Harvest Caye, Belize |
Posted: August 14, 2020 |
What to do first in Harvest Caye, Belize Harvest Caye is a 75-acre private island and resort off the coast of Southern Belize, featuring an exclusive 7-acre beach, a salt-water lagoon for water activities, an impressive swimming pool with a swim-up bar, and exciting shore excursions that include zip lining and snorkeling in the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world! Note: In Belize, “Caye” is pronounced “kee” (different than The Bahamas where it's spelled “Cay” and they say, “Kay”!) Launched in November 2016, the caye comes with a wide variety of facilities and activities to take part in. Owned and developed by Norwegian Cruise Line, Harvest Caye resort and cruise port cost $50 million and took over4 years to build. NCL worked closely with the local government of Belize to make this cruise port as authentic as humanly possible. (All the staff serving on the resort are Belizean!) All the restaurants, amenities and shops will also be owned locally. Even the raw materials used for building were locally sourced from Belize. The Layout of Harvest Caye When you arrive at the port, the ship docks a good distance away from the shore, leaving you about a fourth of a mile stroll over the covered pier, to the resort. (Occasionally, if the water is too rough to dock at the pier, tender vessels are needed for transportation to and from the cruise ship.) You will be impressed at how gorgeous and well-designed Harvest Caye is. Everything feels brand new, clean and inviting. The shopping market is at the entrance to the campus where you can find chocolate shops, rum tasting and other charming shops that offer hand made jewelry, Caribbean cruise t shirts, local arts and crafts, hand crafted items and beautiful art. From the shopping area, several paved paths take you to different facilities on the island. For easy navigation, there is a large map at the crossroads of the port where you will find directions to everything on the island. To the left of the map is the Excursions Pavilion and marina where you begin excursions by boat to mainland Belize, water tours, and snorkeling. Straight ahead, beyond the map board stands the wildlife nature sanctuary. This is a no cost botanic gardens and small zoo where you can find out about Belizean flora and fauna. To the right is the massive swimming pool area and the Landshark Bar and Grill. Past those areas one encounters pristine beach area. And a little further down the island, you come to the lighthouse where the zip line course begins. Close to the lighthouse is the picturesque lagoon, that offers kayaking and paddle boarding. Things to do when you're at Harvest Caye Chill at the Beach Past the pool area, over the pavement is a 7-acre, white-sand beach with over 2500 lounge chairs neatly set out in rows. There's a large sheltered, roped-off swimming area for you to splash, swim, and play in the turquoise blue Caribbean ocean. On the sandy beach you will find plenty of shade underneath the many palm trees. For even more luxury and privacy, you will find shade cabanas for rent. Also available for rent are a few hammocks. Or, you can rent an inflatable water mat and lounge in the warm waters all day. If you are competitive, join in the fun of a game of beach volleyball, or play chess with extra large chess pieces. The Swimming Pool Complex On the right hand side of the welcome center is a mammoth swimming pool area. This swimming pool is absolutely one of the greatest we've ever encountered. It's huge, (over 15,000 square feet!) beautifully designed and boasts an beneath the bridge section, and a swim-up bar with several welcoming in-water seating areas. Don't be shocked in the event that you see an iguana or two swimming in the pool! There are several small palm tree planter “islands” in the pool where the local giant green iguanas want to sun themselves! On the sprawling patio deck surrounding the pool there are lots of lounge chairs. Like the beach, palm trees are abundant at the swimming pool area, offering shade and a smooth flow to the beach. Kid's Splash Park A ways further down the paved deck involving the pool and beach is really a water play area for kids. You'll find fun water features like water slides and a giant barrel that fills up and then pours out a waterfall every few minutes, to the delight of all. The Nature Park To add some exotic local flavor, NCL built a seed and wildlife sanctuary in Harvest Caye. In the sanctuary you will end up delighted to find macaws, toucans, butterflies, snakes, and other animals, exhibited in a tropical garden of beautiful flowers and colorful Caribbean plants. The Butterfly Sanctuary is really a must-see highlight of the character center. This enclosed space features hundreds of varied beautiful butterfly species. This nature park is free to see and you'll get to learn concerning the plants and animals that are indigenous to the island and experience them first-hand. The Zip-line Zip-lining is arguably the absolute most exciting adventure activity on Harvest Caye. The zip-line course starts at the “Flighthouse” lighthouse and runs 3000 ft across the island. Thrill-seekers soar hundreds of feet above the Caye and get a bird's eyeview of the whole resort in addition to distant vistas of the coral reefs and the Mayan mountainsides of mainland Belize. The Saltwater Lagoon Kayak or paddle board on the saltwater Lagoon which is the natural habitat to various species of exotic sea animals. Or take a boat tour excursion of the lagoon and explore the mangrove forest and see wildlife while enjoying the cool Caribbean breeze. Eat and Drink Unlike other man-made cruise ports, Norwegian Cruise Line does not offer a complimentary lunch or extend your on-board drink package in Harvest Caye. Instead, food is available for purchase at the Landshark Grill. This fine establishment is locally owned and operated by one of the premier restaurant owners in Belize. NCL did this as an agreement with the local government of Belize so that the people of Belize would keep on receiving benefit economically because of this tourist site. Centrally located in the pool area, this beautiful two-story restaurant has abundant seating where you can relax and enjoy a delicious meal. Choose from local specialty dishes including local fish sandwiches, chicken wings, fried shrimp, salads and ceviche, a traditional Belizean dish. The island also offers 4 full bars where you could grab a frozen cocktail or a cold Belikin beer, the favorite beer of Belize. Shops and Market NCL purposefully endeavors to make the marketplace on at Harvest Caye is authentic and reflects Belizean culture and the rich Mayan history of Belize. The majority of the shops in the market area are locally owned and operated and sell exclusively locally made items. Upon entering the the market area, you will encounter Moho Chocolates selling chocolates and soaps produced from cocoa beans. Also, you will enjoy local spirits at a rum tasting center, where they sell exotic rums and liquors. Enjoy shopping for coffee, hand made souvenirs, local art and jewelry, Caribbean cruise t shirts, rum and Belizean chocolate. Note: US dollars are the only currency used on the island. Well, that about wraps it up! We hope you'll enjoy yourself during your stay at Harvest Caye. Wishing you a pleasant voyage!!
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