Spanish-style beachfront villa apartment suites in full-service resort, timeshares available. Marina, restaurant, sports bar, convention and meeting facilities. Scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing tours arranged. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Belize/belizeyachtclub/hotel/338/3/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:42:41 EST The Belize Yacht Club Resort is ideally located and outfitted to meet your every vacation need. Enjoy the sparkling waters of the Caribbean Sea right at your doorstep ... or work on your tan by our freshwater pool. The Belize Yacht Club Resort offers apartment suites with fully equipped kitchens, full baths, air conditioning, cable television and telephones. Both ocean view and garden view apartments are available. With approximately 40 apartments to choose from, we are small enough to provide personal service and large enough to offer the variety and services you need. As our name implies, we also boast one of the finest marinas on the Central American coast. Sail or motor, your ship will find a safe and comfortable harbor at the Belize Yacht Club Resort. Ambergris Caye, Belize's primary vacation destination is 28 miles long, the largest of the offshore islands and home to the Belize Yacht Club Resort. Settled by Mayan traders, British pirates, Spanish exiles, Mestizo refugees and Mexican fishermen, the caye has a rich and varied cultural background which is reflected today in a melange of styles, crafts, foods and languages. Today the Caribbean influence is strongly felt and languages on the street include Creole, Carib and Spanish as well as English, the official language of Belize. The hospitality, though, is always the same -- warm and welcoming. Ambergris Caye was once a part of Mexico, the southernmost tip of the Yucatan Peninsula and shares the flora and fauna of southern Mexico and northern mainland Belize. A great variety of plant life can be found including mangrove, wild sea grape, coconut, and saltwater palmetto and there are over 200 species of birds. Other terrestrial wildlife such as peccaries, raccoons and white-tailed deer also thrive on the caye. Probably the most dramatic element in the caye's make-up is the Barrier Reef just off shore. The reef is the second largest in the world but many visitors consider it to be their number one choice because of the variety and quantity of wildlife to be found there. The presence of this mighty reef has given rise to outstanding fishing, diving and snorkeling opportunities. Swimming, sailing and sea kayaking are also favorite pastime of both vacationers and locals. Most of the population of Ambergris Caye is centered in San Pedro Town, the hub of social activity for the caye. The atmosphere is casual and festive with great shopping and many small tiki bars and open-air restaurants dotting the shore of the town. The Belize Yacht Club is located conveniently a few short minutes from the downtown area. We are within walking distance of everything. For a combination of natural wonders and a great celebratory atmosphere, you won't find a better place to visit than Ambergris Caye nor a better place to stay than the Belize Yacht Club Resort. How to Get Here Direct daily flights on American Airlines, Taca International or Continental Airlines from Miami, New Orleans, and Houston make for a relaxing 2 hour flight to this jewel in the heart of the Caribbean Basin. Tropic Air or Maya Island have hourly flights from the Phillip Goldson International Airport and will get you to San Pedro, the major community on Ambergris Caye, in approximately 20 minutes. If you inform them that you are a guest at the Belize Yacht Club Resort, they will contact us so that we can pick you up on arrival from the San Pedro airstrip for a 3 minute ride to our island paradise. From Europe to Belize in One Day Our valued visitors from Europe can now take advantage of a TACA connection in Miami in order to get to Belize the same day. Perfect timing to accept European originating passengers flying into Miami with American Airlines, Luftsana, British Airways, Vergin Atlantic, Iberia and Air France. For the return journey, TACA northbound originates in Guatemala with an intermediate stop in Belize and continuing on to land in Miami at 1:50 pm on time for transatlantic connections. TACA also offers two weekend flights per day to and from Cancun. AMENITIES: Amenities you can expect to find at our full-service facility: Front Office: Open from 6:30 am to 10:00 pm. Our courteous staff offers you all the assistance you require. Booking tours, exchanging cash, reserving seating accommodations for dinner at our restaurant or in San Pedro. Dive Center: Belize Yacht Club has its own dive operators and boasts the highest safety standards and as much or as little guidance as you need. Meet our dive partners and let them introduce you to the wonders offered by the largest living barrier reef in the western hemisphere. Swimming Pool: Our fresh water pool is accessible from 6:30 a.m. every day. Massage: Enjoy the luxury of a professional massage, booked at your convenience. Coral Sand Sports Bar: Our brand-new sports bar is equipped to keep you entertained. We offer a 60" TV with over 400 dish