CAYE CAULKER - A PARADISE IN THE CARIBBEAN
CAYE CAULKER TRAVEL GUIDE
THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULD TRAVEL TO CAYE CAULKER
Caye Caulker is a chill island in Belize where you’ll find many easygoing travelers, relaxed vibes, karaoke in the evenings, and crystal-blue waters. After our three weeks in Guatemala, this was exactly what we were looking for—and we found it. Caye Caulker is easy to reach, and the sand-covered streets give the island its own special charm. We absolutely loved it! Unfortunately, We couldn’t travel during the ideal season, so make sure to look into the best time for your visit.
THE BEST 5-DAY ITINERARY FOR CAYE CAULKER
Our five-day itinerary covers everything you need to know before heading to Caye Caulker. We start with how to get there, followed by where to stay. If you already know us, you know we love trying local cuisine. By the way, we have a full food guide for Lima! But back to the important stuff—Caye Caulker has plenty of amazing food spots, whether you’re looking for lobster from a street food BBQ or delicious fry jacks (more on that later). So, how can you spend five days in Caye Caulker and what are the top things to do there? This travel guide will help you plan your stay. Oh, and by the way, it’s pronounced “Key Caulker.”
WHEN TO VISIT CAYE CAULKER
BEST SEASON TO VISIT CAYE CAULKER
Temperatures year-round range between 22 and 30 degrees Celsius (72 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit), with the warmest temperatures in August. However, it’s more important to consider the rainy season, which lasts from June to December—exactly the time we went there. Therefore, the best time to visit Caye Caulker is from January to April. In May, the weather can be very unpredictable, and you’re relying on luck.
As you can see from the two pictures, we experienced very unpredictable weather. Mornings were often nice, but by the afternoon, it became stormy and rainy. For this reason, we recommend that the best season to visit Caye Caulker is from January to April.
HOW TO GET TO CAYE CAULKER
BEST WAY TO GET TO CAYE CAULKER
All roads lead to Rome, and there are many ways to get to Caye Caulker as well. But how did we get there, and what do you need to keep in mind? No matter where you’re coming from, you’ll always need to use the San Pedro Belize Express water taxi. They have terminals in Belize City, Caye Caulker, San Pedro, and Chetumal, Mexico.
1. HOW TO GET FROM BELIZE AIRPORT TO CAYE CAULKER
In Belize, you can’t use Uber, so you’ll need to take a taxi from the airport to the San Pedro Belize Express water taxi terminal. The taxi ride will cost you around 25 USD or 50 Belize-Dollar and takes 10 minutes. From the terminal, there are departures to Caye Caulker roughly every hour. A one-way ticket costs 21 USD. You can check the timetable here. Another option is to take a flight from there. The cost with luggage is around 100.00 USD, and the flight takes just 10 minutes. We’re sure the views are incredible!
2. HOW TO GET FROM GUATEMALA TO CAYE CAULKER
This is the option we used, and it was very comfortable. We took the bus service from Getaway Travels out of Guatemala. First, we had to take a bus from Flores to Belize City and then the ferry. The border crossing was easy, and as passport stamp collectors, we were excited to add another one! The trip from Flores to the ferry terminal took about five hours, but it depends on how busy the border is.
By the way, we already have a full Guatemala travel guide online, so be sure to check it out! It’s quite popular to combine Belize with Guatemala for an amazing travel experience.
3. HOW TO GET FROM MEXICO TO CAYE CAULKER
If you want to travel from Mexico to Caye Caulker, that’s also possible, and it can be done via the San Pedro Belize Express water taxi.Â
There is one ferry per day from Chetumal to Caye Caulker, with a stop in San Pedro. The 3-hour and 15-minute ride costs 77 USD.
WHERE TO STAY IN CAYE CAULKER
First, let’s quickly clarify how big Caye Caulker is. The island is only 8 km long, 2 km wide, and has around 2,000 inhabitants. So, when choosing a hotel, it’s hard to go wrong. Our hotel was in a great location, surrounded by restaurants, bars, supermarkets, and right next to “The Split,” where you’ll find beautiful, crystal-clear water. A hotel in the northern part of the island is definitely an advantage, but not a necessity. So, where did we stay?
SOPHIE'S GUEST ROOMS
Sophie’s Guest Rooms, as mentioned, is located in the northern part of the island and can be reached from the ferry terminal for 10.00 USD with a golf cart taxi. If you have a backpack, you can also walk the distance. However, this can be difficult with a suitcase, as the roads are sandy. If you’re still undecided about where to stay in Caye Caulker, we can definitely recommend Sophie’s Guest Rooms.
Sophie’s Guest Rooms only offers single rooms, and they vary in terms of amenities. We opted for a room with a shared bathroom without air conditioning, which cost around 45 USD per night. Looking back, it’s definitely worth getting a room with air conditioning! The room was cleaned daily, and the shared bathroom was always kept clean, too. When you step out of your room, you have a direct view of the sea, and each room also has a hammock right outside the door. The hotel also offers a beach area which is very convenience and perfect for swimming in the ocean.
TRANSPORT IN CAYE CAULKER
As mentioned earlier, the island is very small, and we were able to walk everywhere. If you prefer not to walk or can’t, renting a bike or a golf cart is a great option. If you plan to visit other islands, you can also take the ferry.
