By the water taxi dock
Central, convenientThe middle of the village, close to everything.
Island guide
Things to do in Caye Caulker
A small, car-free island on the Belize Barrier Reef with a 'go slow' motto: snorkelling with nurse sharks and rays, sunset at the Split, fresh lobster and Belize's best backpacker scene.
8
Hostels in the city
8.2
Average, from 4,168 reviews
45 min
From Belize City by water taxi
0
Cars on the island
Go slow
Caye Caulker is a narrow coral island about 8 kilometres long, a 45-minute water taxi ride from Belize City. There are no cars, only sandy streets, bicycles and golf carts, and the island's motto, painted on signs everywhere, is 'go slow'. It is the most popular stop in Belize for backpackers, cheaper and more relaxed than its bigger neighbour, Ambergris Caye.
The Belize Barrier Reef lies just offshore, so the snorkelling and diving are excellent and close. Day trips visit Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley, where nurse sharks and stingrays gather around the boats, and look for manatees around Swallow Caye. Divers head out to the Great Blue Hole and the atolls.
The island's social life centres on the Split, a channel cut through the island by a hurricane in 1961, where people swim, sunbathe and drink at sunset. There are no real beaches to speak of; people swim from docks instead. Give Caye Caulker three or four days, longer if you dive.
Where to base yourself
Near the water taxi dock for convenience, towards the Split for the social side, or south of the village for quiet.
Near the Split
Social, sunsetsThe north end of the village, by the channel.
South of the village
QuietQuieter guesthouses towards the airstrip.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 4 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Caye Caulker
Take a snorkelling day trip to Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley, where nurse sharks and southern stingrays swim around the boat, usually with stops at coral gardens and to look for manatees. Trips cost about €50 to €85. Divers can join day trips to the Great Blue Hole and Lighthouse Reef, or Turneffe Atoll.
Spend afternoons swimming and sunbathing at the Split, and watch the sunset from a dock on the west side. Paddle a kayak or paddleboard through the mangroves, or try windsurfing and kitesurfing on the windy east side.
Walk the length of the village, and visit the Caye Caulker Forest Reserve on the north side by boat. Night snorkelling and sailing trips are other good ways to spend a day.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Swimming and sunbathing at the Split are free, and so is watching the sunset from the docks on the west side of the island.
Walking or cycling the sandy streets costs nothing, and swimming from the public docks is free.
The reef trips, which are the main reason to come, are paid.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Street food is cheap and good: fry jacks for breakfast, burritos and tacos from stalls, and rice and beans with stew chicken for lunch, often for €4 to €9. Grills along Front Street cook fresh fish, shrimp and, in season, lobster in the evenings.
Lobster season runs from mid-June to mid-February; Lobster Fest celebrates the opening in late June. Do not order lobster outside the season.
Belikin is the local beer, and rum punch is cheap. Restaurant meals often add a service charge.
Nightlife
Going out
The Split is the centre of the island's social life, with a bar, music and swimming until sunset. After dark, a few bars along Front Street have live music, reggae and happy hours.
The island is small and walkable, so the whole scene is within ten minutes on foot.
Nights are relaxed rather than wild.
Getting around
Getting around
Water taxis run several times a day from the terminal in Belize City to Caye Caulker in around 45 minutes, and on to San Pedro. A return ticket from Belize City costs about BZ$60 (around €26). From the international airport, take a taxi to the terminal or a short flight to the island's airstrip.
The island is car-free, so everyone walks or cycles; bicycles can be hired cheaply, and golf carts carry luggage.
Water taxis also run from San Pedro to Chetumal in Mexico.
Costs
What Caye Caulker costs
Caye Caulker is cheaper than San Pedro, but Belize is not cheap. Dorm beds start at around €20 to €30 a night. Street food costs €4 to €9, and restaurant mains €13 to €26.
The real costs are the trips: snorkelling days at about €50 to €85, and Blue Hole dive days at around €260 to €345.
The Belize dollar is fixed at two to one with the US dollar, and US dollars are accepted almost everywhere, though change often comes in Belize dollars.
Safety
Safety and scams
Caye Caulker is generally safe. Petty theft happens, so lock your room and do not leave belongings on the docks.
The current at the Split is stronger than it looks, and boats pass through the channel, so swim with care. Choose snorkel and dive operators on reputation and safety, not just price.
Sandflies are fierce at dawn and dusk, so bring strong repellent. Hurricane season runs from June to November. In an emergency, call 911.
Out on the reef
Most of the best things here are underwater.
San Pedro
Ambergris Caye's bigger town.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Lobster Fest and the dry season.
Late June
Lobster Fest
Caye Caulker
Celebrating the start of lobster season.
December to April
Dry season
Caye Caulker
Calm seas and the best visibility.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in Caye Caulker, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
When to go
December to April is the dry season, with calm seas and the best visibility. Lobster Fest is in late June. September and October are the wettest months and the peak of hurricane season, when some businesses close.
Jan
Dry season, busiest
Feb
Dry, lobster season closes mid-month
Mar
Dry and warm
Apr
Hot and dry
May
Rains begin, quieter
Jun
Wet afternoons, lobster season opens
Jul
Hot and humid
Aug
Wet, hurricane risk building
Sep
Peak hurricane risk, some places close
Oct
Wet, easing late in the month
Nov
Rains ending, good value
Dec
Dry season returns
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. The breeze keeps the island comfortable.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Caye Caulker prices.
Treat these as a guide. Snorkel and dive trips cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Caye Caulker questions
The ones we get asked most.
How do I get to Caye Caulker?
By water taxi from Belize City in around 45 minutes, or by short flight to the island's airstrip.
Caye Caulker or San Pedro?
Caye Caulker is smaller, cheaper and slower. San Pedro is bigger, busier and pricier. Most backpackers pick Caye Caulker.
Does Caye Caulker have beaches?
Not really. People swim at the Split and from docks.
Can you do the Blue Hole from Caye Caulker?
Yes. Dive and snorkel day trips leave from the island.
How much is a snorkel trip?
About €50 to €85 for a day trip to Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley.
Is Caye Caulker safe?
Generally yes. Watch the current at the Split and lock your room.
When is lobster season?
Mid-June to mid-February. Lobster Fest marks the opening in late June.
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