Nestled in the Caribbean Sea off the coast of Belize, Caye Caulker is a small island that epitomizes the “go slow” mantra. With its crystal-clear turquoise waters, vibrant marine life, and laid-back atmosphere, it’s a haven for travelers seeking both relaxation and adventure. Whether you’re snorkeling among colorful coral reefs, savoring fresh seafood, or simply soaking up the sun, Caye Caulker offers a quintessential Caribbean experience.
Getting to Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is accessible via a short water taxi ride from Belize City, which takes about 45 minutes and will cost roughly $25. There two ferry options, Ocean Ferry Belize and San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi.
Alternatively, small planes operated by local airlines offer flights from Belize City to the island’s airstrip, providing a quick and scenic journey. Both Maya Island Air and Tropic Air fly from Belize City to Caye Caulker multiple times a day and will cost around $150.
Personally I would recommend going with the ferry, it’s much cheaper and even if you are missing out on some stunning views there’s plenty to do on Caye Caulker to make up for that – such as taking a flight over the Great Blue Hole (read on for more on that).
Best Time to Visit
The ideal time to visit Caye Caulker is during the dry season, from November to April, when the weather is warm and sunny. This period is perfect for outdoor activities, such as snorkelling, scuba diving, and just enjoying the island’s natural beauty.
Is Caye Caulker Safe?
Absolutely.
Normal rules apply. Be catious, avoid being out alone at night in poorly lit areas of the island and avoid displaying clear and obvious signs of wealth (such as waering expensive jewellery). Ultimately though Caye Caulker is very safe.
With the island being so small, it is very easy to navigate and has only three streets. Everywhere is within walking distance.
Where to Stay
Caye Caulker has a range of options for accomadation from budget-friendly hostels to mid-range hotels and charming guesthouses. There isn’t really many options in terms of luxury 5-star hotels and resorts on Caye Caulker, but really staying in a place like that here would be completely unneccessary for enjoying the island, with most establishments located along the beachfront, offering stunning sea views and easy access to the island’s main attractions.
I stayed at the The Bounty, a beautiful three star hotel just off the main strip, which i would highly recommend.
7 Ultimate Things To Do in Caye Caulker
Without further ado, here is my list of 7 ultimate things to do whilst in Caye Caulker.
Go Snorkelling
Caye Caulker is a snorkeling paradise, offering access to the Belize Barrier Reef, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, and the famous Shark Ray Alley. The crystal-clear waters surrounding the island are teeming with vibrant coral, tropical fish, and incredible marine life.
Sharks, sting rays, turtles, manatees and tarpons, amongst many others, all call the waters around Caye Caulker home.
Most snorkeling trips in Caye Caulker are either half-day or full-day tours:
Half-Day Tours (3-4 hours) – $35–$50 USD (includes gear)
Full-Day Tours (5-7 hours) – $75–$100 USD (includes lunch & multiple stops)
Most full-day tours you’ll see advertised as “7-stop” tours, where you’ll visit the Belize Barrier Reef and have further stops in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve at Chatos Place, Coral Gardens, a sunken shipwreck, Shark Ray Alley, a stop to see Tarpon and, best of all… a stop to search for manatees. The half-day tours will only visit a selection of these.
Top Snorkeling Tour Operators
You can book your snorkelling trip online, at your hotel or by popping in to one of the many tour operator offices on the island.
The top tour operators on the island are:
Raggamuffin Tours – Popular for full-day sailing & snorkeling trips
Salt Life Eco Tours – Great for eco-friendly, small-group tours
Anda de Wata Tours – Offers a mix of snorkeling and sailing trips
Caveman Snorkeling – A local favorite with experienced guides
All tours should include snorkel gear, guides, and marine reserve fees. Some slightly more premium options will also provide underwater photography and snacks.
Top Tip
Make sure to check your snorkel gear is working! Mine wasn’t, thankfully there were spares on the boat and after ingesting a fair amount of seawater and being incredibly confused, i was able to switch snorkel and not miss out.