The cost for renting bikes is around 7.50 USD for the entire day, while golf carts cost approximately 360 USD per week.
WHAT TO DO IN CAYE CAULKER
1. SNORKELING TOUR
2. TAKE THE SPLIT TO SPLIT FERRY
A much cheaper short trip is the ferry ride to the other side of Caye Caulker. For just 4 USD (both ways), you can escape the tourist hustle and relax there. You can also bring your bike or golf cart, and the best part is you’ll pass through “The Split.”
On the other side, you’ll find more typical Caribbean houses, crabs, and even more affordable food.
3. VISIT LA ISLA BONITA / SAN PEDRO
San Pedro was not named “La Isla Bonita” by Madonna in her song for no reason. Just a quick information: a day trip there isn’t cheap, but it’s worth it. If you plan to travel to Mexico, it makes sense to spend at least one night in San Pedro, as it saves you the return ferry trip. A return trip with the ferry will cost you 37 USD, and the earliest ferry departs at 7:00 AM, while the latest return is at 4:30 PM.
As soon as you arrive, you should definitely rent a golf cart and head to Secret Beach, just like we did. The drive there is very relaxing! The golf cart costs us 40 USD for 7 hours, and the journey takes about 45 minutes. Since many tourists go to Secret Beach and golf carts have more space, you can also try sharing the cost with other tourists. In good weather, you’ll have a stunning place in front of you. As you can see, the weather wasn’t great for us, that is why we strongly recommend again you to visit Belize in the right season.
Once you arrive at Secret Beach, parking is free. On-site, you’ll find several bars, restaurants, sunbeds for rent, and more. We also found a small supermarket along the way.
We chose the restaurant bar Blue Bayou on-site. The food was delicious, and the drink prices were still okay (as long as you don’t want a cocktail). The cool thing is that the staff will bring your food to the tables in the water!
A day trip to San Pedro is definitely worth it. However, in terms of vibe, we found Caye Caulker to be much cooler.
BEST FOOD SPOTS IN CAYE CAULKER
Now let’s get to our favorite category – food! Even though Caye Caulker is small, we found some great food spots. You might be wondering what to eat in Caye Caulker. Well, here we tell you everything—from street food to restaurants with the best sunset views. There’s something for everyone! We tried local dishes like chicken and lobster, and even found a banana split. We explored several restaurants in Caye Caulker!
BEST FRY JACKS IN CAYE CAULKER
Fry jacks are a popular Belizean breakfast dish, made from dough that’s fried until golden and puffy. They’re usually served warm, and you can eat them with a variety of toppings— like eggs, beans, ham, bacon or cheese. The history behind fry jacks is rooted in Belize’s Creole culture. The dish likely originated from similar fried bread recipes brought to the Caribbean by enslaved Africans. Simple, affordable, and delicious—fry jacks truly capture the local vibe of Caye Caulker!
The go-to place is definitely Errolyn’s House of Fry Jacks. For less than 3 USD, you can get the best fry jacks here. Be prepared to wait a little, as everything is made fresh. You can sit outside on high stools, but unfortunately, there are no fans.
MORE INFORMATION
Address
PXVG+M4M, Avenida Langosta, Caye Caulker, Belize
Opening hours
6:30 – 11 am (Except Monday)
STREET FOOD BBQ
Lobster for 20.00 USD, chicken with rice, coleslaw, and plantains for 8.00 USD—all with a view of the sea and the smell of BBQ in the air. While you enjoy the view, you can watch the fisherman cleaning the lobster and placing it straight on the grill. It doesn’t get any fresher than that! We always went to Betty’s go slow grill street food.
The whole atmosphere was really cool, the food was affordable, and you can pay with cash or credit card. We ended up coming back several times. At the tables, you’ll likely sit with other travelers and connect with them.
MORE INFORMATION
Opening times:
Monday – Sunday
Until 5 pm
The opening hour changes from day to day.
PELICAN SUNSET BAR
The shrimp ceviche costs 12.50 USD, and the price of the whole fried fish depends on its size—ours was 14 USD. For sides, you can choose between plantains, a garden salad, or fries. The lobster costs 20 USD to 25 USD, depending on the size, and to be honest, it was much better than the one from Betty’s. Cocktails range from 4.50 USD to 9 USD.
MORE INFORMATION
Address
PXVF+28V, Avenida Mangle At the end of, Aventurera Street, Caye Caulker, Belize
Opening times:
Monday – Sunday
10:00 am – 10:00 pm
LOCAL FRUITS & ICE CREAM
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HAPPY HOURS
What could be better than relaxing with a cocktail in hand without over paying? Here are three Happy Hours that totally won us over! All the bars we’re recommending are right on the main road leading to the Split.
PARADISO RESTAURANT
Two cocktails for 5.00 USD with an ocean view. Need we say more? Oh, and there’s free Wi-Fi too!
MORE INFORMATION
Address
PXXG+2CM, Playa Asuncion, Belize
Opening times:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner but no official opening times
THE DOCK CAFE AND BAR
MORE INFORMATION
SIP N' DIP
Definitely the coolest spot for drinks in Caye Caulker! Great music, bachelorette parties, and really fair prices. We actually came here several times. As you can see in the pic, we enjoyed the local beer Belikin while sitting at a table in the water. That’s why you travel to the Caribbean! During happy hour, we got two cocktails here for just 4.00 USD!
