Caye Caulker is known for being home to a wide arrange of marine life. Whether you decide to take a boat to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve or do some snorkeling right at the split of the island, you will be able see so many unique fishes and even rays!
Image taken on a Go Pro by my guide on a tour with Salt Life Eco Tours
They way I went about booking my tour was by asking the locals on the Island and luckily enough just a few steps out from my hostel was Salt Life Eco Tours who offered a wide arrange of day tours that include full day snorkeling, half day, and even day trips to Guatemala. I knew the half day tour wasn't going to be enough for me so I chose a full day but let me tell you, a full 7 hours of snorkeling (with a break for lunch) is extremely tiring so make sure to chose one that fits to your liking.
The full day snorkeling tour included 7 stops and they provided snorkeling gear, lunch, and go pro content for everyone.
Now lets go through what this tour was allllll about!
I was lucky with the weather on this day so be sure to check it regularly, my weather app had said it was going to rain and it never did the whole day!
The first stop on this tour was shark ray alley, and it's not as scary as it sounds. This area is home to a lot of nurse sharks which is the only kind I had seen along with some sting rays. For half an hour I spent exploring the corals and swimming nearly a foot away from some of those nurse sharks. It was exciting.
Manatees were seen on the second stop of the tour and the tour guides had even said that they didn't expect to see any because they were migrating. I was visiting Caye Caulker in mid January so I would say to go in December if you really want to see some manatees.
During the next few stops I had seen more sea turtles than I did in Aruba, crazy coral gardens that was filled with conch shells, more rays, and so many other fishes that I have no Idea what they even are.
This is just one of the many amazing photos taken by Salt Life Eco Tours, videos are taken as well for everyone.
I would like to add that if are looking to get underwater diving certified, this is definitely an amazing place to do it and there are so many businesses on the island of Caye Caulker that offer it.
Now if you already are certified then take this underwater trip further than the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and head over to the famous Blue Hole!
Everyones snorkeling experience is going to be different so here are some basic tips on what to do and bring when snorkeling.
Typically a lot of tours will require shoes off before getting on the boat, I would recommend some water shoes if that will make you more comfortable. The boat also will get wet, duh, make sure you have a dry bag especially if you are planning to bring a camera, phone, or something valuable. There are some good quality ones on amazon that wont break the bank:) As obvious as this sounds, bring sunscreen!! I was out on the boat constantly in and out of water and probably applied sunscreen about 7 different times and as someone who burns easily, I didn't have a burn on my body besides a little on my face. And to that I would then recommend maybe separate sunscreen like a stick for the face. There are typically water and alcoholic drinks offered and made on some of these tours, pay attention to your body and make sure you have plenty of water beforehand to help prevent any sea sickness. If you are someone who typically get sea sickness then don't forget the dramamine.
If you are looking to do some snorkeling on the island, that can be a great option as well. Caye Caulker is split between two islands and the channel can be an optimal spot, just watch out for the ferry services. There is a restaurant on the split called Lazy Lizard that offers areas to sit in the water and alongside where you can enjoy a drink or a meal in between your underwater adventures. A few other restaurants offer this option to eat and swim, and I have even seen some sting rays at some. This is a great alternative to taking a half or full day trip out to the marine reserve.
Since there is such a close proximity within the islands of Belize, take some time to explore them as they all have something different and new to offer! If you have any questions feel free to reach out in the contact me bar or add a comment!
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