Belize by Night

“From dusk to dawn: a catalyst for Belize’s adventure and active wildlife less often brought to light.”

PHOTO CREDIT: SHAUN HUNTER | HAMANASI

Things to see after dark

WRITTEN BY: LOUISE ROE

Stretching across the country’s nature reserves and over the hills of the Maya Mountains, Belize’s landscape comes alive as the sun sets. The cacophonous sounds of animals rustling and insects humming seemingly synchronize. Underwater, in the depths of the Caribbean Sea, unique creatures illuminate and awaken. The darker the night, the more mysterious and magnificent are the wonders revealed. Besides, some of the most unique spots in Belize are actually best seen under the guise of darkness. With 24 hours in a day and a mission to take advantage of as many hours as possible, here, we turn to twilight and highlight the best things to do in Belize after sunset.

DARK DIVES

The Belize Barrier Reef has always been globally recognized for its beauty and discovery – attracting divers, snorkelers and water-lovers from afar. Although, what makes it fascinating is what lies below. In the daylight, vibrant tropical fish and an array of other sea life paint a vivid underwater scene. With sunset, we’re not just talking about fewer people in the water; half of the ocean’s marine life emerge from the depths to feed or partake in mating rituals. Then, there’s a shadow – your light stirs the curious. Caribbean Reef Sharks hunt prey while Spotted Eagle Rays glide above corals that reflect every colour of the spectrum. The ever-present flecks of the ocean become iridescent against deep cobalt blues as bioluminescence take center stage to illuminate. As you surface and witness the stars above, fascination lingers with what lies beneath.

BIOLUMINESCENCE LAGOON TRIP

Though a breath-taking adventure for scuba divers anywhere, bioluminescence is not just limited to the depths of the sea. Travel to Southern Belize for this experience like no other at Anderson Lagoon in Hopkins. This hidden gem is reached by a short river cruise through the Sittee River. As you quietly cruise along the river as dusk sets in, try to spot crocodiles and monkeys near the river banks. Weaving through narrow canals, the lagoon abruptly spreads out ahead for a vast contrast as the stars above reflect the electric blue glow illuminating from the lagoon’s surface. If you can take your eyes away from the glowing lights, pay keen attention to the ripples for feeding fish, game birds, and more as they energize with the darkness. This experience is like a scene straight out of Disney - magical!

STARGAZING

Wherever you may be – whether at a remote jungle lodge, a quiet seaside beach bungalow, or at a basecamp in one of Belize stunning atolls - be sure to look up! With little to no light pollution in many vacation hotspots countrywide, Belize is a top destination to stargaze. Take in the beauty of the dark night sky in all its splendour. From glistening stars to shooting stars, nights in Belize can be some of the most memorable and magical during your vacation.

NIGHT HIKES

Over half of Belize is covered with verdant jungle cover - best explored on foot. Much like underwater, the rainforest shines differently after dark. Take to the trails at night to try your luck spotting Belize’s largely nocturnal wildlife as fireflies dance around your headlamp. Elusive cats such as jaguars, ocelots and jaguarundis are possible sightings as they emerge to hunt or feed; don’t be alarmed if yellow or green eyes reflect from your flashlight – that may be a fox or an owl. The sounds of the jungle come to a symphony of life as frogs croak, crickets chirp and owls hoot. But whilst you look above to the stars and scan the treetops, don’t forget to watch your step as insects and other creepy crawlers like spiders and snakes nestle below. Whether trekking in the dense forest of a wildlife sanctuary like the Cockcomb Basin in the South, or going on a jungle hike in the Cayo District, you’re bound to have a wild time!

Diving the doorstep of the Western Caribbean

WRITTEN BY: CAROLEE CHANONA

“Belize offers enough diving fascination for a lifetime, with countless hotspots underwater to inspire awe.”

