Guide to Caye Caulker

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Caye Caulker Caribbean colors

Caye Caulker is Ambergris Caye’s smaller, less-visited sister island and a prime stop for travelers looking to “go slow” and enjoy a relaxed vibe in Belize. The island primarily attracts younger individuals seeking an affordable beach destination.

On this page
About Caye Caulker
Things to Do
Where to Eat
Where to Stay
Best Time to Visit
Safety Concerns
Getting Here & Around
Related Blogs on Caye Caulker

About Caye Caulker

Caye Caulker

Located just a few miles off the coast of Belize City, Caye Caulker is a popular stop for travelers seeking more budget-friendly alternatives to Ambergris Caye. With vibrant turquoise waters and a hip low-key Caribbean feeling, the small island is a great spot to experience Belizean culture while enjoying a beach vacation.

Related: Things to Do in Caye Caulker & Top Caye Caulker Hotels

Only five miles long, Caye Caulker’s motto of ‘Go Slow’ is one both residents and tourists are quick to adopt. The primary mode of transportation on the island is either by golf cart or bicycle. Or, live like a local and kick off your shoes and wander the island’s sandy streets.

Tourism is a key industry but fishing has primarily been the main source of income. Wondering how Caye Caulker got its name? Several theories exist, but it is believed to have made its way onto British maps as “Caye Corker.” Sailors knew of its abundant fresh water, so they would stop to replenish and “cork” their water bottles. Another theory is that Caye Caulker is the Anglicized pronunciation of Cayo Hicaco, its Spanish name, which translates to ‘island of the cocoplum.’

Area:1.5 Square miles
Population:3,000 Residents
District:Belize
Nearby Settlements:San Pedro Town, St. George’s Caye, Belize City
Nearest Airport:Caye Caulker Airport (CUK)

Things to Do in Caye Caulker

hanging out at the Split in Caye Caulker
Playing corn hole at The Split

Although Caye Caulker is small, the island has a variety of things to do to keep everyone entertained. Obviously, watersports are the main draw to travelers and you can do everything from snorkeling and diving to windsurfing and kitesurfing. Look for excellent fishing opportunities, and bring back your catch to have it cooked up at one of the local restaurants in town.

Other things to do in and around Caye Caulker include full-day excursions that can take you to see everything from local manatees or all the way to a Mayan temple on the western border of Belize’s mainland. It makes for a full day, but mainland tours like cave tubing, zip-lining, the Belize Zoo and more are all available.

If you are hoping for a day of doing nothing, check out Caye Caulker’s “Split”, named for the channel that divides the island in two. The Split is the local hangout for travelers and locals from all around Belize. The calm, shallow waters make for a perfect spot to cool off, and the Lazy Lizard serves up bar food and some strong drinks, including the “lizard juice” – try if you dare!


Where to Eat in Caye Caulker

food in caye caulker
Conch Fritters… Yum!

After an active day of exploring the Caribbean Sea or lounging around on the island, check out one of Caye Caulker’s numerous restaurants or street stalls. Everything from barbeque to fresh seafood (including Conch ceviche) are readily available throughout the island. 

While you can get good BBQ in a restaurant, check out the guys who set up their grills on the beach for one of the best meals you’ll have in Belize. When in season, lobster and conch are “must-try” eats and you will find some of the best in Caye Caulker. Lobster is such a big deal in Belize, there are several annual “Lobsterfest” celebrations, including an annual one on Caye Caulker.


Where to Stay in Caye Caulker

Colinda Cabanas in Caye Caulker, Belize

If you are exclusively looking for a five-star luxury resort, Caye Caulker may not be the island for you. Lodging in Caye Caulker ranges from hostel-type accommodations to several boutique properties with more modern amenities (e.g. WeYu, Weezies, and Caye Reef Condos). The island has resisted major commercialization and thereby lodging options tend to be simple and geared to laid-back travelers looking to spend most of their time outdoors.