network channels, pool table, table tennis, darts, cards, dominoes and poker machines. Come later in the evening for a lively dance scene with live music. Splash Bar: Open from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm, this unique center-piece of the Belize Yacht Club offers the best in fine tropical drinks, sandwiches and light meals. Gift Shop: Open from 6:30 am to 10:00 pm, the gift shop offers exciting bargains on local crafts and other multi-cultural Belizean items. Laundry Room: Our housekeeping staff provides complete laundry service for your convenience. Miscellaneous Services - Bicycle rentals by the hour or until the sun goes down - Golf carts, hourly, daily, or weekly rates - Baby-sitting can be arranged - Change U.S. cash or Travelers Checks to Belize dollars - A variety of exciting tours can be arranged at our tour desk - Marina/Gas station for those visiting by boat - 110V electrical outlets - Purified rain water for bathing - Booking of local transfers to and from the International Airport ACTIVITIES: One of the major attractions of Ambergris Caye is the lure of the sea. The Belize Yacht Club Resort operates a full-service dive shop located on the marina and works closely with local operators to schedule excursions and adventure tours. The following may be booked in advance: - Scuba Diving Charters - Great Blue Hole One of the true "Wonders of the World," the Blue Hole is the dive of a lifetime. At some time, millions of years in the past, the Blue Hole was actually an underground cavern, but during a major earthquake, the ceiling collapsed forming the massive sinkhole we see today. "Half Moon Walls" and "Silver Caverns" fill out your day's diving and snorkeling adventure. Turneffe Atoll North The "Rendezvous Point," "Black Coral Mountain," and "Vicente Point" offer great "wall diving" in the rainbow colors of the Caribbean Sea. Turneffe Atoll South Some spectacular diving awaits those who choose to dive "The Elbow." You will experience the ultimate in wall diving. Day Tour Trips by Boat Altun Ha by Boat Journey into the past at Altun Ha, a crucial trading post during the Mayan Classical Period. Enjoy a day of flora, fauna and adventure as the branches of the rainforest envelop you. Lamanai and River Cruise Come aboard and sail by riverboat up the New River. Enjoy exotic wildlife such as Howler monkeys and multi-hued parrots along the way. Lamanai (translation: Submerged Crocodile), with its pyramid-shaped Mayan temple rising 112 feet above the river's banks is sure to thrill you. Manatee Magic Enjoy floating through mangrove-bordered canals and lagoons. Visit Gales Point, playground of the gentle manatees. Picnic and swim at the Manatee Bar on the sparkling Caribbean Sea. The Blue Hole Tour by Air The Barrier Reef and Blue Hole are considered to be some of the most awe-inspring views in the Caribbean and this one-hour Tropic Air aerial tour is a never-to-be-forgotten experience. The trip begins in San Pedro and flies over the major atolls, cayes, the Barrier Reef and also presents a view of the Belize mainland, including Belize City. The flight includes a lively narrated tape describing the various formations, their geological history and the marine life found there. Around the Caye Rambles Ambergris Caye is the home to many interesting sights both natural and manmade. A stroll up and down the sandy paths of the caye will be rewarded with examples of the charming local architecture and a wide variety of native birds and flowers. The view of the Barrier Reef is spectacular from many parts of the island. After walking, the preferred mode of transportation is bicycle or golf cart, which can be rented very reasonably. Or, try a ride on one of the water taxis that are found along one of the many public and private docks. Shopping Small shops, artists galleries and street vendors make San Pedro an enjoyable low-key shopping experience. Look for great bargains on tropical apparel, baskets, hammocks and local pottery and carvings. Music Ambergris Caye is one of the best places in Belize for lively clubs and good music. From our own Coral Sand Sports Bar to Big Daddy's Disco, you're sure to find the right nightlife to round out your day. Whatever your inclination--adventure, socializing or just lolling about, we can help you select just the right approach to make your stay perfect. Wedding The Belize Yacht Club Resort looks forward to hosting your wedding. We have all the facilities to plan and organize this unforgettable event for you. With the Belize Yacht Club Resort and its personal service, you will experience the wedding of your dreams. We prepared a package for the happiest day of your life, which includes arranging the wedding ceremony, dining, decoration, professional photography, music etc. We also can arrange tours and fun activities for your guests… diving, snorkeling, beach BBQ, etc. Accommodation: The Belize Yacht Club offers you a 20 % discount on your suite rates for you and your guests. DINING/RESTARUANTS: Type: Villa Beach Location: Beach Front (Directly on Beach/Water Front) http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/hotels/Belize/belizeyachtclub/hotel/338/3/ Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:42:41 EST