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Turneffe Island Resort

Turneffe Atoll, Belize

4.8(95 reviews)

Family

Turneffe Island Resort occupies a genuinely special piece of ocean. The Turneffe Atoll is Belize's largest atoll and a protected marine reserve, and the resort has its own 14-acre private island there, with just 26 guest rooms. Its reputation in the dive world has been excellent for decades. Guests who have tried several Belize dive resorts often say Turneffe gave them the best combination of dive quality, food and service, and the included weekly day trip to the Great Blue Hole, Half Moon Caye and Long Caye Wall puts Belize's most famous dives inside the package rather than on an extra bill.

Things to Know

No Online Booking
No TV
Alcohol not included

Traveler Insights

Pros

+32 dive sites on the Turneffe Atoll with clear water, healthy coral and abundant marine life, most a short boat ride from the dock, and experienced divers rank it among the top dive resorts in Belize
+The weekly full-day trip to the Great Blue Hole, Half Moon Caye and Long Caye Wall (Tuesdays, weather permitting) is included in every diving and snorkeling package, and the resort's boat is usually the first to anchor at the Blue Hole
+Valet dive service: the crew carries and rinses your gear between dives, and five Dive Masters, including two Master Instructors, run the program
+Food is repeatedly described as surprisingly excellent for a remote island, with three hot family-style meals a day, poolside hors d'oeuvres at 6 p.m., a Friday beach barbecue with crab races and a Sunday Belizean dinner
+The resort says its staff outnumber guests at any given time, and travelers describe the service as personal rather than corporate, down to morning coffee delivered to the door
+Only 26 guest rooms on a 14-acre private island, every one with direct beach access, air conditioning and a screened porch and outdoor shower, plus villa options up to a Presidential Villa
+Plenty for non-divers between dives: an outdoor freshwater pool by the bar, the Serenity Spa with two resident massage therapists, a gym, kayaks, paddle boards, a Hobie Cat, 12 hammocks and 11 palapas
+Works for newer divers as well as veterans, with shallow reef sections and guides who are patient with less experienced groups

Cons

−Alcohol is not included in any package; drinks are charged to your room or bought as a separate alcohol package
−Arrivals and departures are locked to the resort's own boat, which leaves Fort George Marina in Belize City at 2:30 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday, and missing it costs $450 each way for an alternate transfer
−The crossing from Belize City takes about 1.5 hours, which adds time and some seasickness risk to an already long travel day
−No TVs in the rooms and no cell service on the island; Wi-Fi is free but satellite-based, so the signal varies with the weather
−It is expensive: 2026 published rates start at $6,490 for a 7-night Deluxe Room relaxation package based on double occupancy, the week of diving adds $1,500, and 12.5 percent tax plus park fees ($100 TASA per person, and $40 per person for the Blue Hole day) come on top
−Rental gear is limited, so the resort asks divers and anglers to bring their own equipment
−Meals are at fixed times (7 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 7 p.m.) at shared tables, which feels fun and communal to most guests but rigid to those who like to eat on their own schedule
−The island is small and the shoreline runs into mangroves, so guests hoping for long beach walks will find limited usable sand

The diving program runs 2 to 3 boat dives a day at 8:15 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., plus a Thursday night dive, about 15 dives a week across 32 sites, with valet gear handling. The food is the most-mentioned pleasant surprise: three hot meals a day served family-style in the dining room, made from local ingredients where possible, with poolside hors d'oeuvres every evening, a Friday barbecue with crab races and a Sunday Belizean dinner. Meals and snacks are included but alcohol is not. Every room has air conditioning, a screened porch, an outdoor shower and direct beach access, and between dives there is a freshwater pool by the bar, the Serenity Spa, a gym, kayaks, paddle boards and a Hobie Cat. The water is desalinated and safe to drink, and staff are praised for being attentive without hovering.

