Shark Ray Alley Caye Caulker: Complete Guide (2023)

Some links in this post contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission if you use the links at no extra cost to you! Happy reading 😀

If you’re backpacking Belize, one of your stops needs to be Caye Caulker. It’s a small, Caribbean, paradise island, with some of the best snorkeling in the world. And one of the best places you visit on those tours? Shark Ray Alley.

But just what is Shark Ray Alley? Why is it so special? How do you get there? What can you expect? This post answers all of your questions about Shark Ray Alley Caye Caulker and more.

As soon as I heard about Shark Ray Alley, I knew I needed to see it for myself. The chance to swim with sharks? Yes, please! And it lived up to every expectation. It really was incredible.

We stayed in Caye Caulker for two weeks and absolutely loved it. I recommend all backpackers add it to their bucket lists! We would have stayed for longer if we could. You can find out all the information you need to know about visiting Caye Caulker on the blog.

More of a visual learner? I have a reel all about snorkeling in Caye Caulker on my Instagram. Check it out here!

Other backpacking Belize posts:

• Best Hostels In Caye Caulker For Backpackers
• Snorkeling in Caye Caulker: BEST Company
• How To Get From Caye Caulker To San Pedro
• How To Get From Chetumal To Caye Caulker (Belize) Guide

Looking for something specific about Shark Ray Alley? Be sure to check the contents below!

Shark Ray Alley: A Summary

One of the most famous snorkeling spots in Belize is Shark Ray Alley Caye Caulker. It’s situated in the Belize Barrier Reef, which is the second-largest barrier reef in the world.

So, how did Shark Ray Alley come to be? Well, it was once a place where fishermen would clean their catches, meaning fish would drop off the side of the boat and back into the sea. This attracted the attention of friendly nurse sharks, who would enjoy a tasty dinner of leftovers.

Now it still attracts these nurse sharks, in the hope they will find more fish to eat. As well as nurse sharks, Shark Ray Alley also homes stingrays, turtles and other marine life, so it has quickly become one of the most popular spots to snorkel in Belize!

Want to know more about where to spot stingrays in Caye Caulker? Check out my post: Where To See Stingrays in Caye Caulker: Complete Guide!

TOP TIP: I highly recommend booking your snorkeling tour in Caye Caulker through Nauti Time Tours. Not only do they have knowledgeable guides who go out of their way to make your day as epic as possible, but they’re eco-friendly, visit all of the best spots in the reef and their prices won’t break the bank!

How to visit Shark Ray Alley

The best way to experience Shark Ray Alley to its fullest is to book a tour. It isn’t close enough to Caye Caulker to swim (and this would be incredibly dangerous) and you’ll need to be on a boat to experience it.

As previously mentioned, I highly recommend Nauti Time Tours. Not only do they have knowledgeable guides who go out of their way to make your day as epic as possible, but they’re eco-friendly, visit all of the best spots in the reef and their prices won’t break the bank!

Most snorkeling companies will visit some other stops during the tour, including the Hol Chan Reserve, a sunken shipwreck and the colourful coral gardens. But for me, the highlight was Shark Ray Alley.

Do I need a tour to visit Shark Ray Alley?

Yes, you need a tour to visit Shark Ray Alley. The Belize Barrier Reef is a protected area, and you need to be with a licensed boat to visit. 

But don’t worry, all snorkeling tours in Caye Caulker include Shark Ray Alley with their trip, so you won’t miss out!

What type of shark is at Shark Ray Alley?

The type of shark at Shark Ray Alley is a nurse shark. This specific type of shark can grow up to 14 feet long but is more commonly known to be around 9ft. They have strong jaws, although they are harmless to humans.

Nurse sharks like to swim near the sea floor, in warm and shallow waters.

Can nurse sharks hurt you?

Whilst they may look scary (with the infamous dorsel shark fin), nurse sharks are harmless and are easy-going creatures of the sea. Unless you purposely hurt or attack the shark yourself, it isn’t going to bother or harm you.

Our tour guide did tell us of a time when a tourist was aggravating the shark. He repeatedly told the man to leave the sharks alone, but the man ignored him, pointing directly at the shark’s faces.

