Must-Visit Islands Along the Belize Barrier Reef—And Where to Stay on Each

Just off the coastline of Belize lies the Belize Barrier Reef, an almost 200-mile coral reef system that makes up the second-largest barrier reef in the world, and the longest in the Northern and Western Hemispheres. It’s a bucket-list dive and snorkel site for water lovers, as Charles Darwin called it “the most remarkable reef in the West Indies.” The pristine ecosystem here provides habitat for many threatened and endangered marine creatures, including loggerhead sea turtles, Western Indian manatees, American crocodiles, and rare birds like the red-footed booby and brown booby. 

There are hundreds of islands throughout the Belize Barrier Reef, some inhabited, but most still wild and rugged. You can’t really choose wrong when plotting out islands to visit while exploring the depths below, but each island offers a different vibe, with busy Caribbean towns with numerous hotel options to more remote spits of sand where you’ll find camping and no amenities. Here, our must-visit islands along the Belize Barrier Reef for fun, underwater awe, and solitude. 

As the largest island in Belize, Ambergris Caye is about 25 miles long and full of life. It’s known for San Pedro Town, a buzzy beach town where you’ll find restaurants, nightlife, and lots of golf carts—the preferred method of travel on the island. In the north of the island is Bacalar Chico Park and Marine Reserve, a protected marine area only accessible by boat, where snorkeling and diving are ideal and Mayan history is prevalent. On the western side of Ambergris Caye is Secret Beach, which is actually not so secret, as it’s one of the most popular spots on the island. It’s a great place for a casual beach day, and beach bars and restaurants are all around for cocktails and an easy lunch.

The island’s proximity to the Belize Barrier Reef means you’ll find diving and snorkeling outfitters throughout the island, and the boat ride out to the barrier reef is only about 10 minutes away. Half-day dive and snorkel trips are popular, with eagle rays, white tip reef sharks, seahorses, sea turtles, and dolphins often spotted.

The Phoenix, located in San Pedro Town, gives you a central location to area dining and entertainment without the need for a golf cart rental or rideshare. Rooms come with ocean views, and guests are given lots of perks, including complimentary happy hour each afternoon, free chocolate and spirits tastings, on-site kayaks, bicycles, and paddleboards; and free yoga classes. There’s also a spa and a popular on-site restaurant. 

Caye Caulker is a smaller island, at only about 5 miles long. The vibe here is very laid back, with most visitors coming to spend time on the beach or dive the Belize Barrier Reef. The island is known for The Split—a narrow channel that splits the island in two that’s become a hang out. In the south is Caye Caulker Village, the only settlement on the island that’s full of colorful storefronts and homes. In the north is the Caye Caulker Forest Reserve, a 100-acre protected site for birding throughout the mangrove forests. The dive area in Caye Caulker is the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, where 61 protected acres of the Belize Barrier Reef feature coral reefs and Shark Alley, the famous shallow spot where visitors can swim with nurse sharks and stingrays.

A must-do while in Caye Caulker (or Ambergris Caye) is a visit to Hol Chan Marine Reserve, which is just a short boat ride away. Hol Chan—Mayan for “little channel”—is  Belize’s oldest protected area where about three square miles of mangroves, coral reef, and seagrass beds provide the basics for excellent snorkeling and diving. 

With views of the barrier reef just offshore, Weezie’s Caye Caulker has just 16 rooms for a boutique feel, plus three pools, an alfresco bar and restaurant, and paddle boarding, kayaks, and bicycles. The hotel can also book your diving and snorkeling adventures, or set you up with a fishing excursion—all from the property’s dock. 

At about 15 acres in size, South Water Caye is located directly along the Belize Barrier Reef and is a great base camp for dive trips. The island is very laid back and the perfect spot to unplug, and diving and snorkel trips from here are a breeze. Common sightings include eagle rays, nurse sharks, colorful coral gardens, and sea turtles. The island is also home to the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, where around 117,000 protected acres encompass the second-largest marine preserve in Belize.

Here, mangrove forests and coral reefs provide habitats to numerous species, including the West Indian manatee, spiny lobsters, queen conchs, and bird species like the brown booby and magnificent frigatebird. You can also wade out into the water straight from the beach or docks in South Water Caye and still find clear water all around for an easy snorkeling experience. 

At Blue Marlin Beach Resort, there’s a full-service PADI dive shop where you can rent diving gear and take a boat out with your diving instructor straight from the resort’s dock. From here, your divemaster can help you choose between more than two dozen dive sites to visit within a five-mile radius, or take you to snorkel spots as well if that’s more your speed. The resort also offers kayaking, paddleboarding, beach cleanups, fishing, a full-service restaurant and bar, and beach cabanas right on the water. 

Located along the southern portion of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll, Half Moon Caye is a great place to dive the Great Blue Hole, a massive sinkhole that’s about 400 feet deep and one of the most popular dive spots in the world. Here, descend down into the abyss and see stalagmites and stalactites, plus reef and even hammerhead sharks. Coral can’t survive in the dark depths of the Great Blue Hole, as they need sunlight to thrive, but you’re in luck, as the Belize Barrier Reef is all around, full of tropical fish and healthy coral.

Snorkelers might see sea turtles swimming through the waters here, as loggerheads, hawksbills, and green sea turtles nest on Half Moon Caye’s beaches. Birders love the island for its rare red-footed booby sightings, as the island is home to Belize’s only breeding ground for them. When not in the water, you can also kayak around the beach areas, or take a walk along the island and go birding to see other seabirds and migratory warblers. 

Most people don’t stay on Half Moon Caye, but Adventure Life’s Basecamp on Half Moon Caye offers canvas cabanas with beds and basic furnishings. There are shared compost toilets and freshwater showers on site, plus a pavilion for dining. Guided activities include kayaking, snorkeling, and paddleboarding, and guests can enjoy locally inspired meals each day. 

Tobacco Caye is a teensy little five-acre island along the Belize Barrier Reef at the northern end of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve. Its location along the barrier reef wall means you have deep-water access and vertical reef wall drop-offs. Sightings often include large grouper, eagle rays, hawksbill sea turtles, nurse sharks, tube sponges, and massive schools of colorful fish.

Snorkeling here is spectacular as well, and while there are offshore spots you can choose from, you can also snorkel right off the beach and still see eagle rays, dolphins, and shimmering schools of fish among other marine life. To see even more marine life, Glover’s Reef Atoll is about a 45-minute boat ride away, and here, you can dive and snorkel gorgeous sites as well amongst drop-off walls and patch reefs. 

Reef’s End Lodge offers beachfront cabanas with views of the Caribbean, and can coordinate diving, snorkeling, and fishing trips. Plus, their bar serves as a popular meeting point for friends and family on the small island. Sip a Belizean cocktail and order fresh grilled fish and local specialties from the on-site restaurant.