Goff's Caye

Goff's Caye is about an acre of white sand with a handful of coconut palms sitting directly on the barrier reef east of Belize City, and it is the postcard image of Belize that most cruise passengers get: a boat out, snorkelling on the reef edge, barbecue on the sand, boat back. Outside cruise days it can be almost empty. The reef here is in reasonable condition and the drop-off is close in.

Background

Goff's Caye, Cayo Goff in Spanish, lies at the very edge of the Belize Barrier Reef, and the water south and east of it is only 0.6 to 3 metres deep. Its colonial-era settlement has earned it registration as an archaeological site, from the time when the island was a fishing camp, a trading post and a cemetery. Crew members of HMS Blossom who died of yellow fever while visiting in August 1830 are buried there. Few of the small islands in Belize are publicly owned, and this is one of them. The Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute manages it, and Belizeans and cruise visitors use it for recreation.

Source: Wikipedia, "Goff's Caye"

Highlights

• The islet - about an acre of sand and palms sitting on the reef.
• The reef edge - the barrier drop-off directly offshore from the beach.
• The snorkelling - coral and reef fish a short swim from the sand.
• The colour - shallow turquoise water surrounding the caye on all sides.

When to go

December to April is the dry season with the calmest water. Cruise ship days fill the caye completely; asking the operator which days are clear is worth doing. Rough weather cancels the crossing.

Things to know

On cruise days it is packed to the point of being unpleasant. There is no shade beyond a few palms and no facilities to speak of. The caye is small enough that a hundred people fills it.

Nearby

Belize City is west, and St George's Caye is nearby.

Key facts