The Atoll

Stretching approximately 18 miles long and 6 miles wide, Glover’s Reef is one of only four atolls in the Western Hemisphere. Its remarkable lagoon contains around 850 patch reefs and supports some of the healthiest and most diverse coral communities in the Caribbean. The atoll’s earliest known visitors were the ancient Maya, who are believed to have used its waters for fishing—an association supported by pottery and tool fragments discovered in the area. The reef was later named after the English pirate John Glover, who used the atoll during the 18th century. Glover’s Reef Marine Reserve was established in 1993. In 1996, it became one of the seven protected areas comprising the UNESCO-listed Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System.

Southwest Caye

Home to Island Expeditions’ adventure basecamp, Southwest Caye is a private 13-acre tropical island located approximately 36 miles off the Belizean mainland. An important stopover for migratory birds, the island also supports a rich variety of native flora and fauna, including four species of mangrove, spiny-tailed iguanas and terrestrial hermit crabs. Positioned along the atoll’s reef crest, Southwest Caye offers world-class kayaking and fly-fishing and serves as the perfect launching point for exploring some of the Caribbean’s finest snorkelling sites.