Are you looking for a little paradise on earth where time stands still? Caye Caulker is a tropical island that is part of the Belize Barrier Reef, the largest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere with unique marine life. It is not uncommon to swim here alongside schools of rays, dolphins, or sea turtles. On Caye Caulker, you can enjoy a laid-back vibe, beautiful sunsets, snorkeling trips, and delicious cuisine. In this article, you’ll discover my tips for things to do in Caye Caulker and why you should definitely visit this perfect place in Belize.
- Welcome to Caye Caulker
- Things to do in Caye Caulker in Belize – 10 tips
- Take a Snorkeling Tour
- Go on a Sunset Cruise
- Explore Caye Caulker village
- Rent a Bike
- Relax at The Lazy Lizard and the Split
- Discover The Great Blue Hole – top things to do in Caye Caulker
- Spot Rays and Seahorses – top things to do in Caye Caulker
- Tarpon view
- Stay at El Ben Cabanas
- Visit the Lobster Festival
- Mini Travel Guide + tips Caye Caulker Belize
- More about Belize
Welcome to Caye Caulker
The motto of Caye Caulker in Belize is “Go Slow,” and it will be easy to embrace this mindset. As soon as you arrive on Caye Caulker, all the hustle and bustle of daily life immediately melt away. This tropical island, eight kilometers long and one kilometer wide, welcomes you with swaying palm trees, a pleasant sea breeze, reggae music, and an incredibly relaxed atmosphere. Caye Caulker is completely car-free, so the only transportation you’ll see are bicycles and small golf carts transporting people with luggage. Most people live in Caye Caulker village, with its unpaved streets and numerous colorful houses.
Things to do in Caye Caulker in Belize – 10 tips
On Caye Caulker, you can enjoy the sun, the turquoise sea, and the relaxed atmosphere for days. It is the type of place you don’t want to leave anymore. These are my tips for best things to do in Caye Caulker, Belize. Enjoy!
Take a Snorkeling Tour
Swimming with rays, starfish, dolphins, and sharks? One of the top things to do in Caye Caulker Belize is to go on a snorkeling tour, which takes you to the most beautiful spots around the island. You’ll visit the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, where you swim alongside countless species of fish, coral, sponges, sea turtles, rays, and sometimes even manatees. At Shark Ray Alley, you won’t believe your eyes when hundreds of sharks over 2 meters long swim around you. Fortunately, these are Nurse Sharks, which are not dangerous. It’s exciting as they swim against you, while you try not to step on a ray.
Do you want to enjoy a snorkeling tour on Caye Caulker Belize? You can find a great and professional organised tour here.
Go on a Sunset Cruise
What is better than enjoying a beautiful sunset? In various places on Caye Caulker, you can book a sunset tour around the island. I took one from El Ben Cabañas, which offers a catamaran-style boat with wine, cocktails, fresh ceviche, and other snacks on board.
Watching the sun go down with reggae music in the background and a drink in your hands is the ultimate holiday feeling right? And when dolphins start to play around your boat, believe me, life truly can’t get any better.
It is also possible to book a sunset tour from the split, you can book a tour here.
Explore Caye Caulker village
The little village on Caye Caulker is a lovely place to wander around. It consists of a few streets with pastel-colored houses where you can take beautiful photos. In the streets behind the main street, Front Street, you get a nice impression of local life.
Rent a Bike
Caye Caulker is car-free except for golf carts. One of the best things to do in Caye Caulker Belize to explore the island is to rent a bike. It is fun to cross the Split with the “split to split pont” and discover the other part of Caye Caulker. On this part, where hotel El Ben is located, you mainly cycle through nature and stop for a beach or restaurant along the way. Bikes are available for rent at all hotels or in town.
Relax at The Lazy Lizard and the Split
If you arrive on Caye Caulker by plane, you’ll see it well from above. Everyone on the island knows the Split, a narrow channel that split the island into two parts due to a hurricane. Nowadays, you’ll find The Lazy Lizard here, the island’s meeting place where you come for good music, a drink, and a swim in the sea. There are sunbeds where you can relax, and if you’re in the mood for more activity, you rent a SUP board or kayak.
Discover The Great Blue Hole – top things to do in Caye Caulker
When you hear about Belize, chances are you’ll come across the Great Blue Hole. This enormous blue sinkhole is located in the Belize Barrier Reef, in the middle of the sea, near the small atoll Lighthouse Reef. It was originally a limestone cave formed during the ice age when the sea level was lower. You can see this well while diving because of the numerous stalactites underwater. When the ocean began to rise again, the cave flooded. The Great Blue Hole is round and has a width of 318 meters and a depth of 124 meters. From the air, you can hardly imagine that this hole has a total area of 70,650 square meters. Belize Barrier Reef and the Great Blue Hole are also UNESCO World Heritage sites.
