After exploring the luscious rain-forest in Belize and channeling your inner Indiana Jones with a visit to the ATM Belize cave, the next best thing is — snorkeling Belize. Imagine crystal clear waters, multicolored fish, spotted string rays and gorgeous sea turtles hiding out amongst the coastal reef. While it’s not one of seven great wonders of the world, it’s arguably number eight (at least in my book).
Belize contains the second largest barrier reef right after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Approximately 186 miles long, Belize hosts a coastal reef that was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. Called the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, this reef contains the best places to go diving and snorkeling in Belize.
Snorkeling is one the best things to do in Belize. So, if you’re planning a trip to this stunning country, here are the top snorkeling spots to add to your bucketlist.
Feel free to jump ahead!
What to pack when snorkeling Belize
Disclaimer: This post contains some affiliate links. That means I will receive a small commission on the purchase at no additional cost to you. Thanks for your support friend!
If you have a beach packing list, this may come in handy when packing for snorkeling. Snorkeling gear, lunch (for full day tours), snacks and water are all provided for when you book tours in Belize. However, there are a couple things you may need as these items are not provided.
- Towels. These aren’t provided with any tour. Most hotels and some Airbnbs in Belize offer beach towels to guests, but grabbing a towel from a hostel may incur an extra fee. If you’re not grabbing a towel from your accommodation, the best option is to pack a light weight microfiber towel. They’re also quick dry and easy to pack in a carry-on.
- Sunscreen. Everyone during our trip got sunburned. Whether you’re snorkeling for the day or half-day, the sun is intense on these Caribbean waters. Plus Belize has high humidity. My advice — put sunscreen on before you leave your accommodations, reapply before you hop on the boat, and again during snack time. Sun bum is a great protector for water sports!
- Sunglasses. You’ll need these for the boat ride to the various snorkel spots.
- Motion sickness medicine. If you’re prone to motion sickness make sure to take some Dramamine before the boat leaves. The water can be pretty choppy, especially if you’re on a speed boat. I also use acupressure wrists bands, which work well for reducing nausea on boat rides and cruising. Add a drop of ginger for even more support.
When’s the best time for snorkeling Belize
When it comes to the prime season for snorkeling Belize, anytime of year works well! The climate is subtropical, so year round it’s hot and humid. Instead of typical seasons ranging from hot to cold, Belize has wet and dry seasons.
Wet season starts around June and ends around November, so expect to see a ton of rainfall during this time. The rain-forest needs an abundance of water to stay verdant green and to protect the diverse wilderness. It’s perfectly fine to go snorkeling then (always double check with your tour company), as even with the rain its still quite warm.
Expect the showers to last a couple of hours, with September and October being the wettest months. Keep in mind wet season is also hurricane season.
On the other hand, dry season starts around November/December then ends May/June. We visited during mid-May and only experienced showers that lasted max 10 minutes, then the sun immediately came out. Otherwise expect mid to high 80 degree weather and high humidity.
While the water is extremely warm regardless of the season, the dry season is best for snorkeling. You’re likely to see even more sea creatures like manatees, whale sharks and you don’t have to worry about the rain.
Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Found along the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System is the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. It became a national park in 1987 and is currently one of the most popular places for snorkeling Belize. The reserve is approximately 25 feet deep and about 60 feet wide. While it’s not very big, the purpose of the reserve was to stop over-fishing of this area.
After paying the national park entrance fee, immediately in the distance you’ll find crashing waves into the coastal reef. Beneath the turquoise waters, channel your inner explorer and be blown away from the abundance of wildlife.
Some animals you’ll see lurking around are: sea turtles, trumpet fish, nurse sharks, princess parrotfish, brain coral, sting rays and more.
Liking the post? Share it here
Shark Ray Alley
Another popular spot for snorkeling in Belize is Shark Ray Alley. It’s located in one of the several zones found within the Hol Chan Channel. According to our tour guide Tzack, from French Angel Expedition, the sharks flock to this area because a fisherman use to toss his remaining fish guts and pieces into the water. Sharks flocked this area, wanting to get some num-nums and wallah — shark ray alley was born.
Expect to see a huge amount of nurse sharks here. When our boat pulled up, nurse sharks congregated at boat. There was probably about 20! One stacked on top of each other, our guide looked at us and explained here’s where we jump in to snorkel.
Keep in mind while we were reminded they’re safe to swim with, they are wildlife so don’t touch them or scare them. Also, when they’re feeding keep a safe distance away as they suction fish to eat and you don’t want to be caught in that vortex.
Caye Caulker
If you’re staying in Belize, add a trip to the island Caye Caulker if you plan on doing some serious snorkeling. First off, the island is gorgeous, peaceful, and has some great party vibes for those who love the night life. Head to The Split and Lazy Lizard for the best party scene!
For snorkeling, the best place to go is Iguana Reef Inn Hotel, a coastal hotel right along a prime reef spot. Here you’ll witness sting rays, possible manatees off in the distance, various types of fish, crab, and tiny seahorses. The seahorses are in a netted preserve so you’re not allowed to touch or swim near them. However, you can access views from the dock.
Additionally, around 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm the hotel has free sting ray feedings. During this time, over fifteen sting rays make their way toward your toes to be feed copious amounts of fish. They’ll let you feed them, gently pet them, and potentially let you take Instagram-worthy photos with them. Just be careful, move slow and respect them.
Related post: 100 Beautiful Nature Captions & Quotes
The Blue Hole
The most unique snorkeling spot in Belize is the Blue Hole — a giant obscure deep azure hole in the Caribbean Sea. Scientist believe the hole is a colossal marine sinkhole. In fact, it’s the largest sinkhole in the world, sitting at 984 feet wide and 354 feet deep (source). The blue hole is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it was formed when a limestone cave was submerged underwater after the Ice Age.
Lurking around the reefs you’ll encounter several sea creatures such as parrotfish, sharks (potentially), coral and more. Snorkel these stunning reefs with a tour company or consider diving if you’re certified.
Related post: Inspiring Quotes About Water and Waterfalls
South Water Caye Marine Reserve
Located several miles off the coast of Hopkins, Belize is the South Water Caye Marine Reserve. It’s another marvelous place for snorkeling Belize. This reserve is considered the second largest reserve in Belize and is approximately 117,875 acres (source). Defog your googles, then hop in the water to spot barracuda, sting rays, stoplight fish, sea grass meadows and more.
We booked a tour through Seemore Adventures and absolutely loved our experience! Since we booked a half day, it didn’t come with lunch. But they did have snacks — tasty homemade ginger cookies, fresh pineapple, watermelon — and water. It was extremely rejuvenating!
Keep in mind, a hearty snack is typically for half day tours, so expect a refreshing snack mid-snorkeling! If you want lunch with your snorkel experience, booking a full day is better.
Other places for snorkeling Belize
Here are a couple more stunning places worth mentioning for snorkel enthusiasts! Each of these locations are part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System.
- Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve
- Half Moon Caye Natural Monument
- Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve
- Laughing Bird Caye National Park
- Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve
Lastly, all of these snorkel spots do require a tour, except Caye Caulker, as the Iguana Reef Inn Hotel is free to visit. Just be sure to order a drink to support the establishment!
Like it? Sharing is caring!
Amazing Hikes With Views Found In The Inland Empire Area