Get Stuck Into the Local Cuisine
If you love seafood and BBQ, you’re definitely in the right place.
Lobster, shrimp, swordfish, octopus… you name it, it’s caught fresh, smothered in carribean seasonings, and thrown on the grill in Caye Caulker. Often served up with an array of hot sauces, if you think you’re hard enough.
Alongside the seafood, jerk chicken and pork are widely available and popular on the island. Not just in restaurants either. Dotted all along the main strip in the evening are “pop-up” BBQs selling freshly grilled meats. Sometimes the BBQs are even attached to bicycles, roaming up and down the street.
Some recommendations
- The Pelican Sunset Bar for their ceviche.
- Swing Bar for their incredible seafood mixed grill.
- Ice and Beans for their coffee and breakfast bagels
Swim with Manatees
A life goal of mine realised in Belize! Read my full guide on swimming with sea potatoes, or manatees as they’re maybe more commonly known, here.
See The Great Blue Hole From Above
The Great Blue Hole is one of the most famous dive sites in the world, a giant underwater sinkhole located in the Lighthouse Reef Atoll off the coast of Belize.
The hole has a diameter of 318m (1,043 feet), a depth of 124 meters (407 feet), is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was formed as a result of a collapsed limestone cave during the last Ice Age. It gained worldwide fame when Jacques Cousteau named it one of the top 10 diving sites in the world in 1971.
Diving, or snorkelling, doesn’t fully do this perfectly circular, deep blue wonder justice though. At ground level it’s difficult to see the extend of the hole, or it’s sharp contrast to the surrounding waters. For that you need a view from above.
Hour long scenic flights over the Great Blue Hole depart from the Caye Caulker airstrip most days and cost between $200–$300 USD. Only window seats are filled on the planes, which do several figures of 8 over the site so everyone gets a good look, and lots of photos.
I booked through Tropic Air.
Explore by Bike
Caye Caulker is a car-free island. Whilst the island does have golf carts for getting around, the best way to get around is on foot, or by cycling. The sandy streets, laid-back atmosphere, and stunning coastal views, make cycling a perfect way to explore.
Bike rentals are widely available on the island, with many shops and guesthouses offering them affordable rates. You’ll find some rental shops right by the water taxi dock, so you can grab a bike as soon as you arrive.
How Much Does It Cost?
Hourly Rate: $2–$5 USD
Half-Day (4 hours): $5–$8 USD
Full-Day (24 hours): $10–$15 USD
Most places will ask for a small deposit or an ID as collateral.
Enjoy the Nightlife
As the sun sets, Caye Caulker’s bars and clubs burst into life. There’s great food, live music, lots of dancing to Caribbean rhythms, and lots of rum to be drunk. There’s also always karaoke going on somewhere on the island… usually you’ll hear it before you see it.
The Boozy Eel Beach Bar was a favourite, on the beach they have a large projector screen where they play movies, as well as TVs at the bar showing sports. What more could you want!
It was slightly surreal drinking rum on a beach in the carribbean, in 25C, whilst watching Home Alone. Definitely something I could get used to though.
Visit The Split
The Split was created by Hurricane Hattie in 1961, which tore a channel through the island, splitting it into two.
More than just scar on the landscape from the storm, The Split is now right at the heart of the island’s social life and is an amazing place to swim, relax, and soak up the Caye Caulker spirit.
Things to do at The Split
- Swim across the crystal clear waters from one side of the channel to the other.
- Sunbathe on the concrete ledges or the sandy spots
- Try the famous jump-off platform at The Lazy Lizard, a perfect photo op for adrenaline lovers
- Relax at The Lazy Lizard, the main beach bar at The Split, serving ice cold beers, tropical cocktails, and fresh seafood. In the evenings take advantage of the Happy Hour whilst enjoying some live music.
- Snorkel along the rocks to see colorful fish, crabs, and rays. The deeper parts of the channel sometimes attract barracudas and tarpons
- Visit the nearby Sip ‘N’ Dip bar to do, well, exactly that.
- And of course, watch the sunset…
