“Do you see it? It’s right there!” our guide Harry Sr. shouted, pointing into the clear waters. We didn’t see anything at first, but eagerly went to the front of the boat to look for the elusive Manatee eating turtle-grass at the bottom of the sea. Finally, in the shadows of the Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary, we saw the dark shape swimming near us. It was our first Manatee sighting!
Manatees are gentle herbivores living in the coastal areas and rivers of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, the Amazon Basin, and Western Africa. Sometimes called “sea cows,” these slow-moving animals have a slow metabolism and need to stay in shallow, warmer waters to survive.
We had been searching in the shallow waters of the sanctuary for less than 30 minutes before finding one. How our guide spotted it remains a mystery. Despite Nick and I having our eyes on the water the entire time, we saw nothing. Once we identified the Manatee, our second guide, Harry Jr., cut the motor, letting us enjoy the peaceful moment. Using a large bamboo pole, Harry Jr. guided the boat towards the Manatee’s next predicted breathing spot. According to our knowledgeable guides, Manatees can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes, so we had to wait a bit between surface breaths.
Our best sighting occurred near the end of the day. Despite the glaring sun reflecting off the water, Harry Sr. spotted our sixth Manatee! Initially, he thought it was moving to the back of the boat, so the other three tourists ran back there. Nick and I stayed in the middle, which turned out to be the best choice. The Manatee’s nose peeked up, followed by its whiskers, cheeks, and round eyes! We were right next to it—closer than we had been all day. We fumbled with the camera, but just as quickly as it exhaled, it inhaled and swam away with a swoop of its tail.
By the end of the day, we had seen a total of seven Manatees, a rare number. We credited our veteran guides, Harry Sr. and Harry Jr., whose experience and sharp eyes made it possible. They grew up on Caye Caulker in Belize and knew everything about the island, the sea, and the Manatees. They answered all our questions and their ability to spot these creatures was astonishing.
But the day wasn’t just about boat-sitting and spotting majestic animals; we wanted to get wet too! Although we couldn’t snorkel with the Manatees, we still explored the stunning Belize Barrier Coral Reef just 300 meters offshore. We snorkeled above the colorful coral, spotting a stingray, moray eel, and various fish species. While on the boat, we also saw playful dolphins. The marine life in Belize is fantastic.
We had previously spotted a dugong in Mozambique, but seeing seven of its cousins in Caye Caulker was thrilling. Being out on the water was rejuvenating, and we felt privileged to have this unique experience.
We chose E-Z Boy Tours because of their welcoming, colorful office right on the water and their longstanding family operation. Founded in 1997, this family-run business has provided jobs to Belizeans and memorable excursions to tourists for many years. The owner, Hans, is the fifth generation in his family involved in fishing and has expanded to include snorkeling and island trips.
E-Z Boy Tours offers a variety of sightseeing options on and under the water, including six-speed boat tours and three sailing tours, with sailboats available for private charter. Recently, they added a three-day sailing trip to Placencia, with camping on islands along the way.
We opted for the Manatee Tour, a seven-hour day trip starting at 9:30 am. We spent the day exploring the Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary and stopped at St. George’s Caye for lunch. On the way back to Caye Caulker, we stopped at two snorkeling sites with beautiful coral and marine life. The tour costs $85 per person with a minimum of five people required.
The E-Z Boy guides are third- and fourth-generation islanders, well-qualified to provide information about Caye Caulker, the marine life, and the nearby sanctuaries. Both Harry Sr. and Harry Jr. were knowledgeable and genuine, a quality often hard to find in tour guides.
Pros:
The guides made the tour memorable. Having interesting, funny, and knowledgeable guides is essential. We asked Harry Sr. and Jr. many questions about Manatees, Belize, Caye Caulker, and even personal topics. They were happy to answer everything. The speedboat was comfortable, with available shade and life jackets, and the snorkeling gear was well maintained, even offering prescription masks. Our guides respected the rules, not allowing us to get in the water with the Manatees since they stayed inside the Wildlife Sanctuary.
Cons:
Though the fish lunch with rice, beans, salad, and fruit was tasty, we were disappointed it came from Caye Caulker in styrofoam containers rather than being cooked fresh on St. George’s Caye. Eco-tourism is essential to Nick and me. We expressed that we don’t agree with feeding and touching marine life, which some tour operators in Caye Caulker do. Although E-Z Tours assured us they didn’t support such practices, one guide did pick up a starfish for us to hold. It was a minor issue, but worth noting.
To book a tour with E-Z Boy Tours in Caye Caulker, you can reserve online or contact them on Facebook.