Are you planning a trip to Caye Caulker, Belize? Then this collection of the best things to do in Caye Caulker will help you create an unforgettable itinerary for your trip.
Caye Caulker (pronounced “key kaa-ker”) is a stunning island off the coast of Belize. It is a budget-friendly island to visit with so many incredible things to do and see. From snorkelling with Caribbean marine life to grabbing a drink and meeting new friends, the island will surely leave you with lasting memories after your visit.
The casual island has been a hotspot destination for backpackers and budget travellers for years, with its beautiful landscape and fresh seafood. Not to mention, the friendly vibes of the locals and calming sea breezes make it even more enjoyable to visit! Caye Caulker remains as one of my favourite places I’ve ever visited and you’ll shortly discover why.
Continue reading to explore the most incredible things to do in Caye Caulker, Belize to add to your bucket list!
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Table of Contents
Best Things to Do in Caye Caulker, Belize to Add to Your Bucket List
Go Snorkeling at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley
By far the best snorkelling I’ve ever done was off the coast of Caye Caulker, Belize at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. At these spots, you will snorkel through crystal-clear water and find amazing encounters with marine life. You will likely spot sea turtles, different types of stingrays, tropical fish, and more.
Many of the half-day excursions visit both Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. At Shark Ray Alley, you will get up close and personal with gentle sharks. You’ll swim alongside many of them, which is an unbelievable experience. This is a must-do activity when visiting Caye Caulker!
To stress how incredible of an experience a snorkel tour from Caye Caulker is, the above two photos were taken by myself. They are just screenshots of videos taken from my GoPro!
Grab a Drink at the Lazy Lizard and Meet Some Friends
The Lazy Lizard is a must-visit beach bar at the end of the island. It boasts a wonderful view of the water, along with drinks and food. This was the best spot I found to meet people while I was travelling solo. Everyone was extremely friendly and excited to chat!
Visit the Sip n’ Dip
The Sip n’ Dip beach bar is an over-water bar in Caye Caulker. Here, you’ll find tables to sit on that are right in the water! You can grab a drink and sit on one and take a break to swim in the ocean. There are many tables with beautiful views of the water in the main restaurant area as well!
Hang Out on a Hammock and Watch the Ocean
Who doesn’t love relaxing on a hammock by the beach? You’ll find hammocks around the island, some may be at your hotel, others may be at different restaurants or bars. At some waterfront restaurants, they will even have hammocks right in the water. While you may need to purchase a drink to use them, it is worth it for the relaxing views of the ocean!
Grab a Coffee and a Bagel at Ice ‘n’ Beans
Ice ‘n’ Beans was my favourite coffee shop that I visited on the island, after going on a coffee shop adventure one morning. I ended up eating breakfast at this spot every morning while I visited Caye Caulker. They have great coffee and plenty of breakfast items to choose from. Here, they also have hammocks to relax on while you drink your coffee.
Go to the Spa
Looking to add even more relaxation to your island getaway? Head to one of the spas on the island and enjoy a massage! A visit to the spa is always one of the best things to do on vacation, especially in Caye Caulker!
Visit the Split
The Split is a neat area at the end of the main island. I believe it gets its name due to the waterway that splits the two islands. You can take a quick boat from the end of the Split to get to the other island! Otherwise, there are a number of shops and restaurants to explore here, along with areas to swim or sit with a stunning view of the ocean.
Feed the Tarpons
Feeding the Tarpons in Caye Caulker off the dock was surprisingly my favourite thing I did during my time on the island. Located really close to the main road, you walk down a side street to a dock where you can buy sardines to feed the fish. The people on the dock will walk you through how to hold the bait. It is quite a unique experience to do in Caye Caulker!
Charter a Fishing Boat
If you enjoy fishing, deep-sea fishing in the Caribbean is an amazing experience. The captains know all of the best spots, so you are very likely to catch some fish. Usually, they filet the fish for you, and on some charters they will cook it for you for lunch!
Stroll Along a Dock Looking for Fish
On adventures in the Caribbean, you’ll always find me close to the water looking for fish! With how clear the water is in Caye Caulker, you’re bound to see fish swimming around by docks all around. See how many different species you can spot!
Have Dinner on the Water
Well, this one is self-explanatory. You must have a waterfront dinner when visiting any island on your travels. There are plenty of restaurants along the beach in Caye Caulker, so take your pick and have some great food with an amazing view!
Try a Watermelon Juice
There is nothing better than fresh fruit juice in the Caribbean. Watermelon juice was the best that I tried on the island, but if you aren’t a fan of watermelon, there are plenty of other fresh fruit juices to try!
Visit the Great Blue Hole
Your list of things to do in Caye Caulker is not complete without a day trip to the Great Blue Hole. While not technically in Caye Caulker, it is a must-visit spot in Belize, and easy to book an excursion from Caye Caulker. The Great Blue Hole is a giant marine sinkhole in the ocean. It is an incredible place to go scuba diving as well!
To get to the Great Blue Hole, you can take a boat to the area to get up close to the hole. However, opt for a flight tour to get incredible views of the hole – it looks like a giant circle in the middle of the ocean!
Book a tour at your hotel or one of the local dive shops.
Try Scuba Diving
With how clear the water is and the vast variety of marine life, you can imagine that Belize is an amazing place to scuba dive. You can opt to try a Discover Dive at a dive shop to try out scuba diving without getting fully certified. This typically includes training on land and either in a shallow area in the water or in a pool. It is then followed by a dive that is restricted by a certain depth. Even though you don’t go as deep as if you were certified, it is an amazing opportunity to experience diving and you’ll still see coral reefs and plenty of fish!
