Caye Caulker

Caye Caulker

Kick off your shoes and relax seems to be the motto for this area.  And it is easy to relax on such a sunny island that is so small you can walk from one side to the other in 20 minutes  -- and with the sand under your bare feet the entire way.

Caye Caulker, one of our best beach vacations top picks, is a limestone coral island off the coast of Belize in the Caribbean Sea that measures about 5 miles by less than 1 mile. Most travel on the island by foot, with bikes and golf carts being the next favorite choices. Water taxis can take you from Caye Caulker to other cayes or to mainland Belize. The island is also accessible by small plane.

Several small hotels, bed and breakfasts as well as vacation rentals mostly painted in lively Caribbean colors like bright ocean blues, turquoise, and orange dot the town called Caye Caulker Village.

Activities and Attractions

If your Belize vacation dreams include beautiful coral reefs teeming with tropical fish, then you'll love exploring the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve. The Caye Caulker Marine Reserve includes the Belize Barrier Reef with its famous Blue Hole and extends a mile beyond, where sport fishing tours are popular.

The reserve is one of the main Caye Caulker attractions and also is home to excellent sponge life and multicolored soft and hard corals. The visibility is a scuba divers dream. Diving and snorkeling tours can take you out to the famous dive sites. For those who have time and want to get certified to scuba dive, this is the perfect place. 

Other activities off the beaches of Caye Caulker include kayaking tours and tours to view manatees near Belize City. Due to the island's strong trades, wind surfing or kite surfing is also quite good here.

On the island itself, there are bird watching tours, a couple dozen gift shops to explore and more than a couple dozen restaurants where you can enjoy international cuisine and a large sampling of fresh seafood. Caye Caulker is mostly visited by divers, sport fishing enthusiasts and backpackers. As with most Belize travel plans, it's a good idea to book activities, tours and accommodations early because they do fill fast.