Go Slow in Caye Caulker, Belize
Go Slow...
That’s the motto if you’re hanging around the breathtaking island of Caye Caulker.
Caye Caulker is just a quick 45 minute ferry ride away from Belize City. When you arrive at the ferry dock, you’ll notice buildings painted with vibrant colors, the smell of the fresh ocean air, and green lush all around. Take a deep breath and let the immediate feeling relaxation sink in.
Sunrise in Belize
Once you grab your luggage from the ferry station, you’ll realize that there are no cars on the island of Caye Caulker… golf carts, beach cruisers, and walking are the main modes of transportation on the island (you can rent bikes for as cheap as $5 USD/day).
You will immediately fall in love with the island of Caye Caulker. After stressful days in the office, there is no better escape and place to recuperate than this quaint island. The locals are genuinely nice (they’ll chat with you and know you within a matter of 24 hours) and care about your well-being. As a solo female traveler, I never once felt unsafe. Worried about the language barrier? Well, fun fact, the Belizean’s speak English, though you’ll often hear them speaking in Creole.
Although the island is small, it is bustling with endless activities, flavorful local dishes, and plenty of other solo travelers and vacationers looking to relax.
Activities
Snorkeling: The diving and snorkeling is UNBELIZABLE (I did both)! I went snorkeling with Caye Caulker Reef Friendly tours (Amado doesn’t feed the sharks/hold them like others), and had an amazing experience. We did three stops around Hol Chan Marine Reserve, including the infamous Shark Ray Alley, which is bustling with nurse sharks and sting rays everywhere. The full day trip was $80 USD and included a homemade lunch, snorkel gear, and endless rum punch.
Diving: I decided that I couldn’t make my way all the way down to Belize without diving the Blue Hole. I chose Frenchie’s Diving Services, which comprised of the most amazing staff and experience for diving in Belize (breakfast, lunch, gear was all included in the $300 USD cost). The Blue Hole diving trip is a full day tour (leaving at around 6am and returning at 4pm), and includes the Blue Hole, and two other dive spots along the Lighthouse Reef. If you’re not familiar with the Blue Hole, I want to call out that it is not a reef (it’s a sinkhole), and therefore isn’t full of marine life like the other reefs you visit. At the reefs we dove, I saw sharks, eels, vibrant coral, puffer fish, tiger fish, dolphins, and so much more! Most importantly, the Frenchie's dive crew made me feel safe and comfortable on my deepest dive of 90 ft., and I highly recommend scuba diving in Belize and using Frenchie's Diving if you have the chance.
Water Sports: You name it, Caye Caulker has it. There’s everything from kayaking, SUPing, jet skiing, and kite surfing if you’re the adventure guru and want to explore the island from the water.
Beach/Relax: If you want your trip to involve minimal movement, relax on the sand at the Split, which is the place to be. The Split was formed when a devastating hurricane split the island of Caye Caulker in half. Get a massage on the beach ($35 USD for an hour massage), suck down a Belikin Beer from the Lazy Lizard and enjoy island life with some Reggae music playing in the background. If you want to check out a posh beach, swim across the Split or take the water taxi to Koko King, which is a new resort that opened very recently on the other half of Caye Caulker with a beautiful beach and great vibes.
Food
The food on Caye Caulker is delicious, inexpensive and fresh (tons of seafood – think lobster, ceviche, snapper). There's a variety options, but the local Caribbean, Mexican, and African inspired dishes are to die for. You’ll often walk down the sandy road and get hungry due to the open grills that many of the locals use to cook the dishes they serve in their restaurants. Here are my top 3 suggestions in the breakfast, lunch, and dinner categories.
Breakfast: Amore y Café – Go here for the best iced coffee; Errolyns House of Fry Jacks – A Belizean staple; Caribbean Colors Art Cafe
Lunch: Kareems BBQ - The jerk chicken WILL sell out and it’s beyond flavorful and mouthwatering. A MUST TRY!; The Happy Lobster; Chef Juan’s Kitchen & Pastries
Dinner: The Little Kitchen – The restaurant is tucked far away, but amazing fresh lobster for very cheap, among other fresh menu choices; Maggie’s Sunset Kitchen – Great for a sunset dinner; Habanero’s (renamed Hibiscus) – High end, but fantastic food
Nightlife
Almost all the restaurants and bars on the island have Happy Hours, so take advantage of the $2 USD rum punch or panty ripper if that’s down your alley. Since the island is small, there aren’t a ton of places to go out, so you’ll catch most people starting the night out at the Barrier Reef Sports Bar, and after a few cocktails, making their way south towards I&I Reggae Bar to dance the night away.
Finally...
GO SLOW in Caye Caulker. Seriously, take your time. The locals will call you out if you’re walking too fast or look like you’re in a rush. This island and its people will make you feel at home and fellow travelers you encounter on the island will make this trip worthwhile.