Snorkeling in Belize

Belize is home to the second-largest barrier reef in the world, offering excellent snorkeling opportunities. You will encounter diverse marine life and vibrant coral formations, making it a dream destination for underwater enthusiasts. The most popular spots are easily accessible via boat tours departing from coastal towns like San Pedro (Ambergris Caye), Caye Caulker, and Placencia.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Located just off Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, this is Belize's most popular marine reserve. Snorkeling through the "little channel" of Hol Chan offers vibrant coral and numerous species of fish, sea turtles, and eels. In Shark Ray Alley, you can safely swim alongside nurse sharks and stingrays in shallow water.

Mexico Rocks
With its shallow patch reefs and abundant marine life, Mexico Rocks is suitable for beginners. As part of the Belize Barrier Reef system, you will find it less crowded than the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Guided tours provide a brief history of the area and a safety briefing before you enter the water. Some tours combine Mexico Rocks with other nearby sites like Tres Cocos.

Laughing Bird Caye
Laughing Bird Caye is situated on a "faro," an angular atoll formation with steep sides that encloses a lagoon, contributing to diverse habitats and abundant marine life. You can expect to see vibrant coral, schools of fish, rays such as eagles and stingrays, and nurse sharks. These Caye is a designated national park and bird sanctuary, with park rangers living on-site to manage conservation efforts.

Silk Cayes
Accessible from Placencia, this reserve is famous for its high concentration of loggerhead turtles in "Turtle Alley". From March to June, it is one of the best places in the world to snorkel with whale sharks.

Glover's Reef Atoll
Glover's Reef Atoll is a renowned snorkeling destination and UNESCO World Heritage site located approximately 30 miles off the coast of mainland Belize. A protected marine reserve, it features a lagoon with hundreds of patch reefs and a deep outer wall, offering excellent snorkeling for all experience levels.