Island hopping in Belize with Raggamuffin Tours

Last Updated on October 27, 2022

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I first learned about the 3 day/2 night sailing trip with Raggamuffin Tours in Belize, when I considered it my next destination. I heard great things about it, and this small Central American country was one of the destinations we considered for our next winter getaway. That’s when I came across an article from one of my favorite travel bloggers, who went on that trip and loved it.

Island hopping in Belize, snorkeling in the 2nd best coral reef in the world and camping on a tiny uninhabited island were just a few of the highlights. It sounded fun and adventurous, and we were sold on the idea pretty quickly. Ultimately, we built our entire Belize trip around the 3 day sailing adventure with Raggamuffin Tours.

If I could suggest one thing you do while on Caye Caulker, assuming you can spare 3 days, is to book that trip immediately. It was different, it was adventurous and one of the best travel experiences we’ve had for many reasons.

For more ideas on what to do in Caye Caulker, check out Going slow in Caye Caulker, Belize.

Why you should sail with Raggamuffin Tours in Belize

Snorkeling

Belize is home to the 2nd best coral reef in the world, which means you will experience some of the most beautiful marine life. Snorkeling was the best I’ve ever experienced. You will also have a chance to catch your next meal, try spearfishing and go hunting for conch shells.

Adventure

This is not by any means a luxury sailing trip. You will sleep in a tent, flush the toilet with a bucket of water and will not get a real shower for 3 days. Some might say these are inconveniences, but I say sounds awesome, so bring on the adventure. Because seriously, how often do you get to island hop off the coast of Belize, pitch a tent on an uninhabited island and wake up to the sound of the waves.

The crew

Last but not least, it’s the crew. The 4 guys on the boat : Kevin, Chris, Ellio and Linthon. One of them was the chef, who prepared amazing meals throughout the entire trip. They’re fun and charismatic, yet the most professional bunch of guys. They kept us laughing and they kept us safe. A great example : the bottomless rum punches did not come out until we were done snorkeling for the day, which I think was a pretty smart move.

3 days with Raggamuffin Tours, Belize

Day 1

We gathered early in the morning at the Raggamuffin Tours office to drop off our bags, then headed across the street for breakfast, Meanwhile the crew got busy making last preparation before the trip. After an hour or so we were ready to board Ragga Empress, a large white catamaran, that we would call home for the next 3 days. First things first: we were asked to lose our shoes, and we wouldn’t see them until the end of the trip. Not that we would need them, as our days would be spent between the boat, water and sand.

The spacious boat was perfect for our group of 20 and it never felt crowded with plenty of room for everyone to find a favorite spot.

After a couple of hours of sailing to the sound of Reggae tunes and snacking on fresh fruit, we made our first snorkeling stop. The guys got in the water with us, and led us to some amazing spots, while pointing out the fish we were seeing. They are really knowledgeable about the wildlife and the area. The water was crystal clear, the reef beautiful and the marine life best I’ve seen so far.

A couple of guys spent some time in the back of the boat with the fishing rods, and managed to catch a giant barracuda. Linthon pretty quickly turned it into fresh and delicious ceviche.

We made a quick stop at the picturesque Goff’s Caye. Belize is home to approximately 450 of cayes. Some are bigger and quite busy like Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, but most of them are tiny pieces of sand scattered across the Belize Barrier Reef. They are pretty close to what you would imagine as a deserted island.

At the end of the day we arrived at Randezvous Caye, which was our first overnight stop. A tiny strip of sand, with a few huts and not much more. The island, even though uninhabited, does have some facilities ( like the toilet ), and there’s a caretaker there as well. We got a quick tutorial on how to pitch the tent, which were our sleeping quarters for the night. And most importantly how to flush the toilet with the bucket of water from the ocean. Real surviving skills 🙂

Day 2

Our day started early, with most of us waking up at sunrise. Not sure if it was the sun peaking through the tent or the back pain from sleeping on a thin mat 🙂 But we sure woke up in paradise. After breakfast, we got aboard Ragga Empress, said goodbye to Randezvous Caye and were on our way. After morning snorkeling, we made a quick stop at Tobacco Caye, a cute little island with the population of just 30 people. Funny how big it seemed compared to Randezvous Caye.

