Snorkelling with sharks in Belize: your ULTIMATE guide [2024]

If you are traveling to Belize, a snorkelling tour in Caye Caulker should definitely be on your itinerary. The snorkelling in Belize is nothing short of amazing. There’s so much to see, including manatees, stingrays, turtles, and of course, nurse sharks. However, there are some things worth knowing before you go snorkelling with sharks in Belize.

There are a couple of blog posts out there but none of them answered our burning question: is snorkelling with sharks in Belize ethical and responsible wildlife tourism? This guide will explain everything you need to know about booking a snorkel tour, guidelines for swimming with sharks, safety, and how to make sure you have an ethical and responsible wildlife encounter.

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WHY VISIT SHARK RAY ALLEY IN BELIZE?

The Belize Barrier Reef (also known as the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef) stretches from Mexico to Honduras. It is the second largest barrier reef, after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, and offers some of the most amazing snorkelling and diving in the world.

Shark Ray Alley is one of the most popular snorkelling spots in Belize. Located within Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark Ray Alley is a snorkelling spot that’s named for the nurse sharks and stingrays that flock to this location in droves.

Here, you can swim alongside nurse sharks and stingrays. The water is clear and shallow, so you can get a really good view of the underwater world. You can also visit Shark Ray Alley along with other nearby snorkelling spots, such as Coral Gardens, the Belizean Titanic, or Caye Caulker Marine Reserve.

But, snorkelling with sharks in Belize isn’t always ethical. It’s really important that you understand where the problems are and how to be a responsible wildlife tourist.

So don your snorkeling mask and chuck on those flippers as we cover everything you need to know before you go snorkelling with sharks in Belize. We’ll take you through what to expect, how to snorkel with sharks responsibly, how to book a snorkelling tour, is it safe, and more!

A gentle nurse shark relaxing under cover of corals

WHAT ARE NURSE SHARKS?

Nurse sharks are small-ish sharks that, like us, love to hang out in the tropical and subtropical oceans of the world.

These sharks are nocturnal predators, often resting on the ocean floor during the day and becoming more active at night when they hunt for crustaceans, small fish, and other invertebrates. Nurse sharks are known for their suction feeding method, using their powerful jaws to create a vacuum and suck prey into their mouths.

Why is Central America the perfect plce to travel in your mid-twenties? Find out here!

ARE NURSE SHARKS DANGEROUS?

Sharks? Stingrays? You might be wondering: is it safe to go snorkelling with sharks in Belize?

Nurse sharks are big ocean puppies! They’re generally not aggressive. In fact, they’re considered one of the most docile shark species. Nurse sharks pose minimal risk to humans and won’t bite unless threatened or cornered.

These big ocean puppies are slow-moving and spend most of their time resting on the ocean floor. They’re solitary animals and they’re pretty shy – a nurse shark will probably swim away and hide rather than pick a fight with you! When you snorkel with sharks in Belize, you’ll usually be swimming above them, so they don’t really mind that you’re there.

That said, nurse sharks may approach if there is food in the water (more on that later!). Although they tend to avoid confrontations, they may behave assertively in situations such as the (extremely unethical) shark feeding that some boats practice in Shark Ray Alley.

Like any wild animal, nurse sharks should be treated with respect and caution. Nurse sharks have been known to bite when provoked, and their sharp teeth can cause a lot of damage. This means that it’s important not to try to touch them or get all up in their space when you go snorkelling with sharks in Belize🌴💙

We hope that this guide helps you not only to plan your trip to go snorkelling with sharks in Belize, but also encourages you to be a responsible wildlife tourist whilst you’re there.

Looking for more ethical travel tips? Head here!

ARE STINGRAYS DANGEROUS?

You might also see stingrays at Shark Ray Alley.

Stingrays are peaceful animals that glide through the water. They have a barb on their tail that contains venom, but they only use this for self-defence and aren’t dangerous unless they feel threatened or provoked. Stingray-caused deaths are incredibly rare.

In fact, most stingray injuries happen when people accidentally step on them. This can hurt! We met a guy in Panama who’d stood on a ray that was buried in the sand, and he said he couldn’t walk for a few days.

