Snorkel Hol Chan and Stingray Alley
Snorkeling at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve is a sure-fire way to experience Belize’s diversity of marine life up-close. Animals at Hol Chan are used to getting fed by people on boats, so they’re relatively bold around snorkelers. This spot gets a lot of marine traffic, and every minute you spend underwater you’ll get to see something new.
- Duration:
- 4 hrs
- Available Days:
- Every day
- Schedule:
- 9:00 AM
- Hotel Transport Included
- Mobile Ticket Included
- Offered in English, Spanish
“Hol Chan” is a Mayan phrase meaning “Little Alley.” This little alley is an open channel in the Belize Barrier Reef. As you snorkel around these 3 square miles (7.7 km) of water, you’ll swim past large walls made entirely out of coral. Large populations of nurse sharks and stingrays live in this part of the reef, and you might also see octopi, eels, and sea turtles.
Located off the coast of Ambergris Caye, this marine reserve has clear, aquamarine water that makes for easy viewing. The tropical temperatures also make Hol Chan an especially attractive location for snorkeling.
Attraction Visited
The quick ride out to Hol Chan Marine Reserve makes this the most popular half-day tour for visitors staying at Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. Set aside in 1987, this reserve covers an area of 3 square miles (7.8 sq km) and is found off the southern tip of Ambergris Caye. As a result, this area of the Belize Barrier Reef supports healthy populations of fish and colorful coral. Turtles, nurse sharks, grouper, jacks, reef fish, and barracuda are just a few of the species you might see here. The reef ranges from 10–30 feet (3–9 m) deep and most guides take snorkelers along the outer edge of the reef. While this site is great for beginner snorkelers, as well as divers, swimmers should pay attention to currents which can be strong throughout the reserve.
Read more:Hol Chan
What to Bring
Sunscreen, optional towel, and an optional underwater camera.
What's included
Equipment, entrance fee, tour guide, bottled water, and transportation. Shared Seat in Basis Minimum 4 persons
Transportation
Many of our tours and activities offer transportation pick up & drop off options from several locations and destinations. Options vary by tour, see “BOOKING REQUEST” for full details.
Traveler Comments
Excellent trip. The kids got in and snorkeled even with the sharks and rays. We saw a large sea Turtle also.
Outstanding staff, they took us out a little bit early and we were in the water looking around before all of the other boats got there. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff.
Great guide, fantastic trip, loved this activity!
Similar things to do
Visit the Coral Gardens in the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve to see one of the prettiest underwater landscapes in Belize. This snorkeling tour is a fun excursion for the whole family, for visitors of any level of snorkeling expertise.
Mexico Rocks is one of the top snorkeling destinations. Not only is the water around Mexico Rocks incredibly clear, it also has a very mild current, making underwater observation especially easy.
Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley are two of Belize’s most popular destinations for nature tours. Take this 2.5-hour tour to get close to marine wildlife.
