Belize: A Snorkeler's Paradise

Belize is a small Central American country known for its incredible snorkelling opportunities. With hundreds of cayes (small islands) and three atolls, Belize offers some of the best snorkelling in the world. The country's warm, crystal-clear waters are home to vibrant coral reefs and an abundance of tropical fish, making it a popular destination for snorkelers and divers alike.

Belize's snorkelling conditions are ideal year-round, with a tropical climate and ocean temperatures to match. The country boasts the second-largest barrier reef in the world, which straddles its coast and provides easy access to diverse marine life. From nurse sharks and stingrays to colourful parrot fish and sea turtles, Belize's waters are teeming with life.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced snorkeler, Belize has something to offer. With secluded multi-day adventures on remote atolls and easily accessible day trips from the mainland, there are plenty of options to choose from. Here, we explore some of the best snorkelling spots Belize has to offer.

Belize Barrier Reef

Belize is known for having some of the best snorkelling in the world, and its Belize Barrier Reef is a big reason why. The Belize Barrier Reef is a 300-kilometre-long section of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, which is the second-largest coral reef system globally, after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The Belize Barrier Reef is roughly 300 metres offshore in the north and 40 kilometres in the south. It is home to a diverse array of marine life, including 500 species of fish, 70 hard coral species, 36 soft coral species, and hundreds of invertebrate species.

The Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. It includes seven marine reserves, 450 cayes, and three atolls, covering a total area of 960 square kilometres. The seven protected areas that constitute the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System comprise 12% of the entire reef complex. The reserve system was recognised by UNESCO for its vulnerability and the fact that it contains vital natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity.

The Belize Barrier Reef is also vital to the country's fishing industry and is Belize's top tourist destination, attracting almost half of its 260,000 visitors. It is also an important natural asset to Belizeans as it protects the coastline from the damaging effects of wave action, tropical storms, and hurricanes.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve

The Hol Chan Marine Reserve is one of the best and most easily accessible places to snorkel in Belize. It is located only 6km from Ambergris Caye and can be reached by boat from San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, and Belize City. The reserve includes four main sections: the Hol Chan Cut, the Seagrass Beds, the Mangroves, and Shark Ray Alley. Shark Ray Alley is a popular spot to snorkel among docile nurse sharks and southern stingrays. The Hol Chan Cut offers the chance to swim through a channel in the reef and view healthy elkhorn coral, moray eels, sea turtles, and colourful fish, such as French angelfish, Spanish hogfish, and blue tang.

Mexico Rocks and Tres Cocos

Mexico Rocks and Tres Cocos are located between the Belize Barrier Reef and Ambergris Caye and can be accessed by boat from San Pedro. Tres Cocos is known for its large brain corals and elkhorn coral, and the reef is as shallow as four feet, making it suitable for both beginner and experienced snorkelers. Marine life in this area includes conch, banded shrimps, arrow crabs, flounders, stingrays, yellowtail snappers, angelfish, damselfish, and hawksbill turtles.

Lighthouse Reef Atoll

Lighthouse Reef Atoll is the furthest offshore of all of Belize's atolls and is home to the famous Great Blue Hole, a perfectly circular sinkhole that is a dream destination for many travellers. The Blue Hole is a world-class dive site, but snorkelers can also enjoy the awe-inspiring views as it plunges to a depth of around 125 metres. Lighthouse Reef Atoll also features Half Moon Caye and Long Caye Wall, which have amazing fish life.

Glover's Reef Atoll

Glover's Reef Atoll is the third atoll in the Belize Barrier Reef and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is surrounded by sheer drop-offs that plunge into the Caribbean Sea. This spot is famous for its whale shark population, which can be spotted between March and June. Glover's Reef Atoll is also known for its diversity of coral and is a good site for beginner snorkelers.

Tobacco Caye

Tobacco Caye is a tiny island located in the middle of the Belize Barrier Reef, within the South Water Caye Marine Reserve. It is known for its world-class snorkelling right off the beach. Tobacco Caye is a great place to relax and enjoy the clear, calm waters, offering a paradise for snorkelers, divers, and paddlers.

Ambergris Caye

Belize is a popular destination for snorkelling, with its tropical climate, warm waters, and the Belize Barrier Reef, which is part of the greater Mesoamerican Barrier Reef—the largest in the hemisphere.

The water depth at most snorkelling spots in Ambergris Caye ranges from 5 to 15 feet, offering up-close views of the marine environment. The shallow waters are calm with little-to-no current, making it an ideal spot for beginners. Flotation devices are available for those who may need additional buoyancy.

There are numerous snorkelling spots to explore in and around Ambergris Caye, catering to different skill levels and interests. Here are some of the most popular ones:

Hol Chan Marine Reserve:

This is the most popular snorkelling spot in Ambergris Caye. It is a cut in the barrier reef that offers both shallow and deeper waters, with the opportunity to see bigger fish species due to the current. It is named after the Mayan words meaning "Little Channel." A snorkel tour to Hol Chan is often combined with a stop at Shark Ray Alley, where you can swim with nurse sharks and stingrays.

Shark Ray Alley:

This shallow snorkel spot provides exciting encounters with harmless nurse sharks, rays, large schools of fish, and some beautiful coral formations. It is a feeding area, which attracts a variety of marine life.

