Caye Caulker Travel Guide
Travel to Caye Caulker - No Shirt, No Shoes … No Problem
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Close your eyes and picture an idyllic tropical island with white sand beaches, blue-green water, palm trees rustling overhead in the warm breeze and a very laidback attitude. Welcome to Caye Caulker, a four mile (6.5km) long, half mile (0.8km) wide island, situated 21 miles (34km) northeast of Belize City and 11 miles (18km) south of Ambergris Caye and the second largest of the approximately 200 small islands located off the coast of Belize.
Originally a fishing settlement, Caye Caulker began to take off as a tourist destination in the 1960s as a very laidback beach destination on the ‘Gringo Trail’ that included the Yucatan in Mexico and Guatemala. Now the island has gently embraced mainstream tourism, but without losing the original relaxed flavour that attracted people here in the first place.
The reef is about a mile east of the island, creating a protected area of water between the reef and the eastern side of the island, and it is the appeal of the UNESCO-rated Barrier Reef that draws many visitors here, as the island is a launch pad for the myriad diving, snorkelling, fishing, and boating opportunities this natural wonder offers. Kayaking and windsurfing are popular activities closer to the shore.
If staying on the island, the beaches and crystal clear waters are an obvious attraction, as well as the flora and fauna of the islands swamps, mangroves and forest. The caye offers more than 150 species of bird including the rufous-necked woodrail, mangrove warbler and black catbird.
In 1961, Hurricane Hattie divided the island in two, creating a narrow waterway between the two islands. The fishermen deepened 'the split" as small dugout canoes gave way to larger boats. Mother Nature took over and tidal forces have formed it into a wide, deep, swift moving channel that truly divides Caye Caulker into two islands, the North and the South sections.
Nearly everyone lives on the southern island, which is about two miles long. The village has about 1500 residents, mostly on the narrow northern part of South Caye Caulker.
Attractions in Caye Caulker
There are a couple of Reserves on the island: Caye Caulker Nature Reserve and Caye Caulker Forest and Marine Reserve, both of which are great for seeing the caye’s resident species, including saltwater crocodiles. The latter is also popular with visitors for Shark Ray Village.
The whole of the magnificent reef system, with its various atolls and cayes is accessible from Caye Caulker. The nearest caye is the exclusive resort island of Caye Caulker, but there are also countless diving, snorkelling, manatee-watching and fishing trips to areas further afield.
Activities in Caye Caulker
There are lots of great activities to do in the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean including: swimming; diving; snorkelling; kayaking; fishing; and windsurfing, just to name a few. There is even golf available at nearby Caye Chapel.
There are 20 dive sites within a five minute boat ride.
Relaxing
Go out for dinner … without the need to wear a shirt or shoes!
Getting Around
There is an airstrip with flights to Belize City (12 mins).
Launches to and from Belize City leave regularly and take 45 mins. These same launches go to San Pedro in Ambergris Caye, taking 15 mins.
Nearly every part of the island is within walking distance, and the preferred mode of transportation is either golf cart or bicycle. There are basically no vehicles on Caye Caulker. The roads are clean white sand, and the motto is "Go Slow"...
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