Visit Belize Barrier Reef: Exclusive Luxury Travel to Belize

Cayes & Atolls of Belize

The Belize Barrier Reef is the southern portion of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef—the longest reef system in the Western Hemisphere. The Belizean section extends 186 miles north to south, protecting Belize’s Caribbean Coast from high waves. While the reef itself remains mostly submerged, dozens of cayes (pronounced “keys”) and three major atolls rise above the surface.

Cayes are low-elevation islands formed on the surface of coral reefs. Belize is home to dozens of them, along with three major atolls—Glover’s Reef, Turneffe, and Lighthouse Reef—that encircle interior lagoons. These remote islands and reef systems are national treasures, offering a blend of world-class diving, unspoiled nature, and laid-back island culture.

Among the best known are Caye Caulker, South Water Caye, Laughing Bird Caye, Turneffe Atoll, Glover’s Reef Atoll, and Lighthouse Reef Atoll, home to the legendary Great Blue Hole.

Cayes & Atolls

Belize’s cayes and atolls offer exceptional access to marine adventures and island leisure:

Caye Caulker: Located in between Belize City and Ambergris, this narrow island is ringed with mangroves and a thin strip of gleaming sand. Caye Caulker’s only town, offers basic accommodation and diving tours. Near the island, you can dive among shipwrecks, sponge gardens, and coral caves.
Glover’s Reef Atoll: 45 miles west of the mainland, this is the most remote Belizean atoll. It’s also a national marine reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The atoll’s central lagoon is famous for its wall dive sites—nearly fifty miles of them ranging in depth from 25 to 2,700 feet. Its 700 patch reefs offer snorkelers the chance to swim among coral gardens with sea turtles.
Laughing Bird Caye: Located 11 miles east of Placencia, Laughing Bird Caye National Park takes its name from the Laughing Gulls that used to nest here. This caye is part of an elongated ridge of reef and contains colonies of lettuce, boulder star, and fire coral; sponges; and sea stars. Here you can dive and snorkel with angelfish, bottle-nosed dolphins, and trumpet fish.
Turneffe: The largest of Belize’s three atolls, Turneffe draws divers with its steep walls, numerous caves, and the wreck of the Sayonara. Sportfishing is an added attraction, with flats fishing for permit, tarpon, snook, and bonefish.
Lighthouse Reef Atoll: One of the world’s top dive sites, this atoll contains approximately fifty miles of wall and reef diving, with crystal clear visibility. The Great Blue Hole, near the center of the atoll, is a collapsed limestone cave nearly 1,000 feet across and 410 feet deep. Here you can dive with giant groupers and several species of shark.
Half Moon Caye: A spectacular wall dive site, this caye is also a nesting ground for the Red-footed Booby (Sula sula) and the Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens). Hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata) and Loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) lay their eggs on the cay’s beaches.
South Water Caye: The enormous South Water Caye Marine Reserve protects numerous cayes, including Carrie Bow, Man-O-War, Tobacco, and Wee Wee. South Water Caye also features numerous seagrass beds, shallow coral reefs, and vertical walls. Sea turtles and eagle rays are common here. Harlequin bass, barracuda, moray eels, and dolphins can also be observed.

What is the Weather Like?

The cayes and atolls enjoy warm, tropical weather year-round. Temperatures typically range from lows in the 70s°F to highs in the mid- to upper-80s°F. The dry season runs from mid-December through May, offering the calmest waters and sunniest skies. The rainy season spans from June to November, with the highest hurricane risk from August to early November.

These averages are changing, please check extended weather forecasts using your favorite weather app prior to departure.

Getting There

Access to the cayes and atolls is typically by boat or domestic flight. Caye Caulker is located 20 miles northeast of Belize City and 10 miles south of Ambergris Caye, with flights available from Belize City or Ambergris. Glover’s Reef Atoll lies 45 miles west of the mainland. Lighthouse Reef Atoll is located 62 miles from Belize City. Day trips and multi-day excursions can be arranged to both Glover’s Reef and Turneffe Atoll. Laughing Bird Caye and South Water Caye can be reached by guided excursions from Placencia or Hopkins.

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