Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary

Located south of Caye Caulker, Swallow Caye is a 9,000 acre protected area where West Indian manatees can be found, feeding on the ocean’s turtle grass beds. The reserve was established in 2002 in the hopes of protecting these docile creatures from the excess tour boat activity and preventing accidents most often caused by propellers.

Swimming with the manatees is prohibited, but with luck and patience, one can observe more than two at a time, interacting briefly at the surface. The Sanctuary is co-managed by Friends of Swallow Caye and the Belize Forest Department and was established in large part thanks to long time Caye Caulker native and resident, Lionel “Chocolate” Heredia, who occasionally leads tours to the sanctuary.