Guide to Caye Caulker, Belize
Caye Caulker, Belize– where to stay, eat and what to do.
Recently Oleg and I traveled for the first time to Belize. It ended up being not only one of our favorite trips this year but also has been one of our most asked about trips. Since so many of you have reached out with questions about it. I wanted to put together a guide for you. Hopefully, it’ll help you plan your own vacation here too.
Belize is located in Central America right below Mexico. You might not know this but Belize actually has the second largest coral reef in the world.
For this one of their most famous attraction is The Blue Hole. Which draws many in for diving. Although we don’t dive (yet), we love snorkeling, and the amazing marine life is what drew us to Belize in the first place too.
While in Belize we didn’t stay on the mainland, but rather on a small island off the coast- Caye Caulker. Caye Caulker used to be mainly a backpackers and locals island that evolved over the years to include hotels and mini-resorts. However, it has still retained its low key and laid back feel. In fact, the motto on the Island is “Go Slow”, which locals take seriously.
( I can tell you this from personal experience. Since I tend to walk everywhere with
*** IMPORTANT: make sure to read the last part of this guide, which talks about when to travel to Caye Caulker. It includes brief but very important details we learned about how the time when you travel may impact your experience. We didn’t come across this on other sources prior to our trip, and it would have been great to be aware of.***
Getting there
We flew to Belize (Belize city, Philip S.W. Goodson International Airport) from NY which took us 6.5 hours (with a layover in Miami). However, you can also travel on a non-stop flight which will get you there in 4.5 hours. From Belize C
By plane:
We originally wanted to fly on one of the small planes to Caye Caulker. Generally, the flight takes about 17
The flights are operated by Maya Island Air and Tropic Air departing from both the international airport and the municipal airport (to which you can get by taxi- more details below). Although we weren’t able to experience the flight, we heard from others who have that the views are breathtaking.
By water taxi:
In order to get to the water taxi departure port, you will have to take a taxi from the airport. The taxis stop right outside of the airport. So after you land and get your bags simply walk outside and take the taxi to Ocean Ferry. (The drive there takes about 30-40 minutes and will cost you $20).
Once you are at the port your large luggage will be checked in by the crew.
You will be given a ticket in order to pick up your suitcase after it is unloaded on the Island. (So make sure to take everything you need for the ferry ride with you as it takes about 45 minutes to Caye Caulker).
*(Do not be alarmed if your luggage is taken by ferry workers (wearing uniforms) right as it is unloaded from the taxi. I wanted to let you know so you aren’t caught off
After giving in your luggage, go to the ticket booth and purchase your ticket for the water taxi ($15 one way, $25 round trip). If you have time before the boat leaves you can buy souvenirs at the small shops, or stop into one of the cafes and grab food or a drink.
Arriving on the Island:
Once you arrive in Caye Caulker pick up your luggage and head off the pier. The island is small (only 5×1 miles) and there are no cars except for the rare utility or construction vehicles. Golf carts are the main vehicles and they are mostly used as taxis. Although you can rent golf carts for your personal use, most people ride bicycles or walk.
In general, everything is within walking distance on the island. But depending on how tired you are and how much luggage you have you can either walk to where you are staying or take the taxi (golf carts) there.
Where to stay:
From hotels to Airbnb’s, to hostels there are accommodations of many types and budgets available on the island.
We stayed at Weezie’s Waterfront Hotel, which was a beautiful private property a 5-minute bicycle ride away from the town center. (Our hotel had
What to do:
Relax:
Going along with the “Go Slow” motto the island is, as expected, perfect for relaxing and lounging around. Grab a coconut or their local Belikin beer and lay under the sun all day.
Great places to relax:
The split:
TThe split was created in 1961 after a hurricane hit the island and separated it in half. Now, this area has turned into the most popular hangout spot on the island. Sunbathe on the dock, jump off a diving board, get drinks at The Lazy Lizard (the bar), swim in the shallow waters and ever have the perfect sunset view. It’s no surprise so many spend all day here.
