17 Very Best Things to Do in Caye Caulker

This post will share the 17 best things to do in Caye Caulker, Belize’s go slow Caribbean paradise and our all-time favourite island! From snorkelling with sharks and rays in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, watching fiery sunsets from the west side of the island or swimming in crystal clear waters at The Split, there are so many amazing things to do in Caye Caulker.

This article may contain affiliate / compensated links, that may earn me a small commission, at no extra cost to you. For full information, please see our disclaimer here. While all efforts have been taken to ensure the information included in this post is correct and current, travel information such as opening hours, business operations and prices change frequently. If you find anything in this post that is incorrect or outdated please let me know in the comments so I can update it for other readers.

Planning a trip to Caye Caulker

This post will focus specifically on the best things to do in Caye Caulker, but I’ve got plenty of other guides to help you plan the rest of your time on this paradise island and work out some of the less exciting travel logistics.

I’d recommend starting with my Caye Caulker travel guide, which provides information on how to get there, getting around, where to stay and eat, and a general overview of the island.

17 Things to do in Caye Caulker, Belize

There are so many amazing things to do in Caye Caulker!

If you’re a tropical lover like me, you will be in heaven! Just walking around the island under the palm trees with the crystal clear blue waters is amazing, but throw in activities like snorkelling, scuba diving and scenic flights, and you can easily fill your days here with some very memorable experiences.

These are my 17 top things to in Caye Caulker, both on the island and in the amazing waters surrounding it!

1. Hang out at The Split 👙
2. Do a snorkel tour 🦈
3. Visit Stingray Beach 🏖️
4. Ride bicycles around the island 🚲
5. Take a scenic flight over the Great Blue Hole 🛩️
6. Explore Caye Caulker’s north island 🌊
7. Do yoga at Namaste Café 🧘🏼‍♀️
8. Watch the sunset 🌞
9. Hang out at Ice and Beans ☕️
10. Rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard 🛶
11. Scuba diving on the Belize Barrier Reef 🤿
12. Look for manatees 👀
13. Go on a sunset cruise ⛵️
14. Visit the seahorse reserve 🪸
15. Cuddle the dogs at the Caye Caulker Animal Shelter 🐶
16. Eat lobster 🦞
17. Relax and go slow 😌

Belize Map 🇧🇿

Get our FREE custom Belize Google Map with all our recommendations pinned for you! Cut down your planning and research time and have all our tips saved in your pocket.

get the map

We won’t send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

Built with ConvertKit

1. Hang out at The Split

Yes, I know I’m being generic and starting this list of things to do in Caye Caulker the same way every other blog does. But I completely understand why. The Split is the place to be on Caye Caulker and oozes Caribbean island vibes.

So what actually is this place, The Split? For some context, Caye Caulker is actually two separate islands with a narrow channel between them.

This wasn’t always the case, but Hurricane Hattie, which hit the island in 1961, supposedly tore it in two (I think this story is somewhat embellished though!). Many locals clarify that they deliberately dredged the small channel that appeared between the two islands after the hurricane to create a shortcut for boats.

This deep channel between the two islands has now become known as ‘The Split’.

Regardless of the particulars, The Split has become the most popular place on the island, and rightfully so!

It is home to The Lazy Lizard, the island’s most beloved beach bar, which serves up cold Belikins, strong cocktails (try the famous Lizard Juice) and a good dose of reggae tunes.

The deep channel is the best place to swim on the island, which surprisingly doesn’t actually have a lot of beaches.

You’ll find the popular jumping platform that you’ve no doubt seen pictures and videos of at the Lazy Lizard. You can make the 6 metre (20 feet) jump into the turquoise waters below, or choose to float in the shallows, sipping on a cocktail on a submerged bar stool.

You’ll also find another popular bar, Sip N’ Dip, in this area. They’ve got tons of submerged palapas where you can sit in the water and enjoy a drink or a meal.

You can access The Split area and hang out along the sea walls to the east and west without entering the bar.

But to enjoy the best places for swimming, the jumping platform, lounges, in-water palapas and seats, you will need to enter the Lazy Lizard and buy a drink or some snacks. Although not cheap, it’s a quintessential Caye Caulker experience and we spent many an afternoon lazing here.

