Private Hol Chan Morning or Sunset Half Day Charter

5.0 (57 reviews) 4 hours Private tour

out of 5

57 reviews

5.0

Private Hol Chan Morning or Sunset Half Day Charter — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Private Hol Chan Morning or Sunset Half Day Charter, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

Snorkel the famous Hol Chan Marine reserve, enjoy some fresh ceviche and drinks from our open bar. Choose either a morning cruise or a sunset cruise. Relax on comfortable cushions while enjoying the ocean, the views and the sunshine and being pampered by our crew. Hol Chan has the largest variety of species to be seen in the area and is often compared to an aquarium, while at Shark Ray Alley you get to experience a close encounter with nurse-sharks and stingrays. Watch from the boat or swim with them!

On the afternoon schedule we stop to see the sunset over the open water, then we sail back watching Ambergris Caye turn into its nocturnal shape with all the lights coming on, and hopefully also the first stars. Open bar with local rum, vodka, gin, soft drinks and juices is included. Try the specials, rum punch and "panty rippers"!

Day Cruises Half-day Tours Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Catamaran Cruises Water Tours Sightseeing Cruises Weather Dependent - Moderate

At a glance

Duration: 4 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Your group only
People per booking: 1–15
Guide: English, Spanish
Operated by: Catamaran Belize - Coral Tours Sailing

What is included

Included

Included: Use of snorkeling equipment: Use of Snorkelling equipment
Included: Bottled water: We serve water from a water dispenser, to avoid single-use plastics.
Included: Hol Chan marine reserve entrance fee
Included: Carbonated beverages: Coca Cola, Coca Cola Light, Sprite, Fanta (orange, fruit punch, ginger, grapefruit), tonic and soda water. Orange, pineapple, lime and fruit punch juices.
Included: Snacks: Fresh ceviche: Fish, shrimp/conch (seasonal), onions, sweet peppers, tomatoes and coriander marinated in lime juice and a mix of spices. This is served with locally made tortilla chips.
Included: On-board restrooms: Restroom on board
Included: Alcoholic beverages: Local rum (white, dark and coconut), local vodka and local gin all from the popular Cuello's Distillery

Not included

Not included: Gratuities

Itinerary

Stop 1

15 min

Pick up is not included. We depart from the Palapa Bar dock, and we meet there 15 minutes before departure. Then the ride to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve takes 45 minutes, while you lay down on comfortable cushions enjoying the ocean, the views and the sunshine, accompanied by drinks and music.
Hol Chan Marine Reserve

one hour Admission included

Hol Chan is Mayan for "little channel" and is a natural break in the reef, which has always been a very productive fishing area with abundant marine life. It is open to the sea beyond the reef, so allows marine creatures to travel from the outside of the reef to the inside and vice versa. It became the first marine reserve in the entire country of Belize back in 1987 and this have led to the species to re-generate and the corals of growing unharmed. This snorkeling area has the greatest variety of marine life and coral, compared to being an "underwater zoo" - you have the chance to see all kinds of corals, fishes and even sea turtles! Over 160 species of fish and forty types of coral have been recorded in the area.
Shark Ray Alley

30 min Admission included

The story behind Shark Ray Alley is that in all times, due to its position close to the channel to go outside the protecting barrier reef for fishing, it was the point where the local fishermen came in with their catch and started cleaning it - throwing the head, etc into the water. This converted it a natural habit for the marine life such as nurse sharks and sting-rays that associate the sound of an engine to food. The water is shallow and transparent and you will see the nurse-sharks and sting-rays on the surface, meaning that even if you don't get in to the water you can enjoy it from the boat as well! The nurse-sharks and sting-rays eventually swim away, so this stop lasts max. 30 minutes.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

Pick up is not included. We depart from the Palapa Bar dock, and we meet there 15 minutes before departure.

End point

Pick up is not included. We depart from the Palapa Bar dock, and we meet there 15 minutes before departure.

Using your ticket

Please provide us with your e-mail address for a booking confirmation.

Cancellation

All sales are final. No refund is available for cancellations.

If you cancel	You get back
Less than a day before	0%

The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
The Tour Duration from 4 hours includes: 45 min to reach Hol Chan. Then we snorkel for 1 hour = 1h 45 min. Takes 15 min to reach Shark Ray Alley = 2 hours Stay there 30 min = 2,5 hours Takes 1 hour back = 3,5 hours. The extra 30 min is to have additional time for guests to put their gear on, get on/off etc and to not be rushed at either of the locations – it might as well be 1 h 15 min at Hol Chan for example, but we promise min. 1 hour. On the sunset schedule we also stop for guests to get the perfect pictures.
Please note that our schedule depends on the sunset, so through the year it changes in 15-min periods within the range of starting times between 9 am/10 am and 2 pm/3.15 pm. The published times are the current ones.