I’ve talked to a lot of people who went snorkeling and were seriously underwhelmed. They stayed at an all-inclusive resort somewhere and went on a boat to see some fish and drink rum. An amusing day, but nothing special. So, why is it worth the trip to go snorkeling in Belize?
Belize is home to the largest stretch of the Meso-American Barrier Reef, and the pristine area of Hol Chan Marine Reserve is a wonderland of marine life. It’s like visiting an aquarium, but then you get to jump in. My wife and I were so blown away by the experience that we spent our last day in Belize going snorkeling a second time. Let’s discuss.
If you’re already convinced, skip to the end for some trip planning tips!
Snorkeling Trip #1: Hol Chan Marine Reserve
At the end of my trip to Belize and Guatemala with G Adventures, I was excited to finally be by the ocean on the “go slow” island of Caye Caulker. I’m not the type of person to relax on the beach all day, though. I planned to join a snorkeling trip to Hol Chan Marine Reserve.
Hol Chan means “little channel” in the Mayan language. It’s a spot along the barrier reef where there is a natural gap about 75 ft. wide and 30 ft. deep that forms a channel or “cut.” This area is like a bridge for marine animals, allowing them to travel from one side of the reef to the other. It’s a high traffic area!
I visited Hol Chan with Ragga Sailing Adventures. We climbed aboard a big catamaran and set sail for the reserve (OK, we were using engine power but still). From Caye Caulker, it’s around a half hour to reach the main area.
After collecting our snorkeling gear, we jumped into a different world. The water was surprisingly shallow around the boat, perhaps only 5 feet, with beds of sea grass waving gently on the sandy bottom. Right away, we spotted a green sea turtle munching on the sea grass. Our guide directed our attention to a spot where the waves breaking on the reef stopped. That was the channel.
The best way I can explain is that snorkeling at Hol Chan is like visiting an aquarium that you swim in. You pass magnificent corals with many brilliantly colored fishing swimming around. A group of eagle rays glide by, almost seeming to fly through the water. If you search around the crevasses of the reef, can you find lobsters and eels hiding in the shadows.
I wanted to spend all day there.
Troubles with Turtles
We left the channel to visit another snorkeling site, and unfortunately the weather turned bad. It’s worth noting that Belize has a rainy season that runs June through November. Snorkeling tours continue unless the conditions are really rough.
So, as steady rain and wind swept across the deck, somehow our captain spotted something among the waves–it was a big loggerhead turtle!
Our boat stopped and we jumped in to pursue the turtle. I felt apprehensive. The wind was making it harder to swim, and waves and rain kept filling up my snorkel with water. I did my best to catch up to the creature, but I started running out of breath.
I stopped to look around and found the boat was much farther away than I expected. Slight panic ensued–what if I couldn’t swim back?! Fortunately, I saw more of our snorkeling group ahead and the boat came over to meet us soon.
Sharks!
The last stop on the tour was one that might get your heart racing: Shark Ray Alley. It’s a place where dozens of sharks and rays gather along the reef! Many snorkeling tours around Hol Chan stop at this famous spot.
Most of the animals you’ll see are nurse sharks, which tend to be calm and unbothered by the groups of snorkelers who visit. Nurse sharks spend most of their time swimming lazily near the bottom looking for small crustaceans or fish to eat. But they’re definitely sharks and can grow fairly large. It was a thrill swimming with so many of them around!
Make sure you pack the right gear for your snorkeling adventure! Read to the end for my suggestions.
On Caye Caulker
Back on land, I was still riding a wave of excitement from the trip. My wife and I had another day on Caye Caulker, but we decided there could be nothing better than to go snorkeling again. We booked another trip with a different company to get some variety.
By the way, Caye Caulker is awesome regardless of your interest in snorkeling. It’s a laid back island where the motto is “go slow.” You’ll find plenty of beach-y restaurants lining the sandy main road where you can sip a Belikin beer and enjoy seafood fresh off the grill.
