Snorkeling in Belize was one of the absolute highlights of our trip thanks to the magnificent underwater world. After our backpacking trip got off to a fantastic start with the snorkeling trip on Caye Caulker, we wanted to explore the underwater world again. This time we went from Placencia to the small, dreamy islands of Silk Cayes. What an incredibly wonderful experience!
We don’t even know where to begin. I mean, we’ve seen a lot of the world and been in many of the world’s waters, but the underwater world in Belize truly blew us away and often left us speechless. But let’s start from the beginning and take you on our trip to the Silk Cayes.
What else you should know:
- Best time to travel to Belize
- Backpacking in Belize
- Belize costs and tips
- The top Belize attractions
- What else you should know:
- Book a Belize snorkeling trip
- The dream islands of Silk Cayes
- Finally! Snorkeling in Belize!
- Amazing! Nurse sharks and turtles
- Beautiful stingrays and eagle rays
- The best snorkeling trip of our lives
Book a Belize snorkeling trip
Together with our friends, we looked around all over Placencia and compared the many providers. Somehow, they all offered the same program with the same included services. In the end, we found the perfect tour guide for us.
Together with the guys from Seahorse Dive Shop, we headed out onto the Caribbean Sea early in the morning. On board were a handful of divers, the crew, and lots of snorkeling friends. The day turned out to be one of the most beautiful days of the entire tour. There was hardly a cloud in the sky… Jackpot!
The Dream Islands of Silk Cayes
We sat at the front of the boat, chatting about everything under the sun, enjoying the sun while the boat continued to sail into nowhere. At this point, we still had no idea where we were actually going. There was absolutely nothing to be seen on the horizon. Nothing at all!
After about an hour and a half, we spotted something on the horizon, but we couldn’t identify it. “Are those palm trees in the water over there?” We squinted and strained to finally see what was there. The boat slowed down, and finally we could see our destination—the Silk Cayes.
We couldn’t believe our eyes. So this was the destination of our trip? This small island? This tiny Robinson Crusoe island? Before us, a mini-island with a few palm trees, pelicans, and a wooden hut (the toilet). Absolutely amazing! All around, sparkling water in every imaginable shade of blue. None of us could stop grinning. Everyone felt this aura, this charm, this perfection!
This was by far the most beautiful thing the Caribbean had offered us at that point. The boat stopped, and the crew got ready. We grabbed our things, held them high above our heads, and jumped into the water. Now we had to walk the last few meters to the island through water. We were slowly beginning to suspect that this snorkeling trip to the Silk Cayes would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Everyone felt this aura, this charm, this perfection! It was by far the most beautiful thing the Caribbean had offered us at that point.
The Silk Caye Marine Reserve
Now we were in the middle of the Silk Caye Marine Reserve. The Silk Cayes actually consist of two small mini-islands. We could also clearly see the other island in the distance. The Silk Cayes are also called the “Queen Cayes.” The two islands are picturesque, and their beauty is hard to capture in words. The green and yellow coconut palms, the giant pelicans, the sea, those colors – simply priceless!
We were only 36 km from Plancencia Village, but it felt like 1500 km. It felt like we were stranded – somewhere in the Caribbean Sea, far from any civilization. The crew brought food and drinks to the island while we explored. And that took exactly 1 minute, because the island wasn’t particularly large.
We still couldn’t believe where we were. Our group was split into smaller groups. In the end, there were only 6 of us and one guide. It was perfect! Now the first snorkeling session should begin.
Finally! Snorkeling in Belize!
Here on the Silk Cayes, you don’t just go into the water anywhere and start snorkeling. No! There’s a specific spot in the water that represents the “entrance or exit,” so to speak. After all, there’s still an intact reef there. Our guide led us through the reef and explained all the amazing plants, corals, and animals.
So it was a guided tour through the reef. Isn’t that amazing? We dived again and again while our guide pointed at something. Then we all resurfaced, and he explained and told us a bit about it.
The water was crystal clear, the corals colorful, and the many sea creatures simply beautiful. We saw sea cucumbers, moray eels, starfish, countless different species of fish, and giant clams. We even spotted a beautiful lionfish among the corals. Lionfish are very conspicuous due to their large, fan-shaped pectoral fins with fine spines.
Of course, we didn’t swim directly to the fish, but observed it from a distance. You’re wondering why? Because lionfish are poisonous! This fish’s venom causes muscle spasms and is very painful. It’s not fatal, but we still decided against a close encounter with this animal.
