Let's snorkel Hol Chan the Best Marine Reserve in Belize
Description
Setting us apart from all the other companies, we guarantee to give 150% on making our customer happier, we leave 9:30am, 1 hour earlier than most of the other companies, we provide a Gopro for the Tour. We strive on professionalism, safety driven and being a educative tour operator, and of course having fun the entire day.
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Tarpon Feeding stop is by far one of the highlights of the tour. We like to say, if you’re not fully awake yet, this is the stop that’s guaranteed to get your heart pumping! Tarpon are massive fish that can grow up to 8 feet long and weigh as much as 300 pounds. Feeding these leaping giants is an unforgettable experience you definitely don’t want to miss when visiting Caye Caulker.
The Belize Barrier Reef is approximately 287 miles long. On a full-day tour from Caye Caulker, you’ll be exploring just a small portion of its magnificence. Our next stop is only 8 minutes away from Caye Caulker, where we’ll search 2 to 3 main areas of the reef for manatees. Once found, we’ll snorkel with them—of course—while maintaining a respectful distance and avoiding any touching or harassment of these majestic creatures. If we’re not lucky at first, we’ll continue to other stops and try again on our way back to Caye Caulker.
Our next stop is the Coral Garden. This is where you'll snorkel and explore at your own pace—whether you prefer to go solo or with a travel buddy or partner, regardless of your experience level. Although the Coral Garden is located outside the protected area, we treat all snorkeling stops with the same level of care and respect. That means no standing on, touching the corals, or collecting anything from the reef. The Coral Garden is home to a wide variety of beautiful flora and fauna, including sea turtles, stingrays, nurse sharks, eagle rays, moray eels, and many different types of fish, as well as a stunning array of coral formations in all shapes, sizes, and colors.
Our little version of the Titanic—the Sunken Barge—is approximately 40 feet long and 20 feet wide. It has been a unique attraction for many years, thanks to the wide variety of corals and fish that have made it their home. Although it covers a small area, it's incredibly interesting in its own way. As a large, hollow structure, you never know what might be hiding inside or beneath it—such as massive moray eels, nurse sharks, turtles, and lionfish. After more than 30 years underwater, the barge is now beautifully encrusted with a vibrant mix of hard and soft corals, adding to its charm and ecological importance.
Next, as we enter the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, we arrive at Shark and Ray Alley—one of the most fun and exciting snorkeling stops. Nurse sharks, which are among the most docile sharks in our reef, are the only species of shark commonly found in this area. They share the waters with Southern stingrays and a variety of fishes, all taking advantage of the limited chumming allowed in this designated part of the reserve. As soon as any vessel enters, the sharks begin to trail behind, expecting food. And as soon as we tie our boat to one of the buoy lines, they gather near the stern on the starboard side, swirling around in anticipation of sardines. These sharks can be viewed easily from onboard, as they come very close to the boat—but of course, we invite you to hop in and make the experience truly unforgettable.
The Hol Chan Channel is the first zone of the Reserve to be protected, dating back to 1987. This channel is packed with marine life and offers an incredible snorkeling experience. Since we are now inside a protected area, strict rules apply to everyone entering and snorkeling here. All guests must follow their guide at all times, as the channel can occasionally have strong currents and multiple groups of snorkelers in the area. During the snorkel, your guide will also provide educational insights about marine life. He or she will dive down and, upon resurfacing, identify and name various fish and coral species so that everyone has the opportunity to learn more about the underwater ecosystem. This stop typically takes about 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the conditions. Safety is always our top priority—but of course, we want everyone to have fun as well.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(167)
Absolutely incredible experience from start to finish, the A team really went of their way to make sure we all had the best time and saw amazing sealife, great lunch and rum punch and fruit platter was a bonus!
Thank you so much for the amazing review! We’re thrilled to hear that you had such an incredible experience with us. Our A team loves going the extra mile to make sure our guests have an unforgettable day on the water. We’re so happy you enjoyed the marine life, lunch, fresh fruit platter, and of course, the rum punch! It was a pleasure having you with us, and we truly appreciate you choosing Blackhawk Tours. We hope to welcome you back to Belize for another adventure soon!
Had a great time with knowledgeable tour guides. Both Alwin and Daniel were fantastic. They knew a lot and displayed some amazing free diving skills which was extraordinary to watch.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had a great time with us. Alwin and Daniel will be especially happy to hear your kind words! They’re passionate about sharing their knowledge of Belize’s incredible marine life, and their free-diving skills definitely add a little extra excitement to the experience! We truly appreciate you choosing Blackhawk Tours and hope to have you back with us for another unforgettable adventure soon!
We had a wonderful day. The sun was shining and the reef looked beautiful. We were very lucky to swim with manatee!! We also swam with turtles and sharks and a whole array of fish! The coral was so pretty. Our guides were informative, friendly and kind. Big thank you to Alwin and Daniel for making today an unforgettable experience. They took excellent pictures and sent them promptly. Highly recommend this tour!
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We’re thrilled to hear you had such an unforgettable day and were lucky enough to swim with a manatee, along with turtles, sharks, and so many beautiful fish! Alwin and Daniel will be so happy to hear your kind words. They truly love sharing the reef and making sure every guest has an amazing experience. We’re also glad you enjoyed the photos and that they were sent to you promptly! Thank you for choosing Blackhawk Tours and for the recommendation. We hope to welcome you back for another incredible Belize adventure!
