All you really need to know about traveling to Caye Caulker can be told through this short anecdote. The sun had just set but the warm breeze had lured me out. I biked through the ten-block town along the bumpy dirt roads. As I rode along, I breathed in the salty ocean air. Despite my calm and rhythmic demeanor, my rambling stream of consciousness was interrupted by a chill announcement. “Ayeeee, slow down,” a beachy dude with dreads yelled to me from the log behind his jewelry stand. All of the jewelry was perched on the soft pink shells of a conch.
I was riding my bike too quickly on a pedestrian party island in Belize, people. One of the hottest beach bars is called the Lazy Lizard for goodness sake. So yes, a trip to Caye pronounced Key) Caulker will seriously force you to unlock your chill and fall right into island time. Here’s everything you need to know about traveling to Caye Caulker, but more importantly the best ways to experience this tiny Belizean island to leave feeling fulfilled and fully chilled out.
Everything You Need to Do During Your Visit to Caye Caulker
Snorkel with Sting Rays and Nurse Sharks in the Second Largest Coral Reef in the World
Sip and dip at “The Split”
Stay in Paradise at Weezie’s Beachfront Hotel
Ride Bikes the Entire Length of the Island
Getting To & From Caye Caulker
Go Snorkeling with Nurse Sharks & Sting Rays at Shark Ray Alley
The most epic way to spend a day on Caye Caulker is by far and away snorkeling. Let’s just say, we went out for a three-hour, half-day snorkeling excursion and it wasn’t enough. Belize is home to the second-largest coral reef in the world only after Australia, so there is so much to see out there. There are a ton of different companies that will take you out on the water for a few hours or an entire day in the sunshine whether you’re looking for a chartered, private tour or a small group boat trip. The must-visit snorkeling stops around Caye Caulker are Shark Ray Alley and the Tarpon Hole. It is mission critical that you don’t skip out on those hot spots when it comes to planning.
We eased into the day snorkeling out at the calm cusp of the reef, spotting all sorts of colorful fishies. But once we got out to Shark Ray Alley, things got real in the best way possible. Swimming with nurse sharks and stingrays in Belize was no doubt a bucket list item that I didn’t even know I had until I was doing it. Sweet nurse sharks shimmied up to the sides of the boat slipping and sliding all over each other. I was giddy with excitement and okay, yes probably a little fear too.
The Tarpon Hole actually isn’t a snorkeling spot but the excitement certainly matches the moment of slipping into the water with the nurse sharks. Hidden beneath the surface of the water is an underground cave system home to a massive squad of tarpon fish. Our captain came equipped with a bucket of baby fish for feeding the big boys and it was a wild experience that everyone should have while visiting Caye Caulker whether you choose to tease the tarpon with a treat or just watch.
Hit The Split for A Full Day Party Experience
The Split is one of the must-do activities on the tiny Belizean islands of Caye Caulker, but first: what is it? Caye Caulker is a little bit different from your typical tropical destination because of its lack of actual sandy beaches. Pretty much all of the ocean access on the island is via stairs into the water or a jump off of a dock. ‘The Split’ is an area that was formed from a hurricane tearing across the island back in the sixties. The result was the creation of a waterway that divided the island in two. The channel was widened to allow for boats to pass through and dubbed The Split. There are a few different beach bars perched along the split to choose from with beach chairs, cabanas, and picnic tables to spend the day at soaking up the sun.
While the Lazy Lizard tends to be the most talked-about beach bar on Caye Caulker, it’s also the most touristy with prices to match. Sip N’ Dip was recommended to us by the locals so it quickly became our go-to spot on the island. While only a stone’s throw from direct access to the split, this vibey neon green hut has its own water hammocks and a long dock with plenty of places to chill with a sugary beach cocktail in hand (that didn’t cost you an arm and a leg.)
A Stay at Weezie’s Beachfront Hotel Will Take Your Breathe Away
From the moment we pulled up to the white walls surrounding Weezie’s, we knew that we made the right call on where to say on Caye Caulker. As if the 4.8 rating on Google didn’t lure us in enough, staying at an oceanfront hotel in Belize for under $200 per night was a serious score.
Tucked away on the quieter side of the island opposite from The Split, Weezie’s is the ultimate escape with loungers perched on a long pier, an on-site boat with daily snorkeling and fishing excursions, a posh pool, and a chill restaurant area. The rooms are light and airy with light wooden ceilings, fresh white linens, and a tile floor for tracking all of the sand in.
Ride Bikes the Entire Length of the Island
Have I mentioned that Caye Caulker is a pedestrian-only island? This means there aren’t any cars., so the fastest vehicle you’ll find is a golf cart taxi rolling five miles per hour to avoid the pothole-covered dirt roads. The move while visiting Caye Caulker is to get your hands on a bike during your stay. A lot of the hotels come with bikes on-premise for rent or for free use so prioritizing that amenity while doing your research is a must. Weezie’s rented bikes by the day and we ended up keeping them for the entirety of the stay to zip around the island with ease.
Getting To & From Caye Caulker
The only stress that came with our trip to Caye Caulker was planning how to actually get to the island from the Belize City airport. Through our booking at Weezie’s, we were able to schedule a taxi pickup from the airport to bring us to the ferry port in town. The driver met us with a sign outside of customs and it was a breeze. Once at the ferry port, we bought round trip ferry tickets to and from Caye Caulker (because it was cheaper.)
The San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi takes about 45 minutes to Caye Caulker, costs $19 one way, and doesn’t require advanced purchase. There are about seven trips per day and often run a couple of minutes behind schedule when leaving Belize City. If you plan on taking the ferry to Caye Caulker on your day of arrival, make sure that your flight arrives early enough for you to get through customs, take the thirty-minute cab ride, and pay for your ticket before the final departure of the day - otherwise, you’ll be out of luck.
The other option for traveling to Caye Caulker is a thrilling, stunning, and more expensive route. A local plane ride right from the Belize City International Airport takes a mere ten minutes from wheels up to wheels down in Caye Caulker. We opted to book a last-minute flight on Tropic Air back to Belize City on our last day to soak up every last moment of paradise. Tickets tend to cost under $100 one way but the views of the blue waters are absolutely epic. After traveling both ways, flying to or from Caye Caulker for at least one leg of the trip is worth it for the experience (and ease) alone. However, if small cramped spaces or heights aren’t your things, you might be better off opting to travel by sea. Seriously, the plane we took was a ten-seater.
No matter how you choose to travel to Caye Caulker, it’ll be one part relaxation, one part adventure. Don’t miss out on exploring this incredible Belizean island while it’s still a hidden tropical gem.