From the Air
One of the top things to do and a highlight in Caye Caulker Belize is to make a flight over the Great Blue Hole. In a small plane with a maximum of 10 people, you’ll fly towards this natural phenomena. The flight lasts forty minutes, which is just enough time to observe the dark blue hole from various angles. You can book a flight via Tropic Air or Maya Island Air.
The Graat Blue Hole underwater world
The Great Blue Hole is also one of the most special places to dive because of the numerous sharks, turtles, rays, corals, and stalactites you’ll encounter. Jacques Cousteau even named it one of the top 10 dive spots in the world. But to get the most out of your dive visit, you need to have some experience.
Spot Rays and Seahorses – top things to do in Caye Caulker
Visiting Iguana Reef Inn is not only one of the best things to do in Caye Caulker Belize, when you want to watch the sunset. It’s also the place to see stingrays and seahorses up close. You need some patience for the seahorses as they hide among the plants. But once you find one, you’ll recognize the others more quickly.
Stingrays come to the shore at Iguana Reef to eat daily. Generally, it’s not recommended to feed wild animals, but here they are part of a protected reserve, and according to our guide, the animals are handled responsibly. It’s a spectacular experience to see them up close. My view of rays, which always seemed a bit ‘scary,’ has completely changed after this experience. Meanwhile, you can also watch pelicans searching for fish.
Tarpon view
Around the corner from The Lazy Lizard, you’ll find Tarpon View. This is a place where you can see large tarpon fish swimming in the clear water. The tarpon is a saltwater fish that can grow up to 2.5 meters long and weigh 150 kilos. At various times, they are fed and jump out of the water with their gigantic mouths wide open. Spectacular!
Stay at El Ben Cabanas
One of the most beautiful places to stay on Caye Caulker is Hotel El Ben Cabañas. This complex is located directly by the sea, in the quiet part of the island. A boat takes you from the village on Caye Caulker to the pier in just 10 minutes.
El Ben Cabanas consists of several wooden cottages with comfortable rooms and balconies, spread over the grounds in a tropical garden. Everywhere you look, you see flowers, pelicans, and iguanas that have completely embraced the island’s slow life. And of course, you’ll want a cottage by the sea. It’s wonderful to relax in one of the two swimming pools, and the restaurant serves the best fish dishes on the island.
Do you also want to spend the night at El Ben? Check prices and availability here. Curious about more hotels in Caye Caulker? You’ll find an overview here.
Visit the Lobster Festival
Every June, Caye Caulker hosts the Lobster Festival, celebrating the start of the lobster season. Not only can you try delicious lobster dishes, but there are also many activities and performances.
Mini Travel Guide + tips Caye Caulker Belize
Tips for tours and things to do in Caye Caulker
When booking your tours, try to choose a professional and eco-friendly organization. Here are some tips for tours on Caye Caulker.
Restaurant tips Caye Caulker
It probably won’t surprise you when I tell you that you that Caye Caulker offers the most delicious fish dishes. But of course there are many great spots for a bite and a drink. Here are my tips for restaurants on Caye Caulker:
- El Ben restaurant serves the best fish dishes on the island. I tried various dishes here, and they exceeded my expectations each time.
- A popular breakfast spot where you can try the local fried jacks is Errolyn’s House of Fryjacks.
- One of the best Italian restaurants on the island is Il Pellicano Cucina Italiana.
- For a sunset drink and snack, head to Iguana Reef Inn or the Pelican Sunset Bar.
- Looking for a stylish dinner with a beautiful view? Vino Tinto serves a fusion of international, Asian, and local dishes. Almost all products come directly from their garden.
- Enjoy breakfast and lunch with smoothies and bowls by the beach at Ice and Beans Cafe.
- At Namaste Cafe, you can take yoga classes and have a nice breakfast.
How to get to Caye Caulker in Belize
From the port in Belize City, ferries and water taxis depart several times a day, taking you to Caye Caulker in an hour. Check available routes, timeschedules and prices here. If you have a bit more money to spend and want to experience the Belize Barrier Reef from the air, book a flight from Belize City with Maya Air or Tropic Air. These are small planes, taking you to the island within 15 minutes. But the views of the blue sea and the small islands are breathtakingly beautiful. You also have a perfect view of Caye Caulker. You can easily search, compare, and book flights via Skyscanner.
Transportation on Caye Caulker
Almost everything on Caye Caulker is within walking distance. Traveling with luggage? There are golf carts available to take you from point A to point B. Heading to a hotel on the other side of the Split, such as El Ben Cabañas? The hotel will arrange a boat for you. Renting a bike is an easy way to explore the island by yourself.
More about Belize
Did you enjoy reading this article with tips and things to do in Caye Caulker in Belize? Let me take you on a journey along the most beautiful destinations and things to do in Belize. In the next articles you will find my Belize travel guides with lots of inspiration and tips.
- Things to do in Belize – 30 tips
- Discover The Rainforest Lodge at Sleeping Giant – boutique hotel in Belize
- The Lodge at Jaguar Reef – boutique hotel in Hopkins Belize
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