Flying Over the Great Blue Hole: Belize’s Stunning Sinkhole

How to fly over the Great Blue Hole Belize: our honest review of Tropic Air’s Blue Hole flight from Caye Caulker.

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A bucket list natural attraction, there’s no better activity in Belize than flying over the Great Blue Hole. Once a limestone cave formed 150,000 years ago, this huge underwater sinkhole is best seen from the air to appreciate its sheer size and beauty. We had the pleasure of flying over Belize’s Blue Hole with Tropic Air and have included everything you need to know before you go in this article.

How to fly over the Great Blue Hole

Scenic flights over the Great Blue Hole typically take place in small passenger planes run by local Belizean airlines.

There are three main locations in Belize where you can take a scenic flight over the Blue Hole:

Something to bear in mind is that, if you book from San Pedro, you may land in Caye Caulker to collect more passengers before heading out to the Blue Hole. If you book a Blue Hole flight from Caye Caulker, you’ll have less travel time.

It’s possible to charter a helicopter to fly over the Blue Hole but it’s a much more costly option.

Belize Blue Hole Flight Tour

There are two main companies that offer Belize Blue Hole flights:

Both offer similar tour options, with flights lasting around 1 hour. We went out with Tropic Air and had the absolute best experience.

Belize Blue Hole Flight Schedules

Blue Hole flights are scheduled for optimal viewing at times when there is minimal glare or reflections. When the lighting is good, you can see the Barrier Reef really clearly and photos turn out great.

Each airline operates on alternate days, so there will always be a flight going out on any day you’d like to book a tour.

Tropic Air runs flights three days a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, at 1:00 PM.

Maya Island Air runs flights four days a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, at 8:30 AM, 8:45 AM and 9:00 AM depending on your location.

Caye Caulker

Tropic Air runs Blue Hole flights from Caye Caulker on:

Maya Island Air runs Blue Hole flights from Caye Caulker on:

San Pedro, Ambergris Caye

Tropic Air runs Blue Hole flights from San Pedro on:

Maya Island Air runs Blue Hole flights from San Pedro on:

Belize City

Tropic Air runs Blue Hole flights from Belize City on:

Maya Island Air runs Blue Hole flights from Belize City on:

Fight schedules are flexible and can change at any time. There may also be differences in scheduling between the high and low seasons.

What is it like to fly over the Great Blue Hole in Belize?

Flying over the Great Blue Hole in Belize is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that we’re so grateful to have had.

Not only is it incredible to stare in awe at the hole itself, but you get to see the most stunning views of the Barrier Reef, remote islands, and you may even spot animals like manatees, rays, sharks, and dolphins in the water.

We’ve broken down a step-by-step review of our experience flying over the Blue Hole in the next section.

Our Tropic Air Great Blue Hole Belize Flight Review

We flew from Caye Caulker with Tropic Air and could not recommend the tour more highly. We saw the most stunning views of the Barrier Reef, remote islands, pristine reefs, and of course the beautiful Blue Hole. We even saw sharks and rays swimming around the reef below, right from our aeroplane seats!

The whole process was super smooth from start to finish, we felt really well looked after, and would highly recommend the scenic flight with Tropic Air. There really is no better way to appreciate the Blue Hole’s sheer size and depth than from the air.

Booking

Book a scenic flight over the Blue Hole is super easy as you can simply reserve your seat online through the company’s website.

You can’t book a specific seat unless you choose to book the co-pilot seat.

As the plane is quite small and it’s a popular activity, we’d recommend booking as far in advance as possible – at least one to two weeks and even earlier if you’re arriving in peak season between December and February.

Boarding

You need to arrive at the airport half an hour before your flight to check in. The process is super easy and the receptionist will process your ID quickly and hand over your ticket.

We flew from Caye Caulker Municipal Airport, which is super tiny, and we passed the airport in San Pedro, which is also very small. Both are easily walkable from the centre of the towns, or you could ride a bicycle or rent a golf buggy.

You can see the runway from the Tropic Air waiting lounge in Caye Caulker, which is lovely and air-conditioned and has nice bathrooms. Maya Island Air has a smaller lounge on the other side of the parking lot.

Once the plane has landed, you are escorted out onto the runway where you can queue to board. You hand over you’re reusable plastic boarding pass (which is a great way to cut down waste) and choose a seat.

Tropic Air’s planes seat 11 people but, if not many people have booked, you might get to ride in a smaller 4-person plane.

Seats are not allocated so it’s sort of a first-come, first-served basis. All passengers get window seats but there are slight variations in views. The very back of the plane has a less obstructed view but lower seats. The seats in the middle of the plane will likely have some part of the wing in your photos, so avoid these if you’re a photographer. In the front, you may need to lean around the front and the side window partitions. No matter which seat you choose or are left with, you’re going to have an amazing view.

