Caye Caulker, Belize (pronounced “key- cocker,” where caye means island) is a tiny island off the coast of Belize known for its beautiful reefs, laid back vibes, and (relatively) cheap prices. Here, you’ll find backpackers passing through, as well as other expats either working remotely or making a home for themselves.
Travellers everywhere enjoy Caye Caulker due to its abundance of bars, restaurants, and activities. If you’re looking to make this your next travel destination, then keep reading because here’s everything you need to know about Caye Caulker!
Is Caye Caulker, Belize safe?
The short answer to this question is yes, absolutely.
Caye Caulker is a generally small island and we felt completely safe walking around, no matter what time of day it was. The people on this island are very friendly, and there seems to be a good relationship between the tourists and the locals.
There was a good mix of people when we visited – locals, short-term travellers (like us), as well as expats and retirees who are staying there on a long-term basis. We even met some fellow Canadians who opened up a business on the island and have been there for 11 years!
How To Get from Belize City to Caye Caulker
You have a couple of different options to get from Belize City to Caye Caulker:
1. WATER TAXIS – These taxis, or ferries, are probably the most economical way to get to the islands. The two most popular companies that offer water taxi ferry services are San Pedro Water Taxi and Ocean Ferry Belize.
Each company essentially provides the same level of service and the ride will take approximately 45 minutes. You can check the schedule on their respective websites, but there is no need to purchase tickets in advance. Just arrive 10-15 minutes earlier to buy your ticket and secure yourself a seat on the next ferry.
Tip: If you plan to return back the same way, I suggest you buy a return ticket since they are usually cheaper than buying two individual tickets! If you’re going from the airport to the ferry, you can take any of the many taxis at the airport and should cost approximately $25USD to get to the ferry docks.
Also, this ride is very windy, so hold onto your hats!
2. AIRPLANE FLIGHT – For those who want to get there a little faster, there is also the option of taking a flight. There are several smaller airlines that offer flights from the Belize City Airport to the Caye Caulker airport, ranging between $100-200USD. The flight itself takes only about 10 minutes, not including the pre and post departure time.
Main Mode of Transportation
Once you arrive at Caye Caulker, you’ll be met with plenty of friendly locals, strolling the sandy roads, either walking, riding around on their bikes, or in golf carts. This is their main mode of transportation. As the island itself is quite small, all options are a great one.
There may be some motorized vehicles here and there, but it was definitely more the minority. We loved this, as it added more to the laid back feel that we were so excited to experience. Biking around the island actually became one of our favourite activities to do while we were here!
Check out this video of us biking through the sandy streets of Caye Caulker!
Belize Currency
The main currency used here is Belizean Dollars or BZD. Although, many places also accept USD and use a generalized ratio of 2:1 (1USD = 2BZD). Many times, you will likely get your change back in BZD, and if you don’t mind that, then USD is perfectly fine to use around Caye Caulker.
Seasons in Caye Caulker – When should I visit?
Belize only has two seasons in the year – the dry season and the rainy season. Their dry season starts in late January and lasts until about May. During this time, it is fairly dry, with rain only coming in short bursts. Their wet/rainy season, on the other hand, lasts between June – December and often into early January.
Belize’s “hurricane” season occurs officially during their rainy season, through June-Dec. While this is true, most travellers will not have to worry about this as Belize and Caye Caulker do not experience many hurricanes. The most you’ll likely have to worry about is the short bursts of “tropical storms” which can come quite unexpectedly, both in the rainforest and on the islands.
They say the best time to go is from December – February, where the rain is light and temperatures are mild. Although, you’ll enjoy your time no matter when you go.
Language spoken in Caye Caulker, Belize
The main language spoken in Caye Caulker is English. This makes Belize a great tourist destination for those coming from English-speaking countries.
Although English is spoken everywhere in Belize, Creole, Spanish, Mayan, and other forms of native languages are also spoken here.
Are there beaches in Belize?
While there are areas around Belize that do have beaches, such as Placencia or Hopkins, Caye Caulker doesn’t really have what you would classify as a typical “beach.” Rather, they have docks that overlook the water that are quite low, making them pretty easy to get in and out as you please.
Famously, The Lazy Lizard or “The Split”, is one of the most popular and well known places for this. It features a large dock, with plenty of “muskoka or adirondack” chairs to relax and enjoy the Caribbean sea breeze. There’s also an area where people often take a dip or go swimming, while enjoying beverages in hand.
