Caye Caulker is an absolute gem of an island. It’s roughly a 45 minute boat ride from the mainland of Belize. Roughly 2 miles in length, it is a smallllll island. There aren’t many cars, except for the pick-up truck that brings produce and dairy twice a week from the boat to the mainland. If you don’t want to hop around the island on foot, I suggest renting a bike or golf cart, there are plenty of them. Locals are all about their golf carts and bicycles. 

The Belizean’s are the best . They are some of the best people I’ve met on my travels. Why? They genuinely want you to enjoy their home, their island, their neighborhood, ALL OF IT. They check-in, they care, they look after you in a very non-intrusive way. I loved them. Everywhere you go in Belize and especially Caye Caulker, you will see the saying “Go Slow.” It’s the islands slogan. “Go Slow” means CHILL OUT. RELAX. Enjoy the freaking moment that is THIS life. SMILE. EAT. DRINK. BE MERRY. It’s their mantra. They live this saying. We should take notes.

Anywhere you stay on the island of Caye Caulker is going to be pleasant. I stayed in an airbnb within 5 minutes walking of the main strip for $65/night. The airbnb is called dream cabanas and its a hotel posted on the site. It was a pretty basic hotel room with a nice mini patio/porch. It had everything I needed-running water, a bed, AC, and bikes for rent ($5/day). There are many boutique hotels and airbnbs on the island that won’t break the bank AND the great thing about this tiny island of Caye Caulker is wherever you stay you are never far from the fun.

The island has some cool cafes for some quality morning hang outs. These include the Art cafe, Amor y mas, and Ice & Beans. Caribbean Colors Art Cafe has some very cool artwork created by a local artist (I bought one of her paintings). Venture inside the shack and you can check out the pieces. At this cafe, you can grab a coffee and a freshly baked pastry and continue on your way to the beach, or sit down for a nice little breakfast. I had a very good blueberry scone and a delish cup of coffee here while catching up on some work.

PS. WIFI is available everywhere (that can be good & bad).

Amor y cafe is definitely more of a sit-down spot. I loved the set up, and most tables are outside on the porch which was very cozy and cute. I had a very tasty veggie omelette here and the juice of the day. Order the juice of the day, whatever it is that day, it’s BOMB and you probably won’t taste a fresher juice again (unless it’s there).

Ice & Beans is THE place to get your coffee fix. The owner stands behind the cash register and runs quite the operation. It’s the islands version of Starbucks. They have all the flavor shots you can imagine, iced or hot, cappucinos, lattes, smoothies, etc etc. They were also handing out complimentary mini cider donuts pretty much every time I went. If you like the fried dough like minis, they sell them by the half dozen as well. They also randomly sell empanadas too, they aren’t the BEST I’ve ever had, BUT they are definitely worth the cals. 

LUNCH & DINNER

The cuisine on Caye Caulker is ridiculously good. Over the course of five days, I didn’t have a bad meal. Caye Caulker is known for its incredibly fresh seafood and curry. They curry freaking everything they can and it’s all heavenly tasting. My favorite spots for real grub include Hibisca, Steve’s Grill, Reinas, and Wish Willy.

Hibisca was THE favorite meal of the trip. Located on the main strip, they say it’s THE posh restaurant on the island, but it wasn’t crazy fancy. Candle lit dinners are always nice and I definitely prefer candle lit dinners in an upscale shack than in a corporate ballroom BTW. We ordered wine for the table, the fried cauliflower to start, and had curried seafood stew and lobster stew for the main dish. AMAZING. Holy moly. As THE “poshest” restaurant on the island, it is on the pricier sideBUT it’s freaking worth every penny. It left me full and satisfied. In my opinion, they had the best curry on the island.

Steve’s Grill was the first dinner of the trip. Steve is grilling out on the road and he’s a hustler. As you walk by, he motions to his table of fresh seafood caught that day. If you are intrigued or salivating, you can pick which fish you would like, and he throws it on the grill for you. Head up stairs and wait for a mini table while it’s getting prepared. This meal takes some time. He takes his time and is very proud of his grilling SKILLS. The meal is worth absolutely worth the wait. The grilled lobster and sweet potato mash was absolutely amazing and the curried chicken was to die for BUT if you have to choose one, definitely go for the grilled lobster. One hundred percent.

