Guide to Travel Caye Caulker
About Caye Caulker, Belize
Caye Caulker is a gorgeous tropical island getaway that is located in the Caribbean Sea and is part of the small and humble Central American country of Belize. The island has a small population of only 2000 inhabitants but does swell with tourists in the high season which is between October and April. It is not a large island and occupies an area of only 5 miles (8.0 km) long by less than 1 mile (1.6 km) wide.
The island maintains an ultra-relaxed atmosphere and lives by the motto “go slow”, which is displayed all over the island and is comically enforced by the local rastas if you happen to ride your bicycle a little too fast down the main street. This relaxed way of life is even more apparent by the fact that only bicycles and golf carts are allowed on the island. Mellow reggae beats play all across the island and are the main choice of music throughout the country. You may have already guessed that with so many Rastafarians in Belize and Caye Caulker, there must be a lot of ganja, right? The answer is, “everybody and their grandma” and you can bet that ole’ grandma will inevitably ask you to buy some of her sweet cheeba. Whether you feel strongly against cannabis, or you partake yourself, that really doesn’t matter because you’re in Belize and frankly it is a huge part of the country’s culture. When deciding if you will partake or not, keep in mind that marijuana is decriminalized throughout the country, and what happens in Belize stays in Belize, think “When in Rome”.
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Caye Caulker, Belize
Is Caye Caulker Safe?
Belize is an English and Kriol-speaking country and is generally a safe vacation destination for both families and backpackers alike. Caye Caulker is no different and any crime is typically petty theft, so be sure to watch your belongings at all times. The people on Caye Caulker are super-friendly and welcoming to foreigners, and as such you will be sure to meet many lovely people who will jump at the chance to sit and conversate with you. Belizeans tend to have a peaceful mindset and it shows through in many aspects of the culture and way of life. There are colorful and animated characters everywhere on Caye Caulker and they appear to be absolutely loving life, and honestly, to be living in such an ideal paradise, who could blame them?
Caye Caulker, Belize
How to Get to Cay Caulker
To get to Caye Caulker from Belize City Airport you will need to take a taxi to the ferry docks, keep in mind that you will not have a choice on which taxi you take as the airport appoints you one automatically.
There is a small airport on the island that you can fly to called the Caye Caulker Airport, but most people will choose to take a much cheaper water taxi. San Pedro Express and Ocean Ferry are the two water taxi services that will take you from the mainland to Caye Caulker or San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. The journey to the island typically takes around 30 to 50 minutes depending on the weather and costs 30-40 BZD ($15-20 USD) round-trip.
Caye Caulker, Belize
Getting Around Caye Caulker
As mentioned earlier there are no cars allowed on the island so you will have three choices; walk, ride a bicycle, or rent a golf cart that is similar to an offroad golf cart for sale that you can see online. Most Airbnb rentals will provide you with bicycles, as that is the main mode of transportation on the caye and is much cheaper than renting a golf cart. If they don’t have a bike for you, they are fairly cheap and can be rented for around 16 BZD ($8 USD) per day or 60 BZD ($30 USD) per week. Renting a golf cart is expensive and starts at 25 BZD ($12.50 USD) an hour, 125 BZD ($62 USD) a day, or 725 BZD ($360 USD) per week, but if you have family or friends who are willing to split the cost with you, then it could be reasonably affordable.
Map of Caye Caulker Belize
The Split, Caye Caulker
Things to do in Caye Caulker
The island is mainly geared towards relaxation and aside from a ton of walking or biking that you can and will do on Caye Caulker, there are not a lot of adventurous activities apart from tours that take you off the island. That being said there are a few worthwhile attractions to visit during your time on the island.
Caye Caulker Forest Reserve is a 100-acre estuary of lush green tropical forest on the north half of Caye Caulker that is abundant in tropical birds and other wildlife. It features birds such as the tri-colored heron, the mangrove warbler, the white-crowned pigeon, the rufus-necked rail, and the black catbird. It is also home to creatures like crocodiles, turtles, crabs, boa constrictors, scaly-tailed iguanas, and geckos.
The Split is a popular attraction on Caye Caulker that gets its name for an actual split in the island that was caused by the devastating Hurricane Hattie in 1961. Today the Split is home to a beachfront bar called the Lazy Lizard, which offers food, drinks, and an excellent view of the blue Caribbean Sea. Crossing the Split takes you to the northern half of Caye Caulker, which is essentially covered in jungle wilderness and features the aforementioned Caye Caulker Forest Reserve.
The Belize Barrier Reef is the second-largest reef system in the world and is only a few minutes by boat from Caye Caulker and offers an incredible snorkeling experience that features vibrant coral reefs that are teeming with colorful sea life. Half-day tours are 70 BZD ($35 USD) and full-day tours are 130 BZD ($65 USD).
The Great Blue Hole is perhaps Belize’s most sought-after attraction and for good reason. This incredible marine sinkhole provides snorkelers and scuba divers with a unique experience that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Scuba diving tours start at 150 BZD ($75 USD) for a single tank or 220 BZD ($110 USD) for a half-day tour.
The South End is a much more rugged area and is mainly covered in swampy jungles and mangrove forests. That being said there are a few neighborhoods on this more remote part of the island. The fact that there are far fewer people means there is a ton of wildlife including crocodiles and iguanas.
Caye Caulker, Belize
Where to Eat in Caye Caulker
The average cost of a meal at a restaurant on Caye Caulker is around 14-22 BZD ($7-11 USD) per entree. You can find a good breakfast at a cafe for around 6 BZD ($3 USD). If you are looking to save money by cooking for yourself there are a couple of small grocery stores where you can buy basic foods like meat, vegetables, and fruit. The island is also home to plenty of street food vendors who offer cheap meals or baked goods.
The Pelican Sunset Bar is known for its breathtaking sunsets, great food, and all-natural tropical cocktails. It is situated beachfront and is the perfect place to sit and relax with an ice-cold Belikin and watch as large stingrays and small sharks swim by. Depending on what time of the day you arrive, you may be lucky and catch the fisherman coming back to shore, in which case you will be able to watch them feed their fish guts to the local pelicans, who are waiting patiently for their daily feeding time.
Read more about Pelican Sunset Bar.Ice and Beans Cafe is a small beachfront coffee shop that serves only high-quality Belizean-grown organic coffee. They also make fresh baked foods like donuts, bagels, and bubble waffles. For drinks, they offer smoothies, frappuccinos, ice teas, milkshakes, tea lemonades, and more. Seating is situated outside on the beach where they have picture-perfect swing sets and a bar to enjoy your morning coffee and look out at the Caribbean Sea.
Read more about Ice and Beans Cafe.
Ice and beans Cafe, Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker, Belize
Where to Stay in Caye Caulker
Dream Cabanas
Dream Cabanas hotel itself is an excellent place to call home while staying on Caye Caulker and with friendly staff, clean rooms, reasonable prices, and a convenient location it’s not surprising that Dream Cabanas has high ratings and great reviews online. It is a cozy and quiet stay with a lovely garden setting that offers ample privacy and a place to relax and listen to the soothing sounds of the tropics. The property also offers comforting 24/7 video security and a high fence to ensure the safety of guests.
Amenities
Free WIFI,
A Queen-Sized Bed
Private Bathroom
A Shower With Hot/Cold Water
A Fridge
A Ceiling Fan
A Wardrobe
A Kettle
Air Conditioner
A Private Porch
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