Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Unless you stay at
St George's Caye Resort
(see below), though, the island isn't really set
up for casual visitors; some fishing and snorkelling trips may call in for a brief
look-around, but that usually has to be requested beforehand.
ACCOMMODATION
ST GEORGE'S CAYE
St George's Caye Resort
T
220 4444,
W
st
-georgesresort.com.
This all-inclusive dive resort - one of
the first dedicated dive resorts on the cayes - features
rooms in a handsome main lodge as well as
wood-and-thatch
cabañas
with private verandas. The dive
packages include all meals and beverages, airport
transfers, free activities, fro
m kaya
king to snorkelling, and
complimentary rum punch.
US200
The Turneffe Atoll
Though shown on some maps as one large island, Belize's largest atoll is actually made
up of numerous uninhabited islands, which form an oval archipelago rising from the
seabed and enclosed by a beautiful coral reef. Situated 25 miles from Belize City, they
are primarily low-lying mangrove islands - some quite large - and sandbanks around a
shallow lagoon. Thanks to relatively minimal human development, the
Turneffe Atoll
is
one of the most biologically diverse areas of the Caribbean. To the rejoicing of
environmentalists, it was finally declared an o
cial marine reserve in 2012, making it
one of the largest in Belize.
he
diving
and
snorkelling
here is sublime, as is
fishing
the shallow flats,
typically for bonefish. Most of the sportfishing is on a catch-and-release basis. Many of
the resorts, as well as the Oceanic Society field station (see box below), are on lush
Blackbird Caye, which lies halfway down the eastern side of the archipelago. The
resorts are generally quite pricey and all-inclusive, including transport from Belize City
(and usually from the international airport), all meals and whatever diving and/or
fishing package is arranged. Most guests will be fishing or diving much of the time, but
there are always hammocks to relax in and the snorkelling right offshore is superb.
Although staying out here has a heavenly, even dreamlike quality,
sandflies
and
mosquitoes
can bring you back to earth with a vengeance - so pack repellent.
3
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
THE TURNEFFE ATOLL
By boat
Most people visit the Turneffe Atoll on dive or
snorkel day-trips from Caye Caulker (1hr) and Ambergris
Caye (1hr 30min); numerous companies (see p.100 &
p.109) offer trips here year-round.
ACCOMMODATION
Blackbird Caye Resort
Blackbird Caye, Turneffe Atoll
T
223 2767,
W
blackbirdresort.com.
Dive the gorgeous
reef by day, and relax in deluxe
cabañas
by night at this
top-notch resort. Four-night packag
es include
transfers, all
meals and diving/snorkelling. From
US$1570
Turneffe Flats Lodge
Blackbird Caye, Turneffe Atoll
T
232 9022,
W
tflats.com.
This well-run resort, with
inviting beachfront
cabañas
, is primarily known as a fishing
destination, offering some of the best saltwater fly-fishing
on the cayes. It also offers excellent dive packages as well
SUN, SAND AND SUSTAINABILITY: THE OCEANIC SOCIETY
Rather than simply visiting the reef, you can also help preserve it. The nonprofit
Oceanic
Society
(
W
oceanicsociety.org) at the Turneffe Atoll, founded in 1969 with the mission of
preserving marine habitats worldwide, offers eight-day “volunteer vacations” where you can
work side-by-side with researchers to monitor the health of the Turneffe Atoll's coral reefs.
Accommodation is at the Ocean Society field station on Blackbird Caye, with rustic beachfront
cabañas
with private bath. Daily activities include snorkelling the warm waters of the reef and
gathering data on water quality and reef inhabitants. In the evening, listen to presentations on
everything from marine ecosystems to reef history. The trips start at US$2275 and include
accommodation, meals and boat transfer.
