Part 9 of 20
The Belize Barrier Reef: the Great Blue Hole and beyond
Charles Darwin called it the most remarkable reef in the West Indies. Belize’s barrier reef, atolls and the Great Blue Hole are a World Heritage Site and the Caribbean’s finest.
Running the length of Belize’s coast, the Belize Barrier Reef is the largest section of the Mesoamerican Reef and the longest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere. Beyond it lie three coral atolls, rare outside the Pacific, and in the middle of one of them, Lighthouse Reef, is the Great Blue Hole, a perfectly round sinkhole about 300 metres across.
Why it’s special
In 1842 Charles Darwin described Belize’s reef as “the most remarkable reef in the West Indies”. In 1996 seven of its protected areas were inscribed together as the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From 2009 it was on the list of World Heritage in Danger, mainly because of plans for offshore oil drilling and coastal development. In 2018, after Belize banned offshore oil exploration and strengthened mangrove protection, it was removed from the danger list, a rare conservation success.
What you’ll see
- Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley: easy, shallow snorkelling with nurse sharks, rays, turtles and moray eels.
- The Great Blue Hole: a deep dive to stalactites at around 40 metres, made famous by Jacques Cousteau in 1971.
- Lighthouse Reef, Turneffe and Glover’s Reef: the three atolls, with walls, healthy coral and big fish.
- Whale sharks: at Gladden Spit, from March to June around the full moon.
When to go
The dry season, from December to May, is the best time, with calm seas and good visibility. Hurricane season runs from June to November. Water temperatures range from about 26°C to 29°C.
How to get there
Fly to Belize City, then take a water taxi or short flight to Ambergris Caye (San Pedro) or Caye Caulker, the main bases for reef trips. Day trips to Hol Chan take about 15 minutes from San Pedro; the Blue Hole is a long day trip, or part of a liveaboard. There’s also good diving from Placencia and Hopkins in the south.
Snorkelling or diving?
Belize offers some of the easiest reef snorkelling in the Caribbean: Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley are shallow, sheltered and only minutes from San Pedro and Caye Caulker by boat. Divers can stay on the cayes for day trips, or base themselves on the atolls, where resorts and liveaboards reach walls teeming with fish. The Great Blue Hole is more famous than beautiful for many divers, but trips usually include two more dives at Half Moon Caye and the Aquarium, which are spectacular.
Know before you go
- Currency: the Belize dollar, pegged to the US dollar, which is widely accepted.
- Marine reserve fees: charged at Hol Chan and the atolls, usually collected by your operator.
- Long trips: the Blue Hole is two to three hours by boat each way from the cayes.
- Water temperature: 26–29°C.
- Combine with: Maya ruins and rainforest on the mainland.
Protecting the reef
Pay the marine reserve fees, don’t touch or feed the sharks and rays at Shark Ray Alley, and use reef-safe sunscreen.
Book a trip
Compare snorkel trips, dive days and tours for this area on our partner GetYourGuide, with reviews from other travellers and free cancellation on many trips. For the full list, see the world’s top 20 coral reefs, or read about coral bleaching and the future of reefs.
Questions people ask
Can beginners dive the Great Blue Hole?
It is a deep dive to about 40 metres, so most operators require advanced certification and experience.
Where is the best snorkelling in Belize?
Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley, a short boat ride from Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker.
Some links on this page earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. How this site makes money