Top tip: when entering the ocean from the shore anywhere in Central America, do little shuffley movements with your feet instead of taking steps. This lets any stingrays know that you’re coming and gives them time to move out of your way.

Snorkelling in Caye Caulker, Belize

IS IT ETHICAL TO GO SNORKELLING WITH SHARKS IN BELIZE?

Ahh, the big question and the one I was asking myself before, during, and after the snorkel trip. Is it ethical to go snorkelling with sharks in Belize?

TLDR: You’d find it hard to classify snorkelling with sharks in Belize in Shark Ray Alley as an ethical and responsible wildlife encounter. Even if you choose the right tour operator and practice responsible tourism throughout your swim, it still doesn’t feel great. We wish we’d known that before we booked the tour!

That said, there are tons of opportunities to go snorkelling with sharks in Belize that ARE more ethical. Keep reading as we go through some of those options below.

WHAT IS ETHICAL AND RESPONSIBLE WILDLIFE TOURISM?

Wildlife tourism needs to be ethical and sustainable. Ethical tourism is something of a buzzword these days. It basically means ‘thinking about the consequences of your actions as a tourist on the environment, local people and local economy’. In this situation, it means taking responsibility to protect the ocean and the sharks and rays (and other marine wildlife) that you’re hoping to see.

Nurse sharks are mostly shy and gentle animals. However, nurse sharks are also vulnerable to human activities, such as boat injuries, habitat loss, behaviour changes, and pollution. All of these are things that we need to take into consideration when answering the question: is it ethical to go snorkelling with nurse sharks in Shark Ray Alley?

Nurse sharks surround our boat in Caye Caulker

WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND SHARK RAY ALLEY?

Before Caye Caulker became the budget-backpacker beach town of Belize, it was a small fishing village. Fishermen would park up in the area around Shark Ray Alley to clean their catch under the sun. They’d throw the scraps overboard, back to the ocean.

This attracted a ton of nurse sharks and stingrays who got used to the free food.

By the 1980s, the sharks had learned to associate the sound of boat engines with an easy meal. Now, whenever a new boat pulls up, you’ll see them circling in excitement. Some tour operators continue to bait the sharks and rays to put on a show for snorkellers.

Top tip: Avoid any operator that feeds the sharks! Some operators will tell you that this is ok, because you are upholding a ‘tradition’ in Caye Caulker. But the Island has grown from its humble roots as a fishing village, and now we know better. Wildlife should be left to be wild, and that means not making them reliant on humans for food.

Do you want to swim with whale sharks in Mexico? Here’s how to do it responsibly!

SO, IS IT ETHICAL TO GO SNORKELLING WITH SHARKS IN BELIZE?

You’d be hard-pressed to classify swimming with nurse sharks in Shark Ray Alley as ethical at the moment.

Many tour operators still feed the sharks and rays to attract them to the site for snorkelling. Feeding the sharks presents an ethical dilemma as it has hugely negative impacts on their behaviour and habitat. Here are the problems with feeding the nurse sharks in Belize;

1.

Human dependency. Snorkel tours run daily, and this unlimited buffet makes sharks dependent on human food. It also reduces their natural hunting skills. This dependency on handouts can have negative consequences for their overall health and survival, making them more vulnerable in the wild.

2.

Altered behaviour. Nurse sharks are typically nocturnal but the ones that we saw were so active during the day. They are also generally solitary animals, and they do not form large social groups, but here there were so many in one area!

3.

Increased population density. Nurse sharks are solitary creatures and too many sharks in one area can cause fights between individuals for food and space. It also contributes to more injuries and diseases spread faster between the sharks.

4.

Safety risks. Feeding the nurse sharks at Shark Ray Alley can create safety risks for the sharks, and humans! Nurse sharks may become more assertive and associate people with food, increasing the likelihood of close encounters and potential accidents.

5.

Ecosystem impacts. Nurse sharks are important in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems by controlling the populations of prey species. If their natural behaviors are disrupted, it can have cascading effects on the entire ecosystem.