Mexico Rocks:

Mexico Rocks is an inner patch reef area with excellent snorkelling depths suitable for both beginners and experienced snorkellers. The calm waters and vibrant marine life make it a great spot for those new to snorkelling.

Tres Cocos:

This snorkelling spot is located right on the barrier reef edge and offers shallow waters with a good bit of current. You can expect to see a variety of fish and coral in this area.

Coral Gardens:

Coral Gardens is located inside the reef in sandy, shallow waters just south of San Pedro. It is known for its impressive coral formations and the variety of fish that call it home.

Mata Cut:

Mata Cut is a cut in the reef that is a quick boat ride from San Pedro. Here, you'll find a shipwreck covered in corals and teeming with fish. However, the downside is that the wreck is very close to the cut, resulting in rough conditions and low visibility.

Basil Jones:

Basil Jones is located far north of Ambergris Caye and makes for a full-day trip. The lagoon behind the sandy beach offers good snorkelling, and the backside of the reef close to the beach features unique coral formations. Due to its remote location, there tends to be more fish life in this area.

Bacalar Chico:

As far north as you can go, Bacalar Chico is a relatively new reserve with pristine reefs and a diverse range of marine life, including conch, manatee, and sea turtles. There are shallow areas with sandy bottoms and big coral patches, as well as deeper areas with huge coral heads and schools of barracudas.

When planning your trip to Ambergris Caye, keep in mind that the best time to visit for snorkelling is during the dry season, which runs from November/December to May/June. The wet season brings rain, mosquitoes, and the risk of hurricanes, which can impact water visibility and conditions for snorkelling.

In terms of equipment, all the gear you need for snorkelling can be provided by tour operators, but you also have the option to bring your own if you prefer. Don't forget to pack items for sun protection, such as a rash guard and reef-safe sunscreen, and always follow the instructions and safety guidelines provided by your tour guide.

Shark Ray Alley

Belize is known for its world-class snorkelling, with the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef—the second-largest in the world—stretching for over 600 miles along its coast. The country offers a range of snorkelling destinations to suit different budgets and time constraints, from secluded multi-day adventures on remote atolls to easy day trips from the mainland.

One of the best and most easily accessible places to snorkel in Belize is the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, which can be reached on day trips from San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker, and Belize City. The reserve includes four main sections, each offering something unique. However, the best and most popular snorkel spots are Shark Ray Alley and the Cut.

The rays at Shark Ray Alley have a wingspan of two to four feet and are known to swim directly towards divers, inviting them to reach out and stroke their wings (although it is best not to touch them). The gentle nurse sharks average four to six feet in length and show no fear of humans, often swimming right up to snorkelers. It is important to maintain a distance and not touch the sharks.

The site is accessible only by boat, and most tours include snorkelling in nearby locations, such as South Channel and The Coral Garden. Shark Ray Alley is just a 30-minute water taxi ride from San Pedro and a 5-minute boat ride from Caye Caulker. There is a fee to enter the marine reserve, which is typically included in the cost of guided tours.

Glover's Reef Atoll

Belize is known for its world-class snorkelling, with the country's Mesoamerican Barrier Reef being the second largest in the world. Glover's Reef Atoll is a great spot for snorkelling in Belize. Located off the southern coast of Belize, approximately 45 kilometres from the mainland, Glover's Reef Atoll is a partially submerged atoll that is part of the Belize Barrier Reef. It is one of only three such atolls, the others being Turneffe Atoll and Lighthouse Reef. Glover's Reef Atoll is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Marine Reserve, having been designated a protected area in 1993.

To get to Glover's Reef Atoll, you will need to take a boat from the mainland. The trip takes about two hours from Dangriga. There are various accommodation options on the small cayes within the atoll, including rustic overwater bungalows and beach cabins, as well as camping options. The clear, turquoise waters and abundance of marine life make Glover's Reef Atoll an ideal place for snorkelers to explore and enjoy.

Whale shark migrations

Belize is a world-class snorkelling and scuba diving destination, with some of the best sites in the world. The country has a range of destinations to suit different budgets and time constraints, from secluded multi-day adventures on remote atolls to easy day trips from the mainland.

Whale sharks migrate through the Gladden Spit area of Belize between March and June. The best time to spot them is around the full moon, in the months of March, April, May, and June. The whale shark season normally begins about 2 days before the full moon and ends 10 days after. Traditionally, April and May have been the best months for sightings.

Gladden Spit is about 26-30 miles off the coast of Placencia, a town in southern Belize. This area is known to host large concentrations of whale sharks during April and May when Mutton and Dog Snappers are spawning (the whales ingest the spawn as food). Whale sharks are also often sighted through the summer months.

Gladden Spit is the best place in Belize to snorkel with whale sharks. To protect wildlife, the government strictly controls the number of tour boats allowed in the whale shark areas at any given time. Make sure to book your spot early if swimming with whale sharks is on your bucket list.

Whale shark tours normally last a full day, beginning in the morning and returning in the late evening. Divers get 2 dives, and snorkelers get 2 snorkel sessions in the whale shark zone. Most of the time on the trip is spent having lunch, snorkelling, and waiting for the next session to begin.

These tours are recommended for more experienced divers and snorkelers, as they are conducted in the open ocean, where there is no visible bottom. Snorkelers must be strong swimmers and above the age of 14.

Frequently asked questions