If you’re a photographer, try to be first in line to board and sit in the first or last row for unobstructed views. It doesn’t matter which side you sit as the pilot loops the Blue Hole equally on both sides of the plane.

If no one on your flight has booked the co-pilot seat, it may be available for you to nab as you board.

Take off

As the runway is so small, taxiing and takeoff are a smooth process.

Soon you’ll be soaring over the land and out to sea. We left Caye Caulker pretty quickly, passing over Shark Ray Alley and other popular snorkel sites. It’s an experience in itself just to see the island from the air.

Flying over the Belize Barrier Reef

After about 5 minutes of flying over expansive blue ocean, you start to see the first cayes (islands) that are dotted around the Barrier Reef. Here, the water changes from a deep blue to the most stunning, crystal-clear turquoise colour.

You’ll be able to see Lighthouse Teef Atoll and Turneffe Atoll, with their vibrant coral formations visible beneath the crystal-clear waters.

You’ll see patches of coral, rocky islands, and the barrier where the reef meets the sea, resulting in rolling white waves.

There wasn’t any commentary as you wouldn’t be able to hear it over the sound of the plane. The pilot did make some announcements about where we were as we reached each point, but we unfortunately couldn’t hear it as it was so muffled over the tannoy. Nevertheless, we were able to glean the gist of it based on what we were seeing and you obviously can’t miss the Blue Hole when you see it.

Flying over the Great Blue Hole

About 10 minutes later, you arrive at the Great Blue Hole. The plane loops the hole on one side, before turning around and looping it the other way. You do about 5 rotations on each side so everyone can get a good look.

Actually looking at the Blue Hole from the air is pretty mind-boggling. It’s hard to fathom how huge it is – nearly perfectly spherical at 300 metres (984 ft) wide and 124 metres (406 ft) deep!

To get perfect photos, you’ll need the right camera settings. Use a super high shutter speed (as the plane is moving fast) and a wide aperture, which may mean increasing your ISO more than usual.

After everyone’s had a good look, the plane will navigate along the reef, allowing you to see the stunning Half Moon Caye and the shipwreck.

Touch down

On the way back to land, it’s still worth taking in the view as you can see the reef and marine animals.

As we approached Caye Caulker, we actually flew straight over it in order to turn around and head for the runway. This gave us really good views of the north island, the Spit, and the multi-coloured houses and protruding docks on the main island.

Touch down was super smooth. We couldn’t believe how quickly the hour went – a testament to the whole experience.

How much does it cost to fly over the Great Blue Hole in Belize?

A scenic flight over the Blue Hole isn’t cheap but it’s such a bucket list experience. A flight costs around $230-300 USD per person with a small surcharge to sit co-pilot.

Maya Island Air can sometimes be cheaper than Tropic Air, and vice versa, so it’s worth checking both options and choosing the best one for your location.

Despite this activity being one of the most expensive you’ll add to your Belize bucket list, it’s around the same (if not cheaper!) than a SCUBA diving trip to the Blue Hole.

Belize Blue Hole Helicopter Tour

The main company that offers a Blue Hole Helicopter Tour in Belize is Astrum Helicopters, who offer private Blue Hole flights from three locations:

Unlike fixed-wing scenic flights, helicopters provide a luxury, private experience with unobstructed, panoramic views of the Blue Hole, which is perfect for photography. Helicopters can also hover at lower altitudes, allowing for closer views of the Blue Hole’s deep blue depths.

Blue Hole Belize helicopter Tour price

Taking a helicopter tour of the Blue Hole is a luxury experience with a luxury price tag. Seats start at $500 USD per person with private charters going up to $1,890 USD.

Is flying over the Blue Hole worth it?

Yes, flying over Belize’s Great Blue Hole is absolutely worth it! The aerial views provide an unparalleled perspective of the Blue Hole’s iconic circular shape and depth, surrounded by the azure waters of Lighthouse Reef and Turneffe Atoll. It’s a stunning visual experience that you should absolutely book while you’re in Belize.

Is flying over the Blue Hole safe?

Yes, flying over the Blue Hole is generally safe. Both Tropic Air and Maya Island Air are reputable companies with strong safety records and experienced pilots. They follow strict aviation regulations and maintenance procedures to ensure the safety of their aircraft.

The planes used for scenic Blue Hole flights are well-maintained, typically small, single-engine aircraft like Cessna Caravans, which are commonly used for short scenic flights and known for their reliability. Additionally, the pilots are trained professionals who are familiar with the local terrain and weather conditions, ensuring that the flight proceeds safely and smoothly.

Have we convinced you to take a Blue Hole flight during your time in Belize? Flying over Belize’s Great Blue Hole is an absolutely incredible experience that is so worth it – we had an amazing flight with Tropic Air and hope you have the best time.

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