Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Hol Chan Marine Reserve sits at the southern tip of Ambergris Caye, about 6km from San Pedro and accessible by boat in under 30 minutes. The reserve encompasses the full reef cross-section: the backreef lagoon, the reef crest, and the fore-reef slope dropping to deeper water. The marine life is exceptional — grouper, snapper, parrotfish, lobster, sea turtles, and rays are all common sightings.

The reserve is divided into zones, with the main dive and snorkel site in Zone A, a seagrass bed in Zone B where manatees are sometimes seen, and Shark Ray Alley — where nurse sharks and stingrays gather in shallow water — in Zone C. All boats must use the reserve's moorings, and fishing is prohibited throughout. The entry fee is USD 12.50. Every dive shop in San Pedro runs trips here multiple times daily.

things to do sight
A story
Hol Chan means 'little channel' in Mayan, referring to the natural break in the reef that makes this site so accessible. Established in 1987, it was Belize's first marine reserve and helped establish the model for reef protection that has since spread throughout the Caribbean. The channel concentrates marine life: coral, fish, rays, and the occasional whale shark drawn by the nutrient-rich water flowing through the cut.