Turneffe Atoll is the most astonishing of Belize's three atolls and is mainly in the Caribbean area. Located 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Belize City, it comprises over 400 small islands with dense mangrove forests dotted with shallow lagoons.
The atoll formed at the pinnacle of an underwater volcanic peak. Unlike different atolls shaped on volcanoes, Turneffe Atoll was fashioned on a fault block as a result of geological processes millions of years ago throughout the formation of the Central American Isthmus. Geologists have determined rocks inside the depths of the atoll, which are much like those located inside the Maya Mountains in southern Belize.
Designated as a marine protected location in 2012, Turneffe Atoll is home to many coral fish spawning sites and boasts Belize's finest diving spots. Diving lodges in this location provide handy access for scuba diving lovers to discover the underwater world without difficulty.
Turneffe Atoll Map
| Name | Turneffe Atoll |
| Country | Belize |
| District | Belize District |
| Coordinates | 17°20′N 87°52′W |
| Area | 1,369 km2 (325,400 acres) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 |
| Population | 0 |
| Airport | N/A |
How to Get There
Blackbird Caye has an airstrip that offers private flights from Belize City, which charges extra even if you're a guest of the Blackbird Island Resort.
Alternatively, you could take a ship to Tenaf Atoll, where there are tour companies or resorts that offer free round-trip boats that can be booked in advance.
The boat adventure to Turneffe Atoll takes approximately 1.5 hours and gives scenic views of coral reefs, mangroves, and winding streams along the manner.
Best Things to Do
Scuba Diving: Turneffe Atoll gives dive sites appropriate for divers of all levels, with over 70 regarded dive sites. The shallow reefs on the west facet are perfect for beginners and amusement divers, while the various terrains at the east and south aspects are more proper for knowledgeable divers. Shipwrecks, steep slopes, and channels create quite a few attractions, regularly showcasing larger reef fish, sea turtles, and eagle rays.
Caribbean reef sharks and ever-gift nurse sharks now and then mingle with solitary hammerhead sharks and blacktip sharks. A small pod of bottlenose dolphins is living in the southern lagoons, and spotted dolphins are everyday hunters in those waters. Manatees and American crocodiles can occasionally be noticed inside the seas away from the lagoon habitats.
Elbow is a to-visit dive site on Turneffe Atoll, known for its beautiful steep slopes and hanging coral formations. Schools of grunts and snappers feed within the mid-water above the reef, at the same time as large groupers and other reef fish cover inside the canyons. Schools of eagle rays are not unusual, and coffee shark sightings are viable.
The sunken ruin of Sayonara, once a passenger/shipment delivery, is now embellished with excellent sponges and corals. It gives a colorful backdrop, with sightings of French angelfish, parrotfish, and numerous wrasse species. Keen observers might also spot basket stars, coral shrimp, and filefish. The nearby coral reefs are home to colleges of barracuda, with dazzling coral patches at the sandy slopes.
Sea Kayaking: Sea kayaking allows for a better exploration of the surrounding environment and a close-up view of marine life while exercising. You can paddle through winding streams between mangrove islands and observe numerous marine creatures inhabiting the shallows, including boxfish, yellowtail snapper, and northern pike. Blackbird Caye is home to 25 bird species, offering rich coral gardens and easy dolphin sightings as they forage and rest within the atoll. The mangrove streams provide ample opportunities to spot other marine creatures.
Fly-fishing: Fly-fishing is authorized within the vicinity alongside the edge of the reef on the seaward side, wherein there are miles of clean, shallow flats with visible bottoms. Here, you may encounter schools of bonefish, allow fish, boxfish, jacks, small rays, grunts, or even juvenile sharks. In the surf, you may every so often spot the backs of massive parrotfish or triggerfish. These flats are protected with turtle grass, which serves as an essential habitat for many juvenile fish species. Additionally, they help protect coral reefs by performing as sediment filters.
Watching Bird: Birdwatchers can have quite a tick list to tick off. Turneffe Atoll has recorded over 60 species, including common birds like snowy egret, little blue heron, fantastic blue heron, tricolored heron, yellow-topped night heron, spoonbill, mangrove swallow, brown pelican, frigatebird, double-crested cormorant, osprey, mangrove warbler, lineated woodpecker, tropical mockingbird, cinnamon hummingbird, notable kiskadee, white-crowned pigeon, and royal tern...
Best Time to Visit
Thanks to its consistently moderate climate and heat sea temperatures, Turneffe Atoll is appropriate for traveling 12 months-round.
From November to February, north winds blow over Turneffe Atoll, bringing cool weather. During those months, water temperatures drop to 78-80°F (26-27°C), with visibility around 80 feet (25 meters).
From March to October, east winds prevail, making the leeward west coast of the atoll the most popular diving spot for the duration of strong winds. Visibility can attain over 100 feet (30 meters) at some point in the dry season from March to May. During the wet season from June to November, occasional runoff from the lagoon can muddy the water, lowering visibility to around 50 feet (15 meters).
Jo-Jo's and Calabash Island are favored spots for coral fish. In July, masses of oceanic triggerfish occupy the whole coral reef, protecting their nests from different coral fish. February/March is the spawning period for blue tangs. In the afternoons, you can see a lot of them on the Calabash Dive site.
July/August is the time when hawksbill turtles nest on Turneffe Island, so you'll see extra of them inside the water throughout this period. From March to June, pilot whales and tiger sharks migrate through the area.
Turneffe Atoll Resorts
Staying at Turneffe Atoll gives handy get entry to the island's beautiful surroundings, such as sports like diving and birdwatching, without the day-by-day travel of staying in Belize.
Turneffe Island Resort is just 30 miles away from the arena-famous Great Blue Hole. Spending every day with fins or fishing rods in hand, living the life of a drifter, is made smooth by its unspoiled beauty and superb service. This lodge is close to perfection.
Blackbird Caye Resort is nestled in a 4,000-acre jungle at the windward facet of Blackbird Caye in Turneffe Atoll. From dawn along the Caribbean coast to diving journeys organized via a PADI Five Star facility, the whole thing right here gives a feel of surprise, particularly to this vicinity.
Tips on Turneffe Atoll
- Make sure to deliver sufficient coins as there aren't any shops, ATMs, or banks on Turneffe Atoll, even though most resorts take delivery of credit score card bills.
- Tip advice: $25-50 in step with the angler according to the day for shared boats, $50-100 per angler in step with the day for private boats, and $20-40 in keeping with the diver in line with the day.
- If you plan to spend time on land, deliver insect repellent.
- Consider bringing shades with blue lenses to reduce mild entry and eye stress in tropical regions.
