Ambergris Caye
Thirty-six air miles from Belize City,
Ambergris Caye is the~ home of a thriving fishing industry. Within the
past few years there has been rapid development of the island's tremendous
tourism potential
The island, about the size of Barbados, has many miles of white sandy
beach. Less than half-mile offshore is the Great Barrier Reef which,
besides offering protection to the island, is in itself a great challenge
to the adventurous scuba diver. The journey by small airplane takes
approximately 20 minutes. A "speed boat" will do the journey in from 1 to
3 hours. There are a number of small hotels offering accomodation, meals,
fishing, snorkelling and diving, and sightseeing trips.
The Caye is rapidly developing into an up market vacation hot spot and retirement home destination for wealthy
Americans and other nationals Visit my dedicated page for this fabulous beauty spot. Ambergris Caye
Caye Caulker
Playground for ancient pirates, the island has a
community of about 450 people among whom are some permanent tourists. Most
of the fishermen are members of the Northern Fishermen's Co-operative, who
supply lobster, conch and fish to the export market. A regular boat run
from Belize City takes both local and tourists to the island. This caye has developed slightly more
laid back than the other cayes.
Cay Chapel
Caye Chapel Island Resort, two hundred and sixty-five acres of
Caribbean “PARADISE”. Truly a unique property, developed for those
seeking the ultimate in seclusion, personal
safety, and luxurious lifestyle within a getaway vacation. (Text
continued under advert).
Located just twelve miles off the coast of Belize, in the Western
Caribbean, a comfortable two-hour flight from the US mainland and a
10-minute flight from Belize City, Caye Chapel Island has been
developed as a personal playground for the discriminating elite.
Operating as a very exclusive destination, this tropical island
offers stunning seaside estate villas enhanced by the Caribbean Sea
on its eastern shores and a spectacular 18-hole, Par 72 championship
golf course (USGA rated) along its western edge. Featuring a
deep-water marina welcoming yachts up to 140 feet, private airstrip,
and 25,000 square foot clubhouse with a magnificent custom designed
bar and restaurant, conference facilities, large swimming
pool complex with bar, and over 2 miles of pristine sandy
beaches.
Lighthouse Reef
The lighthouse Reef is contained with Long Caye which is the furthest away
of the Belize Cayes. The light house reef is known world over for two specific dive centers:
Great Blue Hole and
Lighthouse Reef.
St. George's Cay
Just about 9 miles (14 kilometres) from
Belize City, St. George's Caye is steeped in history. It was the first
capital of the settlement from 1650 to 1784 and was the scene of the great
sea battle against the Spaniards in 1798 now celebrated as "St. George's
Caye Day". There still remains evidence of the early magistrates and
leader The caye was divided into two parts during the devastating
hurricane "Hattie" of 1961.
English Caye
A popular picnic spot for Belizeans and
visitors, English Caye is a beautiful little cluster of sandy beaches with
coconut trees, and coral formations. It sits at the entrance from the
Caribbean Sea into the Belize City harbour. An important lighthouse is
located here and there are two pilots who guide the many ships that call
at the Belize City harbour. It is located about 10 miles (16 kilometres)
from Belize City. Not too far away is Goff's Caye with its beautiful sandy
beaches.
Half Moon Caye
Located some 70 miles (113 kilometres) from
Belize City, the crescent-shaped Half Moon Caye stands as a beacon to
seamen entering Belizean waters. With its historic lighthouse and it
unmatched beauty, Half Moon Caye is near to the famous "Blue Hole"
scientifically examined by oceanographer Yves Jacques Costeau. It lies at
the entrance to the Atoll known as Lighthouse Reef and is the home of the
almost extinct Booby bird. Half Moon Caye boasts Belize's clearest waters
- 200 feet visibility - and its beaches are among the finest.
Half Moon Caye dive sites.
Turneffe Islands
The Turneffe Islands are a part of the largest Atoll off Belize and is a
an amazing Marine Reserve. Turneffe Islands dive sites.
Glovers Reef
Glover's Atoll is a World Heritage Site
and Marine Reserve. Glovers Atoll Island Lodge is
located on our privately owned 9 acre; 5 hectare Northeast Cay
in the Glovers Marine Reserve, white sand, coral, &
coconut trees, left in their natural state on top of the
pristine reef.
