Activities

Snorkeling

Belize has some of the best snorkeling in the world. The world’s second largest barrier reef straddles the coast of Belize, providing unrivaled snorkeling with an abundance of coral and tropical fish to discover. The most popular snorkeling sites start here on the Island of Ambergris Caye. The reef is very close to the island which is one of the reasons for the Island’s pupularity.

Some of the popular spots are listed below:

Hol Chan:

Hol Chan is an underwater marine reserve in a national park. The park is primarily focused around a “cut” or channel through the barrier reef. Hol Chan in Mayan means “little channel”. This break in the reef is only 20-25 yards across and around 25-30 feet deep. This cut in the barrier reef offers shallow and deeper waters with bigger fish species, and currents.

Shark Ray Alley:

This exciting snorkel is in shallow water about nine feet deep in a feeding area which attracts harmless nurse sharks and lots of rays and fish and has some nice corals close. When your boat arrives it attracts the local Nurse Sharks and rays.

Mexico Rocks:

Snorkeling Mexico Rocks is great, and it is only a short boat ride out of the town of San Pedro on Ambergris Caye in Belize. It is located about one third of the way up the coast of Ambergris Caye. Unlike many of the snorkeling spots in the area that are right on the barrier reef, Mexico Rocks is a star coral patch that is located in the shallow waters midway between the reef and the island. Mexico Rock has lots of beautiful corals and soft sponges to check out.

Diving

The scuba diving in Belize is known to be some of the best diving in the world. Whether it be the variety of coral life or diversity of fish you’re looking for, diving in Belize has you covered. While the Blue Hole is Belize’s best-known dive site, there’s much more to discover. The waters are rich, clear and warm, offering great conditions for beginners and some exciting diving for the more advanced diver. Plus, most dive sites are less crowded than other locations offering a similar standard of diving. There are countless dive sites in Belize. Literally you can ride for more than 5 minutes on a boat in any direction before coming across another unique site to explore. The drier of the two seasons is from November to July. These months bring slightly cooler temperatures above and below the water. However, temperatures will only drop by a couple of degrees and most divers are still comfortable in a shorty. With that said, from November to July, you can expect little to no rain and excellent visibility. April to June is considered the best time to dive in Belize.

Fishing

Belize is a mecca for those interested in fishing. Any kind of fishing: spin, fly, trolling – can be experienced all year long, and the abundance of game fish guarantees excellent sport. The waters surrounding Ambergris Caye abound with a great variety of saltwater fishing and the island boasts some of the best fishing guides in the country. Most types of fish, including bone fish and tarpon, can be caught year-round. Within 15 minutes of leaving the dock, you can be fishing in tidal flats or in blue water hundreds of feet deep. FISHING ON AMBERGRIS CAYE has remained one of the Caribbeans best-kept secrets until recently. The extensive flats, a twenty minute boat ride from the lodge, are picture perfect. Shallow (2-6 feet) and with a whiter than normal sand bottom, these tarpon feeding grounds stretch for over fifty miles and provide the dining room for almost unbelievable numbers of tarpon.

Mainland Tours

Here’s information on a few of the popular day trip and tour options:

Belize Zoo/Western Belize: This trip usually begins with a flight on Maya Island or Tropic to the municipal airport or boat ferry to Belize City, where you connect with a shuttle van which takes you on the Western Highway for a visit to the wonderful Belize Zoo, maybe a quick peep at Belmopan (Belize’s capital), lunch and perhaps a tour of Xunantunich, a Classic Period Maya site.

Lamanai Ruins: Most of these trips start with a short boat ride across the lee waters of Ambergris to the mainland, then a trip up the beautiful New River. You will see many birds and perhaps manatees, crocodiles and other wildlife. Lamanai has a wonderful setting on the New River Lagoon. You’ll get a private tour of this Maya site and likely will see a troop of black howler monkeys. Often includes lunch at Lamanai.

Caving and cave tubing: Begin your journey back through time as you enter the amazing realm of Belize’s cave-systems. Enjoy this experience into the Mayan underworld.

Zip lining: This exciting experience is where the adventurer gets a true birds eye view of the pristine jungle while feeling the exhilaration of zipping along on a set of cables, from treetop to treetop. Flying through the air surrounded by nature is a very exhilarating feeling, the birds and Howler Monkeys are at eye level making you at one with the prolific nature Belize is famous for. A first class high adventure trip for adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers in the heart of the Belizean Wilderness.