DETAILS

• 📍 Where – you’ll find The Split, the Lazy Lizard and Sip N’ Dip at the north end of the main island. The locations are pinned on our Belize Google Map.

• ⏰ When – you can visit The Split and hang out along the sea wall at any time. Both bars are open from around 10/11 am – 8/9 pm. Although we think they’re best visited during the day, once the sun has set, there are better places to be on the island.

• 💰 Cost – there is no cost to visit The Split or enter the Lazy Lizard or the Sip N’ Dip. If you are using their furniture or swimming areas, it’s expected you buy some drinks or food. Drinks aren’t the cheapest, but you’re paying for the vibe and location. Local beers are around $10 BZD, and cocktails are upwards of $20 – $25 BZD.

2. Do a snorkel tour

If you only do one thing on Caye Caulker, make it a snorkelling tour.

The island is situated on the edge of the Belize Barrier Reef and the marine life is simply spectacular. This was honestly the best snorkelling we have ever done, anywhere in the world. The sheer amount of marine life we saw in one day was mind-boggling!

Many tour companies on the island offer snorkel tours, usually as a half-day or full-day option. We opted for this full-day tour, which had 7 stops, and we highly recommend it.

We had such an amazing day, that we wrote an entire post about our Caye Caulker snorkeling tour. You can read more about the 7 stops we had on the tour and all the incredible marine life we saw.

So I’ll end this section with this – do NOT miss this experience, it was the highlight of our time on the island. Crystal clear blue waters, swimming with sharks, turtles everywhere and even manatees as a cherry on top, it doesn’t get much better than this!

🐢 Read more about snorkelling in Caye Caulker here

DETAILS

• ⛵️ Who with – this is the exact tour we booked and we highly recommend it. We selected this option because the local operator, Salt Life Eco Tours, doesn’t feed the marine life. They also had no single-use plastics on the boat, and all our drinks, lunch and snacks were served in reusable containers.

• 💰 Cost – most operators offer the full-day tour at a fixed cost of $110 USD. This is exactly what we paid for the above tour, and most operators should include lunch. If you go for the half-day option, expect to pay around $50+ USD, generally without lunch.

• 🌿 Sustainability tips – many tour operators around Caye Caulker feed the marine life to entice them towards boats. This puts them at risk of injury from boat motors and makes them reliant on humans for food, rather than naturally finding their normal food sources. If you don’t want to book with our recommended tour (where we can confirm they don’t do this!), make sure you do your research and don’t be afraid to ask questions to the operator.

3. Visit Stingray Beach

One of the most iconic images of Caye Caulker is that of giant stingrays gliding over people’s feet in the shallows. But sadly, we met a few people who didn’t get to have this experience because they didn’t know where it was – so let me fill you in!

Iguana Reef Inn is one of the fancier accommodation options on the island. Situated on the west side, the hotel has a large beachfront bar area that is open to non-guests. Each day at sunset, the owner feeds the giant Southern Stingray fish scraps from the day’s catch.

The stingrays have become accustomed to this, so at around 4 – 4:30 pm each evening, groups of 20 + ginormous stingrays start gathering in the shallows.

These friendly fellas swim right up to the water’s edge and glide around waiting for something to eat. They will swim right over your feet, allowing you to feel their soft underbelly. You can even give them a gentle scratch on their rough outer skin.

I have mixed emotions about including this activity in my list of things to do in Caye Caulker.

It’s one of those animal experiences that is ethically questionable, and deep down I know it was wrong to participate. But I’m the first to admit, I made a selfish decision. I love stingrays and I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to see them.

Without trying to justify my bad actions, there are elements of the experience that aren’t as bad as they could be. The stingrays are wild and come and go as they please. They are known to be friendly creatures, and I have scratched and patted wild stingrays in many different places, so this behaviour isn’t totally out of the ordinary. The rays aren’t being drawn towards boats with dangerous motors, and there is plenty of signage around alerting people to take care of stingrays in the water. They are being fed fish scraps, which is at least similar to what they would eat naturally.

