Slow Island Vibes: A Guide to Visiting Caye Caulker, Belize

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A tiny Caribbean island off the coast of Belize, Caye Caulker is a great place to enjoy the slow island life for a few days. Located about an hour by boat from Belize City, it’s easily accessible from the mainland and has something for everyone: nearby reefs with incredible marine life for snorkeling and diving, watersports ranging from stand up paddleboarding to sailboats, yoga classes and spas, and an active bar scene if you want to party.

Caye Caulker is about 5 miles (8 km) long and 1 mile (1.6 km) wide and embodies the motto “go slow.” It has north and south sides separated by a small channel called The Split. The water taxi terminal and most infrastructure is on the south side of the island and that’s where I spent all of my time. You can easily get around by walking or biking (but there are golf carts available if you need a “taxi”). Locals speak English as well as Creole and some Spanish.

As a small, narrow island with a lot of tourism infrastructure, Caye Caulker does have a bit of a touristy Caribbean vibe, but I enjoyed my time here. Also, there aren’t really any nice sand beaches, but there are places to chill out and swim in the stunning aquamarine Caribbean waters surrounding the island.

Here’s my guide to all things Caye Caulker: how to get there, what to do, where to eat, and how to make the most of your visit to this sleepy tropical island.

How to get to Caye Caulker

Travel by boat (water taxi): The vast majority of people choose this option. After getting to the water taxi terminal in Belize City, you can take a ferry (water taxi) to Caye Caulker, which takes about 45 minutes. There are two water taxi companies with set departure schedules to Caye Caulker, San Pedro Belize Express and Caribbean Sprinter. I took the San Pedro Belize Express and it was fine.

Travel by charter plane: This option is fast and perhaps the shortest flight you’ll ever take (~10 minutes), but it’s much more expensive than the water taxi. Rather than flying from Belize International Airport to Caye Caulker, I’d recommend saving your money for a flight over the Great Blue Hole instead (more details on this below). If you’re set on taking a flight, my recommended airlines are Tropic Air or Maya Island Air.

Things to do in Caye Caulker

1. Snorkel or dive in the Belize Barrier Reef: The Belize Barrier Reef is the second largest reef in the world and has incredible coral reefs and diverse marine life. I highly recommend booking a boat tour from Caye Caulker to go snorkeling or diving. Make sure your tour goes to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, including Shark Ray Alley, where you’ll likely encounter and swim amongst (friendly) nurse sharks, stingrays, turtles, eels, and many vibrantly colored fish and coral formations in aquamarine waters. I had a good experience on my tour with Ragga Sailing Adventures.

2. Fly over the famous Great Blue Hole: The Great Blue Hole, aptly named, is a giant blue sinkhole off the Belizean coast and part of the Belize Barrier Reef. It’s a famous (and advanced) diving location, but I’d argue the best way to experience it is to fly over in a small charter plane. The hour-long flight is pricey and the Great Blue Hole was smaller than I expected from so high up, but the views are breathtaking with every shade of blue you can imagine. If you’ve got the budget, I say go for it. Make sure to book your flight in advance with either Tropic Air or Maya Island Air and try to get the seat by the pilot.

    • 3. Look for marine life along Caye Caulker’s west coast: If you head to the west side of Caye Caulker, you can spot seahorses, stingrays, and tarpons (large fish) at designated areas. For a small fee you can feed the tarpons, which I didn’t do but if you decide to do it, make sure to get instructed on the proper feeding method.

    4. Take a morning yoga class: If you’re looking to kick off your day with some relaxing and invigorating yoga, you can head to Namaste Yoga (third floor above the Namaste Cafe) or Ceiba Yoga. I took a class at Ceiba Yoga – the studio was a bit hard to find but the class was great. Classes aren’t everyday so make sure to check the class schedules in advance.

    5. Explore the island’s perimeter on a kayak or stand up paddleboard: There are kayak and stand up paddleboard (SUP) rentals all around the island and you can rent them cheaply by the hour. Explore the island’s perimeter and cross The Split, that stretch of water that divides Caye Caulker in two. Keep an eye out for stingrays, turtles, or even nurse sharks as you paddle along.

    Exploring the crystal clear waters around Caye Caulker’s perimeter on my standup paddleboard.

    6. Head to the spa for a massage: Get your relaxation on by heading to one of the spas around the island that offer massages and other spa treatments. I went to Ix’Chel Day Spa, a popular choice conveniently located near The Split.

    7. Bike around the island: Rent a bike and go explore – it’s breezy, fun, and great for getting to know the ins and outs of this little island.

    My small group tour in Belize enjoying our bike tour around Caye Caulker.

    8. Have a drink by (or in) the ocean: If you’re looking for a party vibe, head to The Split, which has a handful of bars like The Lazy Lizard or Sip N Dip where you can drink beside or in the shimmering blue Caribbean ocean.

    9. Admire the sunset on a cruise or at a bar: The sunsets at Caye Caulker were stunning. Head to the west side of the island and grab a drink at a prime sunset viewing location like Iguana Reef Inn or The Pelican Sunset Bar (pro tip: get the coconut mojito). You can also take a sunset cruise and sip rum punch (a Caribbean favorite) on a boat while watching as the sky bursts into color.

    • Where to eat in Caye Caulker

    The island has a good variety of restaurants, particularly given its small size. Most food places are generally middle range in terms of price; not expensive, but not catering to backpackers on a strict budget either.

    • If you’re looking for breakfast or brunch spots, head to Namaste Cafe, Ice N Beans, Amor y Cafe, or Errolyn’s House Of Fryjacks. Ice N Beans is also a solid choice for lunch and has great smoothies.
    • If you’re craving Italian food, check out Pasta per Caso for dinner. I didn’t make it there but it was packed every night.
    • If you’re looking for delicious local food in a no-frills ambiance with massive portions for the price, head to Reina’s for dinner. They’re known for their seafood and jerk chicken. I enjoyed their curry chicken as well.

    Another popular destination near Caye Caulker is Belize’s largest island, Ambergris Caye (often called San Pedro after its largest town). I didn’t make it to San Pedro, but it’s known for being more developed and touristy than Caye Caulker and has a lot of the same offerings at a larger scale.

    If you’re looking for a low-key vacation in the Caribbean, Caye Caulker might be the place for you. A visit to Caye Caulker can be whatever you want to make of it, just remember to “go slow” and enjoy!

    Looking for my recommendations for a trip to Belize? Read my article on top adventures and activities for your Belize bucket list here.

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