Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve
Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve
Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve
4.5
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4.5
33 reviews
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Dennis K
Paris, France9 contributions
Aug 2022
We've been coming to this part of the island for years. It's not easy to reach but it's worth the boat ride. We even decided to buy beach front property up there. Someday we plan to build.
Written August 17, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Boliviaman
Kelowna, BC13 contributions
Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve is located in the extreme north of Ambergris Caye, Belize. The little known conservation area was established in 1997, and soon thereafter was designated a World Heritage Site. Despite this designation, however, the area has received little attention due to its remoteness and general lack of amenities. But it is exactly these things that give the place such appeal.
In November, 2008, I led a group of twelve students and two chaperones to Bacalar Chico as part of a community service/ adventure trip through Belize. Students spent a total of three days within park boundaries and we all found it nothing short of extraordinary. Although Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and other locations have led the charge in Voluntourism in Central America, Belize is fast emerging as a viable alternative for those looking for a challenging community-service-based experience. Students (ages 16 - 18) assisted in clearing 500 meters of jungle trail from the eastern beach to Laguna La Centena, part of a broader endeavour to ramp up greater eco-tourism to the area. They also spent a portion of their time cleaning up garbage and debris along the beach, deposited by various storms over the past decade.
The Green Reef Environmental Institute currently helps to manage the park. Director Mito Paz was HUGELY helpful in arranging all transportation, food and camping gear at San Juan, park headquarters and the site of 1000 year-old Mayan fishing village. The food and facilities though basic were excellent, and guides provided interesting interpretation at the various Mayan sites and along the reef. We were also pleased to join a local work crew made up of volunteers from the Dept. of Fisheries and Hol Chan Marine Reserve--together we cleared trails and put the footings in for a new dock.
Attractions include diverse bird and other wildlife in the lagoon channels, snorkeling and diving along the reef, jungle treks and community service opportunities. The highlights are too many to list here, but Barracuda Patch along the reef is a must-see, if you have a stomach for 4 foot long fish with mouthfuls of teeth!
In November, 2008, I led a group of twelve students and two chaperones to Bacalar Chico as part of a community service/ adventure trip through Belize. Students spent a total of three days within park boundaries and we all found it nothing short of extraordinary. Although Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua and other locations have led the charge in Voluntourism in Central America, Belize is fast emerging as a viable alternative for those looking for a challenging community-service-based experience. Students (ages 16 - 18) assisted in clearing 500 meters of jungle trail from the eastern beach to Laguna La Centena, part of a broader endeavour to ramp up greater eco-tourism to the area. They also spent a portion of their time cleaning up garbage and debris along the beach, deposited by various storms over the past decade.
The Green Reef Environmental Institute currently helps to manage the park. Director Mito Paz was HUGELY helpful in arranging all transportation, food and camping gear at San Juan, park headquarters and the site of 1000 year-old Mayan fishing village. The food and facilities though basic were excellent, and guides provided interesting interpretation at the various Mayan sites and along the reef. We were also pleased to join a local work crew made up of volunteers from the Dept. of Fisheries and Hol Chan Marine Reserve--together we cleared trails and put the footings in for a new dock.
Attractions include diverse bird and other wildlife in the lagoon channels, snorkeling and diving along the reef, jungle treks and community service opportunities. The highlights are too many to list here, but Barracuda Patch along the reef is a must-see, if you have a stomach for 4 foot long fish with mouthfuls of teeth!
Written December 14, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Caroline M
3 contributions
We booked a private tour (us and one other couple) to Bacalar Chico for the day. On the boat ride there from San Pedro we viewed the north end of the island and had an exciting ride out beyond the reef in the ocean where we saw flying fish. Once there we made two amazing snorkeling stops where we saw the most beautiful coral that was teeming with fish. We also saw green sea turtles and rays. After that, we went on through the canal between Belize and Mexico where we saw manatees and dozens of shore birds. We stopped at a visitors center/ranger station and climbed a tower that offered 360 degree views of the estuary. We came back via the western side of the Caye. All in all it was an amazing day.
