Snorkelling in Caye Caulker, Belize: Best Snorkelling in the World

Snorkelling in Caye Caulker, Belize: Best Snorkelling in the World

Caye Caulker is home to arguably the best snorkelling in the world, and I don’t say that lightly! This tiny laidback island, located just off the coast of mainland Belize, acts as the launchpad into an underwater paradise that will leave you in awe. With the world’s second-largest barrier reef (and the largest living barrier reef) just on the doorstep, snorkelling in Caye Caulker offers crystal clear waters, an array of coral species and awesome wildlife. This detailed guide will cover everything you need to know about snorkelling in Caye Caulker including booking tours; snorkelling locations, wildlife on offer, what to pack and more.

Snorkel Tour vs Caye Caulker shore

Firstly, you may be wondering about the best way to snorkel in Caye Caulker. Should you snorkel from the shores of Caye Caulker or should you book on to one of the many snorkel tours available?

To put it simply, the best snorkelling around Caye Caulker will be found on the snorkel tours taking you out towards the Belize Barrier Reef and further away from the island itself.

Whilst you can rent snorkelling gear and enjoy the clear, warm waters by the shore, you won’t get anywhere near the same experience. You can see fish and the occasional stingray but it’s incomparable to the coral and wildlife abundance found on the reef.

I can personally say that snorkelling on the Hol Chan Marine Reserve is the best snorkelling I’ve had the opportunity to do!

The tours available include:

• Full-day Snorkel Tour
• Half-day Snorkel Tour
• Manatee Watching Tour (includes snorkelling)
• Multi-day Boat Tour (includes snorkelling)
• Scuba Diving Tour

Which company to book a snorkel tour with in Caye Caulker?

There are lots of tour companies on Caye Caulker offering the ‘best’ snorkel tours. But honestly, they all offer largely the same experience.

Some of the most recognised or most popular tour companies include:

• Salt Life Eco Tours
• Nauti Time Tours
• Caveman Snorkeling Tours
• Caye Caulker Reef Friendly Tours

I opted for Salt Life Eco Tours because they had availability for the following day; they were right next to the hostel I was staying at (Go Slow Hostel) and they offered the same price as all other companies I checked out.

Price of Snorkelling in Caye Caulker

The full-day snorkel tours in Caye Caulker normally cost around $90 (180 BZD) as of January 2023. For a half-day snorkel tour, it costs around $45 (90BZD).

NOTE: I was required to pay in USD rather than in local currency. There is an ATM on Caye Caulker where you can withdraw US Dollars.

Several companies also offer private snorkel tours which cost a bit more per person.

Whilst snorkel tours in Caye Caulker are expensive, joining one is one of the highlights of any Belize itinerary along with visiting the Great Blue Hole.

What’s included in a Caye Caulker Snorkel Tour?

Most tours include:

• Boat for the day: taking you out to all of the snorkel sites.
• Snorkelling gear: You can borrow all the gear you need including a mask, fins, and snorkel.
• Lunch and fruit: Usually chicken, rice and vegetables followed by watermelon.
• Park entry fees: Without a permit, you aren’t able to snorkel on the Hol Chan Marine Reserve.
• Tour guide: Knowledgeable guides will be on board to spot and identify wildlife as well as answer any questions you may have.
• GoPro footage: If you don’t have an underwater camera, several companies will have their own where they can send you any photos from the day.
• Rum punch: Either the most important (or most dangerous) part of the day depending on your outlook!

Full-Day vs Half-Day Snorkel Tours in Caye Caulker

Full-day tours last 6-7 hours and will take you to a minimum of 5 different stops. These include the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark Ray Alley, Coral Gardens, Conch Shell Graveyard, ‘Belizean Titanic’ and additional stops in search of manatees and turtles.

Half-day tours are approximately 3 hours long and comprise fewer (normally 3) snorkel stops. Most companies offer the option to do a morning or an afternoon tour. Instead of visiting the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, half-day tours run on the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve located further south and much closer to Caye Caulker. Here they have their own Shark Ray Alley and Coral Gardens.

The main differences between a half-day and full-day snorkel tour in Caye Caulker are the length of time spent snorkelling and the tour price. Full-day tours include more time in the water, meaning a higher likelihood of seeing the wildlife you want to see. Besides that, full-day tours include a visit to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve which is supposedly better.

When should you book your snorkel tour?

I recommend booking snorkelling in Caye Caulker at least a day in advance to ensure that you get your spot. Preferably sooner during the high season.

Whilst you can book online or over the phone, I recommend walking along the main street to check out their offices, speak to the staff involved, and ask any questions you have before booking.

If you are arriving in Caye Caulker the evening before you want to snorkel, some tour companies will still have availability for the following day. However, most of the offices close before 8pm.