But of course, knowing there is a free and easy meal coming every day is not healthy for the ecosystem. And any wild animal becoming so accustomed to humans can have dangerous consequences.

So with that, I’ll leave you to make your own decision. It’s easy to say ‘the stingrays come anyway, regardless of whether I visit or not’ which is what I did. But I know that isn’t the way to solve wildlife tourism problems like this one.

DETAILS

• 📍 Where – in the beach club area of the Iguana Reef Inn. Find it on our Belize Google Map.

• ⏰ When – each day at around sunset the stingrays are fed. They start arriving at the beach around an hour prior to sunset. This is also a fantastic place to watch the sunset, so stick around!

• 💰 Cost – there is no official cost to enter the Iguana Reef Inn bar area. But you should buy a drink from the bar if you plan to use their facilities. Their cocktails are excellent!

4. Ride bicycles around the island

Part mode of transport, part activity, part exercise, riding bicycles is quintessentially Caye Caulker.

Do as the locals do, and cruise down sandy roads with glimpses of blue ocean, beneath swaying palm trees and past a rainbow of pastel-coloured houses.

Riding bikes is something we always enjoy doing when we travel, and Caye Caulker was no exception. It is the best way to explore the island, and it’s so much fun cycling around with the wind in your hair!

Spend at least a day riding aimlessly, exploring down side streets and into the further reaches of the island.

DETAILS

• 💰 Cost – you might have bikes included with your accommodation, many offer this. If not, you can expect to pay around $15 BZD upwards for one day’s rental, with discounts for multiple days.

• 🚲 Who with – your accommodation should be able to organise a bike rental for you if they don’t already include them. If not, just wander down the main street, there are bikes everywhere!

6. Visit the north island of Caye Caulker

Remember when I said Caye Caulker was actually split into two islands? The south island is where the main village is, and for most visitors, it is where they will spend all their time.

The Caye Caulker North Island is often forgotten.

It is less developed and doesn’t really have too many attractions besides a handful of hotels and small local restaurants. Although this is changing, and the pace of development (and destruction of natural areas) has really sped up in the past few years.

But Caye Caulker’s north island has something the south island doesn’t have – sandy beaches!

Despite being a verified island paradise, Caye Caulker doesn’t have many swathes of sand where you can walk into the calm, blue waters. Except on the west coast of the North Island!

There are a handful of places where you can enjoy a day on a pristine sandy beach.

• 🏖️ Northside Beach Club (formerly Koko King): the beach club has technically been closed for a few years, but someone still opens up the property each day, and visitors can come and enjoy the beach. You won’t be getting the full beach club experience – the bathrooms aren’t open, the restaurant is shut and the bar is not fully functioning – but the old beach furniture is still there (although in varying states of disrepair) and some locals have set up a very informal, make-shift bar selling beers and limited cocktails. So you can lounge on a daybed, swing on a hammock and sip on a Belikin beer.

• 🏖️ Bliss Beach Club: new kid on the block on Caye Caulker’s North Island, Bliss Beach is quickly becoming the go-to. The same beautiful sandy beaches, with a fully functioning bar and restaurant, hammocks and lounges, it’s the perfect place to spend a day.

🧭 Read my complete guide to the Caye Caulker North Island

DETAILS

• 📍 Where – Northside Beach Club and Bliss Beach are on the north island of Caye Caulker, both pinned on our custom Belize Google Map.

• ⛴️ How to get there – to get to the north side, you need to catch the ferry that plies between the two islands. I’ve got all the details in the North Island guide.

• 💰 Cost – Someone is charging an entry fee to get into the Northside Beach Club, it is either $5 or $10 BZD. I think you can safely BYO drinks and snacks to Northside because it is currently closed. At Bliss Beach, there is no entry fee or minimum spend, you can purchase drinks and food.

• ⏰ When – Bliss Beach is open from 11:00 am – 7:00 pm daily, but do check their Facebook page as they shut in bad weather. I wish I could provide more solid details on when Northside is open, but it is very unclear and informal while it is technically shut. What I can tell you is that there is a gate with a padlock at the front, so if it’s not open, there’s no way you could sneak your way in (unless you arrive by kayak).

