Honest Caye Caulker Marine Reserve Snorkelling Tour
TL;DR
If you want to see marine life – sharks, rays, and colourful reef fish – the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve snorkelling tour is a half-day, budget-friendly adventure worth doing.
If you’re searching for a review of the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve snorkelling tour, you’re probably asking yourself the same question we did: Is it actually worth it?
We chose a half-day tour because we were dealing with mixed weather and didn’t want to commit to a full-day excursion. Having snorkelled in several destinations before, we wanted something convenient, affordable, and still memorable.
We’ll share exactly what happened on our tour – the highlights, the drawbacks, and what we wish we’d known beforehand – so you can decide if this snorkelling tour matches your travel style, ethics, and expectations.
- Honest Caye Caulker Marine Reserve Snorkelling Tour Review
- Caye Caulker Marine Reserve Snorkelling Tour Itinerary
- Caye Caulker Marine Reserve Snorkelling Tour – Our Honest Opinion
- What Other Travellers Say About the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve Snorkelling Tour
- What Does the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve Snorkelling Tour Include?
- Conclusion: Is the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve Snorkelling Tour Worth It?
- Where to Stay in Caye Caulker
Honest Caye Caulker Marine Reserve Snorkelling Tour Review
We opted for this Marine Reserve snorkelling tour from Caye Caulker:
Caye Caulker Marine Reserve Snorkelling Tour Itinerary
This is the itinerary of the exact Caye Caulker Marine Reserve snorkelling tour we went on:
1. South Channel
The South Channel of Caye Caulker is famous for barracudas, moray eels, and snappers. Here, we went on a guided snorkel tour, and our guide spotted some interesting wildlife for us.
2. Shark Ray Alley
Next up was Shark Ray Alley. Here, the fish were fed to attract a large number of them. Afterwards, we could jump in to swim with dozens of nurse sharks and stingrays.
3. Coral Gardens
At Coral Gardens, we swam with butterfly fish, damsel fish, parrotfish, and many others. Additionally, we saw a lot of different corals – both on the reef and on a coral nursery.
4. Tarpon Feeding
This was a rather short stop. We got some fish to feed both the tarpons underwater and the frigate birds in the air – both were surprisingly exhilarating.
5. Bonus Stop: Manatee
On the way back from the tarpon feeding to the dock, our guide spotted a manatee. We were so happy that he made time to watch it for a bit!
Caye Caulker Marine Reserve Snorkelling Tour – Our Honest Opinion
We want to be upfront: our experience on this tour wasn’t perfect – but it was still very much worth doing, especially if you understand what you’re signing up for.
During our stay on Caye Caulker, weather conditions weren’t ideal, which is one of the reasons we chose a shorter snorkelling trip close to Caye Caulker. While that meant less time on the boat and calmer waters, it also meant we didn’t visit as many stops as we would have on a full-day tour.
Another small downside: the GoPro on board wasn’t working that day. The crew was apologetic, and we ended up doing our best to capture the experience with our own camera instead (look at the manatee above 🙈). While it’s always nice to get professional underwater footage, this didn’t take away from the actual snorkelling itself – just from the souvenirs afterwards.
One thing we do want to mention openly is that the sharks at Shark Ray Alley are fed to attract them – as far as we know, that’s a common practice on Caye Caulker. It makes sightings extremely reliable, but feeding wildlife isn’t ideal from an ethical standpoint.
That said, seeing nurse sharks and stingrays up close for the first time is undeniably thrilling, and for many travellers this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
If this is something you’re sensitive to, it’s worth knowing in advance (and one reason eco-focused travellers may prefer this eco-friendly full-day 7-Stop Snorkelling in the Barrier Reef tour).
We have written a full comparison of the most popular half-day and full-day snorkelling tours from Caye Caulker:
What Other Travellers Say About the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve Snorkelling Tour
⭐ Rating: 4.5 / 5 (50 reviews)
Snorkeling tour was great. Our guide was great and assisted my mom who couldn't swim very well. Tour group was small and personal. Much nicer than going on the crowded bigger boats with dozens of people.
– Johnny (see more reviews)
What Does the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve Snorkelling Tour Include?
The tour we did includes:
- Entrance fee to Caye Caulker Marine Reserve
- Equipment
- Water & fresh fruit
- Photos and video of your experience
Conclusion: Is the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve Snorkelling Tour Worth It?
Overall, this tour delivers exactly what it promises: easy-access snorkelling, lots of marine life, and great value for money. It’s not a luxury or eco-deep-dive experience – it’s a solid, beginner-friendly introduction to snorkelling in Caye Caulker, and we’d still recommend it if you’re short on time or travelling on a budget.
Where to Stay in Caye Caulker
Bella's Backpackers Hostel is the most budget-friendly option on Caye Caulker:
- You can choose between private rooms and dorms.
- It is located on the main street with a bar on the beach. The location is close to the split and everything else important on Caye Caulker.
- You can use kayaks for free.
- The communal area is cosy with hammocks, and you can use the communal kitchen.
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