If you are hellbent on doing this type of tour, look for a reputable tour company that does not feed or touch the sharks and rays. Make sure that you follow the rules and guidelines of the reserve. You could also consider snorkelling or diving away from Shark Ray Alley, where there are fewer tourists and no boats feeding the wildlife.

I was disappointed by the lack of responsible wildlife tourism when snorkelling with sharks in Belize’s Shark Ray Alley. Although we chose a company that practiced ethical and responsible wildlife tourism, it was clear that they were benefitting from other companies’ poor practices (even if they weren’t directly contributing!).

I’ll go into detail about my experience below. But if you really want to swim with sharks in Belize more ethically, I suggest a diving tour.

Everything you need to know about SCUBA diving with sharks in Belize (coming soon!)

Nurse shark & large fish feeding frenzy! Look how they surround the boat…

WHAT TO EXPECT ON A CAYE CAULKER SNORKEL TOUR?

Roll out of bed, grab your swim stuff, and make your way to the tour office at the scheduled time. Your guide will hand out the necessary equipment while demonstrating how to properly wear your snorkel and fins.

Once geared up, board the boat and embark on your journey to the initial snorkelling spot. During the boat ride, your guide will provide essential information on snorkelling guidelines. This briefing covers maintaining a respectful distance from wildlife, staying aware of your fins, and how to avoid touching delicate coral formations.

Then you’ll head to the following locations! Each tour company will visit these at different times so that all groups get a quieter and more intimate snorkelling experience – it wouldn’t make sense if everyone went to the same place at the same time.

#1 HOL CHAN MARINE RESERVE

Hol Chan Marine Reserve is the first snorkel spot. It’s around twelve miles away from Caye Caulker, close to Ambergris Caye, another island that’s a little more expensive and a little less backpacker-oriented. On entry, you’ll stop by the floating office, where you’ll be given a wristband as proof of your entry permit.

This marine reserve is one of the busier sites, as most tours stop here first to check in with the national park rangers. Hol Chan is where the reef drops off, which makes it a popular site for scuba diving and snorkelling. But don’t worry, there’s enough reef for everyone.

Check out our guide to scuba diving with sharks in Belize (coming soon)

Once you’re ready, your guide will plunge into the water with you, leading the group on an unforgettable snorkelling tour. Hol Chan boasts an abundance of marine life, including sea turtles, lobsters, eels, stingrays, and the majestic spotted eagle rays. The vibrant coral formations and a kaleidoscope of colourful fish add to the awe-inspiring underwater scenery.

#2 SHARK RAY ALLEY

Shark Ray Alley belongs in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, so keep hold of your wristband! I’m not kidding when I say that you’ll be totally surrounded by nurse sharks. This shallow, sandy snorkel spot is a good opportunity to watch these gentle bottom feeders up close.

I’ve covered a lot about Shark Ray Alley already so I won’t blather on about it here! Scroll up for more information about this snorkel spot.

#3 CORAL GARDENS

Coral Gardens is another gorgeous spot to snorkel. Living up to its name, this site has excellent corals and lots of small but extremely colourful fish. There were also fewer snorkellers here than in other spots, so it was a nice, calm swim. Keep an eye out here for rays and turtles!

#4 CONCH SHELL GRAVEYARD

This is another area is where fishermen used to dump their catch. After they removed the meat, they dumped the empty conch shells here. Seriously, the sea bed is covered in conch shells with their beautiful pink colour inside.

As a result, lots of wildlife visits the area, particularly turtles and stingrays. It can get quite shallow in some areas, so you can see them up close! We saw some huge stingrays here. They were majestic.

#5 BELIZEAN TITANIC

Ok, it’s not quite the titanic, but it’s still fun to explore! This sunken barge provides a structure for many different coral species and creates lots of little hidey-holes for fish to make their home. We also saw a turtle here!

The ship itself is relatively shallow, so you can see it from the surface. If you can hold your breath, you can dive down to get a closer look. There are several openings in the ship for more advanced snorkellers to check out the inside!

