I took my wife and daughter to Caye Caulker a couple of years ago and we absolutely loved it. The island is really laid back with no motorized vehicles except the John Deer tractor that supplies all the beer, “Belikin”, on the island. It is a small island accessible by water taxi for around 12 bucks. It’s a ride on a speed boat from Belize City stopping at a couple of other islands then arriving at Caye Caulker.
The folks are friendly, the culture is mixed…
Things to do: snorkel, dive, visit Ambergris Caye which is much larger. There are cheap snorkel trips from Caye Caulker so you can see stingrays, sharks and abundant fish. You can rent a golf cart or a bike, but nearly everyone walks. Cool bar at the “split”.
This is a very safe community with only one cop on the island. Very cool restaurants and people. Do a search for “Caye Caulker”, you won’t be disappointed!
The Belize zoo was a joke as was the wine tour on the mainland. We basically stayed on Caulker and enjoyed the unbelievable kick back atmosphere. I have traveled all over the Caribbean. Caye Caulker is incredibly friendly with a much slower pace than any other island I have visited. Belize City is a hustle. Although there is a grocery store on the island, you may want to bring food & booze from the mainland and save. Many of the locals do their shopping on the mainland. Bring bottled water. Best advice – remember to take your vitamin B’s one week in advance to keep those nightly sand fleas off. Bring your own mask, snorkel and fins. We also brought a really large blow up float and left it there after the trip as the local kids loved it.
Easter is the biggest event of the year on the island. Reservations are almost mandatory. Any other time, you’ll find rooms. I know I didn’t mention any hotels but thought this fabulous Island might beckon you to visit and stay for bit. Caye Caulker is a stress free environment!
I love Belize. The country in stunning. It’s the best kept secret in Central America. (And I hope it remains that way). The country has a lot to offer and when I visited in 1999 I encountered very few tourists. The few that I met were Europeans. I stayed at the Blancaneaux Resort near San Ignacio which is close to the Guatemalan border. I felt I was on a “Discovery” adventure trip. The resort was surrounded by a tropical rain forest. Fresh fruit was always available. In that part of the country there are many Mayan ruins. Driving on the roads, I encountered mounds of various sizes between 5 and 20 feet high. Under these mounds contained ancient Mayan ruins. The most impressive was the Caracol Mayan temple. Much of the Mayan ruins remain burried in Belize. I also had an opportunity to visit an archeological dig in Guatemala unescorted. I’m sure it’s off limits to tourist now, but there may be others in the early stages. On the coast, as the previous writer wrote, there’s much to do. If you go to the coast you must check out the “Blue Hole”. To dive in the Blue Hole alone is worth the trip. I can’t speak for the coast, I stayed in the interior. If you’re an explorer at heart, Belize is a safe country to trek through the rain forest, canoeing, butterfly watching, cave exploring, etc. I would recommend that you go with a tour group or hire a private guide. It is a rain forest and there are poisonous creatures slithering on the ground and in the water. The guide will keep you safe.