Exploring Belize: Navigating To Half Moon Caye

Half Moon Caye is a crescent-shaped island located at the southeast corner of Lighthouse Reef Atoll in Belize. It is a natural monument and the first nature reserve established in Belize. To get there, you need to fly into Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE) near Belize City and then take a chartered boat or a dive company boat to the island. Alternatively, you can travel by seaplane. The boat trip takes about one hour from San Pedro and two hours from Belize City. Half Moon Caye is known for its pristine beaches, clear waters, and diverse marine life, making it a popular destination for diving, snorkelling, and birdwatching.

Fly to Philip Goldson International Airport and take a chartered boat

To get to Half Moon Caye in Belize, you'll first need to fly to the Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE) near Belize City. Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport is located in Belize City, Belize, Central America. The airport is currently undergoing a $260 million expansion project to accommodate increased travel to Belize.

Once you arrive at the airport, you'll need to make your way to Belize City, from where you can take a chartered boat to Half Moon Caye. This involves scheduling a pick-up with a tour operator in advance. Half Moon Caye is located 52 miles from the mainland, so it's a long boat trip over open ocean. The journey is definitely worth it, though, as Half Moon Caye is a pristine, crescent-shaped island that is popular with outdoor adventurers, divers, snorkelers, and birdwatchers.

There are no roads on Half Moon Caye, so once you arrive, you'll need to explore the small island on foot. The caye is divided into two ecosystems: the western side has dense vegetation with rich fertile soil, while the eastern side is known for its stunning palm-dotted beaches and coconut palms.

If you're a diving enthusiast, you won't want to miss the opportunity to explore the Half Moon Caye Wall and the Great Blue Hole, which is located nearby. The waters around Half Moon Caye are known for their exceptional clarity, despite their depth, offering divers the chance to observe an array of marine life, including loggerhead turtles, rays, barracuda, and eels.

For birdwatchers, the highlight of a visit to Half Moon Caye is the opportunity to see the rare Red-footed Booby. With an estimated 4,000 booby birds on the island, you're sure to catch a glimpse of these fascinating birds. The Audubon Society has even built an observation tower in the ziricote forest, offering an incredible 180-degree view of the booby birds in their natural habitat.

Visit the observation tower to see the Red-Footed Booby colony

To get to Half Moon Caye in Belize, you'll need to fly into Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE) near Belize City. From there, you'll need to take a chartered boat or seaplane to the island.

Now, on to the Red-Footed Booby Colony!

Half Moon Caye is home to a colony of rare Red-Footed Booby birds, and it's the only red-footed booby sanctuary in the western hemisphere besides the Galápagos. The island is a birdwatcher's paradise, with a viewing platform in the heart of the colony that offers a unique opportunity to observe these spectacular birds up close.

To get even closer, make your way to the observation tower built by the Audubon Society in the ziricote forest. This tower will give you a breathtaking 180-degree view of the island and its feathered inhabitants. Climb above the forest canopy, and you'll see booby birds in various stages of growth and mating. If you visit in March, you might even get a front-row view of feathered parents tending to their hatchlings.

The air around the tower will be bustling with boobies coming and going, attempting the clumsy landings that their webbed feet make challenging. Keep an eye out for thieving magnificent frigates, the symbol of the Belize Audubon Society, swooping in to steal eggs. You might also spot iguanas crawling in the branches, looking for a snack of their own.

The observation tower is the main facility on the island, but Half Moon Caye also boasts a visitor centre, a short trail to the Booby colony, and a picnic area. The island is managed by the Belize Audubon Society, and there is a US$40 per person admission fee, sometimes included in your dive boat fee.

So, if you're ready to witness the magnificent Red-Footed Booby Colony of Half Moon Caye, follow these instructions and keep your eyes (and ears!) open for the unique sights and sounds of these fascinating birds.

Explore the island by foot and kayak

Half Moon Caye is a crescent-shaped island located at the southeast corner of Lighthouse Reef Atoll in Belize. It is accessible only by boat from the mainland and other islands. The island is divided into two ecosystems: the western side has dense vegetation with rich fertile soil, while the eastern side primarily supports coconut palms and little other vegetation. The trail is well-maintained and clear, thanks to diligent park rangers.