We stopped at the only bar on the island for a cold beer, which was a good change from the rum punches flowing on the boat. Shortly after, while walking around the island, I discovered that there were about 10 puppies running around. I’m pretty sure this is what heaven looks like.

In the afternoon we made it to Ragga Caye, another slice of paradise, where we would spend our second night. This night you have an option of repeating your night in a tent or upgrading your sleeping arrangements. There are a few cabanas on the water ( for an extra charge ) or dorm rooms ( free ). We chose the dorm room, and it felt quite luxurious compared to the night in the tent.

Day 3

On our last day after another amazing breakfast feast ( thank you Linthon ), we went out for some bird watching and manatee spotting.

And just because time flies when you’re having fun, the trip came to an end and it was time to part ways. However, we didn’t say goodbye, because as Kevin said : ” we don’t say goodbye, we say see you later “. I sure hope so, because this is a trip I would repeat in a heartbeat.

Things you should know about

How much does it cost ?

The cost is $ 450 per person. Besides all the fun of sailing for 3 days, the price includes all the snorkeling/fishing/camping equipment, food and drinks. There is always plenty of food, fresh fruit, snacks and what seemed like gallons of rum punch.

The price increases for trips that take place during Holiday season ( December 21 – January 11 ).

If you can’t go on the 3 day trip, Raggamuffin Tours also offers full day snorkeling excursions and sunset sailing trips. Check out their website for more information.

Where do you go?

The trip starts in Caye Caulker and ends in Dangriga. There is no option of returning to Caye Caulker on the boat for safety reasons. The day before the trip, there is a “meeting” at their office in Caye Caulker, when you can learn more about what to expect on the trip. It’s not required to show up, but it’s nice to get a bit more information what to bring and meet the people who you will spend the next 3 days with.

On the 3rd day, when you leave Ragga Caye, you get on a speedy boat for a BUMPY ride to Dangriga. A little piece of advice: don’t sit up front and try to sit on something soft. From Dangriga you can go to several places, depending on your interest. If you want to check out a new part of Belize, Hopkins and Placencia are nearby. You can also head back to Caye Caulker.

PRO TIP: Expect a lot of taxi drivers harassing you the second you get off the boat, and some of them are pretty aggressive. For that reason, it would be best to have your transport pre-arranged. If you plan on taking a bus, do not let them try to convince you the bus already left and the next one is not until a few hours later. It’s their classic line to trick you into taking the taxi, and taxis in Belize are EXPENSIVE.

Things you should pack

• a duffel bag to pack all the stuff you will need for the 3 days. You will be asked to bring a small bag on board, because the big bags are stored away and not accessible until you leave Ragga Caye.
• anytime you are on a boat, and have any sort of electronics, bringing a dry bag is a good idea. I’ve been using Earth Pak Waterproof Dry Bag to keep my camera and phone from getting wet.
• camera – there will be plenty of amazing photo opportunities and moments to capture during the 3 day sailing trip with Raggamuffin Tours in Belize, so bringing a great camera is a must. What you need is a camera that takes excellent pictures, is light weight and easy to travel with. This Sony Alpha a6000 Mirrorless ticks off all the boxes and even though it’s been around for a few years, it’s still one of the best travel cameras. The perfect combination of quality, size and price.
• bring a Go Pro or another underwater camera. The reef in Belize is unbelievable and you will want to capture what you see underwater.
• travel pillow – request an extra mat for sleeping in the tent the first night and bring a travel pillow if you really need one ( they don’t provide them ). You can also use something you have with you as a padding ( i.e. towel, clothes etc ).
• flashlight and LOTS of reef safe sunscreen

READ MORE:

• Best places to visit in Belize – a 10 day Belize itinerary
• Going slow in Caye Caulker, Belize
• Staying at Table Rock Jungle Lodge in Belize

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