The nurse shark then managed to suck on the man’s finger, causing him to lose quite a bit of skin. This is rare, and simply because the tourist did not listen to the tour guide, and angered the animals. This is the shark’s home, watch from a distance and be respectful!

Can you swim at Shark Ray Alley?

Yes! You are able to swim with the nurse sharks at Shark Ray Alley if you would like to. This is a personal choice, and you can sit and observe from the boat if you’d prefer.

When we stopped at Shark Ray Alley, we watched from the boat for around 5 minutes before jumping in to snorkel with the sharks and stingrays. We were in the water with the nurse sharks for approximately 30 minutes. The nurse sharks never came too close to us, and we didn’t feel in any danger whatsoever.

Can I see the sharks from the boat at Shark Ray Alley?

Yes, if you would prefer to watch the sharks from the boat, this is totally fine! You can see the sharks from the water’s surface and enjoy them in this way. It’s still worth booking a snorkeling tour to Shark Ray Alley even if you’re not going to swim in the water.

What is the best company to snorkel with in Caye Caulker?

Looking for the best boat company to take you to Shark Ray Alley?

I highly recommend booking your snorkeling tour in Caye Caulker through Nauti Time Tours. Not only do they have knowledgeable guides who go out of their way to make your day as epic as possible, but they’re eco-friendly, visit all of the best spots in the reef and their prices won’t break the bank!

Need more information about the tour? Read my honest review about snorkeling in Belize here.

How much does a snorkeling tour to Shark Ray Alley Caye Caulker cost?

This depends on the type of tour you take in Caye Caulker. Most backpackers and visitors book a full-day snorkeling tour, which stops off at Shark Ray Alley (giving you the chance to swim with the sharks). This tour costs between £65-70 per person.

How much does it cost to swim with sharks in Belize?

Tours to swim with sharks in Belize cost between £65-150 per person, depending on where you are coming from, and what your tour involves. If you want to swim with sharks in Belize, you will need to head to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, which is most popularly accessed via Belize City, Caye Caulker or San Pedro. You can only swim with sharks as part of a boat tour.

Need more information about swimming with sharks in Belize? Read my honest review about snorkeling here.

How deep is Shark Ray Alley?

Shark Ray Alley is considerably shallow, and only reaches around 8ft deep. If you are nervous about swimming at Shark Ray Alley, you can use a lifejacket to keep you afloat. They will be available on your boat, or just ask your tour guide!

Where can I see nurse sharks in Belize?

The best place to see nurse sharks in Belize is Shark Ray Alley, which is in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. I recommend staying in Caye Caulker to see the nurse sharks in Belize.

How far is Shark Ray Alley from Caye Caulker?

Shark Ray Alley is only around 5-10 minutes by boat from the main Caye Caulker piers. However, you will need to be on a boat tour to visit Shark Ray Alley.

How to book a snorkel trip to Shark Ray Alley

Ready to book this once-in-a-lifetime experience? Yay!

If you’re traveling during peak season to Caye Caulker, I recommend pre-booking your trip to Shark Ray Alley. The island is small, and it gets busy, quickly! You can send Nauti Time Tours an email to reserve your spot, and you don’t need to pay until the day. This just confirms that you have a spot and won’t miss out on this bucket list activity!

If you’re already in Caye Caulker, you can walk down to the Nauti Time Tour office to book (opposite the WaterJet International ferry dock), located at the La Isla Resort. It’s around a 30-second walk from the Ice and Beans coffee shop.

What to take to Shark Ray Alley

If you’re unsure about what to bring to Shark Ray Alley Caye Caulker, here is a quick list. Your tour company (especially a good tour company like Nauti Time Tours) will provide all food and drink for you, as well as snorkeling equipment.

In addition to this, you will need to bring yourself whilst snorkeling in Caye Caulker:

• Suncream, at least factor 50 and it must be reef-friendly. The sun out at sea is hot, and you’re more likely to burn due to the reflection on the water. Keep reapplying suncream after each snorkel. Also check your suncream is reef friendly – any other suncream can directly harm coral and marine life.
• Swimwear, with something to cover your back and shoulders whilst you’re sitting on the boat. Why? It gets hot, and there’s little to no shade (apart from the small roof of the boat). Be sure to arrive wearing your swimwear as there won’t be anywhere on board to change.
• Sea-sickness tablets: the water around Caye Caulker can get choppy, and people are known to get seasick on the Caye Caulker snorkelling tours. Be prepared!
• A waterproof camera (a GoPro or an iPhone waterproof case) to take pictures and videos of all the epic marine life you’ll see
• Extra snacks…if you’re the type to get extra hungry.

