Laughing Bird Caye

Laughing Bird Caye is a tiny sand island off the Placencia coast, protected as a national park and part of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System World Heritage site. The caye takes its name from the laughing gulls that once nested there, and its fringing reef supports coral, reef fish, rays and turtles. The snorkelling is easy, in generally calm and shallow water, and the island itself has a small beach and shade where boats stop for a break. The tour we link is a snorkel and island experience from Placencia, which makes it the natural reef outing for anyone staying on the southern coast, and a calmer, less crowded alternative to the busy marine reserve trips from San Pedro.

What you do. After a boat ride across the lagoon, the guide briefs you on safe snorkelling and reef etiquette, and you spend time in the water over coral heads and sandy patches, looking for parrotfish, angelfish, sergeant majors, rays and sometimes turtles. Back on the caye, you can relax on the sand, swim from the beach or take a short walk on the small island, with shade and a lunch stop on some tours.

The coral here was damaged by a hurricane in the early 2000s and has been recovering under protection, so the visit is partly about seeing a reef in recovery.

Practical details. Snorkel gear is normally provided, but you should check, and bring reef-safe sunscreen, a rash guard or long-sleeved top, a hat and a towel. A park fee often applies and may or may not be included in the tour price, so read the inclusions when you book. Conditions depend on wind and weather, and the dry season from roughly February to May is calmest, while wetter months can bring choppy water and cancellations. Strong swimmers and beginners are both well served, but nervous swimmers should ask for a flotation vest.

Who it suits. It suits couples, families with older children and anyone who wants an easy reef day without the crowds of the northern cayes. Because it is a national park, rules apply, so do not touch or stand on coral, do not feed fish and take your rubbish with you.

If you are choosing between reef trips, Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley are the headline experience from San Pedro, and the Great Blue Hole is the bucket-list day trip, while Laughing Bird Caye is the right choice if you are based in Placencia or Hopkins.

Combine it with a jungle day, such as Cockscomb Basin or Monkey River, to balance sea and forest.

Visitors who have snorkelled elsewhere in the Caribbean sometimes expect more dramatic marine life than they find, so go for the calm water, the protected setting and the scenery rather than for big animals. If you want sharks and rays in numbers, Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley from Ambergris Caye are the better match, while this is the gentler choice. Ask the operator about the group size and the length of time in the water, because smaller boats and longer snorkel sessions make a noticeable difference to how much you see and how relaxed the day feels, especially in the busier months.