Where is Belize?
With dense jungles to its west and the beach on its east, Belize is a coastal national on the East Coast of Central America, to the east of Guatemala. Belize is well-known for the Belize Barrier reef, Mayan Ruins and most prominently snorkeling. Let’s take a ‘dive’ and explore the snorkeling experience Belize has to offer.
Snorkeling Months and Time
It’s best to avoid the monsoon, because of mosquitoes (get yourself vaccinated before the trip), and hurricanes. Monsoon starts from around the end of May and lasts till November. It’s best to visit around March-April, as the weather and water remain calm and prices remain low. It is advisable to snorkel in the morning as wind speeds rise in the afternoon.
Locations for Staying
For snorkeling in belize, it is recommended to stay near Ambergris Caye. However, if you wish to stay away from the usual tourist location, then Caye Caulker is your place. It’s best to stay away from Belize City as its crime infested.
Best Snorkeling Locations:
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve-The oldest reserve in the country has a wide range of marine life to offer, it’s only 6kms away from Ambergris Caye.
- Lighthouse Reef Atoll– It’s a bit far from the coast, however, it’s famous for the Great Blue hole-Largest known sinkhole. It encompasses the Half Moon Caye and Long Caye Wall which offer plenty of fish life.
- Turneffe Reef Atoll– Takes about 20 hours from Caye Caulker, the main attraction here are the turtles and lionfish (which you can have for lunch too)
- Shark Ray Alley– Let the name not scare you, it harbours only harmless nurse sharks and assortments of stingrays.
- Gladden Spit- Known for the great whale shark populace, it’s a must visit between March and June.
So, what’s holding you back? Pack up your bags for snorkeling in Belize.