What to expect snorkelling in Caye Caulker

What sites will you visit on Caye Caulker Snorkel Tour?

As mentioned before the main stops include the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark Ray Alley, Coral Gardens, Conch Shell Graveyard, ‘Belizean Titanic’ and additional stops in search of manatees and turtles. Or the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve if you are snorkelling in Caye Caulker on a half-day tour.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Of all the stops, Hol Chan Marine Reserve is the furthest from Caye Caulker and lies northeast of the island, not far from Ambergris Caye. It is one of the busier snorkel sites with some scuba divers also exploring. Your tour price will include entry fees into the reserve as permits are required, so you will be given wristbands on arrival to wear.

At this stop, your guide will get in the water with you and lead a tour around the reserve. It is common to see sea turtles, lobster and eels in this area as well as a huge variety of coral species.

Shark Ray Alley

This stop also belongs to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Here nurse sharks and stingrays gather in huge abundance as boats feed the animals with chum.

You are able to get in the water and be totally surrounded by sharks which is a surreal experience. This shallow, sandy snorkel spot provides an opportunity to get close to the fish and get a sense of how large they really are!

Don’t worry, the nurse sharks don’t eat people!

Coral Gardens

As the name suggests, snorkelling in Coral Gardens is fantastic for viewing coral and the small fish that live amongst it. The unique structures and varied water depths, make snorkelling here diverse and interesting, even though there seemed to be far fewer snorkellers here than at other stops.

Belizian Titanic

Whilst it’s not quite the Titanic, this small shipwreck is a fun one to explore. The sunken barge provides a structure for a number of different coral species and creates many hidey-holes for fish to make their home.

The ship itself is relatively shallow (10-20 feet) so it’s easy to navigate from the surface. It also has several large openings for more advanced snorkellers to check out.

Conch Shell Graveyard (Chatos Area)

This area is where fishermen used to dump their catch. As a result, lots of wildlife visits the area, particularly both turtles and stingrays.

The seabed is covered in conch shells (big shells with beautiful pink colour inside). It can get really shallow in some places around the Chatos area.

Manatee Spots

Throughout the tour, your boat and all those onboard will scan the water in search of manatees. There is no designated spot where you should expect to find them as they move around grazing.

These snorkelling stops will only take place if one is seen breaching the surface. Any extra stops will impact the schedule of the day if you are lucky enough to see one!

Caye Caulker Marine Reserve

The Caye Caulker Marine Reserve is part of the reef that runs parallel to the island of Caye Caulker itself. Though the area is meant to be slightly less biodiverse than the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, the reserve still is still home to its own coral gardens and opportunities to see much of the same wildlife.

What wildlife could you see snorkelling in Caye Caulker?

There is never any guarantee with wildlife so you shouldn’t expect to see everything. However, below are some of the potential creatures you could spot during your tour:

• Nurse Sharks
• Manatees
• Turtles (Green turtle, Loggerhead turtle)
• Stingrays (Eagle Ray, Southern Ray)
• Lobsters
• Starfishes
• Barracudas
• Octopuses
• Sea cucumbers
• Eels
• Tarpons
• Seahorses
• Dolphins
• Crocodiles

Manatees, which are classified as endangered, are the most elusive creatures on the list. Whilst you can see manatees in Caye Caulker, there are three protected areas for manatees across Belize where you may have more chance. These are Northern Lagoon, Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary and Gales Point Wildlife Sanctuary.

Timeline of Caye Caulker Full-Day Snorkel Tour

Timings are approximate. In Caye Caulker, their motto is ‘Go Slow’ meaning things often don’t run to schedule!

9:00 am: Meet at the office

Head to the office of your tour company for the time agreed upon when you booked. You will sign in, pay off any remaining fees, and be provided with any kit you need. Before you leave the shore, they will show you how to wear your mask, fins and snorkel, then check that they fit you properly.

Most companies will provide a welcome introduction to the day to ensure that you have everything that you need.

Once you are ready to go, you will board your boat and receive a short safety briefing before heading out for the day!

9:30 am: Board your boat

On the way to the first snorkel site, your guide will tell you everything you need to know about the day ahead to make sure you are comfortable. They may also provide more information about Belize, Caye Caulker and the reef that you’re heading to.

Each tour company will vary their route to avoid crowds at particular snorkel locations. It wouldn’t make any sense if everyone visited the Hol Chan Marine Reserve at 10am…

10:00 am: Snorkelling

You should arrive at your first snorkel site at around 10am depending on how far it is. From here onwards, you will follow the route set out by your tour company enjoying the snorkelling and seeing awesome wildlife!

The order that my tour group went on before lunch was: Belizean Titanic, Manatee Scanning (unsuccessful), Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Conch Shell Graveyard and Shark Ray Alley.