#6 STOPS FOR OTHER COOL STUFF

In addition to the five ‘main’ stops, your boat will also stop when your guide sees anything interesting. This may include manatees, turtles or dolphins. Our boat made three unexpected stops, two for manatees and one for a huge turtle!

#7 TARPON STOP

Tarpons are huge, silvery, prehistoric-looking fish (seriously, they’re massive!). You can find them around Caye Caulker, and your tour will usually stop where they hang out. If you hold your hand above the water, sometimes they’ll jump out!

Top tip: Don’t feed the tarpons even if they are renowned for jumping out of the water to eat from your hand. We should all work together to keep wildlife wild and not make them dependent on humans for food.

Diving to see a shipwreck

IS SNORKELLING IN BELIZE DANGEROUS?

None of the animals you swim with are dangerous to humans (yes, that includes nurse sharks!). We are more dangerous to them. Thats why it’s so important to join a tour that has a focus on responsible and ethical wildlife tourism and to follow all guidelines.

When you go snorkelling, you can wear a life jacket and you’re free to get back onto the boat whenever you feel tired. Of course, wildlife can be unpredictable and wild! Your guide will be in the water with you at all times, reminding you to keep a safe distance from any animals you encounter.

Honestly, the biggest risk when snorkelling is probably jellyfish stings. Jellies float along, oblivious to the world around them, so keep an eye out! If you’re worried about being stung, wear a long-sleeved rash guard and leggings. You can also get ‘burned’ by fire coral, but you shouldn’t be touching the corals anyway, so if you get stung it’s your own fault.

DO I HAVE TO GET IN THE WATER?

Of course, you can just watch from the boat on any of the snorkelling stops. This includes the snorkelling tour at Shark Ray Alley. You’ll still be able to see the nurse sharks and stingrays swimming around the boat, even if you don’t jump in.

Top tip: Some tour operators offer a discounted observer option that allows non-snorkelers to remain on the boat while others are in the water. However, you may want to get into the water at other snorkel sites and this option is only available if you don’t want to snorkel at all.

HOW TO BOOK A SNORKELLING TOUR IN CAYE CAULKER?

WHICH TOUR COMPANY SHOULD I CHOOSE FOR SNORKELLING WITH SHARKS IN BELIZE?

Deciding on the ideal tour company to snorkel with sharks in Belize can be a bit overwhelming given the abundance of options on Caye Caulker’s main street.

We opted for Salt Life Eco Tours. This is because they were one of the only companies advertising that they were practicing responsible tourism. The team at Salt Life Eco Tours genuinely showed a passion for marine conservation and a dedication to protecting the reef and its diverse wildlife.

What impressed us most was the strict enforcement of ethical guidelines during the tour. No touching of coral, sharks, rays, or fish was permitted, and feeding any marine life, including sharks, stingrays, and tarpon, was strictly prohibited. Our guide, with gentle guidance, ensured that everyone maintained a respectful distance from the animals.

We also noticed that Ragamuffin Tours prioritises ethical wildlife tourism, but we can’t speak about them personally. As usual, do your research and make an educated decision that aligns with your values

Top tip:If you want to snorkel with sharks in Belize, choose a reputable and experienced operator following best practices for responsible tourism.

Now, let’s dive into the tour options for snorkeling with sharks in Belize;

Two nurse sharks swimming at Shark Ray Alley

WHICH TOUR OPTION SHOULD I CHOOSE TO SWIM WITH MANATEES IN BELIZE?

There are four different tour types to see manatees in Belize:

Full-day snorkelling Tour
Half-day snorkelling Tour
Multi-day tour
Scuba Diving Tour

A detailed comparison of the itinerary options is below but TDLR; we chose to do the Full-Day Itinerary. We also went on a Scuba diving tour the next day.