Top Activities To Do in Caye Caulker, Belize
The motto on the island is “go slow,” but this sleepy island still has plenty of activities to do, all while going “slow.” Here are all the things you can do in Caye Caulker, Belize:- Diving
- Snorkeling
- Eating local street food
- Seahorse viewing
- Bicycle around the island
- Visit the North Island
- Hang out at Lazy Lizard/The Split
- Tarpon feeding
- Day trip to San Pedro
- Enjoy delicious seafood
Best Places to Eat in Caye Caulker
Some of our favourite places to eat include:
- Reina’s – This is a great local joint. We know this because the manager of our lodge got food from here the night we arrived, and said that he frequents Reina’s. Delicious jerk chicken, coconut snappers, and crab cakes – all at a very reasonable price point. Elvis (the son) runs this restaurant, while his dad will help and walk around the island with a cart selling the best meat pies and banana bread during the day.
- Ice n’ Beans – This cafe may not sell the most authentic Belizean food, but they do serve delicious bagels, sandwiches, and croissants. Owned and managed by a friendly Canadian couple who moved to Belize over 10+ years ago, they definitely know how to cater to tourists. They also serve great coffee and “frappe-style” drinks, allowing you to personalize items as you wish (this was key!). Not to mention, this cafe also has a great lounge area with hammocks, benches and chairs for you to enjoy the wonderful view. Rich rum balls are also a treat here.
- Errolyn’s House of Fry Jacks – Lastly, you definitely cannot leave Belize without trying a fry jack! It’s essentially fried dough, almost like a tortilla or pancake, but better (in my opinion, at least). Errolyn’s serves stuffed fry jacks, filled with delicious toppings such as chicken, cheese, eggs and more. Great breakfast option!
These are just our favourite places, but check out our Best Eats in Caye Caulker post to get the full run-down of the places you can’t miss.
Snorkeling in Caye Caulker
Having the second largest reef in the world and the largest within the Northern and Western hemisphere, you need to add the Belize Barrier Reef System to your bucket list.
There are many areas around the coast of Belize to snorkel, and companies that offer a variety of different tours. There are companies geared towards sustainability, family-friendly tours, and others geared towards a “younger” crowd.
Matt and I joined the “Hol Chan Snorkel” tour with Raggamuffin Tours, which included stops in 3 different areas – the famous Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark and Ray Alley, and the Coral Gardens. We had an amazing time with them!
Different companies will take you to different spots, so if you’re looking to see a specific species of fish or coral, ask the companies where you’re more likely to see these and which tours will visit these areas. This will lead to the best snorkelling trip, catered to you.
San Pedro vs. Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is a very small, more laid-back island in comparison to its much larger sister island, Ambergris Caye which holds the city of San Pedro. The answer to which island is right for you is dependent on what you are looking for out of your vacation.
The city of San Pedro features a lot of boutique hotels and accommodations, restaurants, bars, and probably a little bit more nightlife. Caye Caulker is more laid back in feel, features hostels and cabana-style accommodations, and usually attracts more backpackers and budget travellers.
In terms of excursions, you’ll likely find very similar access to excursions such as diving, snorkelling, Mayan ruin adventures, so either one will do. If you have specific excursions/activities in mind, note that one island may be closer than the other which may affect your transport time.
Tip: You can always stay on one island, and make a trip out to the other as they are accessible by boat/water taxi in just 45 minutes!
Where to Stay in Caye Caulker, Belize
During our trip, we stayed at Colinda’s Cabanas, which we cannot recommend more. Colinda’s is a little further away from the “main areas,” but with Caye Caulker being a small island, this really wasn’t a big deal at all. We actually think this benefited us because we were able to sleep peacefully at night without the noise of people being out late.
Other pros of Colinda’s Cabanas included:
- Free bike rentals
- Private balcony
- Free canoe, kayak, and snorkel gear rentals
- Fully stocked kitchenette with coffee, cups, plates, utensils, a fridge, and a microwave
- Large deeprock jug full of filtered water included in your room
- Other amenities on site, such as water, beer, and sunscreen for sale in the lobby
- Lastly, the friendliest host ever – Juan and his wife (who will also make reservations for you at restaurants, by the way, if you need it!)
We found that Colinda’s Cabanas was the perfect balance of having a great, comfortable, private experience, while still being budget friendly.
Other accommodation options include hostels, namely Go Slow Hostel, which we’ve heard was great, as well as Bella’s Backpackers. This could be a great option if you’re planning on traveling solo, and would like to meet others during your trip. We met some great people from these hostels around the island!
If you’re looking to splurge a little or want to enjoy a boutique feel, we recommend Iguana Reef Inn. They have a little Seahorse Viewing Area, as well as nightly “shows” where they feed tarpons and stingrays for the guests.
If you’re considering going on a trip to Caye Caulker, this is your sign to do it! It’s a great place for everyone, with lots to explore.
Did you learn anything new from this article? Do you have any questions about anything we didn’t talk about in this article? Comment below!
