Palm tree at the Goff's Caye in Belize; Shutterstock ID 163105160; Your name (First / Last): Alicia Johnson; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial ; Full Product or Project name including edition: Belize

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Goff's Caye

Top choice in Belize City

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Some of the most spectacular snorkeling in Belize happens just a short swim off the powder-white sands of Goff's Caye, a tiny, uninhabited island just a 30-minute boat ride to the southeast of Belize City. With nothing but some coco palms and a couple of palapa-covered (open-air shelter with a thatched roof) picnic tables, the idyllic island sits right beside the Belize Barrier Reef and a healthy community of resident corals, lobsters, conch, stingrays, colorful fish and more.

Lots of tour operators in Belize City and around the Northern Cayes run trips here, and many include drinks and lunch. Just be sure when booking that the cruise-ship crowd isn't also scheduled to visit.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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    Koko King

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    14.13 MILES

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    Museum of Belize

    14.1 MILES

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    Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary

    12.34 MILES

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  • The Government House Museum, dating from 1814.

    Government House

    13.8 MILES

    Fronting the sea down at the end of Regent St, this handsome two-story wooden colonial mansion served as the residence of Britain's superintendents and…

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    27.09 MILES

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Nearby Belize City attractions

1. Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary

12.34 MILES

About 19 miles southwest of Caye Caulker, the vast Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary spans nearly 9000 acres, including Swallow Caye and some parts of…

2. Baron Bliss Tomb

13.67 MILES

At the tip of the Fort George peninsula lies the granite Baron Bliss Tomb, the final resting place of Belize's most famous benefactor, who never set foot…

3. Fort George Lighthouse

13.68 MILES

This diminutive lighthouse guides boats into Haulover Creek and was constructed with funds from the estate of Baron Bliss, who is buried at its foot.

4. Government House

13.8 MILES

Fronting the sea down at the end of Regent St, this handsome two-story wooden colonial mansion served as the residence of Britain's superintendents and…

5. St John's Cathedral

13.84 MILES

Immediately inland of Government House stands St John's Cathedral, the oldest Anglican church in Central America. It was built by slave labor between 1812…

6. Yarborough Cemetery

13.92 MILES

A narrow graveyard between two roads where you'll see the graves of early citizens of Belize who were not prominent enough to be buried in the nearby St…

7. Hindu Temple

13.96 MILES

Right in downtown, this simple Hindu temple serves Belize's small but growing Indian community.

8. Court House

14.03 MILES

You can’t miss the prominent Court House on Regent St, built in 1926 as the headquarters for Belize’s colonial administrators to replace an earlier wooden…

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