While on Caye Caulker, I knew it would be a blast to go snorkeling in the crystal clear waters. I was not disappointed with the snorkeling spots in Belize. The Caye Caulker snorkeling and sailing tour we joined went to three locations: the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark Ray Alley, and the Coral Gardens. Each spot was different and exciting. I loved the entire day, from the jumping dolphins on our way to the first stop to the leisurely sail back with rum punch.
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Choosing a Tour Company and Checking In – Caye Caulker snorkeling and sailing
I had a tough time choosing a tour company to do snorkeling with in Caye Caulker in part because there were many options and none of them seemed that different. I was kind of leaning toward a smaller boat with fewer guests with the possibility of going to more locations, but in the end we went with Raggamuffin Tours. Alison, who was the final decision maker on this thought it might be more comfortable and fun to go on a sailing boat.
We barely made it to Caye Caulker in time to check in the day before. They require a cash deposit when you arrive the day before. The Ragamuffin employee told us to arrive before 10 am the next day, which seemed early for a 11:00 am departure. When we got there at 9:50 am a couple employees fit our masks and fins on us. We then walked around for a bit and got back to the check in area by 10:45. There was a large group of people, when I was not excited about, but they broke us up into two groups.
At a Glance:
- Rating: 4 (out of 4) stars, would do it again.
- Location: About an hour outside San Ignacio, Belize.
- Cost: $75/per person.
- Restrooms: No bathrooms at the office, restroom on board.
- Duration: 6 hours.
- Don’t forget: Swimmie and sunscreen.
Highlights:
- Viewing a underwater reserve in very good clarity.
- Seeing nurse sharks and rays.
- Slowly sailing after snorkeling with rum punch.
- Sparkling blue water and sunshine.
Lowlights
- Low expectations for lunch were met.
- Being dropped off at another location and having to catch the ferry back to Caye Caulker.
Our group was lead to the other side of the island to get picked up in two small motor boats. Once on board, the captain gave us a short speech about where to put things, where and how to use the restroom, and what to expect for the day. We headed to Hol Chan Marine Reserve first, using the motor. On our way, we spotted dolphins in the clear blue water. The captain slowed the boat, so we could watch the dolphins pass behind us. They set the scene for the day.
Snorkeling Stop 1: Hol Chan Marine Reserve
Before getting into the water, the crew handed out the fitted masks and fins. The captain broke us into three groups, two to go with crew and one with the captain as an underwater tour. I loved the tour because our guide would go point things out, then come up to explain what it was. It went surprisingly quick and I learned far more from this snorkeling trip than any previous trip.
The Hol Chan Marine Reserve was stunning! It was very clear (though not 100% clarity), with fish, a ray, eels, and a variety of coral to see. I loved the purple coral. We all had to wear plastic party wristbands and even saw a reserve attendant check in at our boat. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve was the best, I only wish we could have stayed in the area longer.
Once we were back in the boat, another crew member handed out our lunch. Because I am vegetarian, it was a pretty pale lunch with iceberg lettuce, ranch dressing, and pasta salad. I can’t complain too much because it was a hearty serving and enough to energize me through the next two stops. If you are looking for vegetarian places to eat on Caye Caulker, be sure to check out my post about where we ate.
Snorkeling Stop 2: Shark Ray Alley
Once we had finished eating, we were off to our next stop. Another girl on our boat was lobster red practically everywhere, which encouraged me to re-apply sunscreen every single time I got out of the water and was dry enough to do so. Our next stop was Shark Ray Alley, where nurse sharks and rays will come up to your boat in search of scraps as this is where fishermen used to come and clean their catch of the day.
It was wild. As soon as we stopped the boat, the nurse sharks were swarming. Even without a fear of sharks, this made me nervous. I assumed nurse sharks were small – like around 4 feet in length, but that was not the case! They were more like 7 feet in length and a medium brown color.
Raggamuffin Tours
Raggamuffin Tours does not feed the sharks to keep them nearby. As much as I wanted to see them up close, I also wouldn’t feel great if I knew Raggamuffin would do this on every single tour. After a couple moments, the sharks dispersed, waiting for new boats to appear. By the time I got the nerve to jump in the water, there were none nearby.
The water was far less clear, which was creepy to know there were sharks close, even if nurse sharks are not aggressive. Instead we swam around a bit to find them. We saw a sea turtle that was enormous as well as a ray with giant eyes on top of its head. It was not as friendly looking as the Manta Rays at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
Then in some areas, we saw the nurse sharks chilling on the sandy bottom between the coral. We learned that nurse sharks do not need to keep moving to breathe, so they take naps on the ocean floor. They also do not like a lot of commotion, if anyone was splashing around too much, the nurse sharks would swim off and find a new spot. It was incredible to see the nurse sharks swim around and we never got closer than about 20 – 30 feet from them.
Snorkeling Stop 3: Coral Gardens & the Sail Back
Our final stop was at the Coral Gardens, which the clarity was much better than Shark Ray Alley, but not as clear as Hol Chan. It was endless coral blooms with a few fish here and there. Things were much more casual at this location and a group did go off with a tour guide, but a lot of people swam around the boat.
When you got back on the boat, it was time for rum punch. My rum punch was a bit strong, so I added more fruit juice and chatted with the other guests. Even though the rum punch flowed freely, no one on our boat took an overwhelming advantage or got obnoxious. It was lovely to meet other guests and find out where they are from and how long they were staying in Caye Caulker. Once everyone was back on board, we began our leisurely sail back, with the aid of a little motor help. One crew member served us ceviche (I had salsa) and more rum punch. It was a slow journey with the sun getting lower in the sky. We soaked in the stunning Belize scenery.
The crew dropped us off at the north island of Caye Caulker at a party beach. Some people from our boat went to join the tour, but the other half jumped right onto the shuttle back to the main island. I am not sure if the tour company gets a commission from the party beach, or if it is just easier to dock here, but it a tad annoying. Luckily we did not have to wait for the shuttle.
Overall Thoughts: Caye Caulker Snorkeling and Sailing
I loved Caye Caulker snorkeling and sailing with Raggamuffin Tours. It was a laid-back sort of vibe, which you get from the entire island. It would have been nice to go to a few more snorkeling spots for shorter time, but that is not feasible with a large group. However, with the large group, it was great to meet other people and hear their Belize experiences.
Seeing the Hol Chan Marine Reserve was incredible. It made me happy to have the reserve’s ranger visit our boat and ensure everything was up-to-snuff. Belize pushes for environmental protection in a way that makes my heart swell. I would definitely go back in heartbeat or go a bit further south in Belize to explore the coral near Palencencia.
Where is the best place you’ve gone snorkeling? Let me know in the comments, so I can get there soon and see the coral in good health.
Happy Travels,
Hanna
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