Bacalar Chico on northern Ambergris Caye contains both a 12,000 acre area of terrestrial National Park and a 15,000 acre area of marine reserve which protects a vital section of the Belize Barrier Reef, including Rocky and Robles Points - the only points where the barrier reef touch mainland Belize.

The extensive, mangrove-lined lagoons on the eastern side of the reserve provide an important breeding area for a large number of bird species as well as a crucial nursery for many reef fish. The beaches on the eastern side provide a major nesting ground for Loggerhead and Green Turtles.

Bacalar Chico was a very important trading post to the Maya. It is believed that some fifteen hundred years ago they dug the narrow channel that separates Ambergris Caye from Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, which now forms both the northern border of the park and the border between Belize and Mexico.

Activities

Snorkeling tour
Travel by boat from Sarteneja, across Corozal bay to Bacalar Chico, stopping first at the reserve’s visitor centre where you can learn more about this fascinating protected area and its earliest Mayan inhabitants. From there, it is a short boat ride to the barrier reef, where you will get to explore the crystal-clear waters with one of our Bacalar Chico Nature Guide Specialists. You will enjoy snorkeling through the untouched ecosystem that the reserve protects and seeing a wide range of marine life including hawksbill turtles and nurse sharks.

Pricing

$85 US per person (minimum 4 people) for a full day trip. For groups of more than 4 people (maximum 8 people) contact the Sarteneja Adventure Tours office for a discounted price.

Pricing includes: park entrance fees, transportation by boat to the site, experienced tour guide, snorkeling gear, and lunch and drinks.