Take to the seas on this five-day scuba diving adventure in Belize, one of the best ways to appreciate the country's spectacular biodiversity and some of the best diving opportunities in the world. Dive the Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest barrier reef in the world, to see beautiful corals, reefs teeming with life, and threatened species like marine turtles and manatees. Visit a marine research field station, picnic on a sandbar, and unwind at a serene tropical island getaway on Tobacco Caye.
Highlights
Dive the renowned Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest barrier reef in the world
Dive South Water Caye and enjoy a picnic lunch on a sandbar
Visit a marine research field station where scientists study coral reef ecosystems
Disconnect in a beachside bungalow overhanging the water on Tobacco Caye
Brief Itinerary
Day
Highlights
Overnight
Day 1
Arrive in Belize City
Belize City
Day 2
Transfer to Tobacco Caye, Afternoon Dive
Tobacco Caye
Day 3
Dive the Belize Barrier Reef
Tobacco Caye
Day 4
Dive South Water Caye, Visit Marine Research Field Station
Tobacco Caye
Day 5
Transfer to Belize City & Depart
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Belize City
Belize City
Welcome to Belize! Sandwiched between the Caribbean Sea and the dense jungle rainforest of Central America, Belize is a nature lover's paradise. Once a small Maya town and later the capital of former British Honduras, Belize City is a historic port perched on a peninsula jutting into the Caribbean Sea. It's the largest city in Belize and a great base for all types of excursions around the country. Enjoy some free time to explore the city on foot, grab lunch at a local restaurant or market, or unwind at your hotel before your onward adventures.
Day 2: Transfer to Tobacco Caye, Afternoon Dive
A waterside cabin on Tobacco Caye
Today you'll travel from Belize City to Dangriga, a southern town on Belize's Caribbean coast. From here, you'll get a boat to Tobacco Caye on the edge of the Belize Barrier Reef within the South Water Caye Marine Reserve. Along the way, appreciate Belize from a new vantage point as you pass by several islands and mangrove estuaries. On arrival, check into your tropical getaway in a colorful bungalow overhanging the water.
Tobacco Caye, one of the tiniest and most remote islands in Belize, is the perfect place to relax and disconnect. After settling into your accommodation and receiving a proper island welcome, take some time to acclimatize, walk the island, take out a kayak or paddle board, or relax in a hammock under the shade of a palm tree. This afternoon you'll head out for your first diving adventure at a pristine dive site near Tobacco Caye. Expect to see beautiful corals, stingrays and eagle rays, sharks, turtles, and a wide variety of colorful reef fish.
Day 3: Dive the Belize Barrier Reef
Dive the Belize Barrier Reef
Today you'll head out on the boat for your first introductory dive on the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world's second-largest barrier reef after the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Australia. You'll enjoy a world-class diving experience here alongside divers from all around the world. The waters are rich, clear, and warm, making the conditions ideal for beginners and varied enough for advanced divers alike. The Belize Barrier Reef is a significant habitat for threatened species, including turtles, manatees, and the American marine crocodile.
Plan your trip to Belize Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 4: Dive South Water Caye, Visit Marine Research Field Station
Snorkeling in the South Water Caye Marine Reserve
This morning you'll travel farther afield toward South Water Caye, 6 miles (9.6 km) along the crystal turquoise waters of the Belize Barrier Reef. You'll turn the corner through the cut and dive into the outer reef wall. After your morning dive, enjoy a delicious picnic lunch on a sandbar. Following a short stop at Carrie Bow Caye Field Station to visit the spot where Smithsonian scientists conduct research on coral reef ecosystems, you'll head out for another dive in the afternoon before returning to unwind on Tobacco Caye.
Day 5: Transfer to Belize City & Depart
The Belize Barrier Reef's Great Blue Hole
Today your Belizean scuba diving adventure comes to a close. You'll depart from Tobacco Caye, taking a boat back to Dangriga and onward transportation to Belize City International Airport for your flight home.