FULL-DAY SNORKEL TOUR:

A full-day snorkeling tour typically runs from 10:30 am to 4:30 pm. Prices range from $90 to $120 USD, which found it to be the best value for money. Caye Caulker is a small island, and there’s not tons to do there except dive, snorkel, and chill. So a full-day tour doesn’t mean you’re missing out on any island activities. You’ll still have the evening to relax and watch the sun set

Salt Life Eco Tours, for example, offered a full-day tour with 7 scheduled stops and a bonus stop, including park fees, snorkelling gear, fruit, lunch, and water. Each company uses slightly different names for the locations, but most tours will visit the same spots. The tour also included the park fee ($10 USD), snorkelling gear, fruit, lunch and water.

HALF-DAY SNORKEL TOUR:

The half-day snorkelling tour runs for 3 hours. You can go in the morning (10 am to 1 pm), or in the afternoon (2 pm to 5 pm). A half-day tour is half the price of the full-day tour costing between $45 and $60 USD.

You’ll visit three locations, including the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, Shark Ray Alley, and the Coral Graveyard. You’ll also get your snorkelling gear, lunch, some fruit snacks, rum punch, and your park fees ($10 USD) included.

Unless you are really short on time, I don’t recommend this tour. All the locations on the full-day tour are extremely unique and Hol Chan Marine Reserve is a real highlight (we loved it so much that we actually went back to dive there the next day!)

But if you just want to snorkel with nurse sharks and are looking to save some time or money, this could be a good option for you.

MULTI-DAY SNORKEL TOUR:

For a more immersive experience, consider multi-day sailing tours around Belize’s Cayes. While pricier, these tours take you off the beaten track to remote snorkeling spots and islands, offering more chances to spot rare wildlife, such as manatees!

You’ll likely have opportunities to snorkel with nurse sharks outside of Shark Ray Alley, which will be more peaceful and responsible. If you’ve got the time and money, a multi-day snorkel tour would be a great option!

SCUBA DIVING TOUR:

Belize has some of the best scuba diving in the Caribbean. If this is something you’d like to try, you can do your PADI Open Water and Advanced Open Water qualifications here.

We’d already done our PADI Open Water in Honduras, so we headed to Caye Caulker for some fun dives. Our scuba diving tour visited Hol Chan Marine Reserve, where we got to swim alongside nurse sharks and their scarier friends, the Caribbean Reef Shark! You can also dive in the famous Belize Blue Hole, where the corals are amazing but there’s less wildlife to see.

Top tip: Belize is quite expensive compared to other Central American countries, so we’d recommend heading down the reef to the Bay Islands of Honduras if you want to dive a lot. It’s much cheaper, and the wildlife that you’ll encounter is similar.

Nurse sharks fight for fish thrown from boats

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO SWIM WITH SHARKS IN BELIZE? MY EXPERIENCE:

We booked a snorkelling tour from Caye Caulker, mostly because we wanted to see manatees. Our tour with Salt Life Eco Tours started nice and early. After grabbing our gear, we set off in a small speedboat to see what the reef had to offer.

First, we visited Hol Chan Marine Reserve (to grab our wristbands and pay for our permits), then we headed to Coral Graveyard and a couple of other ‘secret’ snorkel spots without a name.

After lunch, we set off to Shark Ray Alley. As our boat slowed, we could see at least a couple of nurse sharks already pressing up against the sides of the boat and another couple circling the engine.

Once they’d realised there were no free food handouts (Salt Life Eco Tours practices responsible wildlife tourism and doesn’t feed the sharks and rays), they went to look for food elsewhere. This was our chance to enter the water without jumping into a literal pile of sharks!

You can definitely tell which boats feed the sharks, as they swarm around any feeding areas. Our guide advised us to stay clear of the shark mosh pits, which we all did. The sharks didn’t seem bothered by us. One even brushed me with its fin as it swam frantically towards a boat that was tossing fish over the side.

Although it was interesting to be so close to nurse sharks, I felt like snorkelling with sharks in Belize could not be considered ethical tourism. Even if you visit with a company that prioritises animal welfare, they still benefit from companies who don’t practice ethical wildlife tourism. The rest of the snorkel trip, however, was great!

We went diving the next day, and thought that SCUBA diving with nurse sharks was a much more responsible way to see these ocean puppies up close and respectfully.

RULES TO FOLLOW WHEN YOU GO SNORKELLING WITH SHARKS IN BELIZE?

