Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkeling: Shark Ray Alley & Coral Gardens

Swim through three reef zones and come face-to-face with nurse sharks and rays

Snorkel the Hol Chan Marine Reserve aboard a 45-foot catamaran, departing at 9:30 am for a full day that includes three guided reef stops, lunch, and all equipment. You'll spend about 50 minutes in the water at Hol Chan's main reef, then move to Shark Ray Alley for an encounter with resident nurse sharks and southern stingrays, and finish at Coral Gardens where turtles and eagle rays often appear. The boat returns at 4:30 pm.

Step-by-step itinerary

Sail and snorkel at marine reserve

• Depart dock at 9:30 AM
• Sail 90 minutes to Hol Chan Marine Reserve
• Group snorkel with guide for 50 minutes
• Sail to Shark Ray Alley
• Encounter nurse sharks and stingrays
• Enjoy Belizean rice and beans lunch
• Sail to Coral Gardens
• Snorkel among corals, fish, turtles, rays
• Sail back to island
• Enjoy rum punch, ceviche, fruit, snacks
• Relax with reggae music
• Arrive back at dock at 4:30 PM

The Experience

The catamaran leaves the dock at 9:30 and sails for 90 minutes to reach Hol Chan Marine Reserve, a protected area where the reef sits close enough to the surface that you can see the structure and the fish without depth or current fighting you. Once there, a guide splits the group and checks that your equipment fits before leading you down for about 50 minutes in the vibrant colors—many varieties of fish, coral formations, the kind of detail you miss from a boat. The water is calm enough that all fitness levels manage it.

After the main reef, the boat moves down to Shark Ray Alley, still part of the reserve. This stop is the draw: nurse sharks and southern stingrays live here year-round, and they come close enough for photos. It is not a feeding spectacle or a touch tank—the animals are there, you are in the water, and the encounter is real and brief. Then you sail to Coral Gardens for a third snorkel where turtles and eagle rays show up often. Between stops, the boat is moving, so you rest on deck.

Lunch is Belizean rice and beans with chicken (other proteins available on request), served as you sail back. The boat also brings rum punch, ceviche, fruit and snacks for the return journey, and you reach the dock at 4:30. Snorkeling equipment, park fees and bottled water are included; bring your own sunscreen, hat and towel if you want them.

What’s included

Snorkeling equipment, park entry fees, a guide leading each group through the water, lunch of rice and beans with chicken (or another protein on request), rum punch, ceviche, fresh fruit and bottled water for the full day.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Glassbox Tours

Is this one for you?The boat departs from the dock at 9:30 am, so you do not need a car or a ride to get there—if you are staying on the island or nearby, you can walk or take a short taxi ride to the departure point. The catamaran does the sailing and the timing, so the three reef stops and the lunch fit into a single day without you building the schedule yourself.

Top questions

What is Shark Ray Alley like when you get there?

Shark Ray Alley is a shallow area inside the Hol Chan Marine Reserve where nurse sharks and southern stingrays live and feed naturally. You enter the water with a guide and the animals are present and active, close enough to photograph, though they are wild animals and the interaction is not controlled or guaranteed to be identical each time.

How long do you actually spend snorkeling in the water?

You spend about 50 minutes in the water at the main Hol Chan reef site, then another snorkel session at Shark Ray Alley and a third at Coral Gardens, with time on the boat between stops to rest and eat.

Does the boat stop anywhere else or is it just these three reefs?

The itinerary covers three snorkel stops—Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark Ray Alley and Coral Gardens—with sailing time between them. The boat departs at 9:30 am and returns to the dock at 4:30 pm.

What language does the guide speak?

Guides speak English and Spanish, so you can request the language you prefer when you book.

Can children come on this snorkel trip?

Children are welcome from age 5 and up. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller on the boat, and infants must sit on an adult's lap during the sail.

Is the snorkeling difficult or do I need experience?

The trip is suitable for all physical fitness levels. A guide checks that your equipment fits and leads the group, so you do not need prior snorkeling experience—the guide will show you how to use the gear and stay comfortable in the water.