Wow! I picked this tour based on the other reviews and it definitely lived up to the hype. Alwin and EJ went above and beyond in so many ways to make this a great experience. I was nervous to stay in Caye Caulker in July with all the reports of Sargassum. This did not impact the snorkeling as we were inside of the reef and the boat could easily anchor at spots free of seaweed. Visibility was great, corals were healthy, and the fish were everywhere. We saw eagle rays, manatees, lobster, nurse sharks, puffer fish, tarpon, barracuda,,,, an amazing day. Also, the reef cuts the swell, on the day we went out was a small craft advisory (3-6 ft waves reported online). However, there were no waves noticeable where we were snorkeling and the boat ride was smooth all day. Wear a rash guard, the sun is intense.
Thank you so much for taking the time to leave such a detailed review! We're thrilled to hear that your experience lived up to the expectations from our previous guests. Alwin and EJ will be delighted to know they helped make your day so memorable. It's also wonderful that you shared your experience with the sargassum and sea conditions. Many travelers have similar concerns during this time of year, and we're glad you were able to see firsthand that the reef provides excellent snorkeling conditions with great visibility, healthy corals, and calm waters. Seeing eagle rays, manatees, nurse sharks, barracuda, tarpon, puffer fish, lobster, and so much more in a single day is truly special! Thank you as well for the helpful tip about wearing a rash guard the Belize sun can definitely be strong. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back to Blackhawk Tours for another unforgettable adventure the next time you're in Belize!
Amazing. Al was a great caption and EJ amazed us with his free diving at the bottom of the ocean. He went above and beyond to show us a green eel and a unique colored stingray. Unforgettable experience. The shark alley was probably the family favorite.
Thanks so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear your family had such an unforgettable experience with us. Al and EJ will be so happy to hear your kind words. Al takes great pride in making every trip enjoyable, and EJ always loves sharing the incredible marine life with our guests. We're glad you got to see the green moray eel and the uniquely colored stingray—those are truly special encounters! And of course, Shark Ray Alley is always a favorite for guests of all ages. Thank you for choosing Blackhawk Tours. We hope to welcome you and your family back for another amazing adventure in Belize!
We had an amazing day with Alwyn and EJ, swimming with a manatee, sharks, turtles and fish. They are knowledgeable and caring about marine life. This really was a memorable trip.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had such an amazing day with Alwyn and EJ. Sharing the water with a manatee, sharks, turtles, and so many beautiful fish truly makes for an unforgettable experience, and we're so glad they could make it even more special with their knowledge and care for our marine life. We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another memorable adventure in the future!
We had an incredible tour with black hawk tours. The guides and captain Al and EJ were both knowledgeable and environmentally aware. They are passionate to show you the reef while keeping diligent to protect the reefs biodiversity. They are super fun and made the trip even more amazing we were so lucky to see manatees, nurse sharks, eagle rays and turtles along with many beautiful fish species . Thanks for the delicious lunch fruit and rum too Thank you Black Hawk tours you guys are awesome.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear you had such an incredible experience with us. Al and EJ are truly passionate about sharing the beauty of Belize's reef while ensuring it remains protected for future generations, and they'll be delighted to know their efforts made such an impact. Seeing manatees, nurse sharks, eagle rays, turtles, and so many colorful fish in one trip is incredibly special—we're so happy you got to experience it all! We're also glad you enjoyed the lunch, fresh fruit, and, of course, the rum. Thank you for choosing Black Hawk Tours and for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure on the reef soon!
My girlfriend and I had an incredible experience today on our Hol Chan Marine Reserve tour with Blackhawk Tours. Kelvin was very friendly and helpful explaining everything to us the day before the tour so we knew exactly how to prepare prior to the tour. Our tour was led by Al and Daniel who both offered an amazing and fun experience with their professionalism, overall knowledge and hospitality. We were given a perfect amount of time at each stop of the tour and were fully able to enjoy and take advantage of each experience offered. With opportunities to see many different species of fish, Sting Rays, Sea Turtles, Sharks and even a Manatee, this tour offered incredible and unforgettable experiences. Lunch, drinks and fruit were served onboard and everyone was given time to be able to take a break and eat during the tour. Overall I would recommend this tour 100 % ! Thank you to Kelvin, Al, Daniel and the entire Blackhawk Tours team for allowing my girlfriend and I to have such a memorable and outstanding experience in Belize.
Thank you so much for your wonderful review and for choosing Blackhawk Tours! We are thrilled to hear that you and your girlfriend had such an incredible experience exploring Hol Chan Marine Reserve with us. It means a lot to know that Kelvin was able to help you prepare and that Al and Daniel made your tour both fun and memorable with their professionalism, knowledge, and hospitality. We take great pride in creating unforgettable experiences, and we're delighted that you were able to enjoy so many amazing encounters with marine life, including the fish, sting rays, sea turtles, sharks, and even a manatee! We're also happy that you enjoyed the pace of the tour, as well as the lunch, drinks, and fresh fruit served onboard. Your kind words and recommendation mean the world to our entire team. Thank you again for sharing your experience. We truly appreciate your support and hope to welcome you both back for another adventure in Belize in the future!
So many more stops to snorkeling! Hands down the best snorkeling we have ever had. The guides were amazing and had tons to share and educate us on.
Thank you so much for the wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed all the snorkeling stops and that this was the best snorkeling experience you've ever had. Our guides love sharing their knowledge of Belize's marine life and reef ecosystem, so we're happy to know their passion and enthusiasm made your day even more special. Thank you for choosing BlackHawk Tours, and we hope to see you again on your next visit to Belize!
Daniel and Al were the best guides!! Made the whole experience worth it. Very organized, knowledgeable and thoughtful. Would definitely recommend to anyone.
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're thrilled to hear that Daniel and Al made your experience so memorable. Their organization, knowledge, and thoughtful approach are qualities we truly value, and we're glad they helped make your trip worthwhile. We appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another great adventure soon!
