After multiple family vacations and living on Caye Caulker for some time, I have had the privilege of doing a lot of fun things on this beautiful island. Below is my top ten (in no particular order). I know most of you have read my blog before, but for the newbies, you should be aware all my pricing will be in US dollars.
Snorkeling with Carlos
If you are a frequent reader, you should really read my article about snorkeling with Carlos. Carlos's Tours, Co. is on Front Street, and he takes people out every day to snorkel the beautiful reef off the coast of the island. During your day long tour, you visit three beautiful sites: Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Coral Garden, and Shark Ray Alley. During your excursion, you stop in Ambergris Caye for lunch, and in the afternoon Carlos feeds you fresh fruit and some rum punch! All this for only 65$. I have gone multiple times on vacations and since I lived here, and always see something different! This has become a real priority for me to suggest this year because of the news from Australia. The Great Barrier Reef there has been declared dead which means the reef here in Belize is the largest living reef on the planet. Do not miss this!
Visiting the Lamanai Mayan Ruins
One of the most beautiful parts of the Latin America are the beautiful Mayan Ruins. I have visited Xunantunich, Nim Li Punit, and Lamanai. Of the three that I visited, Lamanai was the nicest. From our house on Caye Caulker, it is a bit of a voyage getting to any of the ruins, but well worth it in the end. Lamanai was a water taxi, car ride, and river ride away, which was roughly a 4-hour trip; however, once you are at the site, it is well worth it. You get a guided tour of the beautiful Mayan Village (and you get to climb the ruins). They also serve you lunch and give you snacks during your trip. We booked through Luciana on the island, and she got us set up with a great tour company! All for 75$.
The Belizean Zoo
My niece and nephew went to the Belizean zoo shortly after we moved here and loved it! Located roughly 30 minutes west of Belize City, this zoo is very different from American zoos. The zoo here is more of a sanctuary where only animals that are native to Belize live. Furthermore, these animals are only in the zoo because they can't be released into the wild. You can do a complimentary tour, or you can pay to have a guided tour with the zoo personnel.
The Howler Monkey Sanctuary
The Community Baboon Sanctuary is a habitat that is specializing in maintaining the howler monkey species and educating visitors on their lifestyle. My niece and nephew also went here when they went to the zoo and saw a momma and her baby during their tour. The Sanctuary stretches over 20 miles and has helped raise over 2000 monkeys. I would pay to have a guided tour when you visit this sanctuary. The tour guides help educate you and also gives you a better opportunity to see some of the furry creatures!
Going to the North Island
Recently, I wrote an article about visiting the North Caye of Caye Caulker. With no power, all those who live here live on solar energy. Furthermore, most of the land is owned by one man (H.L Dole) and has been turned into a Wildlife Preserve. There are wonderful animals to see here, including many types of birds, fish, and even crocodiles! There are tours in the morning and afternoon, and when we went, we got picked up from the South Island and taken over to the north side by boat. The cost of travel and the tour is 75$.
Spending a day in Ambergris Caye
Ambergris Caye is never somewhere we could live, but it is a fun island to spend a day on. It is roughly a 30-45 minute boat ride from Caye Caulker, and you can book this through the water taxi system. When my husband and I went to the island, we rented a golf cart and explored the island. There are a ton of fun little shops to look around while on the island. When you get hungry, I would recommend eating lunch at Elvi's Kitchen. It is just off the main road and has some great Belizean meals.
Manatee Tour
Manatees are known as the cows of the ocean. Beautiful creatures as they swim through the water, they are a must-see when you are in Belize. My husband and I went with Chocolate (a tour guide) a few years ago and loved it. Unfortunately, he is no longer doing tours, but I have another recommendation: Star Tours. Your tour guides have a love for the Manatees much like Chocolate did. This is a full trip, but you also get to snorkel. I will warn you though; there is a manatee season (January - Mayish) so be aware of this for if and when you want to go. Total for this tour is 85$, but lunch is provided!
Fishing Tour
My brother in law and his girlfriend did a fishing tour the last time they visited, and I have to say, it is definitely on my bucket list. They were able to not only catch some fish, but they brought it home, and we ate it that night! King Fish tours are the best company to go through. You can do a half day tour of deep sea fishing or spear fishing. You can also do a full day of fly fishing. The guides are great at setting the tone according to your experience, and they even gave my brother in law some tips on how to cook their fish! Pricing varies depending on what you want to do, but here is their website:
Caye Caulker Island Tour with Peter Rash
Peter Rash is local on Caye Caulker and has turned into the family since we moved to Caye Caulker. His wife Rosita is wonderful and watches my niece and nephew. If you spend any time on the island, you should do a golf cart tour with him. For ten dollars per person, he drives you and up to 5 adults around the entire south part of the island and gives you the history of the island and culture. A must do! IF you are feeling more adventurous, you can do a bike tour with his son Richard for 5 dollars a piece.
Sunset Sail
You definitely can not live on a beautiful island like Caye Caulker without doing a sunset cruise. There is nothing better than the sun setting over the water with a drink in your hand. We did a tour recently and used La Pachanga. They offered Rum Punch and appetizers as part of the tour. The guides were super friendly and made the experience that much more fun. We left the Blue Wave at sunset (time changes) and sailed around the island while the sun went down. You can find them on Facebook below:
I hope you enjoyed my top ten things to do on Caye Caulker! I hope that you enjoy doing one or all during your time in paradise!