7. Do yoga at Namaste Café

A great way to start your day is with a stretch and some downtime at Namaste Yoga. The studio is located right in the heart of Caye Caulker, so don’t expect a quiet Zen garden, but the rooftop space has stunning ocean views in all directions.

There’s no need to register or book in advance. Just arrive 15 minutes before class, and grab a mat. All experience levels are welcome, and the teachers offer different variations for those more advanced yogis. No judgement or awkward cliques that come with the territory of some yoga studios!

The studio sits above Namaste Café, and we would highly recommend grabbing breakfast afterwards. It’s a beautiful space and their food is light and healthy.

DETAILS

• ⏰ When – classes are currently scheduled at 8:00 am and 9:30 am from Monday – Sunday in the high season, dropping down to one per day at 8:00 am in the low season. Check the current schedule here.

• 💰 Cost – drop-in classes are $20 BZD per person. If you’re on the island for a lengthier stay, you can buy multi-class passes.

• 📍 Where – see the location of Namaste Café on our Belize Google Map.

8. Watch the sunset

Being an island, Caye Caulker is blessed with both sunsets and sunrises and let me tell you they are pretty epic!

For sunset, you want to head to the west side of the island (aka the back side). Basically anywhere along the waterfront will give you a good vantage point, but there are some especially great spots to watch the sun go down.

The Split is a popular option, with plenty of space to sit along the sea wall. You can even jump in for a sunset swim if you want! Just next to The Split is a little beach, known simply as ‘Beach Area’. It’s out the front of Sophie’s Guest Rooms and is one of the few sandy patches where you can lay down a towel and relax with a great vantage point.

As already mentioned, Iguana Reef Inn is another good spot for sunset. Not only does it have a good vantage point, but you can also see the stingrays being fed at this time. You can order some delicious cocktails here too!

The same goes for Pelican Sunset Bar, but be sure to get here early if you want to get a seat, as it is a very popular spot to watch the sunset. 

DETAILS

• ⏰ When – be sure to check the sunset times for your visit. You want to be at a good vantage point at least half an hour before to enjoy the full golden hour sparkle. In the dry winter months, the sun sets as early as 5:30 pm.

• 🌞 Insider tip – Don’t arrive too late for the sunset! Pretty much everyone on the island wants to see the show, and bars with good views can fill up early.

9. Hang out at Ice and Beans

I generally save restaurant recommendations for their own section in my travel guides, but Ice and Beans is more than just a restaurant – it’s a Caye Caulker institution!

Ask anyone who has visited the island, and they’ll tell you that hanging at Ice and Beans is one of the top things to do in Caye Caulker! This beachfront café is one of the busiest and most well-established businesses on the island and they have a constant stream of customers out the door all day.

In terms of drinks, they make great coffee, build-your-own smoothies, freshly squeezed orange juice (you even put the oranges into the machine yourself!) and a range of sweet frappes.

For food, their main offering is sandwiches or bagels (sweet and savoury), build-your-own smoothie bowls and their famous mini doughnuts that are warm, sugary and delicious. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a free one when you arrive! I’m still dreaming of their Apple Bee’s bagel with apple, cream cheese and honey on a cinnamon raisin bagel mmm….

But the real appeal of Ice and Beans is their beachfront dining area. Hammocks are strung up between palm trees, colourful beach lounges dot the sand, along with a number of picnic-style tables.

This is definitely not a place for take away, you can easily while away a few hours with a book while you enjoy your coffee and food!

DETAILS

• ⏰ When – Ice and Beans is currently open daily from 6:00 am – 6:00 pm. You can check updated opening hours on their Facebook page.

• 📍 Where – the blue and yellow painted fence around Ice and Beans will become a landmark on your travels around Caye Caulker. Situated right in the heart of town on the front beach, get the location on our Belize Google Map.

• 💰 Costs – food and drinks from Ice and Beans are pretty affordable by Caye Caulker standards. Barista-style coffee starts from $8 BZD, bagels/sandwiches are around $14 BZD and smoothies (bowls) range from $15 – $18 BZD.