Endowed with three of the Western Hemisphere’s four total atolls and the second largest continuous coral reef in the world, offshore Belize is a brilliant stand-alone phenomenon. After being dubbed “the most remarkable reef in the West Indies” by Charles Darwin himself in 1842, Belize does not shy away from its claim to fame. With roughly 100 coral species, 500 species of fish, and much more to be discovered in its 370 square miles, intrigue yourself for hours on end with the Belize Barrier Reef - best explored on tank. Running from the North adjacent to Ambergris Caye with a general southward direction before hooking at the Sapodilla Cayes, the 185-mile long Belize Barrier Reef is Belize’s pride and glory. Engulfing an enchanting crystalline lagoon with 450 cayes and islets under its protection, going off the beaten path in Belize also means traversing it’s three coral atolls, underwater canyons, dive walls, and reef spurs. Formed by the rising of the oceans gradually covering limestone mountains, stony coral engulfed the near-circular lagoons to create what we now know as atolls.

As the largest and most biologically diverse atoll in the Americas, the necklace of coral within Turneffe Reef Atoll offers 131,690 (protected) hectares bursting alive with brilliantly giant coral sponges and natural nurseries of exotic tropical fish for one of Belize’s most lucrative dive spots. Further east, Lighthouse Reef Atoll is likely Belize’s most visited, thanks to the allure of the legendary Great Blue Hole and its (seemingly) bottomless abyss. Besides abundant critters and inquisitive Reef Sharks, its steep dive walls – adorned with riotously colorful reef gardens – are a consistent favorite of both longtime divers and complete novices. Lying like a string of pearls in a blue sea, the southernmost Glover’s Reef Atoll exemplifies pristine diving inside Belize’s best formed atoll at 16-miles long and 7-miles wide. Find more than 700 pristine patch reefs brimming with the richest variety of marine life in the Caribbean – from the delicate fan coral and spiny urchin to the colorful stoplight parrot fish and elegant southern sting ray. Whether inside an atoll or simply within the barrier reef, Belize’s world class dive sites have long been Mother Nature’s best kept secret – not because it isn’t thrilling, but because you’d rather keep the magic to yourself.

Discover the depths of the Caribbean Sea, from ageold stalactites to a kaleidoscope of coral forests with matchless dives just minutes from your doorstep. With three major atolls each ringed by coral spanning 50 miles and the second longest barrier reef in the world, there are more than enough unspoiled dive sites to go around.

Seven (7) marine reserves make up Belize’s World Heritage Site, the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (BBRRS).

In Belize, it is illegal to export coral or spearfish on scuba.

DIVING HOTSPOTS IN EACH ATOLL

AMBERGRIS CAYE The Aquarium, Silver Cave, Half Moon Caye Wall

THE AQUARIUM: Best experienced during a drift dive from Painted Wall, The Aquarium in the northern side of Long Caye is aptly named after the colonies of painted tunicates, swarming schools of tropical reef fish, and large pelagic marine fauna.

TURNEFFE REEF ATOLL

CAYE CAULKER

TURNEFFE REEF

ELBOW LIGHTHOUSE REEF

BLUE HOLE

AQUARIUM HALF MOON CAYE

PLACENCIA SOUTH WATER CAYE

PINNACLES GLOVERS REEF

SILK CAYES GLADDEN SPIT The Terrace, The Elbow, Calabash Caye Wall

THE ELBOW: A long stretch of sharply-sloping, soft corallined reef face drops over 100 feet in the north-western side of Turneffe, with pelagic life to transform this staircase to the depths from great - to spectacular. Witness a myriad of dive delights in one location with large knots of black coral rarely seen elsewhere, and eagle rays by the score.

GLOVERS REEF ATOLL

The White Sands, The Wilderness Zone, The Pinnacles

THE PINNACLES: Marvel at any dozen conglomerates of giant coral pinnacles that rise more than 100 feet at one of the more unique dives within Glover’s Reef, Belize’s best formed atoll.