Caye Caulker Travel Guide

Other Things to See and Do in Caye Caulker

1. Go snorkeling

The Belize Barrier Reef is just a few minutes from the island and provides an ideal underwater world for snorkelers to explore. The largest reef in the Northern Hemisphere (and the second largest in the entire world), it spans almost 200 miles (300 kilometers). The reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to rays, sharks, sea turtles, whale sharks, dolphins, and much more. Half-day tours start at 80-130 BZD while full-day tours start at 180 BZD.

2. Go diving

Caye Caulker and its surrounding areas are a diver’s paradise. There is the barrier reef, as well as Blue Hole Natural Monument and Half Moon Caye. The Great Blue Hole is a 400-foot-deep (121-meter) hole with a cave and is one of the most popular dive sites in the world. A half-day tour with two dives starts from 260 BZD. The trips to the Blue Hole are full-day, 3-tank tours and start from 600 BZD.

3. Windsurf

Year-round winds and warm shallow waters make windsurfing a big draw here. If you’re experienced, a board rental for a half day costs about 150 BZD, but if you’re a newbie, you can take a one-hour beginner’s lesson for 150 BZD or a two-hour group lesson for around 175 BZD.

4. Go kayaking

Sea kayaks are available to rent all around the island and you can head to the northern island, past the Split, to explore the mangroves. Kayak rentals start from 15-20 BZD per hour or 50 BZD for a full day. Check out Ocean Academy to support the local high school, as you can make a donation in exchange for rentals.

5. See the South End

The southern end is an area rich in crocodiles, bird-nesting, and raw natural beauty. Swimming at this end of the island offers a wide array of anemones, sponges, gorgonians, fish, and more. Most people don’t come down here, so you’ll have the area all to yourself.

 
If you’re heading to other parts of Belize, check out some of our other city guides:

Caye Caulker Travel Costs

Hostel prices – Hostel dorms with 8-16 beds cost around 26 BZD per night, while smaller dorms start from 32 BZD. A standard private room in a hostel costs 80-90 BZD per night. Free Wi-Fi is standard and most (but not all) have self-catering facilities.

Budget hotel prices – There aren’t a whole lot of budget hotels around Caye Caulker. Double rooms at hotels and resorts start from 120 BZD per night. Most other 2-3 star hotels are around 150 BZD per night, and they can reach up to 300 BZD during peak season. Standard amenities include private bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, and air-conditioning.

On Airbnb, private rooms start from 50-85 BZD. You can get a basic cabana (a tiny house studio) or apartment from 100 BZD, but often you’ll have to pay extra for Wi-Fi. Nicer apartments, including those with swimming pools, start from 200-300 BZD.

Food – Belizean cuisine leans heavily on beans, rice, cheese, and tortillas. Rice and beans is a common lunch choice, and you can always find tamales, panades (fried meat pies), onion soup, chicken stew, and garnaches (beans, cheese, and onion in a fried tortilla) pretty much everywhere you go. Expect a lot of seafood here, including lobster, shrimp, red snapper, sea bass, and halibut.

Most restaurants on the island cost between 14-22 BZD, with breakfast at a cafe starting from 6 BZD. You can get fast food (grilled meats, BBQ seafood, pastries) from 13 BZD.

If you plan to buy your own groceries and cook, a week’s worth of food costs between 80-120 BZD for basic staples like rice, vegetables, and some chicken or fish.

Make sure you eat at Wish Willy’s, the best restaurant on the island. You get a great chicken or fish meal there. It’s tasty and affordable!

Backpacking Caye Caulker Suggested Budgets

If you’re backpacking Caye Caulker, my suggested budget is 90 BZD per day. This budget covers staying in a hostel dorm, cooking most of your meals, walking everywhere, and enjoying lots of free activities like swimming and lounging on the beach. It’s a tight budget but doable if you cut your drinking. If you want to party or eat out more, add another 20 BZD per day.

