I Hate Bugs!
Have you ever had a mosquito bite that you scratch and scratch with no relief? I don't know about you guys but I have! Like every tropical environment, Caye Caulker has a "bug season". But have no fear! I am here to tell you how to combat that!
When is the Bug Season?
Bug season in Caye Caulker goes from September to the end of October. This is also known as the "slow season". During this time the mosquitos come out more than just at dawn and dusk.
The rest of the year you can find mosquitos and sand fleas, but usually during the evening.
What do the locals do to help tourists?
While this is the "slow season" of Caye Caulker, the locals still do what they can to protect everyone from bugs. Most restaurants have smoke machines that they turn on at dusk and there is a smoke truck that drives through the main streets multiple times a week.
You can ask any restaurant to light a “fish coil” for you and that will keep those nasty critters away.
How can I protect myself?
My husband Clint and I stayed on Caye Caulker in October of 2014. The minute we got off of the Tropical Airplane, we were each bitten by tons of mosquitos. Both of us had been on the island before and were shocked. My husband, seemingly having the sweetest blood known to man continued to complain of mosquitos for roughly 2 hours before I couldn't deal with it anymore.
We immediately went into town and asked a local what bug spray they recommended. Shocked or not, they handed us the Off Bug Spray brand. After one application, both of us had immediate relief.
Many locals use the natural oil that is made on the island. You can get this at Red Flower Gallery. The owner is a chemical engineer and has put this natural oil recipe together and it works great. If you want to find your way there just check out our online map!
Lets Wrap This Up!
So, Caye Caulker (while beautiful) has a bug season. Usually, September through October is the peak season. Fear not, though, cause there are things you can do to combat this. Definitely bring bug spray and apply generously. Also, know that the locals on the island will help out as much as they can. No reason to fear your vacation being bad because of a few mosquitos!