Ambergris Caye District
Blue Hole:
Located in the center of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll about 60 miles due east
of Belize City. Originally a cave, the roof fell in about 10,000 years ago, as the land
reseeded into the sea. Almost a perfect circular hole, it is 1,000 feet in diameter and
about 400 feet deep. This is the most famous dive site in all of Belize. Famous also for
its sponges, barracudas, corals, angel fish- AND a school of sharks often seen patrolling
the hole's edge!
Belize District
Alta Ha Mayan Ruins:
This ancient Mayan ceremonial center is an easy, half-day trip from
Belize City, and home to numerous species of birds and wildlife.
Community Baboon Sanctuary:
Located just 30 miles northwest of Belize City you will find a
unique conservation effort to protect the habitat and population of Belize's Black Howler
Monkey (locally named "baboon").
Caye Caulker District
Caye Caulker Marine Reserve:
Located right off Caye Caulker you can snorkel and dive in
the second longest barrier reef. In the Coral Garden swim with nurse sharks and eagle rays.
Hol Chan Marine Park:
Hol Chan is Mayan for "little cut" and is situated north of Caye
Caulker. Declared the first marine park in the entire country, this area is zone protected.
Overfishing in the 1980's nearly destroyed the area's fragile reef system and drove most
of the life away. In 1987, the Belizean government made it a three-square-mile national
reserve, and installed buoys for boats to tie to, thereby avoiding anchoring on the reef.
Today the reef is thriving again with an abundance of HUGE fish! It is not unusual to spot
schools of rays floating in the distance, or even schools of barracudas. The fish are
pretty friendly and hang around out of curiosity. In fact some are downright extroverts
and may come right up to your mask to view you. Some fish are so friendly, they will stay
around to be petted or may even come up and "kiss" your mask. Back to basics; the reserve
covers approximately three square miles and is divided into four zones:
Zone A: The Reef
Zone B: The Seagrass Beds
Zone C: The Mangroves
Zone D: The Shark Ray Alley
With all the great dive sites in Belize, Shark Ray Alley is an absolute MUST!
Shark Ray Alley:
Considered by "Scuba Diver" magazine this area at the southern tip of
the Hol Chan Marine Park is one of the seven best animal dives in the Caribbean. Or
specifically, the Wreck dive. The "wreck" is really a sunken barge about 30 feet long
located in approximately 80 feet of water. The main feature of this dive, though, is not
necessarily the "wreck" but the fact on this dive you are guaranteed, GUARANTEED to see
sharks. A colony of curious nurse sharks make this wreck their home, as well as friendly
green moray that lives in the front part of the barge. Pet the eel if you dare, but
remember these are still creatures of the wild. Several large sharks will encircle you.
They are some of the friendliest sharks on earth. Enjoy them. There are not many places
in the world where this will happen. For further info please visit:
www.holchanbelize.org
Sunset Cruise and Alligator Spotting:
Take a relaxing cruise around the island to reach
the western, leeward side and witness a spectacular sunset. As darkness approaches, turn
on the lights and check the mangroves for numerous alligators.
Manatee Tour/Goff's Caye:
Tours from Caye Caulker take you to visit these beautiful
creatures in their natural habitat. Swallow Caye nearly always has a good concentration
of them. That area has just been declared a protected area. Most tours to see the
manatees go on to visit Goff's Caye, a small uninhabited island right on the reef.
Here you can have your lunch, snorkel right off the island among the coral or just
lay back and relax.
Cayo District
Caracol:
Belize's largest Mayan ruin lies deep in the heart of the Belizean jungle,
at an elevation of 1500 feet, on the Vaca Plateau in the Cayo District. Occupied as
early as 1200 BC Caracol has revealed an extensive and varied history. The central
core of the site is what most visitors see today. It consists of three plaza groups,
surrounding a central acropolis, dozens of structures, two ball courts, and reservoirs.
The largest structure is the Caana pyramid, which reaches a height of almost 140 feet and
one of the tallest man-made buildings in Belize. For further information please visit:
www.caracol.org
Cave Tubing Underground Adventure:
See the spectacular "River of Caves." Float down
seven miles underground and enter the exciting world of rivers disappearing into the
underworld. As you float on inner tubes with only a headlamp to light your way through
the mist, you swirl around stalagmites jutting from the river and stalactites looming
from above. Float past underground waterfalls.
Five Blues Lake National Park:
Located on the Eastern boundary in the Cayo District.
The park has a 200 foot, intensely blue, deep lake surrounded by steep limestone hills.
Swimming, boating and hiking are the primary activities. A series of hiking trails leads
to caves, follow rivers and meanders through the habitat of local wildlife. Mountain bikes
and kayaks are available for rent at the visitor's center.
www.5blueslake.org
Stann Creek District
Laughing Bird Caye National Park:
One of the newest national parks in Belize.
It's located 13 miles southeast of Placencia.Village in the Stann Creek District.
The laughing bird has long abandoned their rookery due to excessive human encroachment,
but the government is taking strong action to assist the birds in reestablishing their
presence. Laughing Bird Caye is a shelf atoll with deep channels and the diving is
outstanding. The key attraction is the abundance and variety of coral. For more
information please visit
www.laughingbird.org
