Spanish adventurer makes landfall in Belize

Álvaro de Marichalar is putting off yet another adventure on which he is sailing to ten countries, from Florida, U.S.A. along the Central American coast and ending in Panama. Marichalar is also an entrepreneur, but it is his passion for sailing that has him on his fortieth journey…. this time to commemorate the first European journey to the Pacific Ocean from Central America some five hundred years ago by Spanish Adventurer Vasco Nunez de Balboa. Marichalar has an impressive CV: he is a sailor, adventurer and holds eleven world records. The millionaire dropped his expensive trappings and arrived in Belize on Saturday night on a tiny eleven-foot vessel, a water scooter which is also known as a jet ski.  Marichalar says that it is the most radical way of traveling on the ocean.

Álvaro de Marichalar

Álvaro de Marichalar, Adventurer

“The first stage was from Miami to Key West, the southernmost point of Florida. From Key West, I crossed to Havana, Cuba; that was a hundred nautical miles—like a hundred and eighty kilometers without seeing any coastline. I am traveling alone; no support boat. And I arrived in Havana thank god by night. The problem with this straight is the Gulf current and the northeast wind was very strong, but finally I arrived in Havana. Then I continued all the north coast of Cuba till Santa Lucia where I stopped and then San Antonio which is the further west point of Cuba. From there I crossed to Yucatan Peninsula to Mexico, Cancun. It took me twelve hours. The ocean was quite rough due to the winds and to the currents as well. There is a big current going from south to north like up to five knots speed current; that was a bit complicated. But finally arrived in Isla Mujeres, next to Cancun. Next day I went to Tulum where I stopped at my friend’s hotel, Paladium and I had to repair my machine there for a couple of days. And then I continued to Belize; I arrived yesterday. Well the day before yesterday actually—I arrived in front here at Royal Palm Resort, a small island. And then yesterday I just arrived here at the princess hotel and I now have to repair some electronics on my little boat. And I hope to depart later on today and carry on to Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Panama. I think I have in front of me like ten, twelve navigation days.”