Best Time to Visit Caye Caulker

tourist having fun in caye caulker

The best time to be in Caye Caulker is from January to April, which is during Belize’s dry season and high tourism season since you can expect sunny days and clear blue skies. Due to the popularity of this time, however, the downside is that things are more expensive.

But honestly, things in Belize are relatively not that different during the tourism offseason and a plus is that many discounts are offered. Belize’s offseason is during Central America’s wet season, but unless you’re visiting during a tropical storm, the rain is often for brief 1 or 2 hour periods in the morning or early afternoon.

As for a specific date that is optimal to be in Caye Caulker, this is probably during Caye Caulker’s Lobsterfest. For the past 25 years during the last week of June, Caye Caulker throws a big festival to celebrate the start of the lobster season. Another great time to be in Caye Caulker is during Belize’s Easter Season, which mostly happens in April but sometimes occurs in March. This holiday draws locals from elsewhere to Caye Caulker and the island comes alive with beach parties.

Top Events in Caye Caulker
Easter Week
Caye Caulker Lobster Fest, July 14th – 16th (Belize’s Lobster Season runs from July to February)
Conch Season, October to June
Belize Independence Day, September 21st
Garifuna Settlement Day, November 19th

Safety and Security Risks in Caye Caulker

I&I Reggae Bar

Popular tourist areas in Belize, such as Caye Caulker, are typically just as safe as where you live.

The most common crime is petty theft so normal safety precautions apply. Do not flash large sums of money, do not leave personal belongings unattended, refrain from walking alone late at night (especially if drunk), and lock your doors when you leave your place. Nicer resorts will provide in-room safes for valuables and have security guards at night.

Most food and drinks are safe to consume in Caye Caulker. But don’t drink the tap water. Upscale resorts and hotels will use filters or provide “purified” water for guests so pack a reusable water bottle. If drinking water isn’t included in your stay, which may happen at budget accommodations, bottled water can be bought at supermarkets.

Lastly, women that are traveling alone/ are single may receive unwanted attention from Belizean men. Unfortunately, there is no ‘right way’ to deal with catcalling but often the best response is to ignore it. Sorry.


Getting Here & Around

golf cart taxi in belize

Caye Caulker doesn’t have an international airport, so you’ll have to fly into the Philip Goldson International Airport (BZE) near Belize City. From there you’ll need to either take a domestic flight to Caye Caulker or take a water taxi from Belize City.

  • Taking a domestic flight to Caye Caulker is the most direct transportation option. Both Belizean airlines: Tropic Air and Maya Island Air fly to Caye Caulker. From the BZE airport, a flight to Caye Caulker is approx. US$80 and you are treated to a 15-20 minute flight with fantastic views of the barrier reef and neighbouring islands.
  • Water taxis to Caye Caulker can be taken on a daily basis from the Belize City harbour. Boats leave for Caye Caulker on an hourly basis from 8 AM to 5:30 PM. The boat ride is about 1 hour and costs US$20.50 one way or US$36.50 RT. As for how to get to the Belize City harbour, from the BZE airport, I recommend catching a taxi (US$25) and from a land border, you can follow this guide.

For getting around Caye Caulker, transportation options include walking, biking, taxi golf carts or ferries. Cars are forbidden due to the narrow dirt streets and lack of infrastructure to accommodate vehicular traffic. This decision was made to preserve the island’s natural beauty and to promote a more relaxed and pedestrian-friendly atmosphere. Tours are done by small boats which are provided by tour operators.

  • Since the island is only 5 miles long, you can easily get around on foot. But if want to explore the island by bike, many hotels offer bikes to their guests for free.
  • Golf cart taxis are primarily used for carrying luggage from the boat terminal to hotels and a ferry can be caught if you want to cross The Split (which isn’t common).

Caye Caulker Travel Guide: Related Articles

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Caye Caulker Pictures

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