Caye Caulker (Spanish: Cayo Caulker) is a small limestone coral island located about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northeast of Belize City, masking a place of approximately 3.94 km². The island's village is called Caye Caulker Village, and it has a population of around 2,000 people.
Setting foot on Caye Caulker looks like moving into a slightly kitschy Caribbean film. A friendly, carefree mixture of Creole and Rastafari cultures characterizes the island's atmosphere.
Caye Caulker is a super start line for a Belizean adventure. The island appears to encapsulate all the elements of an ideal getaway: amiable locals, delicious seafood, aquatic amusement, and vibrant nightlife. The island's sandy streets, accessible from vehicular site visitors, make it clear to be away for an entire day without a touch of boredom.
Map of Caye Caulker
| Name | Caye Caulker (Spanish: Cayo Caulker) |
| Country | Belize |
| District | Belize District |
| Coordinates | 17°44′33″N 88°01′30″W |
| Area | 3.94 km² (394 ha) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 |
| Population | about 2,000 |
| Airport | Caye Caulker Airport (CUK) |
Things to Do in Caye Caulker
Activities on Caye Caulker are well-balanced, supplying both water adventures and leisurely snorkeling or scuba diving. Here, you could take pleasure in a relaxed and carefree time.
Exploring Belize's stunning coral reef is a diver's primary wish. You can choose to go to the 61-square-mile Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, which is without difficulty accessible by boat from the island's pier. Choosing Frenchie's Diving lets you snorkel at Shark Ray Alley among dives, in which you may swim with mild nurse sharks and stingrays in a unique shallow vicinity recognized for their gatherings.
The most famous seashore on Caye Caulker is The Split, a result of a 1961 typhoon that divided the island. You can sit at a picnic table in the shallow waters, listening to live tunes or enjoying seaside concerts while sipping on a chilled Belizean Belikin beer and dancing to reggae rhythms with the locals.
During a boat excursion with Caveman Snorkeling Tours, you could go to the Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary, watching manatees in warm shallow waters, and then stop to snorkel in the colorful coral gardens teeming with waving sea enthusiasts and considerable tropical fish.
To explore Caye Caulker on land, lease a bicycle and ride along sandy paths through the village and to Koto King Beach on the north facet of The Split. Most lodges offer bicycle rentals, and some even provide golf carts. You can also lease jet skis from Spot's Water Sports, equipped with onboard monitoring and verbal exchange gadgets, to explore the island waters at your own pace.
Where to Stay On Caye Caulker
Accommodations on Caye Caulker include boutique hotels and small family-run establishments, with a few brilliant Airbnb options and excursion rentals available. Caye Reef Condos offers apartment-style accommodations with the right of entry to a swimming pool and beach, such as --bedroom beachfront apartments and pinnacle-ground flats with rooftop hot tubs. Colinda Cabanas features colorful beachfront suites and cabins with hammocks at the terraces for playing with panoramic ocean perspectives. Blu Zen boasts 25 rooms, proposing modern two-bedroom apartments right on the beach, beautiful tropical gardens, and top-floor residences on the third floor in which you can recognize both dawn and sundown.
You can also live on Belize's largest island, Ambergris Caye, north of Caye Caulker, where you can find fascinating cottages such as Matachica Resort & Spa and Victoria House Resort & Spa.
Getting to Caye Caulker
Like many islands, you have options for getting to Caye Caulker:
- Opt for a right-away flight from Belize City to Caye Caulker with either Tropic Air or Maya Island Air, which takes about 15 minutes. While this approach is the fastest, it's also the most expensive, permitting you to be surprised at the coastal beauty of Belize throughout the journey.
- The maximum in your price range method of accomplishing Caye Caulker is by means of taking a water taxi. Departing from Belize City, board a taxi (priced at 60 Belize dollars, kind of a 25-minute experience) to both of Belize City's water taxi terminals.
The journey to Caye Caulker by a water taxi typically lasts between 40 to 50 minutes. You can test the agenda and fares on the subsequent websites:
Caribbean Sprinter: https://sprinter.bz/index
San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi: https://belizewatertaxi.com/
Best Time to Visit
Avoid the hurricane season from June to October. The peak season begins in December. We strongly recommend visiting during the off-season.
Note and Tips
Safety: Caye Caulker relies on tourism, and locals take great care of visitors. However, keep in mind that such a high concentration of tourists also attracts individuals looking to make quick money.
Tap Water: In urban areas, the water is said to be drinkable. However, since you'll be spending a lot of time in the water and Belize's coral reefs, it's advisable to carry a Lifestraw Pro for safety and to avoid plastic pollution. The Lifestraw Pro straw also keeps your water fresh and cool!
Eating Fish: To protect Belize's marine life, fishing activities are seasonally regulated to ensure species recovery. Therefore, try to avoid lobster and conch out of season. Conch season runs from October to June, while lobster season is from July to February.
Sunscreen: Protect Belize's unique marine life and always carry reef-safe sunscreen. Check out our guide to coral-safe sunscreens here.
Plastic: Bring along a Lifestraw Pro to avoid generating waste from bottled water consumption.
