The Tropical Paradise Of Harvest Caye, Belize: An Island Escape

Harvest Caye is a 75-acre island in Southern Belize, owned exclusively by Norwegian Cruise Line. The island features a 15,000 square foot swimming pool, a 1,300-foot-long zip line, a 7-acre white sandy beach, and a salt-water lagoon for water sports. The cruise port was constructed with locally sourced materials from Belize and aims to provide an authentic Caribbean experience, with locally owned restaurants, amenities, and shopping stores. The island offers various activities and facilities, including beachfront cabanas, a nature park, kayaking, paddleboarding, and snorkelling. Harvest Caye is known for its eco-tourism, with a diverse ecology consisting of jungles, rainforests, swamps, and coral reefs.

Harvest Caye is a private island owned by Norwegian Cruise Line

NCL partnered with the Belizean government to create an authentic Caribbean cruise port experience. All 400 staff members are locals, and the restaurants, amenities, and shopping stores are locally owned. Even the materials used to construct the port were sourced locally.

Harvest Caye offers a range of activities for visitors, including a 15,000-square-foot swimming pool with a swim-up bar, a salt-water lagoon for water sports, a 7-acre exclusive beach, and shore excursions such as zip-lining across the island and snorkelling the world's second-largest barrier reef. The island also features a nature park with macaws, toucans, butterflies, snakes, and other animals, as well as a Blue Morpho butterfly sanctuary.

The island has several facilities, including the Flighthouse, a 136-foot-high venue for aerial activities; a large marina with food and bar options; and an expansive shopping village with local crafts and popular name-brand retailers.

Harvest Caye is a non-tendering port, meaning the ship docks directly at the island, offering a more convenient experience for passengers. The port has been recognised as the "best new cruise port in the Caribbean" in 2017.

The island features a 15,000 sq ft swimming pool, a 7-acre beach, a nature park, and a zip line

Harvest Caye in Belize is a 75-acre island that features a 15,000-square-foot swimming pool, a 7-acre beach, a nature park, and a zip line. The island is exclusively owned by Norwegian Cruise Line and is one of the newest ports in the western Caribbean cruise itinerary for its guests. The island was opened to the public in November 2016 and features plenty of facilities and activities for visitors to enjoy.

The 15,000-square-foot swimming pool is one of the largest on a cruise port and is beautifully designed with an under-the-bridge section and a swim-up bar with in-water seating. The pool is surrounded by lounge chairs and palm trees, providing a relaxing and beach-like atmosphere. Visitors can also enjoy Caribbean dance music played at the nearby Landshark restaurant or rent pool-facing cabanas for added privacy.

The 7-acre beach features white sand made from crushed seashells and warm turquoise blue ocean waters common to the Caribbean. The beach is lined with lounge chairs and palm trees, providing shade and comfort for visitors. For more privacy and comfort, clamshells are available for rent. The beach also offers activities such as beach volleyball and jumbo-sized chess.

The nature park, located at the centre of the cruise port area, is a free wildlife sanctuary where visitors can learn about Harvest Caye's flora and fauna. The park is home to macaws, toucans, butterflies, snakes, and other small animals. It also features a Blue Morpho Butterfly Sanctuary, a secluded area with hundreds of beautiful butterfly species.

The zip line on Harvest Caye is one of the most popular activities on the island. The course starts from the top of a majestic lighthouse, crisscrossing the island at a height of 100 feet above the port. Visitors can choose to zip line in the Superman position or seated upright, offering a bird's-eye view of the pool, port area, and the surrounding waters, including the coral reefs and Mayan mountainsides of Belize.

The cruise port was built in partnership with the Belizean government, with all staff and shops locally owned

Harvest Caye is a private island in Southern Belize, owned by the Norwegian Cruise Line. The island was built in partnership with the Belizean government and is a testament to the cruise line's commitment to both the local economy and its passengers. The partnership aimed to make the cruise port as authentic as possible, with all staff and shops locally owned.

Norwegian Cruise Line employed hundreds of Belizean workers during the construction of Harvest Caye and its facilities, and now hundreds more work in passenger-facing roles on the island. The cruise line also sourced as many materials as possible from within Belize during the construction process.

The cruise port features an expansive shopping village, with popular name-brand retailers and local Belizean crafts. All the shops in the market area are locally owned and sell locally made goods, including handcrafted souvenirs, beautiful paintings, jewellery, perfume, t-shirts, rum, and chocolate.

