Turneffe Island Resort

Turneffe Island Resort is a private island resort situated on scenic Caye Bokel, the southernmost island of the Turneffe Atoll. The resort is the only resort on the twelve acre island, so there is plenty of space and privacy. There are only twelve guest cottages which ring the perimeter of the island to catch the refreshing ocean breezes.

Here you can scuba dive and snorkel in total solitude through crystal clear waters inhabited by the greatest variety of tropical marine life found anywhere in the Caribbean, and fly fish in an undisturbed saltwater paradise teeming with bonefish, permit and tarpon.

The cottages and facilities were built in the early 1960s. Although modernized in the mid-1990s, they have retained their original feeling of old Caribbean charm. The cottages have ceiling fans, private baths and screened verandas overlooking the ocean. Some of the cottages are equipped with air-conditioning. Sit back on your veranda, sip a local drink and take in the tranquil view—palm tree islands in the distance and, except for the occasional passing sailboat, absolutely no sign of the fast-paced world left behind.

The Turneffe Atoll area stretches thirty miles long and ten miles wide. It has often been described as a myriad of different dive destinations all bundled into one. The vastness and variety of marine life and coral formations make scuba diving at Turneffe Island Resort an adventure like no other dive destination in the Caribbean. With more than 200 mangrove islands, the atoll is a natural nursery for a wide variety of exotic fish, including the rare whitespotted toadfish, which is endemic to Belize.

Other types of tropical marine life commonly viewed include eagle rays, playful dolphins, turtles, huge green morays, giant jewfish, nurse sharks, reef sharks, trunkfish, grouper, snapper, permit, and horse-eye jacks. The depth of the water and distance from the mainland of Belize result in excellent underwater visibility, normally in excess of 100 feet and often ranging up to 150 feet. Together, the three atolls of Belize have more than 160 miles of walls and reefs suitable for diving—you will seldom see other divers! The secluded, unspoiled environment of the atolls is a far cry from the major dive centers and other popular fishing destinations of the Caribbean. It is truly one of the last frontiers for divers and anglers alike.

You don’t have to be a diver or a fisherman to enjoy Turneffe Island Resort. There is excellent snorkeling along the nearby reefs for the advanced and the beginner. Turneffe`s dive shop offers beginning snorkeling instruction for those who wish to experience many of the same thrills as the divers—petting a nurse shark, exploring a sunken shipwreck, or playing with a school of dolphins. Each snorkeling trip is a new and different adventure! Snorkel trips are scheduled each day and are located within minutes from the lodge.

The resort`s restaurant offers you gourmet dishes prepared with freshly harvested coconut, tropical fruits, and fish, conch, stone crab, and lobster pulled from the sea nearby. There`s a large swim dock, a beachside volleyball court, horseshoes, ocean kayaks, wind surfers, and a gift shop.

The full-service dive and tackle shops provide diving and fishing instruction for beginners. The resort also offers a wonderful afternoon mangrove tour in search of manatees, crocodiles and giant starfish. After all the day`s activities, relax on a hammock on the white sand beach shaded by coconut palms and enjoy the carefree island life!