Permit· Belize Barrier Reef· Other Caribbean

Belize Marine Reserve & Park Fees

17° 8.2′ N · 87° 55.3′ W

Most of the reef worth sailing to sits inside one of the seven protected areas of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System (UNESCO World Heritage, 1996) or a fisheries marine reserve, and nearly all charge a per-person visitor fee. Position is the OpenStreetMap centroid of the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System boundary.

Belize Barrier Reef

Practical

Fees are per person per visit or day and are collected by rangers, reserve offices or tour guides; carry cash in BZD or USD. Known figures: Hol Chan Marine Reserve US$15 from 1 August 2024 (San Pedro Sun); Half Moon Caye Natural Monument BZ$20 and Blue Hole Natural Monument BZ$60 per person per day for non-nationals (Belize Audubon Society); Gladden Spit and Silk Cayes US$10 per person (Moorings eGuide 2025); Port Honduras Marine Reserve US$10 per person per day and Lighthouse Reef US$30 per person per day were reported by cruisers around 2005 (Soundings) - verify locally. Bareboat charter companies restrict Glover's, Turneffe and Lighthouse Reef, Laughing Bird Caye and Gladden Spit/Silk Cayes to boats with a local skipper or licensed guide; a guide for a day costs roughly US$100-150 (Moorings eGuide). Inside reserves: use mooring buoys where provided, never anchor on coral, no gloves or touching, no spearfishing with scuba. Damaging coral can bring fines, passport confiscation and prosecution, and after grounding on coral you must not move the boat until authorities inspect (Moorings eGuide). A sport fishing licence from the Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute is required to fish (Moorings quotes US$25 per person per week).

Best for

Budgeting and rules before entering any reserve

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