The restaurants and bars on the island are also locally owned. The Landshark Bar & Grill, for example, is an affiliate of Jimmy Buffet's restaurants and is owned by one of the top restaurant owners in Belize.

The partnership with the Belizean government has ensured that the local community benefits economically from the cruise port, with all staff and shop owners being locals. This collaboration has resulted in a unique and authentic Caribbean cruise port experience for visitors to Harvest Caye.

Excursions include rainforest river tubing, Mayan temple visits, and snorkelling

Harvest Caye in Belize is a privately-owned island located just a few miles offshore from Placencia in southern Belize. It is exclusively owned by the Norwegian Cruise Line and features a range of facilities and activities for guests to enjoy.

Rainforest River Tubing

One of the excursions offered at Harvest Caye is a rainforest river tubing adventure. Guests are taken on a 15-minute boat ride to the Belize mainland, where they board an air-conditioned bus that takes them through the beautiful countryside to the starting point of the adventure. Along the way, they can enjoy the sights of quaint villages, Mayan mountains, and pine and hardwood forests. At the outpost, guests are given life vests and tubes before easing into the river and letting the current carry them downstream. The river is fed by mountain springs, so the water is usually crystal clear, and the scenery is ever-changing with mountain gorges, small rapids, and overhanging trees. This excursion is perfect for those seeking a thrilling yet refreshing and scenic adventure.

Mayan Temple Visits

Harvest Caye also offers excursions to ancient Mayan ruins and temples. One such site is Nim Li Punit, located in the Belize Jungle. This ruin site features well-preserved Mayan drawings and writings, as well as a museum with artifacts and historical tidbits. The site also has a ball court and an observatory, and it is surrounded by lush greenery, providing a comfortable escape from the Caribbean sun. Another option for exploring Mayan history is through the company Untame Belize, which offers guided tours to ancient Maya cities and cultural visits to local villages to learn about the traditional music, dances, and foods of the Maya people.

Snorkelling

Belize is known for its snorkelling and scuba diving, and Harvest Caye serves as a gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage Belize Barrier Reef. This reef is the world's second-largest and is a mecca for snorkelling and diving enthusiasts. The clear, warm waters offer a chance to explore colourful sea life and coral reefs.

Harvest Caye, with its range of facilities, activities, and excursions, provides guests with a unique and authentic Caribbean experience, allowing them to immerse themselves in the natural beauty and culture of Belize.

Food and drink on the island are not included in cruise packages

Harvest Caye is a 75-acre island in Southern Belize, owned in partnership by Norwegian Cruise Line and the Belizean government. The island features a range of facilities and activities, including a 15,000-square-foot swimming pool, a zip line, and a 7-acre white sandy beach. While the island is owned by Norwegian Cruise Line, all restaurants, bars, and shops on Harvest Caye are entirely Belizean-operated, and food and drinks are not included in cruise packages.

The Landshark Bar & Grill, an affiliate of Jimmy Buffet's restaurants, is a popular spot for food and drinks on the island. This two-storey restaurant offers indoor (air-conditioned) and outdoor seating, with a terrace overlooking the pool. Here, guests can enjoy a range of menu items, such as foot-long fish sandwiches, chicken wings, grilled chicken, fried shrimp, salads, and ceviche, a traditional Belizean delicacy. The prices for cocktails range from $9 to $12, while a beer will cost around $5.

For those looking for a more exclusive dining experience, Harvest Caye offers beachfront villas with air conditioning, a private bathroom, an outdoor shower, and a personal concierge. These villas also come with a golf cart for the day, allowing guests to easily get around the island. The beachfront villas can accommodate up to six guests and start at $499 per day.

In addition to the Landshark Bar & Grill, Harvest Caye has several other dining options, including Horse Eye Jack's, Laughing Bird Bar & Grill, Manatee Bar & Grill, and various kiosks located throughout the island. Guests can also find bars such as the Rum Coco Bar, Cat 5 Bar, Hurricane Bar, and the Laughing Bird Bar, serving cold coconut-themed cocktails and local Belikin beer.

It is important to note that guests cannot use their ship cards for purchases on the island. Instead, they will need to carry cash or a credit card to pay for their food and drinks. This arrangement ensures that the local Belizean businesses benefit from the economic activity generated by the island.

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