10. Rent a kayak or stand-up paddleboard

A fun afternoon activity is to go for a paddle around the island on a kayak or stand-up paddleboard. Maybe not entirely around the island, unless you’re feeling fit, but it is possible.

The western side of the island has beautifully calm waters and is the best place if you’re a beginner or just looking for some relaxed time out on the water. We saw plenty of people paddling around off the western side of The Split.

If you can time your rental with sunset, it would be the perfect way to end the day.

You could even rent a kayak for the day, and paddle yourself over to the north side and dock at Northside Beach Club or Bliss Beach. This saves the cost of the Split-to-Split ferry.

DETAILS

• 🛶 Who with – some beachfront accommodations include kayak rentals. If not, the Lazy Lizard has kayaks and paddleboards for rent. Reef Break also has paddleboards.

• 💰 Cost – most operators will rent by the hour, or by the day. Expect to pay $20+ BZD per hour.

• 🎒 Insider tip – don’t forget to use a waterproof bag to keep your stuff dry, so you can bring everything you need if you’re headed to the north side or plan to dock anywhere.

11. Scuba diving on the Belize Barrier Reef

The snorkelling is that good in Caye Caulker, it feels like those who don’t scuba dive aren’t missing out on anything! But as divers, we know it’s a whole different experience to be hanging out under the surface, rather than on top of it.

Scuba diving in Belize is, without a doubt, some of the best in the region. The marine life is everywhere! It’s also the most expensive place to dive, so it’s a catch-22.

There are a ton of different scuba diving sites around the island, near and far. Diving in the local reef right near the island is obviously the closest, and therefore the cheapest option. We would suggest avoiding this, as it will be full of snorkelers.

If you branch out a little further, Esmeralda (for sharks) and Spanish Bay (for epic coral walls) are popular sites, but still not a full-day excursion.

The further you go, understandably the higher the cost becomes due to the long distances travelled on the boat. But of course, the better the diving gets and the more pristine the reef systems become!

Scuba diving inside the Great Blue Hole is a bucket list dive for many scuba junkies. It’s a very long, very expensive day trip from Caye Caulker but an incredible experience (read more about that here).

Closer, but still far enough to deter snorkellers, is the Turneffe Atoll, where you will find several different sites. The Turneffe Elbow area is great for strong currents and drift dives, and Turneffe North has a variety of sites with rich corals, deep walls and diverse marine life.

DETAILS

• 💰 Costs – scuba diving in Belize is expensive. There’s no other way to put it, and the costs deterred us. For local dives, expect to pay no less than $140 USD for a two-tank dive with gear. This increases the further you go from Caye Caulker and surpasses $350 USD for a dive in the Great Blue Hole.

• 🤿 Who with – there are just a handful of reputable scuba companies on Caye Caulker. Frenchies Diving and Blue Wave Divers are considered the best.

• 🗓️ When – you can dive all year round, and different seasons bring different marine life. Keep in mind the wet season (~ May – November) can bring hurricanes and bad weather that can cancel boats at the last minute.

12. Look for manatees

The ocean around Caye Caulker is a prime habitat for the big, beautiful West Indian Manatee. There are two subspecies of this type of manatee, and Belize has the largest population of the Antillean Manatee.

There is a consistent population of manatees around Caye Caulker all year, and the most common way to see them is if you get lucky on a snorkelling tour. Most tours stop at a known manatee hang-out spot, and if you’re very lucky (we were!) you’ll jump in the water and see an odd, graceful blob slowly cruising along.

They truly are the strangest creatures to look at, but we were absolutely ecstatic when we got to swim alongside one!

If you’re really into manatees and want more than just a short snorkelling stop, you can take tours to Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary.

This protected area was designed to provide a safe haven for the manatees, with extreme regulation of boat activity – the biggest threat to manatees.

Friends of Swallow Caye is a local not-for-profit organisation that lobbied for the sanctuary to be created in 2002 and continues to advocate for manatees within the community. Anda De Wata Tours runs an excursion to Swallow Caye most days.

Boats visiting the area must be under a certain size to avoid collisions and possible injuries with the manatees. Once inside the shallow, sea grass-covered area, motors must be cut, and boats hand poled through the area.

