Caye Caulker

The island of Caye Caulker takes up a total of six square miles. Their motto is “go slow” making Caye Caulker is so relaxing and charming. All the island’s power is actually generated by diesel generators!!!! Seriously!

In keeping with the island’s “go slow” attitude, Caye Caulker has a strict no cars policy. No taxis, no buses, no family cars. This leaves the island blissfully tranquil and unpolluted. We could stride down the road peacefully without having to constantly look around to make sure we're not going to get run over. The only motorized 4-wheeled vehicles on the island are golf carts, which are available for rental for those too lazy to bike but we legitimately could leisurely bike from one end to the other in 10 minutes...I thought it so odd that otherwise non disable tourists drove around on carts. There were thankfully more walkers and bikers than golf cart drivers.

We biked everywhere, it was great!

While there isn’t much by way of beaches on the island, The Split is the perfect area for lying in the sun or taking a dip in the sea. Originally named such because the waterway that flows through here and divides the island in two was created by Hurricane Hattie in 1961. The Split is now the go-to place for anyone on the island looking to chill out. The Lazy Lizard, located on a wooden decking that hangs over The Split, sells food and drinks throughout the day and blasts out music for sun-worshipers to enjoy. Several bars have tables in the water, swings, diving boards, slides and loungers to relax on! We would spend our days by our house pool and head out at happy hour to hang at the split.

We rented a cute house with a little pool. There were 3 houses that shared the pool on the property but we had this pool entirely to ourselves the whole time. There was a private dock included too. We hung out there one morning but it was pretty windy so we opted for the pool the rest of the time.

The island is very close to some of the greatest diving and snorkeling spots.

Off the coast of Belize is a part of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System that stretches from the upper Yucatan peninsula down to Honduras, making it the second biggest reef system in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.

Past the southern tip of Ambergris Caye is the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Hol Chan is Mayan for 'little channel." This sanctuary was officially established in 1987, and since then the return of all species of fish has been quite dramatic. It was some of the best snorkeling I've ever done!!

Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley is approximately 6km south of San Pedro Ambergris Caye.

Located just one mile south of the Hol Chan cut and included within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve is Shark Ray Alley. Once a place where fishermen cleaned their catch , it naturally attracted sting rays and nurse sharks to feed. Shark Ray Alley is now an attraction that offers visitors the rare opportunity to snorkel up close and personal with docile rays and gentle nurse sharks. As soon as you pull up they circle the boat and they are tons of them in the water throughout our snorkel.

 We had a fun and relaxing 4 days on Caye Caulker! Next we are heading to Ambergris Caye....the busier bigger island a 30min boat ride away.