Come with us and enjoy your day at Laughing Bird Caye National Park. Snorkel and explore the reef, relax on the beach and enjoy yourself. Laughing Bird Caye is a beautiful Belizean isle situated on the western side of Victoria Channel and the beauty and the quiet will amaze you.
Your ship will be docked in Harvest Caye so you would need to take the tender to the mainland just a short 10-minute ride. Your guide would be waiting just inside the tender terminal for you after you cross. He will get you checked in, onto your boat and off you'll start your ride to Laughing Bird Caye to do some amazing snorkeling!
PLEASE NOTE: DUE TO TIME, ALL GUESTS MUST BE ON THE FIRST TENDER. PLEASE PURCHASE YOUR TENDER TICKET EARLY TO ENSURE YOUR SPACE - THERE IS ONLY 61 PASSENGER CAPACITY ON THE TENDER.
The tender boats used to get you to the Laughing Bird Caye are from 23 feet to 42 feet in length. There are seats along the sides and removable ladders. Fully licensed and insured under the laws of Belize, and the captain and crew are experienced, so you can sit back and relax.
This tiny island was established as a National Park in 1991 and put on the World Heritage List in 1996, which means pristine, natural, exotic, and as tropical as it gets. The trip to Laughing Bird Caye is approximately 45 minutes with the ocean breezes and various cayes to spot along the way. Once you arrive at the National Park, guests will disembark to a large floating deck.
The Laughing Bird Faro is separated from the mainland, the barrier reef and other cayes by deep channels on all sides. The uniqueness of this structure contributes to both the abundance and variety of coral habitats and marine life. The Caye gets its name from the Laughing Gull (Larus artricilla) which you will see many of there.
The island itself has basic facilities, beach chairs, shaded palapas and vendors that sell soft drinks and bottled water. Your snorkeling gear (mask, sterilized snorkel tube and various sized fins) will be handed to you and the guide will be happy to explain how to use it to those new to the sport, feel free to ask for a flotation vest if you need it. If you did not bring your own snorkeling gear then you may rent a set (mask, sterilized snorkel tube/mouthpiece and fins) for an additional $10.00 USD fee.
You will also receive a briefing from the park ranger about the park, the do's and don'ts, the history, etc. before you start. You will enter the water right from the shore as it is actually part of the coral reef. You will be accompanied by a guide the entire time and he'll point out interesting marine life along the way. The part of the reef you will explore has a maximum depth of 8 ft (2 meters).
Marvel at the incredible world beneath the surface. Colorful coral, sponges, and tropical fish that will dart in and out of the coral reef system. The waters are warm and calm and you'll soon realize just how relaxed you are. The sergeant fish may come close out of curiosity and you'll notice parrot fish, trump fish, tuna, groupers and possibly an eagle ray, or two in the distance. You won't feel rushed and you'll be informed when it is time to get back to the island.
You'll have a little time to relax, take in the sun and enjoy some local fruit and bottled water, and then it's off to the dock in Placencia to take the ferry back to Harvest Caye and your cruise ship.
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