Written April 10, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
haoleguy
Calgary, Canada13 contributions
May 2014 • Couples
We took a private day boat trip to Bacalar Chico in May 2014.
We took the west (leeward) side of the island in both directions, to avoid some rough water on the east (reef) side.
The west side of the island is quite different than the east side. Shallow, calm and pristine.
The ranger station at Bacalar Chico has a small museum and observation tower.
After cutting through the canal to the east side, the snorkeling near Rocky Point (where the reef meets the land) was wonderful.
There were a few disappointments:
1. The guidebooks and websites say there are 11 miles (18 kms) of nature trails, so we took our hiking stuff. When we got there, the ranger told us all the trails are closed. He didn't sound very optimistic about them reopening any time soon.
2. Our guide didn't want to beach the boat at Rocky Point for lunch. Apparently there have been a few gun battles near there recently between the police and drug smugglers, so he didn't think it was safe.
We took the west (leeward) side of the island in both directions, to avoid some rough water on the east (reef) side.
The west side of the island is quite different than the east side. Shallow, calm and pristine.
The ranger station at Bacalar Chico has a small museum and observation tower.
After cutting through the canal to the east side, the snorkeling near Rocky Point (where the reef meets the land) was wonderful.
There were a few disappointments:
1. The guidebooks and websites say there are 11 miles (18 kms) of nature trails, so we took our hiking stuff. When we got there, the ranger told us all the trails are closed. He didn't sound very optimistic about them reopening any time soon.
2. Our guide didn't want to beach the boat at Rocky Point for lunch. Apparently there have been a few gun battles near there recently between the police and drug smugglers, so he didn't think it was safe.
Written May 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Triggerina R
Manchester, UK27 contributions
Jan 2013 • Friends
Boat set out and shouldn't have as waves too high. Boat crashed going into reef. Rescued by luck after three hours in water. Be ware of weather conditions.
Written November 23, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Empty Nester
Boston, MA157 contributions
Dec 2023 • Friends
There are not many recent reviews on Bacalar Chico so I was a little nervous about the trip. It is a pretty remote place so I think most people pass for closer snorkeling and dive sites. I was attracted to the opportunity to be someplace different and off the beaten path. And this is it, we did not run into anyone else in the reserve. There are no scheduled tours so a custom trip is the only way to go. We set up ours through Richard Gillette at Suya Tours. He hooked us up with Alan, our captain and Bryan his mate. The trip was totally unique. A one-hour boat ride from our South of San Pedro location brought us to a desolate reef area just South of the Mexican border. We fished for an hour in several locations and caught numerous varieties of snapper. Then we went to our first snorkel location where we hunted lobster and Conch. We caught some of both as well as seeing many tropical fish, lobster, barracuda, rays and a green moray eel among the reef. While we snorkeled a second location, Alan and Bryan made a wonderful Conch Ceviche for the next leg of our trip. We then entered the mangrove canal dug by the Mayans 1500 years ago. Supposedly, there are manatees in this area, but we did not see any. There are also seasonal turtles in the Summer. We stopped at the Bacalar Chico Ranger Station where Alan gave an interpretive summary of the history of the area while Bryan cooked up our Snapper and Lobsters for lunch. The ride back was about 45 minutes using the bay side so we got to tour the entire circumference of Ambergris Caye. It is a long day — started at 8 am and arrived back at our Villa at 5 pm— but well worth it and definitely a highlight. By the way, the guide books talk about an 11 mile trail system on the reserve but we did not see anything about them so I am not sure they still exist. Our guides have not taken anyone on the trails and there was no information at the ranger station.
Written December 29, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kabina
United States73 contributions
Apr 2016
We are avid snorkelers and wanted to check out this marine reserve so we took a private tour and it was well worth it. We just Jungle Water Adventures in San Pedro and it was amazing.
