Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break in Belize City, Belize
Belize City, Belize

Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break

Outty Ranking 51 3.3 · 29 traveler reviews5 hoursFrom $75
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Outty Ranking

51/100

Worth a Look. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

3.3/5

Based on 29 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break worth booking?

Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break is a 5-hour experience in Belize City, Belize, from $75 per person. It scores 51 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.3/5 rating across 29 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
51 / 100
Rating
3.3/5 (29)
Duration
5 hours
From
$75 per person

Hol Chan Marine Reserve is located off the southern tip of Ambergris Caye. Mayan for “little channel”, Hol Chan Marine Reserve is doubtfully one of the most popular dive sites in the Caribbean, and indeed in Belize. The entire reserve focuses on a cut through the reef (called a quebrada) which is little more than 25 yards wide and 30 feet deep about 4 miles southeast of San Pedro. Hol Chan has burgeoned into a unique refuge, with vigorous coral formations and a richness of marine life. We will then head to the neighboring Turtle Garden, where you will snorkel or dive and be able to get up close and personal with ecstatic Sea Turtle and Southern Sting Rays. When you arrive, you will see the surface often boiling with rolling sharks and sting ray as they compete for the scraps. These creatures have a great tolerance for divers and snorkelers. Hol Chan is the Number snorkeling site here in Belize City!

What you get

    About this experience

    Hol Chan Marine Reserve is located off the southern tip of Ambergris Caye. Mayan for “little channel”, Hol Chan Marine Reserve is doubtfully one of the most popular dive sites in the Caribbean, and indeed in Belize. The entire reserve focuses on a cut through the reef (called a quebrada) which is little more than 25 yards wide and 30 feet deep about 4 miles southeast of San Pedro. Hol Chan has burgeoned into a unique refuge, with vigorous coral formations and a richness of marine life. We will then head to the neighboring Turtle Garden, where you will snorkel or dive and be able to get up close and personal with ecstatic Sea Turtle and Southern Sting Rays. When you arrive, you will see the surface often boiling with rolling sharks and sting ray as they compete for the scraps. These creatures have a great tolerance for divers and snorkelers. Hol Chan is the Number snorkeling site here in Belize City!

    What's included

    Included

    • Hotel pickup and drop-off
    • Professional guide
    • Bottled water
    • Entrance fee to Hol Chan Marine Reserve
    • Snacks
    • Port pickup and drop-off

    Not included

    • Lunch

    What you'll see and do

    1. Hol Chan Marine Reserve

      Hol Chan Marine Reserve is located off the southern tip of Ambergris Caye. Mayan for “little channel”, Hol Chan Marine Reserve is doubtfully one of the most popular dive sites in the Caribbean, and indeed in Belize. Hol Chan has burgeoned into a unique refuge, with vigorous coral formations and a richness of marine life. Enjoy a nice cool 35 minutes boat ride from the port of Belize as you will be passing along the mangrove islands to your first stop which is the island of Caye Caulker, Belize city second largest island that has a breath taking view of the barrier reef. Where a 15 minutes stop to use the restroom and change of clothing. Then off to the Hol Chan that is a 10 minute boat ride away from Caye Caulker. A 45 minutes snorkeling with be taking place at the Hol Chan where you will be viewing the beautiful Coral reef and fishes, and then a 30 minutes snorkeling with Sea Turtle and Rays. After the Snorkeling is done, enjoy a snack and some amazing Rum Punch.

      120 minutes here · Admission included

    2. Caye Caulker

      While heading back to island of Caye Caulker where you will be having a beach break and also for you to get a meal. One stop will be made to the back of the island where you will be able to hand feed tarpon as a part of the tour. Then spend an hour on the island, and head back in Belize City where you will be drop-off at the port back.

      120 minutes here

    Where it starts and ends

    Meeting point

    Belize City

    Meeting point will be at the hotel marina, where we check in and depart to do the tours.

    Meeting point

    Belize City

    It is very important that you are on one of the first tenders to shore if you want to make it to your tour before it departs. please look for the Diamonds International store at Terminal 2. Walk through the store to the you tour representative from "Splash Wave Tours" Sign.

    Hotel pickup

    Pickup is available for selected locations.

    Ends at

    Meeting point will be at the hotel marina, where we check in and depart to do the tours.

    Ends at

    It is very important that you are on one of the first tenders to shore if you want to make it to your tour before it departs. please look for the Diamonds International store at Terminal 2. Walk through the store to the you tour representative from "Splash Wave Tours" Sign.

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    en
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 10 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    splash wave tours

    Know before you go

    • Public transportation options are available nearby
    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
    • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
    • The duration of transfers are approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
    • At time of booking, Cruise ship passengers must provide the following information at time of booking: ship name, docking time, disembarkation time and re-boarding time
    • Anyone with Covid-19 symptoms will not be allow on tour

    Photos

    Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break in Belize City, photo 2Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break in Belize City, photo 3Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break in Belize City, photo 4Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break in Belize City, photo 5Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break in Belize City, photo 6

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 29 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    Food and drink

    3 mentions

    The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

    The guide

    2 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    2 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Traveler reviews

    29 verified traveler reviews for Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    14
    4 star
    4
    3 star
    0
    2 star
    0
    1 star
    11
    Sort
    Graham_K · June 2026

    Good crew. Great stops...

