I visited Caye Caulker, Belize last spring and exactly one year later, I found myself back on her salty shores. Lounging on sun-drenched beaches, navigating bustling reefs, paddling turquoise waters, and dining on fresh seafood—it’s impossible to stay away. While paddling and snorkeling have become a staple for my travels, I decided to try something a bit different this time around. After six glorious days on the island with friends, I embarked solo on a three-day, two-night trip on a Raggamuffin Sailing Tour. And it was an adventure I’ll surely never forget. You can also go sailing in Seattle on a life changing adventure, if you fancy sailing in America, and want a relaxing sailing adventure.
Raggamuffin Sailing Tour: Day 1
Photo: Leslie Kretschmar
After a couple stormy nights, the skies parted and we were greeted by glorious sunshine on the morning of our departure. We gathered at the Raggamuffin Sailing Tour dock at 9 a.m. where our guides quickly collected our shoes, enforcing their motto of a “barefoot cruise.” Hellos and handshakes were exchanged and we boarded the catamaran with high expectations.
We sailed for a few hours—lounging in the trademark netting, conversing with fellow passengers, snacking on fresh fruit and sipping on what seemed to be an endless supply of rum punch. Around 1 o’clock we arrived at Sergeant Caye. We donned our snorkeling gear and followed our guides through the translucent waters. Within minutes our guide speared a fish, offering pointers before passing along his gun to anyone interested in testing their hand at the sport. After an hour of snorkeling and spearing fishing, we hopped back onboard and sailed to English Caye.
English Caye is a tiny island with a lighthouse operated by a local family. 200 yards from the island, the shallow reef drops off to deeper water, offering spectacular snorkeling views. We navigated the waters for thirty minutes and a barracuda, jack, and lobster were collected for dinner. We then sailed to our final destination for the night: Rendezvous Caye.
Rendezvous Caye is an island unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It is roughly the size of a football field, with a lone dock and tropical huts lining its shores. We pitched our tents and gathered at a picnic table to snack on fresh conch and lobster ceviche. As the sun bid us adieu, dinner was served. The spread would have been impressive at a 5-star restaurant, not to mention a cramped ship galley. Chef Larry had outdone himself and we reaped the benefits of his expert cooking skills. We indulged in rice, pasta, potatoes, fresh-caught fish, and salad before drifting off to the sweet sounds of the Caribbean Sea.
Day 2
The sun broke the horizon in the still of the morning, casting golden rays across the turquoise water. After a quiet stroll along the beach, we gathered on the dock getting our caffeine fix before, yet again, a magnificent spread was laid out before us. After slathering on sunscreen and an exciting manatee sighting, we jumped in the water for our first snorkel of the day. After circumnavigating the island, we linked up with the boat and cruised to Southern Long Caye for lunch and another dip in the water.
Tobacco Caye is a conch graveyard, thousands of the stunning shells lining the shores. We walked around the small island, taking in the colorful homes and cooling off with a Belikin, the local beer, while befriending the local dogs. After rounding up the crew, we continued on to our home for the evening: Ragga Caye.
Ragga Caye is another breath-taking island, a little larger than Rendezvous Caye. For an extra $100 you had the option to stay in a stilt house over the water. Or, for no additional charge, you could stay in a dorm room or spend another night under the stars. I chose to embrace the tropical vibes and after pitching my tent, went to indulge in another 5-star meal of fresh-caught fish and island style chicken. With a full belly, I drifted off to the sounds of reggae music, happy people, and the lull of the Caribbean.
Day 3
A little sadness hung in the air with the thought of our trip drawing to a close, but it was quickly washed away as we set sail for the day’s adventures. We sailed passed Man of War Caye where we had the chance to don our ornithologist caps as we scoped the local birds. We then navigated through a mangrove inlet before arriving at our final snorkeling destination: Southwater Caye. The reef proved to be an ideal final destination as we had the opportunity to swim alongside a Loggerhead turtle, as well as witness our guide spear a barracuda. After stretching our lungs to capacity, we boarded the boat and headed back to Ragga Caye for a final lunch together.
After lunch, we gathered our bags and motored the 30-minutes to Dangriga on the mainland. After hugs and final farewells, we bid our fellow travelers goodbye and parted ways. I spent the night at the Chanleanor Hotel in Dangriga with five new friends from the cruise, before boarding a plane back to the States, a pocketful of memories and a fading sunburn serving as a souvenir.
My time Raggamuffin Sailing Tour is a trip I’ll never forget. The snorkeling was stunning, the food delicious, the company enjoyable, and the crew was beyond amazing. If you’re looking for a unique way to spend your time abroad, I highly recommend spending three days of your trip with Raggamuffin. You won’t regret it.
To learn more about booking your own Raggamuffin Sailing Tour, visit: raggamuffintours.com