Turneffe is for divers and anglers first, with fly fishing for bonefish, permit and tarpon as the other big draw, and relaxed non-divers a solid third. If you dive and your partner does not, the pool, spa, snorkeling and hammocks fill a week better than at many dive lodges, but the days still revolve around the boats. Booking is by enquiry rather than online, and the fixed Wednesday and Saturday boat sets the shape of every trip. It is priced at the top of Belize's dive lodge market and competes with Lighthouse Reef Resort and Hamanasi, winning on its private atoll setting and the included Blue Hole day.

Common Questions

Do I need to be an advanced diver to dive at Turneffe?

No. The atoll has everything from shallow reef gardens suited to newly certified divers to deep walls for experienced ones, and the dive team is used to running mixed-ability groups. Divers with a few dozen logged dives get more out of the walls and the Blue Hole, where the dive goes to about 130 feet.

What is included in a dive package?

Diving packages include return boat transfers from Belize City, all meals (but not alcohol), 2 to 3 dives a day plus a Thursday night dive, a PADI-certified Dive Master, the Tuesday Blue Hole day trip, and use of the gym, pool, paddle boards, kayaks and Hobie Cat. The dive package is added to your room rate, and tax and park fees are extra. Gear is carried and rinsed for you, but rental equipment is limited, so bring your own.

How do I get to the island?

The resort's 40-foot boat leaves Fort George Marina in Belize City at 2:30 p.m. every Wednesday and Saturday, and the crossing takes about 1.5 hours. You can meet the boat by 2 p.m. or take the resort's shuttle from the airport, and stays are built around those two days. Miss the boat and an alternate transfer costs $450 each way; helicopter transfers can also be arranged.

What do non-divers do at Turneffe Island Resort?

Snorkeling packages include the Blue Hole day trip, and fishing on the atoll for bonefish, permit and tarpon is a major draw (a Belize fishing licence, $25, is required). On the island there is a freshwater pool, the Serenity Spa, a gym, kayaks, paddle boards, a Hobie Cat, hammocks and palapas. Guests who need constant activity should think hard about a week on a small, remote island.

Is the Blue Hole worth it?

The Great Blue Hole is a collapsed cave system, and the dive takes you down to around 130 feet among ancient stalactites. It is about atmosphere rather than coral or fish, so some divers find it unforgettable and others anticlimactic. The day also includes Half Moon Caye and Long Caye Wall, which most divers rate as spectacular, and park fees of $100 TASA plus $40 Lighthouse Reef per person apply for anyone 12 and over.

When is the best time to visit?

The dry season from late November through April usually brings the calmest seas and the most reliable weather for the boat crossings and the Blue Hole trip. Summer is also good but more changeable, and September and October are the heart of hurricane season. Water stays warm year-round, so a thin wetsuit or shorty is enough for most divers.

Restaurants (1)

Type	Restaurants
Caribbean & local	Dining Room

From the resort's own dining pages. Only restaurants the resort lists are shown. All are covered by the all-inclusive rate, per the resort.

Amenities

Fishing

Diving

Snorkeling

Water Sports Rentals

Free Wi-Fi

Spa

Gym

Beach

Style & Rooms

Room upgrades

Villas

Seaweed & sargassum

Belize gets sargassum, typically worst June through August, with heavy conditions often extending April through October.See the month-by-month guide →

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Google Reviews★ 4.8 · 95 reviews

Cindy P.

6 months ago

“Everything about our one week stay at Turneffe exceeded our expectations. Highlights - Wonderful reefs full of healthy coral and tons of marine life - Luxurious accommodations on a private island with excellent hospitality - Great food and endless f...”

Pierre A.

a year ago

“I just got back from the most incredible stay at Turneffe Island Resort in Belize, and I’m already dreaming about my next visit! From the moment I set foot on the island, I felt like I was in my own little paradise. The private villa was beyond luxur...”

Blue G.

a year ago

“Turnefe Island Reef Resort is the ideal getaway spot for vacation. The island is private, quiet and secluded. The entire staff are friendly, helpful and professional. The Island is well maintained and the three meals a day fresh, delicious and...”