Belize In February: A Snorkeler's Paradise

Belize is a great place to snorkel, with some of the best snorkelling in the world. It has the second-largest barrier reef in the world, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The dry season, from December to May, is generally the best time to visit and snorkel in Belize, with February, March and April being especially dry months. So, if you're heading to Belize in February, you're in luck!

February is a great month to visit Belize as it is one of the driest months, with cooler conditions than the hotter months of April and May. The rainy season, from June to November, can make outings tricky and reduce the clarity of the water, so you'll want to avoid that if you're planning to snorkel.

Belize has a tropical climate, so it's constantly hot and humid, and the water temperature is relatively constant at around 28°C. This means you can snorkel all year round in Belize, but February is a great time to go as it's outside the peak season of December to March, so you'll avoid the crowds and higher prices.

Belize has an extensive barrier reef located just off its coast, with sites to suit everyone, from beginners to experienced snorkelers. The most accessible and popular area is Ambergris Caye and its main town, San Pedro, from where you can explore the wonderful Hol Chan Cut and the famous Shark Ray Alley.

So, if you're planning a trip to Belize in February, you can look forward to a fantastic snorkelling experience with great visibility and calm waters.

Belize's dry season

February is a good month to visit Belize as it is within the dry season, and the country experiences considerably less rain. Days are mild and nights are cooler, making it a pleasant time of year. February is also a good time for bird and wildlife watching, and there is good visibility for snorkelling and diving.

The dry season is a popular time for tourists, so expect higher prices and busier tours. The crowds tend to thin out after Easter, making April and May the best months to visit Belize for a quieter vacation.

The temperature in Belize during the dry season is relatively consistent, ranging from 73 to 82°F (22 to 27°C). However, February is slightly cooler, with temperatures ranging from 76 to 79°F (24 to 26°C).

The Hol Chan Marine Reserve

The history of the reserve dates back to the early 1980s when fish stocks in the area began to deplete while tourism to the Cayes was on the rise. Disputes arose over access to the Hol Chan cut, a natural break in the reef prized by both fishermen and snorkelers. Despite initial resistance to fishing bans, public consultation led to the establishment of the reserve in July 1987, with funding from the WWF and USAID.

The reserve is divided into zones to regulate fishing and promote sustainable practices. Zone A includes the inside and outside of the reef, where fishing is prohibited but snorkelling and diving are allowed with a fee. Zone B covers the seagrass beds inside the reef, where both commercial and sport fishing are permitted with a license. Zone C encompasses the mangrove swamps of southern Ambergris Caye, where sport fishing is allowed under license, while commercial fishing is prohibited. Zone D, added in 1999, is the adjoining Shark Ray Alley, a charged snorkelling area that also permits licensed fishing.

The Hol Chan Cut, a natural break in the reef, is a highlight of Zone A. With a depth of about 9 metres and a width of 23 metres, it is rich in marine life, including spotted eagle rays and southern stingrays. The channel connects the inside of the reef to the Caribbean Sea, allowing the movement of marine creatures between the two habitats. Over 160 species of fish, forty types of coral, five species of sponge, and three marine mammals have been recorded in the reserve. The mangrove forests serve as nurseries for many fish species, and manatees are known to visit occasionally.

Snorkelling in the reserve offers a chance to get up close with an array of marine life. Common sightings include jacks, groupers, snappers, barracudas, lobsters, moray eels, and various corals such as brain coral and elkhorn coral. The reserve is also home to sea turtles, with nesting beaches located on Ambergris Caye.

With its diverse marine life and accessible location, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve is a popular destination for snorkellers of all levels. The best time to visit is during the dry season, from December to May, especially between March and April, when clear skies and pleasant temperatures prevail.

The best tour operators

Muy Ono

Muy Ono offers a trip to snorkel the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. The tour includes a guide, JC, and the opportunity to see a moray eel, eagle rays, nurse sharks and stingrays. One reviewer said it was a "great company" and they would "definitely recommend".

Wicked Adventures of Belize

Wicked Adventures of Belize offers premium private fishing, snorkelling and beach cookout tours. The company has been described as "amazing" and "generous" by a reviewer.

