Overview: Amazing Things to Do in Caye Caulker
In this article, we’ll go over 13 amazing things to do in Caye Caulker, Belize – a charming island that captivates visitors with its laid-back vibes, turquoise waters, and vibrant coral reefs. Nestled in the Belize Barrier Reef, this idyllic destination offers a unique blend of relaxation and adventure. Whether you’re a sun seeker, water sports enthusiast, or someone yearning for a tranquil escape, Caye Caulker has something for everyone. In this blog post, we’ll explore the best things to do on this Caribbean paradise!
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13 Amazing Things to Do in Caye Caulker
1. Snorkel the World’s 2nd Largest Barrier Reef
The underwater world off the Belize Coast is absolutely stunning! We recommend doing this full day tour so that you can go to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, which was the highlight in our opinion. You’ll also go to South Channel where you might see manatees, an intentionally-sunken barge which is overrun with coral and other marine life, a conch graveyard, and “Shark and Ray Alley” where you’ll see tons of sharks and other fish. Most tours also include #12 and #13 on this list on the way back to Caye Caulker. Expect to pay $45-50 for half day tour and $90-115 for a full day tour.
2. Try the Delicious Caye Caulker BBQ
Belize BBQ is a hidden gem and some of the best we’ve ever tried. Reina’s was our favorite place to eat where they have amazing BBQ (like jerk chicken and creole snapper) and curry dishes. Reina’s does get fairly crowded! There’s also what we call “BBQ Lane” with a few BBQ shops open right next to each other. Chef Kareem’s Unbelizeable Lunch was one of these shops that had decent jerk chicken.
3. Fly Over or Dive in the Blue Hole
Flying over or diving in the blue hole are definitely bucket list items. These will certainly be the most expensive part of your Caye Caulker itinerary, but these are such unique things that they’re worth it if you have the budget for it!
To fly over the Blue Hole, you can either go with Maya Island Air or Tropic Air. They offer similar services with similar prices, it mainly will depend on what day of the week you want to do it! Maya Island Air offers one flight from Caye Caulker on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and Tropic Air offers one flight from Caye Caulker on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Expect to pay around $300 for a flight.
For those who want to dive the blue hole, check out Frenchie’s Diving. They offer a full day with 3 dives for 340 USD.
4. Get Drinks by the Split!
The Split is the area between north and south Caye Caulker that was split by a hurricane a few years back. Lazy Lizard is right on The Split, it’s much more of the party scene, and you can jump off a cool platform. At Sip N Dip there’s lots more space to chill in the water and less people, but it’s a little further from The Split. For those looking to party on the water, check out this tiki bar sunset cruise!
5. Play With Puppies at the Caye Caulker Animal Shelter
Play with a furry companion (or nine) and chat with the owner, Kenny, about the shelter and its animals. This is free but you can donate money, food, and even adopt a dog here! This spot is located right along Caye Caulker’s main street.
6. Watch the Sunset at Pelican Sunset Bar
In additional to a beautiful sunset, you can watch the sting rays, pelicans and other fish up close while staff members feed them. They have drinks and apparently some amazing ceviche here!
7. Shop for Souvenirs at the Local Craft Market
Located in between Caveman Snorkeling Tours and Ice and Beans Cafe, this is a cool place to get some authentic, handcrafted souvenirs. If you can’t find anything here that you like, there are lots of other shops scattered around town!
8. Rooftop Yoga at Namaste Cafe
Did you really travel to Central America if you didn’t take a yoga class with a view? People of all experience levels can come in and do some yoga for 20 USD or buy a 10 class pass for 100 USD. They have delicious smoothies here as well!
Check out Namaste’s Yoga Schedule
9. Enjoy the Beaches on North Island
The south and main island doesn’t really have any beaches to relax on. However, the North Island is a great place to get away from the crowds and find secluded beaches. Most of these are free but if you want to be served food and drink you can pay the $5 USD entry fee to Koko King beach. You can also bring your bike on the ferry and explore the 100-acre wildlife sanctuary.
We hung out at Wild Beach and went a little further north to see the abandoned estuary with crocodiles. We also saw a beautiful pineapple shaped house on the way there! It costs $5 USD for a round trip ferry ride to cross the split, which was 100% worth it!
10. Take a Fishing and BBQ Charter
Fishing and BBQ play a huge role in Belizeans culture, so what better way to get a glimpse of a fisherman’s day-to-day life than join him on a trip? Make sure you are able to grill your catch at the end of the day and see how the locals prepare their legendary BBQ!
