Caye
Caulker

The marine reserve, The Split, Turneffe and the manatees

Before you go, understand the place.

Caye Caulker gathers the Fisheries Department’s marine reserve, divided into conservation, preservation and general use zones, The Split, the channel that separates the north and south of the island, and, at its northern tip, Caye Caulker Forest Reserve, run by the Forest Department. Off the island are Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve, Belize’s largest marine reserve, and Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary, created to protect the West Indian manatee.

By Asesordeviaje.com Editorial Team · updated October 5, 2026

Our view

Is it worth it?: It makes sense if you come for the water: the island's marine reserve, The Split and, by boat, Turneffe Atoll and the Swallow Caye manatee sanctuary. Bear in mind that all five places have an unconfirmed status, so none of them is a safe bet.
Who it suits: For travellers who come to snorkel or dive (the reserve's conservation zone, wall diving at Turneffe) and for those who want to see manatees from the boat or birds in the mangroves, with licensed guides.
How many days: Split your stay between the island and boat trips: the marine reserve and The Split are on Caye Caulker, while Turneffe and Swallow Caye lie off the island and can only be reached by boat.
The usual mistake: Booking snorkelling or diving with just anyone: the United Kingdom reports injuries and deaths caused by lack of precautions and bad weather, and advises checking the forecast and going out only with registered, licensed operators. Nor should you assume The Split is safe for swimming: that is unconfirmed.
If you are short on time: With one day, the closest option is the island's own marine reserve, whose conservation zone allows snorkelling and diving with no fishing. Turneffe and Swallow Caye are off the island and take up a whole boat trip. Budget for the reserve fee: the 2008 regulations set BZ$10 per day for foreigners and the current fee is unconfirmed.

Destination map

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Select a place to view its details. Open a group to see its places.Map: © Stadia Maps © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap

How to read the map

Status unconfirmed

Groups: the number in the middle is the total of places; the ring shows their statuses. Open a group to see the breakdown.

The “Open and seasonal” filter covers open (0) and seasonal (0) places.

Themed guides

Places grouped by theme, to plan your day.

Marine reserve and The Split
The status of Caye Caulker Marine Reserve and The Split is unconfirmed.
Open the full guide
Turneffe, manatees and forest reserve
The Turneffe Atoll marine reserve, the Swallow Caye manatee sanctuary and the forest reserve in the north of the island all have unconfirmed status.
Open the full guide

Plan your visit

The practical information you need to plan your visit

The essentials

Best time to go: The Atlantic hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, although a cyclone can form outside that period (Government Press Office, 28 May 2026). Follow the warnings from the National Meteorological Service of Belize and the NEMO emergency agency. The rainy season runs from May to November, with flooding that can cut roads and flooded temporary bridges in the south, particularly in Stann Creek and Toledo.
Getting there: Water taxis from San Pedro Belize Express and Caribbean Sprinter, which link Belize City, Caye Caulker and San Pedro, and Tropic Air and Maya Island Air flights arrive here, according to the operators (Maya Island Air’s website was last updated in February 2023).

Tips and precautions

In the reserve’s preservation zone no activity and no motorboats are allowed except in emergencies, according to the Fisheries Department.
The reserve’s current fee is unconfirmed: the 2008 regulations set BZ$10 per day for foreign visitors. Ask your operator whether the trip includes it.
Swimming safety at The Split is unconfirmed: ask locally before getting into the water.

Safety and precautions

The United Kingdom (June 2026) notes that Belize has one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world and that gang violence is concentrated in Belize City, particularly south of the Haulover Creek (Southside); tourists are not normally the targets, but anyone nearby could be affected. It warns of theft from tourists in San Pedro, Caye Caulker, Placencia and San Ignacio, and of armed criminals in remote forested areas near the border with Guatemala, which are patrolled by the Defence Force, with no reported incidents involving tourists.
The United Kingdom reports injuries and deaths in activities such as snorkelling and diving, mainly through inadequate precautions and bad weather, and advises checking the forecast and using only registered and licensed operators.
Emergencies: 911 (Belize Police Department); 922 for anonymous reports. The United Kingdom also lists 90 for ambulance, fire and police.

Frequently asked questions

How much is Caye Caulker Marine Reserve?

Current fee unconfirmed. The 2008 regulations, reproduced in the 2021–2026 management plan, set BZ$10 per person per day or BZ$30 per week for foreign visitors, with no charge for Belizeans or children under 12.

What can you do in each zone of the reserve?

In the conservation zone, snorkelling and diving without fishing; in the preservation zone, no activity; in the general use zone, licensed fishing by traditional users and catch-and-release sport fishing, according to the Fisheries Department.

What is The Split?

A narrow channel that divides the island into north and south, now a popular place to swim and meet people, according to the airline Tropic Air; there is no official information on the place.

Sources

Information checked in October 2026. Prices, hours and rules change: confirm them with the official source before you travel.

Everything you can do

Closed or restricted places are included and flagged, so you know what to expect.

