Are you ready to dive into an extraordinary underwater adventure? Imagine swimming alongside some of the ocean’s most majestic and fascinating creatures: sharks. Belize, a tropical paradise renowned for its crystal-clear turquoise waters, invites thrill-seekers and nature enthusiasts alike to embark on an exhilarating journey of swimming with sharks. With numerous shark species inhabiting its pristine marine ecosystem, this Central American gem offers an unparalleled opportunity to witness these magnificent predators up close in their natural habitat. Brace yourself for an unforgettable encounter as we explore the thrilling world of swimming with sharks in Belize.
For the best diving adventure in Belize, you have a choice of 9 sites that will suit all levels of diving experience from beginner to advanced. In fact, Belize has now been recognised as one of the top diving areas in the world.
Read: How To Travel To Caye Caulker
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Where is Belize
Belize is a small country in Central America that borders Mexico to the North, Guatemala to the West and South with the Caribbean Sea to the east. There are over 200 Cayes (islands) in Belize, most of them located within the Barrier Reef Reserve. We found it to be a very laid-back Caye, with great restaurants, cold beer and Reggae Music playing 24/7.
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The #1 Top Things to Do in Belize – Swimming With Sharks
We had never swum with sharks before and one of us had never snorkelled in open waters, so the thought of swimming with sharks was overwhelming. The pressure was on, most of the travellers we met in Caye Caulker all talked enthusiastically about swimming with the sharks in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve.
What is Included In Your Swimming With Sharks Tour in Belize:
- Licensed captain and tour guide: Spanish and English-Speaking
- Park fees
- Equipment
- Lunch
- Purified water
- Fresh fruit
- What is not included in your Belize tour:
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Drinks at lunch
- Tips
What to bring with you on your swimming with sharks tour:
Hol Chan Marine is your first stop on your swimming with sharks itinerary. It takes a 45-minute ride to get to the reef. Hol Chan is located off Ambergris Caye and is the oldest marine reserve in Belize.
The first part of your tour includes 4 snorkelling stops in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. You will see tropical fish, sea turtles, sharks, sting rays, and maybe even manatees and colourful coral.
The tour takes you to San Pedro where you can choose one of the many cafes and restaurants for lunch. Lunch is not included in your tour.
With our snorkel gear on we all jumped off the side of the boat and immediately saw large sea turtles heading towards us, eels and brightly coloured schools of fish.
Where To Eat in Ambergris Caye
For the top 10 restaurants in Ambergris Caye click here.
Why We Did Not Stay in Ambergris Caye
We had considered spending a few nights in Ambergris Caye but we are so glad we didn’t. It is more commercialised, has cars and definitely has not got that laid-back feeling of Caye Caulker.
We jumped off the side of the boat and joined hundreds of Nurse Sharks and the Stingrays that have joined the feeding frenzy. 
Stingrays joining the shark feeding frenzyWe were joined by some very large stingrays.
Next up was swimming with the Manatees, large grey mammals that are closely related to the elephant and the hyrax (a small gopher-sized mammal).
She had flippers at the front and she came towards us and stared at you with her wrinkled face with whiskers on her snout. As we packed up to leave to go back to shore she surfaced with her nose, had a sniff around and then sunk back into the ocean.
Caye Caulker Hotels
Wondering where to stay on Caye Caulker? We list the top 3 best places to stay in Caye Caulker. We did stay at the De Real McCaw but recent reviews have not been too favourable.
Latest review:
Very good. Very cheap. Fantastic location. Rating 8.0
Liked:Fantastic value for money. Will be recommending to others to stay
Disliked:Got nothing bad to say
Island Magic Beach Resort at Avenida Hicaco is a non-smoking hotel that has a pool, beach, bar and lounge.
Review: Beachfront location outdoor seating and relaxing area. The restaurant was pretty epic. Great pool. Comfortable room and very clean.
Jan’s Hotel is located at 52 Hicaco Avenue Front Street on Caye Caulker. It is a locally-owned hotel close to restaurants and shops and offers a pol, beach and free WiFi.
Review: The receptionist and cleaning lady were friendly and ready to help. Appreciate the courtesy taxi to our water taxi. They have kayaks you can use during the day. The room was clean and had hot water, plus the room had air conditioning and our own balcony to overlook the sea
More hotels on Caye Caulker:
Travel Information to Belize and Caye Caulker
Airports in Belize
Belize’s International Airport – Philip S W Goldson (BZE) is located 10 miles from Belize City.
Flights to Caye Caulker are serviced by Tropic Air and Maya Air.
Cheap Airfares to Belize
Find the cheapest flights with Skyscanner who then directs you to the airline’s website with no extra fees to pay.
To travel from Belize City to Caye Caulker read more here.
Travel Insurance
World Nomads offers simple and flexible travel insurance. Buy at home or while traveling and claim online from anywhere in the world.
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In conclusion, swimming with sharks in Belize offers a thrilling and unforgettable experience for adventure seekers. With its diverse shark species and pristine marine environment, Belize provides a unique opportunity to observe these magnificent creatures up close while ensuring their conservation. While the activity may seem daunting at first, strict safety measures are in place to ensure the well-being of both humans and sharks. By promoting responsible tourism and education about these apex predators, we can foster a greater understanding and appreciation for the importance of protecting our oceans’ delicate ecosystems. Swimming with sharks in Belize is not just an adrenaline-pumping adventure; it is also an opportunity to connect with nature and contribute towards the preservation of these incredible creatures for future generations to enjoy.
Wonderful photos guys – we only wished we had our underwater camera here. Just have to go back I guess although we were disappointed in the so called beach at Caye Caulker.
Hi Guys hope you well , in this instance the guide had an amazing camera and he I a professional so what the heck the best $25 we spent on top of the experience
Man there is nothing cooler than swimming with a manatee – in Belize 🙂 AWESOME!
Hi Rebecca
They are awesome aren’t they.