1.

Respect their space: You should always keep several metres away from the nurse sharks and rays and never try to touch them, chase them, or ride them (yep… there are people who would try that). Nurse sharks are usually gentle, but they do bite when threatened, and it will hurt.

2.

Go slow: Enter the water slowly and minimise your splashing around. Splashing and flailing in the water could make a shark feel threatened and cause it to behave aggressively.

3.

Don’t use camera flash: This applies to taking photos of any animal, whether that’s on land, in the ocean, or at a zoo/aquarium. Flash photography can disturb and scare away wildlife. So switch off the flash on your phone before you pop it in its waterproof case, and make sure you know how to do it for any other equipment, such as your GoPro too.

4.

Be respectful of the environment. Shark Ray Alley is part of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, a protected area that aims to conserve the biodiversity and beauty of the reef. Don’t litter and collect any trash that you do see in the water to take back and dispose of. Never collect anything from the reef, such as shells or coral, as a souvenir. As the saying goes, ‘leave only footprints and take only photos’

5.

Avoid wearing sunscreen: Caring for your skin is important. But if you’re going to snorkel with manatees, you need to stay clear of the sunscreen or make sure you choose reef safe sunscreen that’s 100% biodegradable! Coral reefs are dying, species are disappearing at an alarming rate, and whilst this isn’t entirely down to your choice of sun protection, the chemicals in sunscreen are super hazardous to ocean wildlife. Wear a t-shirt instead!

You shouldn’t use any other oils or lotions either. Scientists say that environmental contaminants in your favourite skincare products might damage the manatees skin.

WHAT TO PACK WHEN YOU GO SNORKELLING WITH SHARKS IN BELIZE?

Swimwear: You’re going swimming, so best pack your swimsuit! We also recommend wearing a long-sleeved t-shirt and leggings to protect yourself from the sun.

Snorkelling gear: masks, snorkels, fins, and (optional) life jackets will be provided by your tour company. Many of them offer prescription goggles for glasses-wearers. Of course, if you have your own gear, feel free to bring it!

Top tip: it sounds gross, but if you spit in your goggles and then rinse them afterwards, it’ll stop them from fogging up!

Towel: You won’t need to dry off, as you’ll be in and out of the water all day. But a towel or a shirt is great to cover your shoulders whilst on the boat and help you to avoid sunburn.

Camera or Phone: Swimming with manatees in Belize is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you will definitely want to capture. Some companies email around GoPro footage after your tour, but feel free to bring your own! Make sure that any camera or phone is waterproof or has a waterproof case.

Water Bottle: Belize is hot and humid, and you’ll be out in the sun all day, so it’s really important to stay hydrated. You should drink plenty of water before, during, and after your tour. Keeping hydrated can also stop you getting sunburned so badly!

Snacks: Snorkelling can be exhausting and you will burn more calories than you think. Lunch is included, but if you think you’ll get hungry, pack a few snacks. I’m speaking from experience when I say things are more fun when you aren’t ‘hangry’.

Extra Cash: Most tour operators will include everything (transportation, equipment, guides, and lunch) in their price, but you may wish to leave a tip if you think they did a good job. Tips are appreciated but definitely not expected!

Dry bag: Important for keeping all the stuff I just mentioned dry!

It’s not just sharks! Here are two manatees we swam alongside on our snorkelling tour.

OTHER AMAZING THINGS TO DO IN CAYE CAULKER?

We loved Caye Caulker! This little island has such a different vibe from all the other Central American beachy locations – in the best possible way of course! Here are our favourite things to do in Caye Caulker.

#1 GO SCUBA DIVING WITH SHARKS AND TURTLES

This was one of the craziest things that we did in Central America! If you’re a diving enthusiast, Belize is an absolute gem. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve is home to nurse sharks and Caribbean Reef Sharks, creatures that may seem intimidating but are surprisingly chill (as long as you respect their personal space!).

Joining a scuba diving tour almost guarantees an encounter with several species of sharks, along with a vibrant marine world featuring an abundance of fish, turtles, corals, and starfish. It’s an underwater spectacle you won’t want to miss!

