bacalar chico national park and marine reserve

I HIGHLY recommend this over the other snorkel trips if you can handle the longer boat ride. We went on a fishing expedition and I wished I could have gone back every day. There is almost no one up there, which is saying a lot when you know how many people are staying on Ambergris Caye. We had lunch at the Ranger Station, with the Ranger. Our guides cooked for us and it was delicious. There's a lovely little resident dog too!

I think the tour company I went out took us to the worst snorkel spots. We only had two snorkel stops here. One was North of the point where the reef touches the shore... there was tons of gorgeous coral but not a whole lot of animal life to see. The other stop was at Tranquility Bay where most of the coral was pretty dead and there were barely any fish. The current was also unfortunately pretty strong which did not make for easier snorkeling. I don't know why we didn't stop any other (or better) places so make sure you check with your tour company before. I was really looking forward to this trip and honestly was a little disappointed.

Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve had some of the best coral reefs. So many fish and coral. Starfish, sand dollars, conch and colors that you won't believe.

We took a private day boat trip to Bacalar Chico in May 2014.We took the west (leeward) side of the island in both directions, to avoid some rough water on the east (reef) side.The west side of the island is quite different than the east side. Shallow, calm and pristine.The ranger station at Bacalar Chico has a small museum and observation tower.After cutting through the canal to the east side, the snorkeling near Rocky Point (where the reef meets the land) was wonderful. There were a few disappointments:1. The guidebooks and websites say there are 11 miles (18 kms) of nature trails, so we took our hiking stuff. When we got there, the ranger told us all the trails are closed. He didn't sound very optimistic about them reopening any time soon.2. Our guide didn't want to beach the boat at Rocky Point for lunch. Apparently there have been a few gun battles near there recently between the police and drug smugglers, so he didn't think it was safe.

Remote & Beautiful is the best way to discribe the Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve. It is a 45 minute to one hour boat ride from San Pedro. We were fortunate to stay in the Marine Reserve while at Tranquility Bay Resort, this is a 30minute boat ride from SP. While staying at the resort we did a tour of the park itself, which is a 20-30 minute ride up the. coast. The channel that winds its way through the mangroves is full of life, including Manatees that we were lucky to snorkel with for a bit. We also snorkeled Rocky Point and Robles where we saw Loggerhead & Greensea Turtles, Nassau Groupers and other large marine life. This tour was one of highlights while we stayed in the Marine Reserve at Tranquility Bay Resort. It is well worth a 1/2 day or day trip if you are staying in SP or TBR.

Peaceful, beautiful, winding channel through a mangrove forest. We caught baby barracuda and a small snapper. Manatees are frequently seen, but we were not so lucky.

Boat set out and shouldn't have as waves too high. Boat crashed going into reef. Rescued by luck after three hours in water. Be ware of weather conditions.

Snorkelled in 2 different areas inside the reef though to get there we had to experience the current and rough waves outside - somewhat exciting ! Didn't get to see Manatee whilst snorkelling (weather conditions perhaps) however did see a mother and calf in the quieter channels. The museum and Mayan ruins (little more than an area of excavation) at Bacalar were small but well presented. Dont forget your bug repellent to visit the ruins - I was bitten to death all within 10 minutes !!

We actually stayed in the Reserve at Tranquility Bay Resort so are a little spoiled; I'm sure visiting as a day trip would be nice but couldn't be as memorable. Snorkeling highlights were a resident scrawled filefish, an octopus, big barracuda, big parrot fish, and a turtle.

Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve is located in the extreme north of Ambergris Caye, Belize. The little known conservation area was established in 1997, and soon thereafter was designated a World Heritage Site. Despite this designation, however, the area has received little attention due to its remoteness and general lack of amenities. But it is exactly these things that give the place such appeal. In November, 2008, I led a group of twelve students and two chaperones to Bacalar Chico as part of a community service/ adventure trip through Belize. Students spent a total of three days within park boundaries and we all found it nothing short of extraordinary. Although Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and other locations have led the charge in Voluntourism in Central America, Belize is fast emerging as a viable alternative for those looking for a challenging community-service-based experience. Students (ages 16 - 18) assisted in clearing 500 meters of jungle trail from the eastern beach to Laguna La Centena, part of a broader endeavour to ramp up greater eco-tourism to the area. They also spent a portion of their time cleaning up garbage and debris along the beach, deposited by various storms over the past decade.The Green Reef Environmental Institute currently helps to manage the park. Director Mito Paz was HUGELY helpful in arranging all transportation, food and camping gear at San Juan, park headquarters and the site of 1000 year-old Mayan fishing village. The food and facilities though basic were excellent, and guides provided interesting interpretation at the various Mayan sites and along the reef. We were also pleased to join a local work crew made up of volunteers from the Dept. of Fisheries and Hol Chan Marine Reserve--together we cleared trails and put the footings in for a new dock.Attractions include diverse bird and other wildlife in the lagoon channels, snorkeling and diving along the reef, jungle treks and community service opportunities. The highlights are too many to list here, but Barracuda Patch along the reef is a must-see, if you have a stomach for 4 foot long fish with mouthfuls of teeth!

me encanto hacer este paseo es increíble, como la naturaleza se confabula con todo, es grandioso estar ahí y ser parte de las visitas y de la historia de ese lugar y poder decir yo estuve en ese lugar tan hermoso.