How to do a Day Trip to Ranguana Caye in Belize (Photo Diary)

Ranguana Caye day trip | Belize travel tips | Belize day trips | Belize vacation ideas | Central America travel | What to do in Belize

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If you’re visiting the Placencia peninsula in Belize, then a day trip to Ranguana Caye should definitely be on your itinerary. This 2 acre private island located next to the Belize Barrier Reef is not much more than a cluster of palm trees and sand in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, but it’s the perfect size to feel like a castaway for a day with enough to do to keep you entertained.

To be honest, during the boat trip over I was feeling pretty skeptical that this day was going to end well. The water was SUPER choppy and the boat didn’t have much coverage, so we got literally soaked to the bone on the way over. I’m talking like pelting water in the face. Pleasant, I know 🙂

But once we stepped onto the island and couldn’t see anything but shades of blue and green and crystal clear water before us, all my annoyances of the ride over melted away. With that in mind, be prepared for rough seas if the weather isn’t great — and pack a dry bag for any gear you bring!

Once on land, the warmth of the sun quickly dried us off and my girlfriends and I grabbed three lounge chairs in prime location for sun bathing and gazing out into the shimmering sea. It was absolutely stunning as you can see from the photos.

Throughout our day “shipwrecked” on Ranguana, we drank fresh coconuts (and of course moved onto the harder stuff later), swam in the water and watched an intense beach volleyball match unfold. Other activities on offer include snorkeling, paddle boarding, fishing, kayaking, hammock lounging, and observing the resident pelicans who live on the island.

A traditional Belizean brunch is also included in your tour and features chicken, rice and beans but there were options available for people with dietary restrictions.

There are a few different ways to experience Ranguana Caye, but keep in mind that while the island is marketed as a private island, your experience won’t be entirely all to yourself. It’s a private island because it is privately owned, not because you’ll be alone. There are always different day trips stopping on the island, but I never felt like it was over-crowded. You might get lucky and catch a day that’s not busy as well!

How to Experience Ranguana Caye:

Stay on the island overnight in one of their cute cabanas and book directly with Ranguana Caye. They offer complimentary boat rides to the island 2x a week for anyone who books to stay overnight. You can even rent out the entire island!
If you are staying with a local hotel in Placencia, it is likely that you can book a day trip to Ranguana Caye through their concierge. This is what we did through our hotel, The Placenica Resort
The third option would be to book a tour that visits Ranguana Caye through a third party tour operator. There are various tours that do this, it’s really about finding the right one for you.

Other Quick Notes:

There is wifi on the island
Bathrooms were surprisingly clean and well kept up!
A fabulous day but not something I would necessarily do twice
Pack: A bathing suit, camera gear (must be in a dry bag), a brush, sunglasses and towel (ask if your tour company provides this as they are not given out on the island)

Booking.com