Glovers Atoll was named after pirate
brothers, John and Rodger Glover, in the1750's. Before pirates
the Mayans sailed here, pieces of Mayan pottery have been
found on the islands and beaches. In 1996 the Atoll was
designated as Marine Reserve.
Thirty percent is zoned as a no take zone patrolled by
Rangers from the Belize Fisheries Dept. The Rangers are
stationed on Middle Caye, a research center owned by Wildlife
Conservation Society. In 2000 Glover's Atoll was designated a
WORLD HERTIAGE SITE under the UNESCO World Heritage
Convention. This not only is an honor for Belizeans but it
also makes us aware of how important our magnificent atoll
really is.
At Glover's Atoll Resort you can enjoy excellent
diving, snorkeling and swimming right from beach. Glover’s
Atoll is Belize’s most remote atoll. It is 90 square
miles (145 km), 700 patch reefs in the lagoon and is
surrounded by 50 miles (80.5km) of sheer drop-offs, which
start from 25 feet and drop straight down to 2,700 feet (900 m), 45 miles
(72.45 km) from the mainland. Reef crests, islands, flats
offer great catch and release spin
or fly-fishing. Glovers Reef dive sites.
Laughing Bird Caye
Laughing Bird Faro is located in the middle of the widest part of
the shelf about 14 miles (23 km) from Placencia. The faro is a
ringed reef consisting of an outer rim that encloses an inner lagoon
and inner reefs. Laughing Bird is an excellent example of a faro. The
faro is 5.5 miles (8.8km) long and 1.6 miles (2.5km) in width at the
widest point. This type of feature is also called a "rhomboid shoal"
and is built by living reef organisms.
The windward (East) rim of the faro is within a few
feet of the surface in most places and awash in others. Laughing
Bird Caye occuppies a small area on the southeast side. The leeward
side is also generally a few feet or more below sealevel. The floor
of the enclosed lagoon is about 23 feet deep maximum with many
pinnacles rising to the surface. The park itself is 1.414 acres of land, sea and reef. The initial
legislation 1991 declared only the island itself as national
park. With the designation of the Belize Barrier Reef as a World
Heritage Site, there is movement underway to declared the entire
Laughing Bird Faro as belonging to the Laughing Bird Caye National
Park. Lauhing Bird Caye dive sites.
Sapodilla Caye
The Sapodilla Cayes Marine Reserve covers an area of approximately 125
square kilometers and includes fourteen sand and mangrove cayes along the
southernmost tip of the Belize Barrier Reef, nearly 40 miles due east of
Punta Gorda.
The outer portion of the reserve is characterized by shallow water
reefs which occur as a fringe around the cayes. The depth of water over
these fringing reefs is often less then 15 feet, and some of them are
exposed at low tides. The drop off east of the islands is gently sloping,
in contrast to the near vertical walls further north and surrounding the
outer coral atolls.
The outer reefs support a wide variety of fish. Often, large schools of
jacks or spadefish will feed just off the outer slope. Nearer the bottom,
angelfish, parrotfish and snappers begin to dominate. The waters are often
spectacularly clear as water from the Caribbean washes over and through
the reef cuts. The lagoon area is characterized by silt, sand and shallow
seagrass beds. Some of the most pristine reefs of lettuce coral carpet the
ridges which jut into the lagoon from the barrier reef. As the depth
increases, the lettuce coral gives way to more coral diversity, and more
sponge and algae species.
One of the most beautiful beaches in Belize exist on Hunting Caye. A
high coral sand beach in the shape of a half moon lines the eastern shore.
This beach is also a main turtle nesting site. A lighthouse, immigration
post, and a BDF guard station are based on the island.
Lime Caye is frequently crowded by boatloads of tourists from
Livingston. Frank's Caye and Nicholas Caye both have basic accommodations.
Kayaking is a great way to explore each island. The Sapodillas have
superb snorkeling and diving. The incredible reef system here with its
healthy coral reef, supports many marine species including giant Whale
Sharks, manta rays, dolphins, and sea turtles.
Expect to pay high prices for transportation. Because of the distance
from Punta Gorda, try to make arrangements to spend the night. Secluded,
shaded beaches are perfect for camping and picnicking.
Sapodilla Cayesdive sites.
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