The Split
A hurricane channel.
dronepicr — CC BY 2.0 · dronepicr — CC BY 2.0 · James Willamor — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Samantha Beddoes — CC BY 2.0
A small, laid-back island near the Belize Barrier Reef whose motto is «go slow». There are no cars, so people get around on foot, by bicycle and golf cart along sandy streets lined with wooden houses on stilts painted blue, yellow and green. At its northern end is «the Split», a channel cut by Hurricane Hattie in 1961 that divided the island in two, now a place to sit on the dock by the water. Wooden piers reach into turquoise water along the east shore, loveliest at sunrise, while sunsets are watched from the west side. The island is the base for snorkelling trips to the reef, less than a kilometre away, to the Hol Chan reserve, Blue Hole trips and outings to watch gentle manatees in its waters. At its south end is a small mangrove reserve. Seafood is fresh, especially lobster in season from June to February; ask about ingredients if a dish has meat. Use licensed operators; sea trips are cancelled in rough weather, and the hurricane season runs from June to November.
A hurricane channel.
Turquoise water.
Snorkelling.
About 45 minutes by water taxi from Belize City
Caye Caulker is smaller, calmer and cheaper with sandy lanes; San Pedro is bigger with more services and hotels, and a boat links them in half an hour.