Please never touch these corals! They’re fire corals!”
We continued on until our guide stopped again. He pointed at a type of coral and surfaced. “Please don’t touch these corals; they’re fire corals. Touching them can be really painful. The stinging cells are capable of penetrating human skin and injecting a painful toxin. This can cause quite an itch and burn. So remember this shape and color and keep it in mind.” After about 45 minutes, we finished the first round and swam back to the island.
Lunch break somewhere in the middle of nowhere
Now we could relax a bit and have something to eat. There was rice, chicken, vegetables, toast, beans, and other snacks. We didn’t even notice that the sun had already burned us quite a bit. While we had, of course, applied sunscreen beforehand, the sun in the Caribbean is of a completely different caliber. So if you ever find yourself there, use sunscreen as often as possible during the day.
After eating, we spent some time photographing the huge and beautiful pelicans basking in the sun on their fur. Time and again, the pelicans spotted their prey from the air and then dived down. Truly interesting and fascinating.
Amazing! Nurse sharks and turtles
After dinner, we did a second snorkeling session. This one was also beautiful and exciting. Again, we saw many colorful fish (we’ve forgotten their names), corals, and shells. This time, we even spotted a barracuda. They have elongated bodies and a silvery sheen. Their eyes are fixed, and their mouths are very large. Depending on the species, they can grow up to 2 meters long. Amazing! These fish are also quite dangerous. Their large lower jaw teeth can cause severe wounds, resulting in significant blood loss. Most of the time, they only bite once and then swim away again.
When we returned to the island, we packed up and returned to the boat. The next highlight awaited us. We continued sailing toward the reef for a few minutes. Then the boat stopped. One of the guys shouted, “Let’s get in the water! Grab your fins and goggles and get in!” Huge nurse sharks were already swimming beneath us. We couldn’t wait and jumped into the cool water. There weren’t just sharks there, but also lots of rays. We wanted to scream with joy and excitement.
Nurse sharks are even related to the whale shark. They live in the tropical Indo-Pacific, in the Red Sea, on both sides of the Atlantic, and in the eastern Pacific. They grow up to 2 meters long and are rather sluggish. They prefer to eat sea urchins, crabs, octopus, or squid. They are only dangerous to humans if provoked. While the group was at the front of the boat, we moved further back and followed two sharks. Now we could observe them in peace, all alone and without the others.
Turn around! Quick! Behind you!”
At some point, there was total excitement in the water. Marco looked at me while I shouted loudly (well, at least as loudly as one can in the water) “Turn around! Quick! Behind you!” When he turned his head, he almost had a giant turtle in his face. Out of nowhere, it was just there—right in front of Marco. A beautiful, giant turtle. It wasn’t fazed at all and showed absolutely no interest in us.
Like a bird, it glided through the water as if it weighed only a few grams. Marco grabbed my hand, and we swam a short distance behind the turtle, savoring the moment to the fullest. We could certainly have watched for many more hours. This moment was magnificent and will remain forever unforgettable.
Beautiful stingrays and eagle rays
In addition to the nurse sharks and the turtle, we were again able to marvel at a multitude of stingrays. This trip fulfilled several dreams. For the first time in our lives, we saw these beautiful sea creatures. Simply priceless! The rays float so lightly through the water, so quietly and so weightlessly.
Just watching this was an absolute highlight of this snorkeling tour for us. Out of the corner of our eyes, we even spotted a giant eagle ray. Before I could show it to Marco, the beautiful creature was already gone. They can grow up to 3.3 meters long. It was suddenly there and disappeared into the vastness of the sea after a few seconds.
The best snorkeling trip of our lives
This unique tour was slowly coming to an end. When we were all back on the boat, no one could believe it. “Did we really just experience all of that?” This day was too beautiful to ever comprehend. We sailed towards the sun, grinning all over our faces, and simply enjoyed this feeling. A feeling of contentment, happiness, excitement, and gratitude. In the early evening, we were back in the port of Placencia. This is where the best snorkeling trip of our lives ended. Definitely!
All information about our tour
- Start: around 9:00/9:30 am at the Seahorse Dive Shop
- Duration: approximately 6 to 7 hours
- Cost: €60 per person (we still have a little negotiated)
- Includes snorkeling goggles and fins, towels on board
- Includes lunch on the island and drinks
- 2 guided snorkeling trips at the Silk Cayes
- 1 trip to see turtles, sharks, and rays
- Don’t forget sunscreen, water, and a change of clothes!
- Be sure to bring an underwater camera*