Written April 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
thai1on
Birmingham, MI1,364 contributions
Jan 2014 • Couples
Remote & Beautiful is the best way to discribe the Bacalar Chico
National Park and Marine Reserve. It is a 45 minute to one hour
boat ride from San Pedro. We were fortunate to stay in the
Marine Reserve while at Tranquility Bay Resort, this is a 30
minute boat ride from SP. While staying at the resort we did
a tour of the park itself, which is a 20-30 minute ride up the.
coast. The channel that winds its way through the mangroves is
full of life, including Manatees that we were lucky to snorkel
with for a bit. We also snorkeled Rocky Point and Robles where we saw Loggerhead & Greensea Turtles, Nassau Groupers and
other large marine life. This tour was one of highlights while we stayed in the Marine Reserve at Tranquility Bay Resort. It is well worth a 1/2 day or day trip if you are staying in SP or TBR.
National Park and Marine Reserve. It is a 45 minute to one hour
boat ride from San Pedro. We were fortunate to stay in the
Marine Reserve while at Tranquility Bay Resort, this is a 30
minute boat ride from SP. While staying at the resort we did
a tour of the park itself, which is a 20-30 minute ride up the.
coast. The channel that winds its way through the mangroves is
full of life, including Manatees that we were lucky to snorkel
with for a bit. We also snorkeled Rocky Point and Robles where we saw Loggerhead & Greensea Turtles, Nassau Groupers and
other large marine life. This tour was one of highlights while we stayed in the Marine Reserve at Tranquility Bay Resort. It is well worth a 1/2 day or day trip if you are staying in SP or TBR.
Written February 5, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave B
Winsford, UK134 contributions
Dec 2012 • Family
Snorkelled in 2 different areas inside the reef though to get there we had to experience the current and rough waves outside - somewhat exciting ! Didn't get to see Manatee whilst snorkelling (weather conditions perhaps) however did see a mother and calf in the quieter channels. The museum and Mayan ruins (little more than an area of excavation) at Bacalar were small but well presented. Dont forget your bug repellent to visit the ruins - I was bitten to death all within 10 minutes !!
Written January 5, 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James R
62 contributions
Dec 2017 • Family
Our group of 9 took a boat up to the area and had an amazing time. We were the only people there and didn't see another boat for a several hours. We started in San Pedro and traveled up north as far as we could go inside the reef, then traveled outside of the reef for a while, and then crossed back over just south of Mexico. The day we went there were 6-8 foot seas and crossing the reef was a little crazy, not for the faint of heart. After snorkeling in a couple of areas we made our way back to San Pedro on the back side of the island. You have to request this tour from a tour operator as they do not come to this area often so you probably won't see it advertised.
Written January 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Would you be able to tell me what tour company you used? Thanks.
Written December 12, 2017
Tuff-E-Nuff was the company. They do not run normal tours to the area so you have to ask. This will be a private boat more than likely, we paid $113PP for 9 people and we had to guarantee 8 ppl.
Written January 21, 2018
What tour company did you go with? Did they provide lunch/refreshments? Did they provide snorkeling equipment? Thanks.
Written October 31, 2017
Sorry for the slow response. Tuff-e-Nuff. We packed a lunch, but they would have stopped at a resort for us to purchase a lunch to carry with us. Drinks are provided and I am sure they would provide snorkeling equipment if asked. There is not a normal tour schedule for that area and will probably be a private boat for your group. We paid $113PP for a group of 9.
Written January 21, 2018
A Tripadvisor member
Ottawa, Canada
We will be in San Pedro for 7 days. What is the best way to get to Bacalar Chico National Park to spend a day?
Written January 17, 2016
Most resorts can help you set up a tour, so check with your concierge. It will be easier when you get to the island as there are several well-known options including Ramon's, Grand Caribe etc.
Written January 23, 2017
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