West Indian manatees inhabit the lagoon side of Ambergris Caye and the shallow seagrass beds of the surrounding waters. Several operators in San Pedro run guided manatee-watching boat trips, typically heading to known feeding grounds where small groups of manatees graze in calm, clear water.
At certain spots, swimming alongside manatees is permitted — they are slow-moving and unconcerned by snorkelers, provided guides enforce the no-touching rule. Manatees are present year-round but are most reliably encountered from May through August, when water temperatures are highest and the animals congregate in larger numbers. Most tours take around two to three hours and include snorkeling equipment.