Turneffe Island Resort — Hotel in Little Caye Bokel

This was my fifth trip to Belize and my first to Turneffe Island Resort, and it turned out to be a spectacular 10-day vacation. The snorkeling, accommodations, food, and service were truly five-star across the board. I can’t wait to return next year!||What set the snorkeling experience apart from other Belizean resorts I’ve visited were the exceptional guides. Beans and Jovan consistently went above and beyond, free diving often to explore under coral formations and inviting us to join them. Their enthusiasm and expertise made each outing an adventure. With two snorkeling excursions daily, we explored a wide variety of sites, and I encountered more species of fish and marine life than on all my previous trips combined. For a tropical fish enthusiast like me, that was thrilling! I was especially excited to add spotted drum, spotted toadfish, and rock hind to my fish list.||I stayed in a Superior Room with a Terrace and was extremely pleased. The room was spacious, comfortable, and well-appointed. I appreciated the generous closet space and both indoor and outdoor showers, each stocked with bath gel, shampoo, and conditioner. The screened-in porch offered stunning views and refreshing breezes. My bed was very comfortable, outfitted with both a down comforter and a lighter cotton blanket. All of the resort’s buildings were impeccably maintained, which made a strong impression.||Dining at the resort was a daily highlight. The chef and dining staff provided three delicious meals a day, along with freshly baked cookies and snacks. I started most mornings with a flavorful omelette and enjoyed the ever-changing variety of salads, fruits, and entrées for lunch and dinner. I especially appreciated being offered half portions, which were often just right. Each evening, happy hour by the pool, with tasty snacks, created a relaxed space to connect with other guests and share stories from the day’s snorkeling, diving, and fishing adventures.||Aly and Shawn, the manager and assistant manager, were warm, attentive, and always accessible. From Shawn’s welcoming and informative introduction to the resort, to the consistent quality of service throughout my stay, their leadership clearly sets a high standard. Highlights included: early morning coffee delivered to my room with a printed schedule for the day, friendly greetings from every staff member, meticulous attention to safety during water activities, skilled spa therapists and a thoughtfully curated spa menu, and nightly turn-down service with a poem left on my pillow. Aly even introduced the dining and housekeeping staff at dinner one evening, a lovely gesture that reflected the resort’s thoughtful hospitality.||I whole heartedly recommend Turneffe...

My husband and I stayed here for our 30th anniversary. We had never been to the islands of Belize and chose Turneffe to spend a week. We stayed in Sunset Vila 3, the farthest room from the docks. |I spent a lot of time emailing reservations, asking questions, changing our arrival date and adding snorkeling to our package. They were always responsive and when there was a problem at pick up they corrected it quickly and even called to check on us. |The boat to the island only goes on Saturdays and Wednesdays. We chose to arrive on Friday so as not to miss the boat since our arrival time would have been very tight. Turneffe will send a car to the airport for you whether you arrive a day early or not, same for your departure. We stayed at the Fort George Hotel, a nice hotel with a lovely outdoor area and restaurant. There were no cruise ships at the port that day, so many of the touristy restaurants and shops were closed. |On Saturday at lunchtime, some of the boat crew came to the hotel and picked up our luggage. We didn't depart on the boat until 2pm and the ride was an hour. |We arrived at the island and were met by the staff who gave us a quick overview of the resort and walked each of us to our rooms. We loved our room, very quiet and peaceful, however don't be misled into thinking you can just wade into the water, however you can swim from the docks. |Meals are served at specified times. There are some snacks available during the day and appetizers are served prior to dinner at the bar. We did purchase the drink package, that was a mistake. We are "drinkers" while on vacation but never got anywhere close to maxing out $400 a piece for the week. My husband and I both have food allergies (Celiac's and Allium) and the staff were extremely good about having wonderful meals for us. |We snorkeled for a few of our days there. Luis and Beans were excellent guides. This was our 1st time "real snorkeling" not the one where they dump cat food into the water and bring the fish to you. We swam a lot each trip out and saw turtles, barracuda, sharks, grouper, eels, etc.. We took the trip to the Blue hole and snorkeled there. That also included 2 other snorkel sites and a picnic lunch. |One of the best parts of the trip was the coffee delivery to your room every morning. The coffee and cream were fantastic and we ended up asking for 2 carafes to be delivered - which they graciously accommodated. |We would definitely go back, stay in the same room but add more snorkel days. If you are considering Turneffe, especially if you are a diver or fishermen, this is your...

Our family of 4 just got back from Turneffe Island Resort (TIR). We were a mix bag of 1 SCUBA diver, 2 avid fishermen and 1 R&R mom. Everyone had a great all-around experience at TIR. The food & drinks were wonderful; rooms nice, cool & clean; physical grounds well kept; and, reception/staff were incredibly friendly. Our flight was a few hours late but somehow, with constant communication, we had a boat waiting for us to take us to the island. We certainly appreciated this as we no interest in spending the night in the city. Everything was seamless!

SCUBA Diving - My daughter had a total of 7 dives including the Blue Hole. She thoroughly enjoyed the marine life (most notable are the sharks, groupers, lobster, stingrays, sea turtles) she saw and of course, the famous Blue Hole dive. The water was very clear and warm. Her comment was that 'just when she thought the dive couldn't get any better, it did!' Last year, she dove in Seychelles and she claims TIR offered a similar experience. Her dive master, Hilario, was excellent. Took wonderful pictures & videos, going beyond expected efforts. FISHING - My husband & son went flats fishing for 3 days. The bonefishing was tricky but worth the experience. While it was incredibly hot, the flats were not too far from TIR that the guide took them back for a couple of hours of rest & hydration. SNORKELING - The (day & night) snorkeling was fantastic! Clear waters with our guide, Luis, making it a point tolet us constantly know the species we were seeing. The water was generally warm and reef very healthy/vibrant. I have to admit, our Belize reef snorkeling was much much better than in Australia's Barrier Reef! R&R - Wonderful in-house masseuse, Roxy. Loved that TIR had daily specials that I availed of.

I can't end this review without some special shout outs. Hilario, the dive mater really out did himself. Luis, our snorkeling guide, kept on surfacing to let us know what/where we can see species. We've never had a guide that thorough. Sean, in reception, was funny, helpful & we enjoyed his company during the evenings. Thank you Sean for taking our family pictures! Jason, the ever energetic deckhand, was on top of things during the snorkeling & diving activities. Fidel, our bartender, had the most creative & delicious drinks available. Irwin, our fishing guide, made sure our group had a good bonefishing experience.

So go ahead, book your trip to Belize and TIR. You...