Exploring the island by foot, you can climb the eight-foot-high central ridge that divides the island and gaze south to see the half-moon beach with its limestone rocks. The Audubon Society has built an observation tower in the ziricote forest, where you can climb above the forest canopy for a 180-degree view of the island. You can also walk to the western end of the island and take a few stairs to a viewing platform in the heart of the red-footed booby bird colony. Keep an eye out for iguanas, hermit crabs, and the native Belize leaf-toed geckos.

Kayaking around the island, you can explore the various cayes and the surrounding waters, which are a National Park and home to a protected bird sanctuary. You can also kayak out to a shipwreck located near the island. The underwater visibility can go deeper than 200 feet, and the reef walls teem with marine life, including colourful fish, living coral, manta rays, whale sharks, sea turtles, and other rare marine animals.

Camp on the beach or stay in a safari-style tent

Half Moon Caye is a crescent-shaped island located at the southwest corner of Lighthouse Reef Atoll. It is a natural monument that is as stunning underwater as it is from above. The island is a popular destination for outdoor adventurers, divers, snorkelers, and birdwatchers.

For those who want to stay overnight, camping is the only option. You can either bring your own gear and pitch a tent on the beach or stay in a safari-style tent at Island Expedition's Marine basecamp.

If you choose to bring your own gear, the designated campground is in front of international waters and the island's sandy white shore, with palm trees swaying overhead. As the country's easternmost territory, you will be one of the first in Belize to witness the sunrise.

Alternatively, you can stay in a safari-style tent at Island Expedition's Lighthouse Reef Basecamp. These tents are canvas-walled cabanas built on raised wooden floors about six inches above the sand. They are spacious, with ample headroom, and provide either double or single wooden-framed beds with six-inch foam mattresses. The tents also include a nightstand, an oil lamp, and shelves.

Whether you choose to bring your own gear or stay in a safari-style tent, camping on Half Moon Caye offers a unique opportunity to experience life on a secluded island and connect with nature in a remote and intimate setting.

Scuba dive or snorkel the Half Moon Caye Wall

Half Moon Caye is a crescent-shaped island located at the southwest corner of Lighthouse Reef Atoll in Belize. It is a popular destination for outdoor adventurers, especially divers and snorkelers, due to its proximity to the Great Blue Hole and Half Moon Caye Wall.

Scuba Diving or Snorkeling the Half Moon Caye Wall

The Half Moon Caye Wall, also known as "The Wall," is a spectacular dive site located at the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, just a 25-minute boat ride from the Blue Hole. The Wall offers divers and snorkelers a unique opportunity to explore a vertical wall of coral with a variety of marine life. The reef starts at a depth of 20 feet, making it accessible to snorkelers, and then drops off into hundreds of feet of clear, turquoise water.

The Half Moon Caye Wall is known for its diverse and abundant marine life, including groupers, snappers, hogfish, stingrays, sand eels, and various species of coral and sponges. The gentle dive conditions and excellent visibility make it a favourite among divers, who claim that it is one of the best dive sites in Belize and even the Caribbean.

When scuba diving or snorkelling the Half Moon Caye Wall, you can expect to see an array of colourful marine life. Juvenile fish in shades of purple, yellow, blue, red, and green swarm over mounds of coral. Keep an eye out for groupers hovering over brain corals or hiding within giant sponges. If you're lucky, you may even spot eagle rays gracefully gliding over the coral peaks or reef sharks patrolling the outer edges of the wall. Hawksbill turtles are also known to drop by for a sponge meal.

The Half Moon Caye Wall offers a unique and unforgettable experience, whether you're a seasoned diver or a snorkelling enthusiast. The combination of diverse wildlife, vibrant corals, and gentle conditions makes it a must-visit destination for anyone exploring the underwater world of Belize.

Practical Information

To get to Half Moon Caye, you'll need to fly into the Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE) near Belize City. From there, you can take a chartered boat or seaplane to the caye, which can be scheduled through a tour operator. Alternatively, you can travel through a bigger dive shop, such as Amigo's on Ambergris Caye, which offers trips to the site. Remember to bring your own scuba or snorkelling gear, or arrange for equipment rental in advance.

Frequently asked questions