13:00 pm: Lunch

You will have your lunch on the boat. Lunch usually includes chicken, rice and vegetables followed by additional fruit (watermelon) and the offer of rum punch!

14:00 pm: More snorkelling

After lunch, it’s time for more snorkelling. The order my tour went on was: Coral Gardens, Manatee scan, Manatee stop.

After the last snorkel stop, our boat headed around the northern tip of Caye Caulker and along the west side of the island. It’s a great boat ride and allows you to see parts of Caye Caulker that you probably won’t have explored.

15:00 pm: Tarpon Feeding

Several snorkel tours include a brief stop at the tarpon feeding spot. These huge, prehistoric-looking fish are renowned for jumping out of the water to grab food out of your hand.

After watching for a few minutes (and potentially having a go yourself), the boat will head back towards the dock via the Split.

15:30 pm: Return to Caye Caulker

You should arrive back at Caye Caulker anytime between 15:00 and 16:00 depending on whether you found any manatees and any other events throughout the day.

Grab all your belongings, return your equipment and then it’s time to relax and enjoy the rest of your day on Caye Caulker.

What to pack for Caye Caulker Snorkel Tour

You don’t need to pack much for a snorkel tour in Caye Caulker. Here are the main things to consider:

• Swim costume: Also consider a rash vest to protect from the sun.
• Dry bag: to keep all your things together whilst you’re on the boat.
• Mask/Snorkel/Fins: If you have your own, bring them but remember you can always rent.
• Suncream: Make sure it is reef-friendly
• Sunglasses: It’s really bright on the water
• Hat: Helpful for protection from the sun.
• Towel: To dry you off but also to cover your shoulders when out of the water.
• GoPro or waterproof phone case: Anything to help you capture the moment snorkelling with sharks!
• Beer (optional): If rum punch isn’t for you, beer is the next best alternative.
• Flip-flops: Whilst you won’t need these during the day, you should wear flip-flops or sandals on your way to the office.

Water and food will be provided by your tour company. However, I like to be prepared with a small amount of my own supply. Your tour operator might insist that you don’t need it, in which case you should be able to leave any belongings in their office to collect when you return.

Hints and Tips for snorkelling in Caye Caulker

Most of these pieces of advice hold true for snorkelling anywhere in the world.

• Protect yourself from the sun and wear reef-friendly suncream

The UV levels in Belize are seriously high. Couple that with being on a boat, exposed to the sun, for the majority of the day; water washing off your suncream; the reflection of light from the water; and that’s a dangerous combination.

You need to be particularly careful with the sun in Caye Caulker (I’m talking from personal experience…). Protect yourself with your towel, a shirt or the small amount of shade on your boat. Plus wear sun cream and remember to re-apply.

Given that you will be snorkelling on a reef with coral and wildlife, avoid sun creams that leach chemicals into the water.

• Bring snacks

Snorkelling can be exhausting so you will burn more calories than you think! Whilst the included lunch is generally good, it’s handy to have some backup food in case you get hungry.

• Take seasickness tablets in advance (if required)

You’re going to be on the water, away from solid land all day. If you know you get seasick, take some medication and stay hydrated.

• Speak to your guides

Your guides have been running snorkel tours in Caye Caulker for years. They know the reef better than most and truly enjoy sharing their knowledge! They can help you ID all the marine life.

• If you’re new to snorkelling, consider going off the beach first.

Caye Caulker is a great place to try snorkelling for the first time! However, in the same way that you might want to visit a dry ski slope before skiing in the mountains, you might want to ease yourself into snorkelling with a taster by the coast first.

Knowing what to expect will help you relax and enjoy the reef more.

• Have the right equipment

Your tour company should have this covered but it’s worth reiterating. You need a mask that fits correctly otherwise you won’t be able to see. You should use a floatation device if you’re not a confident swimmer.

If you have your own equipment, but you’re not sure about it, check with your guide and ensure that it’s appropriate.

• Listen out for boats

Whilst your tour company should be watching snorkellers from the boat to keep you safe, it’s always important to take responsibility for your own safety by remaining aware of your surroundings.

One of the biggest risks posed to snorkellers is boats. Listen out for boat engines in the water and look around to check your surroundings, particularly if you’re exploring further from your boat.

• Don’t touch marine life

This is one of the most important rules when you are snorkelling; you should never touch or disturb the ecosystem.

Whilst Shark Ray Alley offers the opportunity to get close to nurse sharks and rays, this still doesn’t mean you can touch these animals. This rule also applies to coral which is also a living organism!

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• San Ignacio Itinerary (3 Days)
• ATM Cave Tour
• Xunantunich Mayan Ruins

Before you go

Thank you for reading my travel guide on snorkelling in Caye Caulker, Belize. If guides, itineraries, and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.

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Please comment below and let me know your thoughts and experiences, or if there is anything else you want information on.

Happy snorkelling!