Where is Caye Caulker?

Caye Caulker is a tiny paradise island off the coast of Belize, in the Caribbean Sea. It is accessible via boat from places such as Belize City, San Pedro or even Chetumal in Mexico.

Where to stay in Caye Caulker as a backpacker

As I previously mentioned, Caye Caulker is small. Really, really small. So everyone gets to know everyone, regardless of what hostel you’re at.

There’s also a lot of talk about the hostels, and what makes them great (or not so great). If you’ve done your research, you will have heard about Bella’s Backpackers. Well, yes, it might be known as the ‘party’ hostel, but it doesn’t receive the best reviews (in person and online).

I’ve met people who have mixed reviews about Bella’s. Some have loved it, whilst some have checked out early. Do your research and read the reviews, so you know exactly what you’re letting yourself in for! You can read some of the helpful reviews here.

If you’d rather avoid the chaos of Bella’s, I highly recommend:

• Go Slow Hostel: we stayed here for over a week and it was perfect. Clean, comfortable, and in the best location on the island (it’s actually on the street next to Bella’s). There’s a large area to socialise and meet other backpackers, which we loved. The wifi is a little hit-and-miss, but it’s worth it!
• Sophie’s Guestrooms: If you want a quieter stay. This hostel only has 5 rooms and has a real homey vibe to it.
• Tropical Oasis: for basic dorms but a good party and social vibe. Right next to Go Slow Hostel.

How many days should you spend in Caye Caulker?

If you’re visiting Caye Caulker for the first time, I recommend spending at least 4-5 days on the island. It’s one of those places that’s hard to leave, and the longer the better! There is so much to see and do in Caye Caulker, with some tourists staying for up to a week.

As backpackers, we arrived in Caye Caulker not really knowing what to expect. We were so surprised that we actually extended our stay by a week! And it wasn’t just us; we were surrounded by other backpackers who did the same. There’s just so much to do, people to meet, food to taste and experiences to be hard – and it’s hard to leave when you realise how beautiful it is!

Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America

If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.

Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.

I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.

If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.

With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)

Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!

If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!

Is Caye Caulker a party island?

Not necessarily, but there are still some places to have a great night out. Caye Caulker is exceptionally small, so everyone tends to go to the same places in the evenings (including the locals; we recognised everyone in every bar!)

As backpackers, we started our evenings in Swings, a small bar with decently priced food and delicious rum punch. After Swings, most move onto Sports Bar. A typical dive bar, the Sports Bar hosts different events each night, ranging from Trivia quizzes to karaoke. Past 9pm, the tables are moved and the whole place becomes a dancefloor with a small smoking area on the beach.

After Sports Bar, most people either head home (it closes at midnight), or south to the Reggae Bar. The Reggae Bar is the only place on Caye Caulker that is open past midnight. It’s more of a club than anywhere else on the island, so if you’re not into overcrowded dance floors, head home at midnight.

If you’re hungry, the only places still serving food past midnight on Caye Caulker are the street food vans opposite the Reggae Bar. You can get hotdogs, burgers and nachos for under £5, so even if you’re not continuing the party, you can stop off for some food!

Want to know more about partying in Caye Caulker? Check out my post: Is Caye Caulker A Party Island? Backpacker Guide.

Shark Ray Alley Caye Caulker: In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about Shark Ray Alley in Caye Caulker, Belize. I highly recommend Nauti Time Tours, not just for backpackers, but anyone who wants to have an epic day of snorkeling to Shark Ray Alley.

When you’re planning a trip to Belize, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t come across my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently backpacking Belize with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Belize content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

Other Belize posts:

• Where To See Stingrays in Caye Caulker: Complete Guide
• Snorkeling in Caye Caulker: BEST Company
• Best Hostels In Caye Caulker For Backpackers
• How To Get From Caye Caulker To San Pedro