You’re not allowed to swim with the manatees in this protected area, but due to the high concentration found inside the sanctuary, you should have a pretty good chance of seeing them in the water and coming up for air. Plus you’ll learn a lot more about these unique animals.

DETAILS

• 📍 Where – Swallow Caye is located between Belize City and Caye Caulker, but tours depart from Caye Caulker.

• 🦭 Tour details – the tour with Anda De Wata Tours is the best manatee-focused tour I’ve found. Departing from Caye Caulker, you’ll spend a few hours looking for and learning about manatees at Swallow Caye, before having lunch served in-water at their sand bar, and two snorkelling stops on the way back to Caye Caulker.

13. Go for a sunset cruise

If you want to take your Caye Caulker sunset to the next level, experience it from the water.

The perfect way to mark the end of the day, spend a few hours cruising around Caye Caulker, watching the sky turn golden. There are plenty of tour operators offering sunset cruises, catering to different kinds of travellers.

This fun tiki bar tour is a great option. Jump on board the Friki Tiki boat with a small group of a maximum of 6 passengers and spend an hour and a half soaking up the sunset, drinking rum punch and spotting dolphins, sea birds and other marine life.

For a family or romantic experience, you can opt for a sunset sail with Ragga Sailing Adventures. The tour lasts for two and a half hours and includes rum punch, juice and chips and salsa.

DETAILS

• ⏰ When – tours are of course aligned to the sunset time, and generally leave around 1 hour prior to the sun going down, so you can enjoy that beautiful golden hour! Expect to leave around 4:30 – 5:00 pm.

• 💰 Cost – most tours are priced at around $50 – $60 USD, including drinks and nibbles.

14. Visit the seahorse reserve

In addition to stingrays, the Iguana Reef Inn is also home to a small seahorse reserve. This is a quick, easy and free activity, and I don’t know about you, but I’d never seen a seahorse before!

Out on the dock, you’ll see a wooden sign marking the reserve. You’ll need all the help you can get to find these little guys!

In the waters below there is a maze of crisscrossed ropes, seaweed and other marine plants that provide a safe haven and a good layer of camouflage! At first, you think there is nothing there, but look closely and you’ve got a good chance of spotting one floating around!

DETAILS

• 📍 Where – in the beach club area of the Iguana Reef Inn. Find it on our Belize Google Map.

• ⏰ When – you can visit the seahorses at any time of the day, but it’s best to time your visit for sunset to see the stingrays being fed too, to make it more worthwhile.

• 💰 Cost – there is no official cost to enter the Iguana Reef Inn bar area and see the seahorse reserve. But you should buy a drink from the bar if you plan to use their facilities. Their cocktails are excellent!

15. Cuddle the dogs at the Caye Caulker Animal Shelter

If you’ve got a spare few hours on one of your relaxing days on the island, pop into the Caye Caulker Animal Shelter.

This no-kill shelter is entirely not-for-profit and is run by the dedicated Kenny. He’s rescued dozens of cats and dogs on the island, treating their medical issues, spaying and neutering them and providing a safe and loving home. Kenny also helps facilitate adoptions and tries to find a forever home for these babies, coordinating international adoptions to the USA, Canada and the UK too!

It’s a pretty laidback and informal operation. You can drop in and spend a few hours giving some cuddles and love to the cats or dogs, and you can take a dog for a walk around the island for some exercise.

While it’s nice to volunteer some of your time, what the shelter really needs to continue its great work is donations. Either cash or supplies, so please consider making a donation when you visit.

DETAILS

• 📍 Where – the Caye Caulker Animal Shelter is located in the heart of the village, just opposite Ice and Beans. See the location pinned on our Belize Google Map.

• 🐶 How to volunteer – the shelter is pretty informal, you can just pop in and see if anyone is around to let you in. You can spend some time cuddling the dogs and cats, or ask to take a dog for a walk. You can also get in touch via their Facebook page.

• 💰 Cost – there is no fee to visit the shelter, but please please make a financial donation if you can. The shelter needs money more than anything to provide care to the animals.