11. Indulge in the Various Water Sports
There are plenty of water sports on Caye Caulker including kite surfing, jet skiing, windsurfing, tubing around the islands, and kayaking. You can book a bunch of these activities by heading north towards the split and looking out for tour operators.
12. Feed the Tarpons
Huge Tarpon will jump fairly high out of the water to devour a sardine right out of your hand. This is marked “Tarpon feeding dock” on Google Maps. Many tours (like our snorkeling tour) will include this and you’ll actually be feeding them from the boat versus doing it from the dock.
13. Seahorse Ranch
While the Seahorse Ranch isn’t extremely exciting, it is one of the few free things on the island. The “ranch” is actually in the ocean, just past the outdoor bar at Iguana Reef Inn. They’re hard to find but it’s extremely rewarding when you do end up finding them!
Best Time to Visit Caye Caulker
Since Caye Caulker is an island destination, you’ll want to visit when the weather is hot, sunny, and perfect for some beach days! The best time to visit Caye Caulker is during Belize’s dry season, which runs from January to April. Though this season is the busiest and comes with a bit higher of prices, we think it’s definitely worth it to minimize the chances of any bad weather on your vacation!
Where to Eat on Caye Caulker
- Reina’s for amazing BBQ and curry
- Errolyn’s House of Fryjacks for a HUGE piece of fried dough stuffed with your favorite breatkfast foods
- Ana’s Pupusas for a quick El Salvadorean snack
- Caribbean Colors Art Cafe for good breakfast food and cool artwork
- Chef D’s Creole Diner for a good BBQ lunch
- Chef Kareem’s Unbelizeable Lunch for BBQ (check out the other BBQ shops in BBQ Lane)
- Namaste Cafe and Juicy for delicious smoothies
- Ice and Beans Cafe for great breakfast sandwiches
- Chef Juan’s Kitchen and Pastries for great curries and pastries
Where to Stay on Caye Caulker
When we were on Caye Caulker, we stayed on the south island. This part of Caye Caulker is much more lively and developed, so if you want to be in the middle of the action and close to all of the restaurants, this is the place to be!
If you’re looking for a quieter experience, we urge you to check out the north island. This part of Caye Caulker is barely developed at all, but it still has a couple resorts. The north island is beautiful and very quiet, yet still only a 30 second ferry ride away from the bustle of south island.
Unfortunately, staying on Caye Caulker can be pretty expensive. We try to stay in the cheapest (yet still decent) accommodations we can find, but here we ended up spending about 60 USD per night, which was more expensive than we like. However, we loved our time on Caye Caulker – it was definitely worth the extra expense!
Caye Caulker Accommodations
How to Get to Caye Caulker
From Belize City, take the San Pedro Belize Express for $16.50, (it’s even cheaper for a round trip). Don’t buy your tickets online, they’ll be 50% more expensive. The San Pedro Belize Express is about a 40 minute drive from Belize’s international airport if you’re flying in.
If you’re taking a bus from another country/city you’ll arrive at the bus terminal which is only a 15 minute walk/5 minute drive away.
Read our guide about how to get around Belize using public transportation!
Should you go to Caye Caulker or Ambergris Caye?
Caye Caulker is cheaper, smaller, hosts a younger audience, and you’ll get a more authentic feel for the local lifestyle. Ambergris Caye is fancier, has more resorts, is more popular with families and has more beaches. Both have access to the amazing underwater life, and you can always do a day trip between the Cayes. It depends on what travel style you and your group prefer, but both are great options!
Keep Exploring Belize….
- 14 Wonderful Things to Do in San Ignacio, Belize
- Backpacker’s Guide to Public Transportation in Belize
Our Favorite Travel Resources
Accommodations: We use Booking.com for hotels and HostelWorld for hostels. We also use VRBO or TrustedHousesitters for longer stays.
Flights: We recommend using Skyscanner to find the cheapest and best flights.
Ground Transport: We use 12Go and Omio for buses and private transfers, and rentalcars.com and Discover Cars for rental cars.
Activities: GetYourGuide and Viator are the best websites for booking organized tours.
International Medical Insurance: We highly recommend SafetyWing for Digital Nomads and HeyMondo for those not traveling full-time, or who frequently engage in higher-risk adventure activities.
eSIM: We recommend Airalo or Holafly for getting data internationally.
Check out our Travel Resources Page for more of our favorite travel-related products and services!