On a mid-range budget of about 215 BZD, you can stay in a budget Airbnb room, eat out for most meals, enjoy a few drinks, rent a bicycle to get around, and do watersports like snorkeling or windsurfing.

On a “luxury” budget of 425 BZD or more, you can stay in a hotel or private Airbnb, eat out for all your meals, rent a golf cart or bicycle, and do more tours (such as diving trips). This is just the ground floor for luxury though. The sky is the limit!

Caye Caulker Travel Guide: Money Saving Tips

Caye Caulker can be an expensive place to visit if you do a lot of tours and activities. But, if you’re just chilling on the beach and staying in a dorm, you won’t spend a ton of money. Here are ways to save money in Caye Caulker during your visit:

1. Shop around – There are a lot of dive companies on Caye Caulker and competition is fierce so be sure to shop around. Most will give you a free dive in the hopes of getting you to sign up for their PADI certification course.
2. Snorkel The Split – If you snorkel the Split, you’ll be able to see a wide variety of fish without paying money for an expensive tour of the reef. Same animals, cheaper price.
3. Travel off-peak – The most expensive time to visit is between October and April. By traveling in the off-season, you can significantly reduce prices for accommodation and flights.
4. Combine trips – Many tour operators offer trips that combine popular excursions. These are a good way to save on transfers to each tourist destination as well as possibly get dropped off at your next destination.
5. Happy hour – Most bars have a happy hour in the late afternoon and offer discounts on drinks. Ask your accommodation staff for tips on where to go to save.
6. Pack a water bottle – A water bottle with a purifier will come particularly in handy here. Save money and thousands of plastic bottles and get a bottle that can purify the tap water for you. My preferred bottle is LifeStraw as it has a built-in filter to ensure your water is always clean and safe.

Where to Stay in Caye Caulker

Caye Caulker only has a couple of options for budget travelers. Here are my suggested places to stay:

• Sophie’s Guest Rooms

How to Get Around Caye Caulker

Caye Caulker is a relatively small island and is easily walkable. If you’re staying outside the main village, there are a few other ways to get around:

Bicycle – Other than on foot, bicycle rentals are your cheapest option for getting around. You can find them for as little as 15 BZD per day, or 60 BZD per week. Ask your hostel if they have bikes to rent.

Golf cart – Golf carts are definitely not a budget option, with hourly rentals starting from 25 BZD. You can also rent them daily for 125-150 BZD, or weekly from 550-600 BZD. I don’t recommend this mode of transportation unless you have mobility issues or have a group of friends you want to share one with.

Water taxi – Water taxis can take you to the mainland for about 35-40 BZD for a round-trip. The two water taxis that service Caye Caulker are:

• Caye Caulker Water Taxi
• San Pedro Water Taxi

When to Go to Caye Caulker

The best time to visit Caye Caulker is from the end of November to mid-April. This is Belize’s dry season (and it’s also peak season). However, it never gets too crowded at Caye Caulker. The temperature here never varies much and very rarely dips below 77°F (25°C). January and February can be a little cooler, with occasional lows of 68°F (20°C)

November to April is also the best time for diving, as the waters are clearest during this time.

The rainy season lasts from September to October, so I would avoid traveling to Caye Caulker during those months.

How to Stay Safe in Caye Caulker

Caye Caulker is a very safe place to visit. Violent crime is rare, although theft can be a problem. There have been several reports of hotel keys being stolen and then used to ransack the room, so make sure you have your valuables stored safely.

Don’t leave your valuables unattended at the beach and if you go out to the bar, only bring the money you need.

Solo female travelers should generally feel safe here, however, the standard precautions apply (never leave your drink unattended at the bar, never walk home alone intoxicated, etc.).

Scams here are rare and not something I would worry about.

If you experience an emergency, dial 911 for assistance.

For more in-depth coverage of how to stay safe in Belize, check out this post we wrote that answers some frequently asked questions and concerns.

The most important piece of advice I can offer is to purchase good travel insurance. Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past.