Catamaran Belize

Catamaran Belize offers a day snorkeling tour to Mexico Rocks & Tres Cocos from the Belize Express Dock in San Pedro. The area is known for its abundance of marine life, including banded shrimps, arrow crabs, flounders, stingrays, yellowtail snappers, angelfish, damselfish and hawksbill turtles.

Island Expeditions

Island Expeditions offers a wide range of interesting snorkelling tours, including a trip to the world-famous Blue Hole, a perfectly circular sinkhole that measures approximately 1000 feet around and 400 feet deep.

Belize Bliss Tour

Belize Bliss Tour offers a once-in-a-lifetime full-day snorkelling tour at Hol Chan Marine Reserve. The tour includes the chance to see manatees, thousands of conch shells, nurse sharks, a shipwreck and coral garden, and seahorses.

Sirena Azul Sailboat

The Sirena Azul Sailboat offers a snorkelling and sailing tour to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. The tour includes a skipper-guide for safety and has been described as a "great outing" by a reviewer.

The variety of marine life

Belize is a snorkeller's paradise, with its extensive barrier reef—the second-biggest in the world—and a variety of ecosystems, including atolls, coral reefs, mangrove forests, coastal lagoons, and estuaries. The country is home to a diverse range of marine life, making it a fascinating destination for snorkelers.

The Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, boasts an impressive array of corals and marine life. It is estimated that 36 species of soft coral, 70 species of hard coral, and nearly 500 species of fish inhabit the reef. This includes colourful tropical fish, reef fish, groupers, jacks, snappers, and various species of rays.

One of the most popular snorkelling spots in Belize is the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, known for its shallow waters, diverse fish species, and spectacular coral formations. Here, you can find healthy coral and sea-grass beds supporting 160 different species of fish. Nearby, Shark Ray Alley offers the opportunity to swim with nurse sharks, stingrays, and sea turtles.

Mexico Rocks and Tres Cocos, located inside the reef north of San Pedro, is another excellent half-day snorkelling spot. This site boasts brilliant giant coral sponges and natural nurseries of exotic tropical fish. Over 35 species of fish have been identified here, along with majestic rays and barracudas.

Belize is also home to three of the four coral atolls in the Caribbean: Glover's Reef, Turneffe Atoll, and Lighthouse Reef. These atolls offer unparalleled diving and snorkelling experiences, with their shallow coral gardens, plunging walls, turquoise waters, rich marine life, and untouched coral.

Sea turtles are another highlight of snorkelling in Belize, with three species: the green turtle, the hawksbill, and the loggerhead turtle. These fascinating reptiles congregate in Belize due to the ideal feeding and nesting conditions. Whale sharks, the largest fish in the world, can also be spotted in Belize during the spring months when their food supply of snappers is spawning.

With its diverse ecosystems and abundant marine life, Belize offers a unique and captivating snorkelling experience for enthusiasts of all levels.

The Belize Barrier Reef

The reef is home to a diverse range of plants and animals, including 70 species of hard coral, 36 species of soft coral, and hundreds of invertebrate species. It is estimated that only 10% of all species in the reef have been discovered, with 90% still needing to be researched. The Belize Barrier Reef is also an important habitat for threatened species, such as marine turtles, manatees, and the American marine crocodile.

The reef is situated within a larger reef system that runs along the coastlines of Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras. This system, known as the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, covers a distance of 600 miles (1,000 km). The portion of the reef that belongs to Belize is approximately 190 miles (300 km) long. The Belize Barrier Reef is located just offshore, with a distance of about 300 metres (980 ft) in the north and 40 kilometres (25 mi) in the south.

The best time to visit the Belize Barrier Reef for snorkelling and scuba diving is generally considered to be during the dry season, which lasts from November or December to May. The dry season offers clear skies, sunshine, and pleasant temperatures. However, it is important to note that there is a spike in tourism during Holy Week and Easter, so visiting outside of these times may provide a more peaceful experience. The rainy season, from June to November, can make outings trickier and reduce water clarity, but it is still possible to snorkel and dive during this period.

Frequently asked questions