16. Eat lobster

Okay okay, I know I said I didn’t usually like to put eating as part of the ‘things to do’ in destinations. But I wouldn’t be providing you with a complete and fully informed list of things to do in Caye Caulker if I didn’t mention eating lobster!

For us at home in Australia, and I know for many others around the world, lobster is a delicacy. An expensive one at that! I can’t recall a single time I have ever ordered lobster from a restaurant at home.

Well, all that changes in Caye Caulker! Lobster is in high supply, at a fraction of the cost you can expect to pay elsewhere so that you can enjoy a boujee meal on a budget.

During the lobster season, there is so much available, that you will find lobster on every menu at a very affordable price. They’re grilling on BBQs along the beach, being slathered in curry in local restaurants, and even being served up on tours that’s how cheap they can be!

DETAILS

• 🗓️ When – lobster season in Caye Caulker generally runs from June – February. They even have a Lobster Fest in Caye Caulker in July to celebrate the commencement of the season.

• 🦞 Where to try it – the string of BBQs set up along the front beach is a good place to start. You’ll see them grilling up lobsters from around midday until the sun goes down. They serve up packs with beans, rice and some salads. There are a couple of different restaurants there, but most are similar, just head to this area. We can also highly recommend Wish Willy (the cheapest lobster we had!) and Steve’s Grill for a lobster curry.

• 💰 Cost – a good price for a lobster (generally just the tail) with sides would be anything under $40 BZD. The BBQs along the beach charge around $35 BZD for a small pack. A very generous portion of lobster with rice and veggies at Wish Willy was just $25 BZD.

17. Relax and go slow

The island’s motto is ‘go slow’ and it would be rude not to oblige!

Amongst all the boat tours and water activities, be sure to take some time to read a book, laze in a hammock or lay on the sand.

The go slow motto really is a mantra for life. After chatting with our wonderful Airbnb host, we realised how meaningful it is for the locals. To take it easy, don’t rush things, focus on the moment and the beautiful place that you are in.

Caye Caulker was the first stop on our 6 month Central America adventure, and it really did take us a few days to slow down a notch from our hectic lives in Australia.

Just in case you were struggling to manage your own internal clock, expect a 10-minute wait for service, a 20-minute wait for your coffee and up to an hour for your food – you’re forced to go slow on Caye Caulker! 

There are plenty of beautiful spots to slow down all over the island.

I’ve already shared a few great locations to chill out, such as The Split and the Lazy Lizard, Ice and Beans, on the north island, and the little beach I mentioned outside of Sophie’s Guest Rooms.

On the front side of the island, there are also several open sandy areas with lounges and hammocks. They technically belong to the adjacent hotels, but the vibe is pretty relaxed and I don’t think anyone is kicking people off public beaches, so you’d probably be safe to laze on a sun lounge for a few hours!

GET OUR BELIZE GOOGLE MAP

Save hours with our FREE custom Belize Google Map!
Get 150+ locations pinned, giving you our best tips and recommendations in your pocket.

GET THE MAP

Things to do in Caye Caulker: Final thoughts

The hardest part about visiting Caye Caulker is balancing your time to do all the amazing activities, but still keeping plenty of time aside to relax and go slow.

The activities we did in Caye Caulker turned out to be some of our most memorable experiences during 6 months of travel around Central America. Snorkelling in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, flying over the Great Blue Hole and just soaking up the impeccable island vibes were so amazing, we adored everything about this island.

Don’t forget to read our Caye Caulker travel guide too, for all the other logistical info you’ll need to plan your trip here. It was too long to include everything in one post, but I’ve shared all the details about ferries for getting to the island, transport options for getting around (walk vs bike vs golf cart) and other helpful info.

MORE CAYE CAULKER POSTS

• Caye Caulker, Belize Travel Guide: The ‘Go Slow’ Island
• Where to Stay in Caye Caulker: 16 Options For All Budgets
• Our 10 Favourite Restaurants on Caye Caulker
• How to Visit the Caye Caulker North Island (Best Beaches!)
• Caye Caulker Snorkeling Guide: Underwater Wonderland
• How to See the Great Blue Hole Belize – Scenic Flight vs Scuba Diving
• Ragga Sailing Adventures 3D/2N Tour from Caye Caulker Review