Sea Sports Belize launched Wildlife Encounters in the 1990s.  Others have copied but none can compare.  These tours explore the diverse coastal marine life including the endangered West Indian manatee, Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin, crocodiles and iguanas.  These trips for great for the entire family.

Wildlife Encounter Tour

Our Wildlife Encounter Tour begins with a cruise up
the historic Belize River and ends with snorkeling on
the largest barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere, the Belize Barrier Reef.

This tour is very popular since it includes a little bit
of jungle and sea while you're in Belize for the day
and families really enjoy this trip as there's something for everyone.

The Belize River was the main highway in Belize until
the turn of the century when roads were built. Great steamships used to run up and down the Belize River between Cayo, or San Ignacio as it is known today, Belize's westernmost town that borders Guatemala, and Belize City.  Settlements along the river are much less common but evidence of the numerous mango farms that line the river banks and the occasional breadfruit tree indicate the previous importance in the development of Belize.

Before the steamships were in use, the Maya
similarly used the Belize River as a key transportation route between their inland cities and coastal settlements.

Mammals that are found in the Belize River include
manatees, dolphins and howler monkeys.  The West
Indian Manatee can often be seen at the mouth of
the Belize River and howler monkeys in the treetops.
Our Wildlife Encounters have twice spotted the national animal crossing the river, the Central
American tapir!

Several species of reptiles can be observed along the
jungle river.  The American crocodile is often
observed "sunning" along the river bank.  They are
shy around visitors and will often escape
underwater.  The Central American river turtle is
occasionally observed resting on logs along the river
bank.  These reptiles are similarly shy and will retreat
to the safety of the river in an instant.  Green
iguanas are vegetarians that are observed resting on
the branches of the tallest trees.  They reach 5 feet
in length and vary in color  from green to orange.

Exotic bird species include the keel-billed toucan,
boat-billed and great blue herons, jabiru and wood
storks, roseate spoonsbills, kingfishers, egrets and
many more.  Exotic plants and trees encountered
include the royal and cohune palms, and logwood,
which was used in the 1800s as die for clothing.  

The mangrove communities found along the coast
and offshore islands are the nursery grounds for our
commercial fishery species.  Lobster, fish, and
shrimp use the  prop roots of the red mangrove for
shelter and also as a feeding ground.  

Coral reefs are amazing and so full of life.  Looking at them from the boat you would never imagine the amount of activity and beauty that awaits your under the sea exploration.  This portion of the trip is an abbrevoated version of our Barrier Reef Snorkeling trip.

The Wildlife Encounter trip as let's you experience the jungle and it's inhabitants and also the amazing underwater world that lives on hte coral reefs. 

Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins are Amazing to Watch

Photo Heather Sherman

Two West Indian Manatees Enccountered while Snorkeling on the Belize Barrier Reef

Photo Linda Searle

We can tailor the Wildlife Encounters to suit your group. Please see below options available and cost. There is a $5 marine park fee for entering the Swallow Caye Marine Reserve that is additional to the trip cost.

$112.50

Full Blown Wildlife Encounters         

Includes looking for crocodiles, iguanas and howler monkeys in the Belize River, looking for manatees and dolphins offshore, and snorkeling on the Belize Barrier Reef.

$90.00

Offshore Wildlife Encounters

Includes looking for manatees and dolphins and snorkeling on the Belize Barrier Reef.

$78.75

Manatee and Dolphin Encounters

Includes looking for manatees and dolphins in the estuaries around Belize City.

$73.25

Manatee Encounters

Includes looking for manatees near the Swallow Caye Marine Reserver, a protected area established solely for the protection of manatees.

Take me to the Contact Us page, we're ready to book!