Take Photos with the Caye Caulker Sign
It seems like over the past decade, there have been neat city signs popping up in destinations all over the world. I’m not complaining – I love visiting these signs and taking photos! The Caye Caulker sign is another must-do thing on the island, boasting gorgeous colours and artwork.
Visit the Little Blue Gift Shop
Arguably the cutest gift shop in Caye Caulker, the Little Blue Gift Shop offers local art, food products, jewelry items, and more. Here, you can buy souvenirs that are locally made. It is a nice blue shop that is easy to miss when walking by, but it is certainly on the list of best things to do in Caye Caulker!
Take a Day Trip to Half Moon Caye
Halk Moon Caye is a really neat day trip from Caye Caulker, Belize. It is an island near the Lighthouse Reef that is in the shape of a crescent. The remote island is a great way to experience pure calmness with not many people around. Here, you can go hiking and find lizards or relax at the beach.
Eat some Pico de Gallo and Fried Plantains
The perfect mid-day snack for me consists of chips and salsa for sure. The pico de gallo on the island is incredible, and so are the freshly fried plantains! I also ate great guacamole, and I saw others enjoying really good ceviche. All of these are really good and fresh snacks to enjoy after being in the sun for a long time!
Watch the Sunset from the Beach…
Well, one of the best things to do in Caye Caulker is watch the sunset. There is something really spectacular about watching the colour of the sky change over the ocean while listening to the waves and smelling the ocean breeze.
…and from a Rooftop!
What’s better than watching a sunset on a rooftop while also people-watching? If your hotel doesn’t have a rooftop like mine did, opt for a restaurant with a second story or a nice patio to watch the sunset from a different view.
Try Yoga at Namaste Cafe
Yoga in a beach town is great, but even better when it’s at a coffee shop that has great coffee and breakfast! Namaste Cafe offers yoga classes on the terrace which are pay by donation (if I remember correctly!).
Eat Fresh Belizean Cuisine
It won’t surprise you when I say Belizean cuisine has plenty of seafood! As it’s right on the water, there is no shortage of fresh fish to enjoy when visiting Caye Caulker. However, if you are a vegetarian like me, food is quite limited! I expected this prior to visiting and still enjoyed eating way too many plantains and veggie curry during my stay.
A couple of restaurants nearby that I tried include:
- Maggie’s Sunset Kitchen – local Belizean cuisine
- Barefoot Caribe Bar and Grill – local and international cuisine
Visit an Art Gallery
A great way to spend some time out of the sun is to visit a local art gallery. At Belizean Arts, you can admire different styles of art from local artists. You can even purchase some pieces and ship them home!
Try a Belikin Beer
If you drink, be sure to try a local Belizean beer, Belikin. They have a normal version and a light version to try! It is a tasty lager that is quite refreshing after a long day in the sun (or for day drinking on the beach!).
Take the Ferry to San Pedro
San Pedro is a town located on the closeby island of Ambergris Caye. It is a neat town to visit on a day trip or for a night or two. It has a completely different vibe compared to Caye Caulker, boasting waterfront resorts and plenty of local restaurants and bars.
How to Get to Caye Caulker from Belize City
To get to Caye Caulker, there are two different transportation options, both of which are great experiences. When flying to Belize, you will likely land at Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport (BZE).
Once you’ve landed at the airport, you have two transportation options to get to Caye Caulker:
- Tropic Air Flight from BZE to Caye Caulker ($$)
- Taxi to the ferry, then the ferry to Caye Caulker ($)
Option 1: Tropic Air Flight from BZE to Caye Caulker
Cost: ~$100 USD
Time: 10 mins plus time waiting for boarding
I chose to travel via Tropic Air to get from BZE to Caye Caulker. It cost me around $100 USD to travel from Belize City to Caye Caulker. I recommend flying to those who have room in their budget for it as the flight takes you over the stunning water and it is quite the experience being on a hopper plane!
At BZE, you’ll check in for your short flight and they will take your luggage, including all carry-on bags as there is very little room in the aircraft. When it’s your time to board, your flight number will be called. You will then head to the tarmac towards a very small plane, referred to in Belize as a “puddle jumper”.
Take-off and landing can be a bit of a wild experience as it can be very shaky, especially if it’s windy. Once in the air, you’ll enjoy incredible views of the water and islands around Belize. Be sure to take lots of photos!
Option 2: Taxi to the Ferry, then the Ferry to Caye Caulker
Cost: ~$45 USD ($25 USD for the taxi and $20 USD for the ferry)
Time: ~1 hour and 15 minutes (30-minute taxi and 45-minute ferry ride)
This alternate option is slightly cheaper to get to Caye Caulker, Belize. The boat ride boasts pretty views of the surrounding water, offering great photo opportunities.
I didn’t take the ferry from Belize City, but I did take it to get to Caye Caulker from San Pedro. You can check your bags onto the boat and carry your smaller luggage to your seat. The ferry wasn’t full and was a smooth boat ride when I went.
Getting to Your Hotel in Caye Caulker Upon Arrival
Once you arrive in Caye Caulker, you can either get a taxi right from the ferry or airport straight to your hotel or coordinate with your hotel for a pickup.
I coordinated with the hotel I stayed at, Jan’s Hotel, to have a golf cart pick me up. The ride was only 5 minutes and was super easy.
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Parting Words: Must-Do Things in Caye Caulker, Belize
With so many amazing things to do in Caye Caulker, Belize, are you excited about your trip yet? The island makes for an amazing vacation filled with snorkelling, eating great food, and meeting new friends. It will surely leave you with memories that will last a lifetime and fulfill many items on your bucket list!
Have you been to Caye Caulker, Belize? What would you recommend as the top things to do in Caye Caulker? Let me know in the comments!
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Glen Bowe
I’ve been to Belize and certainly agree about the quality of the snorkeling. I haven’t been to Caye Caulker though. You make a compelling argument for it.