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Showing 5 of 5 · 5 unconfirmed, flagged

Nature and jungle · 2

Photo: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE · CC BY-SA 2.0
Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary
WildlifeStatus unconfirmed
A sanctuary of almost 9,000 acres created in July 2002 to protect the area’s West Indian manatee population; it is managed by the non-profit Friends of Swallow Caye. Once inside, boats must cut their engines and move with poles, and the manatees are watched from the boat, according to the Tourism Board.
Status unconfirmed: the Tourism Board describes the sanctuary with no hours or fees.
Practical details and sources
Entry
Not confirmed
Source
Belize Tourism Board – Swallow Caye (act. 17 feb. 2026) · 2026
Tip: Inside the sanctuary boats move with their engines off and by pole, so as not to injure or disturb the manatees, according to the Tourism Board.
Nearby: Museum of Belize (6.8 km) · Old Belize (14 km)
Sources: Belize Tourism Board – Swallow Caye (act. 17 feb. 2026)
About 4 miles east of Belize City and 19 miles south-west of Caye Caulker, according to the Tourism Board. The pin is the sanctuary in OpenStreetMap; it is not a mooring.20 km in a straight line from the regional map centre
Photo: Cephas · CC BY-SA 4.0
Caye Caulker Forest Reserve
NatureStatus unconfirmed
A forest reserve at the northern tip of Caye Caulker, run by the Forest Department, next to the marine reserve; the base of the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve staff is on its west side. The marine reserve’s management plan lists 79 bird species at the forest reserve’s eBird hotspot (July 2020).
Status unconfirmed: there is no official information on trails, hours or visiting fees for the forest reserve.
Practical details and sources
Source
Belize Fisheries Department – CCMR Management Plan 2021–2026 (jun. 2022) · 2022 · +1
Tip: The Tourism Board recommends exploring Caye Caulker’s mangroves by boat with licensed guides to see birds such as the Yucatan vireo or the mangrove warbler.
Nearby: The Split (4.5 km) · Caye Caulker Marine Reserve (5.1 km) · Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley (9.3 km)
Sources: Belize Fisheries Department – CCMR Management Plan 2021–2026 (jun. 2022) · Belize Tourism Board – Top 5 Best Places to Go Birding in Belize (act. 18 may. 2026)
Northern tip of Caye Caulker, north of The Split. The pin is the forest reserve in OpenStreetMap; it is not a dock.20.2 km in a straight line from the regional map centre

Sea, beach and reef · 1

The Split
BeachStatus unconfirmed
A narrow channel that divides the island into north and south, now a popular place to swim and meet people, according to the airline Tropic Air.
Status unconfirmed: the available information comes from an airline and a blog, and swimming safety is unconfirmed.
Practical details and sources
Source
Tropic Air – Caye Caulker (operador) · 2026
Nearby: Caye Caulker Marine Reserve (2.6 km) · Caye Caulker Forest Reserve (4.5 km) · Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley (13.4 km)
Sources: Tropic Air – Caye Caulker (operador)
Caye Caulker. The pin is the place in OpenStreetMap; it is not the entrance.16 km in a straight line from the regional map centre

Lakes, rivers and waterfalls · 2

Caye Caulker Marine Reserve
WaterStatus unconfirmed
A Fisheries Department marine reserve divided into zones: the conservation zone, for snorkelling and diving without fishing; the preservation zone, with no activities or motorboats except in emergencies, and the general use zone, according to the Fisheries Department.
Status unconfirmed: the Fisheries Department publishes the reserve’s rules, but no current fee.
Practical details and sources
Entry
Current fee unconfirmed. The 2008 regulations, reproduced in the 2021–2026 management plan, set BZ$10 per person per day or BZ$30 per week for recreational activities by foreign visitors, with no charge for Belizeans or children under 12.
Source
Belize Fisheries Department – Caye Caulker Marine Reserve · 2026 · +1
Tip: In the conservation zone only licensed guides may feed marine life, and water-skiing and jet skis are not allowed, according to the Fisheries Department.
Nearby: The Split (2.6 km) · Caye Caulker Forest Reserve (5.1 km) · Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley (12.7 km)
Sources: Belize Fisheries Department – Caye Caulker Marine Reserve · Belize Fisheries Department – CCMR Management Plan 2021–2026 (jun. 2022)
Off Caye Caulker. The pin is the centre of the reserve in OpenStreetMap; it is not a dock.15.3 km in a straight line from the regional map centre
Photo: Serge Melki from Indianapolis, USA · CC BY 2.0
Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve
WaterStatus unconfirmed
Belize’s largest marine reserve, created in 2012 on Turneffe Atoll, with reef, flats, seagrass, lagoons and mangroves; it is run day to day by the Turneffe Atoll Sustainability Association (TASA) with the Fisheries Department. It is known for wall diving, at sites such as The Elbow, and for fly fishing, according to the Tourism Board.
Status unconfirmed: neither the Fisheries Department nor the Tourism Board publishes a fee, and trips depend on operators and sea conditions.
Practical details and sources
Entry
Not confirmed
Source
Belize Fisheries Department – Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve · 2026 · +2
Sources: Belize Fisheries Department – Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve · Belize Tourism Board – Turneffe Atoll (act. 17 feb. 2026) · Rough Guides – The Turneffe Islands
About 20 miles east of the Belize coast, according to the Fisheries Department; the Rough Guides guidebook places it south of Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye and says it is visited on day trips from San Pedro and Caye Caulker. The pin is the marine reserve in OpenStreetMap; it is not a mooring.24.7 km in a straight line from the regional map centre

Before you go, understand the place.

Our view

Themed guides

Marine reserve and The Split

Turneffe, manatees and forest reserve

Plan your visit

The essentials

Tips and precautions

Safety and precautions

Frequently asked questions

Sources

Everything you can do

Nature and jungle · 2

Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary

Caye Caulker Forest Reserve

Sea, beach and reef · 1

The Split

Lakes, rivers and waterfalls · 2

Caye Caulker Marine Reserve

Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve

Keep exploring Belize