Go for a swim, fly across the island on a zipline, or just lay out on the beach are some of the many activities at Harvest Caye in Belize.
You can also take excursions on the mainland of Belize, but we decided to spend the day on the island after a busy day in Roatan.
OVERVIEW
This island is private and for guests on Norwegian Cruises. However, you need to bring cash or a credit card onto the island since the ship card is not accepted. Food, drinks, and souvenirs are separate purchases from the cruise.
Shops
When you come onto the land you will first pass by the market area. You will find handcrafted souvenirs, clothing, paintings, jewelry, perfume, T-shirts, rum, and many other island goodies to bring back to the cruise ship or to take home.
Make sure to stop by Moho Chocolates for a free sample along with chocolate bars to buy. There is even cocoa bean soap.
Food and Drink Options
Off the beach and by souvenirs is a Landshark Bar and Grill. Closer to the beach is an air-conditioned two-story restaurant where you can have shrimp, grilled chicken, wings, and salads.
More bars are located throughout the beach area.
Swimming Pool Area
Along with the beach you can swim in the 15,000 square foot swimming pool. The pool is shallow in places and even includes a swim-up bar.
Splash Pad
For the young ones, there is a kid’s splash pad. It has water toys, water slides, and a giant barrel that dumps water on you.
Flight House Zipline Area
Further down from the bar and grill is a lighthouse where ziplining takes place. It is 1,300 feet of zip line fun that goes 100 feet above the island. Fee required.
Kayaking
In the back of the lighthouse area is the lagoon where you can kayak and paddle board. Fee required. The paddle board or kayak allows you to explore a coral reef that attracts various sea animals.
Beach Area
It is 7 acres of sand with 2,500 lounge chairs. In the turquoise blue waters, you might find a conch or a clam. Lifeguards are on duty. If you want more comfort clamshells are available for rent.
You can also rent a float pad or play a game of volleyball.
Cabanas
If you want to have your own private beach towards the back of the island you can go to the beachfront villas. These are air-conditioned and have a couch, TV, mini-fridge, bathroom, outside shower stand, beach loungers, hammock, beach chairs, fresh towels, personal concierge, and golf cart.
Nature Park
On the island behind the beach area is the Nature Park where you will see Belize wildlife, a butterfly sanctuary, and more.
OUR TIME HERE
As we headed onto the shoreline I pointed out a pelican that had landed in the nearby mangroves.
Once off the walkway, we headed to the beach to put our stuff down on some beach chairs and relax. I found one that was shaded. This is a good idea on a hot day. My son headed to the water with some friends he met on the cruise ship.
Nature Sanctuary Walk Area
After swimming we headed to the nature sanctuary area.
I first checked out the Ceiba tree. It produces a fiber used throughout history for mattresses, pillows, tapestries, and dolls.
Next, I came to a sign that talked about Baird’s Tapir. It is the largest mammal in Central America. They look similar to an anteater but are related to the horse or rhinoceros.
Wildlife Experience
Next, we entered the Wildlife Experience walk.
I first pass by a macaw up in a tree. A toucan was way back in his area.
Curled up on a tree branch was a long python.
I look into a small pool and see orange fish swimming about.
Then I stop to see iguanas in the sand.
The area is surrounded by flowers and plants.
Then I head to the Blue Morpho Butterfly Experience. These butterflies are native to Central and South America.
In here you come across butterflies fluttering about. You are not supposed to touch them, but they can land on you. One landed on me, but I was able to take a photo of it.
One side of their wings is blue and the other is brown with the shape of an eye. This helps to scare off predators.
A display shows the different stages of a butterfly including a caterpillar and pupa.
Left out for them to eat are containers with fruit.
It is worth taking the time to check out as they fly all around you.
Final Thoughts
We could have taken an excursion, but we wanted a break day before the long one we had the next day. It was a great stop for us. Andrew had some beach time with his friends. We also had plenty of downtime here and the nature sanctuary allowed us to learn about native plants and animals.
MORE CRUISING ADVENTURES
Taking a Norwegian Breakaway Cruise
We took a cruise on Norwegian Breakaway with plenty of activities for kids from water slides to games and sports competitions in Splash Academy.
Explore Chacchoben Ruins and Bacalar
Embark on an excursion from the Costa Maya cruise port to Chacchoben, the ancient Mayan city, followed by a relaxing dip in the crystal-clear waters of Laguna Bacalar.
Hang Out With Monkeys In Roatan
Monkeys jump on your shoulders, macaws are free roaming and you even cross a swinging bridge at Gumbalimba Park in Roatan, Honduras.
Exploring San Miguel de Cozumel
Check out ancient Mayan relics at Museo de Cozumel or find Mexican blankets and souvenirs in the market by Benito Juarez Park in San Miguel de Cozumel. We also had plenty of time to enjoy authentic Mexican food while we explored this town.
Touring Grand Turk
Grand Turk is known for diving with a 7,000-foot drop-off within yards of the shoreline and snorkeling among the coral. For us, we will explore this tiny island on a tram stopping in Cockburn Town and feeding the wild donkeys. Also, just so you know, they drive on the left side of the road since it is a former British colony.
Diving Into Bonaire
A land of pink flamingos, mountains of bright white salt, and aquarium-clear water, was Bonaire to us.
Bonaire, along with Curacao and Aruba, makes up the ABC islands just off the Venezuelan coast and was our first stop in these islands.
