Caribbean Sailing Vacation |
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| Our
destination will be the lush tropical setting of Aqua
Caliente, a 25-foot waterfall of hot spring water
that spills into a deep pool formed by a cool mountain
stream. It is an exhilarating experience to stand under
the hot spring waterfall and swim in the cool stream
pools. You will want to bring your camera to capture
this lush tropical setting, it is beyond words to describe
the experience. |
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On
our way to Aqua Caliente we will pass Castillo San
Felipe, an old, Spanish fort built in 1652 that
served as a defense against the pirates. From there
we will enter Lake Izabel (Lago Izabal ), the
largest body of fresh water in Guatemala (30 miles long
& 15 miles wide).There are over 25 Mayan sites,
mostly unexcavated, on the shores of Lake Izabal .
Guests that extend their Guatemala stay highly recommend
the visit to Quirigua, one of the Mayan sites known
for preserved large stone carvings that are said to
be among the finest works of art ever carved by the
Mayans.
We will continue to the north shore of Lake Izabal and
dock at Finca El Paraiso. We will be greeted
by Senora Dona Blanca who owns this fabulous working
farm. She also has a small palapa restaurant on the
lake where she serves local cuisine of fresh fish, chicken
and or beef with a wonderful selection of citrus, bananas,
mangos from the farm.
Once ashore our guests have the option to travel via
horseback or tractor ride through the lush farm land
to the Agua Caliente trail site (15minutes).
From here we enter the lush tropical forest where we
walk on a well maintained path of smooth river gravel
along the river until we get to the falls (5 min walk)
There are guides on the property that maintain the environment
and to assist visitor if needed at the falls. We like
to visit this site during the weekdays, where often
we are the only guest on the property.
After our "Tropical Jungle Spa" experience
we will have lunch at Finca El Paraiso or on
the yacht as we head back to Mario's Marina for the
night.
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Day
7 Explore Belize, Ultimate Caribbean Sailing Vacation |
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Aubisque
will venture back to Livingston to check out of the
country and anchor for the night. Along the way back
we may stop at Rio Lampara where there is a restaurant
called Viajero. Our guests are guaranteed fresh
fish as they pull it up from a cage kept under their
dock. Also they serve other local cuisine.
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| Across
the river from Viajero are hot sulphur springs.
Depending on one's adventure level, you can climb up
the embankment of rocks to soak in the steaming hot
springs. The climb is worth the reward! |
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Day 8 & 9 Explore Belize, Ultimate Caribbean Sailing Vacation |
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| Aubisque
sets sail to the remote Sapodilla Cayes. The
southern 4 miles of the barrier reef consists of a series
of large shoal and reef patches intersected by the deep
channels. The six islands now standing on these patches
are locally known as the Sapodilla Cayes. Many veteran
divers consider the reefs around these Cayes to be among
the most beautiful in all of Belize. |
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water is exceptional clear with an average visibility
of 100 feet or more on a sunny day. This is an adventure
water wonderland for divers, snorkelers, fishermen and
kayakers. |
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Day 10 Explore Belize, Ultimate Caribbean Sailing Vacation |
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| We
sail back to Placencia to check into Belize and
anchor for the night. |
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Day 11 Explore Belize, Ultimate Caribbean Sailing Vacation |
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| Enjoy
a day sail back to Belize City for a late afternoon
departure. |
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Guest are responsible for the cost incurred clearing and entering
both countries which would be approx $400 (Belize & Guatemala
Port Captain fees, Customs & Immigrations).
Click here to view the sample itinerary
for Belize Island Exploration ... |