Besides the excellent vibes, the island is a paradise for wildlife lovers. There’s a beach where stingrays swim up in the shallows and a little cove where huge tarpon fish hang out.
Snorkeling Trip #2: In Search of the Manatee
After one amazing day of snorkeling, we had to go for another. Our trip with Salt Life Eco Tours was a bit different than the previous day’s outing. We climbed into a small boat with only about 8 guests plus a crew of 2. We were ready to go in no time and headed out.
The first stop took a bit of luck, as we were searching for a manatee. These gentle marine mammals tend to hang around their favorite food areas, but they get scared away by boats. Fortunately, our captain spotted one!
I loved swimming with this manatee. Gracefully floating through the water, the manatee searched around the seabed for plants to eat. Totally chill, as long as we kept a respectful distance. The manatee bobbed up to the surface for a breath of air every few minutes, which seemed to connect us as fellow mammals.
The rest of the snorkeling tour with Salt Life Eco Tours was fantastic. We got to visit Hol Chan again, along with other interesting places for an impressive total of 7 stops. I really enjoyed snorkeling an area called the Coral Gardens, a shallow area with beautiful coral and lots of tiny fish. And Salt Life brought along a GoPro, so I have lots of cool pictures and videos from our trip.
Snorkeling in Belize: Planning Your Trip
Belize has a tropical climate that’s warm year-round. The dry season runs approximately December to May, with a rainy season from June to November. I went in mid-November.
To get to the barrier islands of Belize, your best bet is flying into Belize City, then picking up a flight or taking a taxi down to the harbor to catch the ferry (water taxi). The water taxi fare is about $40 USD round trip to Caye Caulker or $60 USD round trip to San Pedro. Flying is more around $100 round trip, but of course you’ll get there faster.
For a home base, I strongly recommend the laid-back island of Caye Caulker. The vibes are excellent, with plenty of beachy bars and restaurants. The island has stayed free from the high rise hotels that crowd many Caribbean shores. (Note to self: write a post about Caye Caulker.)
Another popular spot is San Pedro (aka Ambergris Caye), which is also close to Hol Chan but somewhat more developed in terms of resorts. If you like a fancy hotel, chances are you’ll do better with San Pedro.
Access to the marine reserve is strictly controlled, so you’ll want to go with an authorized tour operator. I can recommend both companies I went with: Salt Life Eco Tours ($90 USD) or Ragga Sailing Adventures ($100 USD). You can book online or stop by their offices the day before to make a reservation.
What to Pack for Snorkeling in Belize
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In general, I don’t pack much specialized gear when I travel. However there are a few things that can really improve your snorkeling experience and won’t take up much space in a bag.
- A good swimsuit – This is probably obvious, but make sure your swimsuit is comfortable for snorkeling. Avoid anything with straps or shiny elements.
- A swim shirt or rash guard – The easiest defense against the sun is wearing clothes. Bring a long sleeve technical shirt and you’ll protect most of your body without relying on sunscreens that wash off into the reef’s waters.
- Reef-safe sunscreen – There’s a lot of debate about exactly what is “safe” in a sunscreen, so pick a good one and do your best to use it sparingly. Apply early and allow the sunscreen to completely dry before getting into the water.
- Sunglasses and/or a hat – More sun protection is a good idea.
- Quick-dry towel – It’s always nice to dry off after a swim. Quick dry towels made of synthetic microfiber absorb a lot of water but won’t stay damp all day.
- GoPro or other action camera – If you want photos and videos of your snorkeling adventure, a great option is an action camera like a GoPro. Make sure to get a floating handle for it. I do not recommend getting an underwater phone case because 1) you don’t want to lose your phone while snorkeling, 2) phones are hard to operate underwater, and 3) phones don’t take very good images underwater anyway.
- Small backpack or dry bag – I use a 16L packable backpack from Matador for my outdoor activities. If you’re really worried about things getting wet, you can pick up a small dry bag too.
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