    Good crew. Great stops especially the Norse shark and stingray and the the feeding of Tarpon. Snorkeling was okay. Some issues with boat that made trip a bit nerve-wracking. When you get to front street go to your left to grab van. I would know the name of the company. No one knew about our excursion when I shared what we were doing.

    via Viator

    Matthias_G · June 2026

    We liked all activities:...

    We liked all activities: snorkeling, swimming with rays and sharks and the tarpon feeding - lunch was delicious.

    via Viator

    madisonh06 · August 2025

    !BEWARE!

    They were horrible with communication. The days before we were trying to get in contact with them about where and when to meet, they would answer sporadically. The day before our snorkeling was scheduled I asked them early in the day where we needed to meet up, hours later they finally replied, then I asked what time I needed to be there so I could schedule a taxi ride to the meet up spot, there was no reply until the morning of our snorkeling session! Of course I couldn’t go because it gave no time to schedule a taxi ride and get there on time! I’m absolutely in discuss about how unprofessional this company was! I’ve done a lot of different activities in Belize with no problems plus wonderful communication and this company needs to improve on this aspect! BEWARE!! My suggestion is to try a different company, snorkeling out here is a wonderful experience and should not be taken away by unorganized companies.

    via Tripadvisor

    Lisa_M · May 2025

    Best time ever!

    Best day ever! Friendliest tour operator and crew ever, most informative and helpful too. Everything was fun and beautiful.

    via Viator

    Chad S · March 2025

    Great Snorkeling, Great Food, Great Crew!

    The snorkeling was really good. I would not recommend this for weak swimmers. It’s pretty deep as far as snorkeling goes and the currents were fairly strong. The reef was beautiful and we saw lots of sea life. The Shark Ray Alley part of the tour wasn’t really what I expected. It was cool. I am glad we went. However, they fed the sharks off the side of the boat, which meant that the sharks were congregating at the boat side. It would have been better if they had come out away from the boat. There were also lots of boats and people from other tour groups in the same area, making the water very murky (not the tour company’s fault). The food at Sip n Dip was awesome! Some of the best we’ve had in Belize. This is called Turtle Garden in the name of the tour. I was hoping to see turtles. We didn’t. 😕

    via Tripadvisor

    Good to know

    Duration
    5 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Hotel pickup
    Available for selected locations
    Booked in 30 days
    10
    Verdict
    Worth a Look

    Who runs this experience

    Operated by splash wave tours, who run 5 experiences we rank across 1 city, with an average Outty Ranking of 52.7.

    See everything splash wave tours runs

    Why this scores 51

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)18
    Review evidence (18% weight)56
    Booking momentum (14% weight)48
    Value for money (12% weight)100
    Listing quality (10% weight)85
    Local standing (8% weight)0
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Belize City.

    How much does Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break cost?

    +

    Prices start at $75 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Belize City usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break take?

    +

    Plan for about 5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Belize City is not rushed.

    Is Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 51 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.3/5 across 29 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Belize City, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break?

    +

    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break?

    +

    Around 10 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Belize City can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

    +

    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Belize City and add a light layer if any part of the 5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break start and how do I get there?

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    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Belize City within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Belize City?

    +

    On Outty we rank every Belize City experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Cave Tubing and Zipline Adventure from Belize City, Caves River Kayaking, Explore More with V.i.V., Altun Ha Mayan Ruins & Cave Tubing Tour with Belizean Lunch. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Belize City?

    +

    Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Belize City?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

    +

    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

    What is included in Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break?

    +

    Included: Hotel pickup and drop-off; Professional guide; Bottled water; Entrance fee to Hol Chan Marine Reserve; and Snacks. Not included: Lunch. Always check the voucher for the final list before you travel.

    Does Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break include hotel pickup?

    +

    Yes, pickup is offered, or you can meet at the start point instead from 6 listed pickup locations in and around Belize City. You can also enter a custom pickup address when booking.

    What languages is Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break offered in?

    +

    It runs in English. Pick your language when choosing a date and time, as not every departure runs in every language.

    Will I get instant confirmation and a mobile ticket for Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break?

    +

    Confirmation is sent by the operator after booking, usually within 48 hours; if it is not confirmed you are not charged. Mobile tickets are accepted, so you can show the voucher on your phone.

    Is Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break wheelchair or stroller accessible?

    +

    The operator notes: Not recommended for pregnant travelers. If accessibility is critical, contact the operator after booking to confirm arrangements for your date.

    What happens to Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break if the weather is bad?

    +

    This experience depends on good weather. If it is canceled because of poor weather, you are offered a different date or a full refund.

    What do travelers say about Turtle Garden Snorkeling Tour and Island Break?

    +

    Across 29 reviews averaging 3.3 out of 5, recurring themes include food and drink, the guide, knowledge and storytelling. The tastings and food stops are a highlight for most reviewers.

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