Sip and Dip:
This spot was one of our favorite places to eat and also one of our favorites spots to relax and lounge in the sun. Sip and Dip is a bar that has tables, swings, and hammocks in the water. So you can order your food/drink and then enjoy it not just by the water, but in the water.
***Tip: if you’re in the mood for a drink, the prices and sizes here tend to be better than at the Split. So come here for happy hour which is usually from 3-5 and then
Jetski:
If you’ve never ridden a jet ski (like me) before, Caye Caulker is definitely the perfect spot to for it. The area you’re allowed to ride spans the length of the island and out by a small neighboring island too. Which is amazing because you really get a chance to travel far out and explore the waters, without feeling restricted.
Go snorkeling:
As I
We had the best day snorkeling and sailing with them. The crew was amazing– friendly, knowledgeable and honestly felt like friends after just a few hours. The coral and sea creatures (including nurse sharks) were beautiful and left us with amazing memories. (We loved our day trip with them so much that we are planning a trip back to Belize next year to go on another longer adventure with them).
(More details about our day trip with them soon).
Watch a sunrise or sunset:
While usually, you have to chase a sunrise or sunset, on this island they’re hard to miss. We loved watching the sunrise off
In case you needed another reason to come here, they also have a seahorse farm near their docks!
No matter what you decide to do, make sure to take time to relax and take in the authentic atmosphere and talk to the locals, they’re always friendly, and full of great tips and stories.
*Also, if you need souvenirs and didn’t get any by the water taxi port, you can buy them in the center of town where there are outdoor shopping stands set up all day.
Where to eat:
Ice ‘n Beans Cafe :
Ice
*Dairy and nondairy milk options available.
Barefoot Caribe Bar and Grill:
This was another favorite breakfast spot for us. Oleg loved the omelet while my favorite was the fruit and yogurt. In addition, this place is a MUST for lunch- we were obsessed with their ceviche and Caribbean quesadilla.
They have tables with swings instead of chairs that we loved to relax on.
Il Pellicano:
If you’re in the mood for something a bit more upscale with a cozy romantic atmosphere, this is it. Il Pellicano serves Italian food, and they have live music performances on most evenings. Although it was pricier than many other dining options on the island, we had a great night having dinner and listening to music here.
Sports Bar:
This was where we had our first dinner on Caye Caulker. It’s a casual, but super lively hangout spot ( with karaoke and bands on some nights) for both locals and tourists.
Regardless where’ you decide to eat make sure to try the lobster and ceviche, or just get the lobster ceviche (haha). Trust me, you’ll regret it if you don’t. In Belize lobster is basically as affordable as
When to visit:
Overall, the temperatures on the island stay relatively the same year round. However, technically the dry season is from December until April and the wet season is from May to November. We traveled to Belize in November during the wet season (as this was the only time both of us could take off). In addition, there was a tropical storm hitting the mainland at the same time we were there. Although some of the mornings we saw grey skies, the majority of the day there was still plenty of
The locals told us that while mainland Belize often gets impacted by storms during this time of the year, the island gets affected by them not as frequently.
READ THIS BEFORE DECIDING WHEN TO GO:
****(IMPORTANT INFORMATION WE LEARNED FROM OUR EXPERIENCE THAT WE DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT OR COME ACROSS PRIOR TO VISITING)***
Before deciding when to go, keep this in mind:
-Although the prices tend to be lower during the wet season, the island also tends to be even more quiet and slow than normal. Some of the local businesses even close down for a few days, especially around the end of November. The places I mentioned should (and were open when we were there). However, we definitely noticed that some others were closed.
-Also, the trips
However, even with it being quieter than during other times of the year. This was one adventure that has left us with the best memories and one both of us recommend to everyone.
If you want to travel somewhere warm, where you can relax watching the skies explode with sunrises and sunsets, swim in blue waters, eat delicious and affordable seafood & meet some of the friendliest locals. Then this Island needs to go on your bucket list.
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