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.

“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.