Reinas is off the main drag and isn’t known by many. It’s a real local spot, kind of a dive but totally cool. Order a Belkin and check out the menu on the chalkboard. I went for the curry again (surprise, suprise). Side note…. the curry on the island is Thai curry not Indian curry. Thai curry is my absolute fav and something I don’t get sick of ever which is why I ordered it non-stop. I got the veggie curry with rice here and it was incredible. I really, really liked this no frills spot. Theres like six picnic tables, one cook, and one bartender who is also the waiter who is also the busser who is also the host… It’s cozy yet kinda grungy BUT the real freaking deal.

Wish Willy’s is an absolute experience. This dude Maurice (but presumably Willy), originally from the states, welcomes you to his backyard for a home cooked meal. There isn’t really a menu and don’t expect him to really wait on you. Walk up to the open side door to his kitchen, and ask him what he has. Choose which meat/ main you would like and have a seat. All meals come with the same side of veggies, so don’t ask. Thirsty? Beers, sodas, and waters are in the cooler to the right of the house. Take them as you wish. He will count them up at the end of your meal. He’s a straight shooter. He has some jokes. He really appreciates you putting the dishes near the sink. Enjoy your barbecue in the comfort of Willys own home and be a considerate guest por favor. Cash only. 

SUNSET & BEVERAGES

Pelican Bar – Came here often for happy hour and the sunset. The sunset here from the deck in the middle of November was LOVELY and I always love swing set chairs. Swing set chairs are always a plus. The staff is really friendly and this place is CHILL and the drinks are reasonable. Didn’t eat here because the menu is not really valid (they run out of things often) but the drinks and views are worth the stop. *Make sure you get here at least 30 minutes before sundown to secure a seat.

Iguana Reef Inn– This is somewhat hidden but seems to be pretty well-known. It’s a spectacular place to watch the sunset. I recommend grabbing a cocktail from the beach bar, walking to the end of the boardwalk ,and snagging one of the mini Adirondack chairs and hanging out there. There are plenty of beach chairs in the sand but I think the best view is from the end of the boardwalk. Get cozy, and check out the stingray and seahorses hanging in the water beneath you. The marine life is so special here. 

Sports bar & grill– This a great bar to hang at if you are into watching a sports game and want to grab a quick app and drink. The wings are really good here, like really, really good. They play ALL the sports games and every day they have a new drink special. Interesting crowd here, both tourists and locals. It’s a good spot to meet peeps. I had some solid conversations and learned a lot about the island and the people of the island while sitting here. Belizean’s are so, so, so friendly and honest.

ACTIVITIES

The Split – This is the hangout spot on the island for both tourists and locals. Located at the tip of the island, the split is where most visitors swim, tan, and relax. This spot is called the “Split” because it’s right where the island was split in two due to a hurricane. At the Split you can see the other portion of the island across the waterway. The waterway is where you will find people swimming about and it’s where boats travel through to get to the ocean side.

At the Split, there are plenty of Adirondack lounge chairs (if you get here early enough in the day), and picnic tables for lounging. The Lazy Lizard is a bar located here, where you can grab a drink, a bucket of beer (recommend this), or food at any time. Wait staff is constantly walking around and checking in. Great people watching, superb swimming off the dock, and solid reggae. GOOD VIBES ONLY. I recommend spending a full day here, bring your sunscreen and a good book. 

*Belkin is the name of the Belizean Beer. You can order light or dark Belkin. Belkin light is similar to a pilsner and the dark ale is similar to a lager. 

Koko Beach– This is located on the other side of the “split.” It’s a swanky hotel with a great little beach. Take a boat ride over to this side and spend a few hours at the resort. It’s really laid back and a beautiful little spot to decompress. Dinghy boats hop over to Koko beach every 30 minutes.

*Buy some tamales and juice from the old lady sitting at the end of the street next to the grocery store on your walk to the boat. She’s usually screaming TAMALE at the top of her lungs. Her tamarind juice is quite good and the tamales are the real deal PLUS you are supporting a local female entrepreneur. +++

Caveman Snorkeling – HANDS DOWN the best snorkeling company on the island. It seems like everyone recommends and wants to go out with caveman when they are in the mood for some quality snorkeling on Caye Caulker. It was such a fun experience. We were lucky enough to swim next to a manatee!! , sea turtles, sharks, stingrays bigger than any I’ve ever seen before, and tons of species of fish.  Our tour guides were super fun yet professional and very, very knowledgeable. I recommend the full day versus the half day, it’s six hours of snorkeling and you get to see it ALL. Also, the caveman, the myth, the legend, is a a kind, kind soul. I was more than happy to support his business.

ADD Belize & specifically Caye Caulker to your bucket list pronto. You’ll love it.