#2 CHILL OUT AT THE LAZY LIZARD

The Lazy Lizard, perched at the northern tip of the southern island of Caye Caulker, stands out as one of the island’s hippest bars. Grab a deckchair and crack open an ice-cold beer or soda whilst you catch the mesmerizing sunset from the Split. Feeling the heat? Take a refreshing plunge off their pier and let the ocean currents gently float you away. Keep an eye out for turtles and stingrays gliding by!

Fun fact: Ever wondered why the islands of Caye Caulker are separated? Once upon a time, they were a united front until a hurricane swept through, cleaving the island into two distinct parts. This ocean gap is affectionately known by locals as ‘The Split’. Quite the tale behind this island paradise!

#3 RELAX IN A BEACH HAMMOCK

Embrace the easygoing island vibe of Caye Caulker by finding a beach hammock and committing to a day of relaxation. No hammocks at your hostel? No worries. Take a stroll down the main street, and for just a couple of dollars a day, you can enjoy the comfort of hammocks offered by larger hotels. Trust me, they’re just as fantastic!

#4 GRAB AN ICED COFFEE AT ‘ICE ‘N BEANS’

Ice ‘n Beans is one of the best spots in Caye Caulker for good coffee, breakfast, and ocean views. The staff hand out free coffee shots and mini doughnuts whilst you wait, and you can spend the morning relaxing in a hammock or a beach chair. They also have amazing Wi-Fi connection, perfect for digital nomads who need to get some work done.

THINGS TO AVOID IN CAYE CAULKER

#5 FEED THE STINGRAYS AT IGUANA REEF INN

You’ll see a lot of travel bloggers recommending feeding the stingrays at Iguana Reef Inn. Every evening at 5 pm the hotel staff feed the stingrays from their private pier. They’ll encourage you to touch and hold the stingrays as they glide through the water and even feed them by hand.

This should be a big red flag! These stingrays are wild, but their behaviour is being changed by humans, for our entertainment. If you want to see stingrays, we recommend booking onto a snorkelling or diving tour. Or just go for a swim off one of Caye Caulker’s little beaches. These guys are literally everywhere. You don’t need to support unethical wildlife practises to see them.

We hope this guide has helped you to plan your trip to go snorkelling with sharks in Belize, and to do it ethically and responsibly. If you have any more questions about swimming with manatees in Belize, feel free to drop us a message on Instagram or leave a comment here and we’ll get back to you!

We loved Caye Caulker!

FAQs

CAN I GO SNORKELLING WITH SHARKS IN BELIZE?

Yes you can! This blog post will tell you how to go snorkelling with sharks in Belize, so scroll up to the top and start reading! Remember to practice ethical and responsible wildlife tourism always!

WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO GO SNORKELLING WITH SHARKS IN BELIZE?

If by ‘best’ you mean where will you see the most, then definitely Shark Ray Alley. But if you’re looking for the ‘best’ place to see sharks whilst still being a responsible wildlife tourist, head to literally any of the other sites in Hol Chan Marine Reserve.

ARE THERE DANGEROUS SHARKS IN BELIZE?

What do you mean by dangerous? All sharks can, and will, bite if provoked. But most of the sharks in Belize are not considered dangerous to humans. When you snorkel with sharks in Belize, you’re likely to see nurse sharks, reef sharks, and hammerhead sharks, which are generally not aggressive towards humans. We’re just not worth the bother!

It’s important to note that, like any wild animals, sharks should be treated with respect. Keep your distance, don’t try and touch a shark, and follow advice from guides to ensure safe and responsible interactions with all marine life.

CAN YOU SNORKEL WITH MANATEES FROM CAYE CAULKER?

Yes! The snorkelling around Caye Caulker is some of the best in the world. You can hire snorkel masks and fins for a budget-friendly self-led tour around the island, where you’ll likely see fish, stingrays, and turtles. Or, you can book a snorkelling tour if you want to go out to the coral reefs for a higher chance of encountering sharks, turtles, stingrays and maybe manatees or dolphins.

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