Go slow on Caribbean Caye Caulker

Caye Caulker is an island in Belize. The island's motto is "Go Slow," which you'll find everywhere, for example, on clothing and souvenirs. The island exudes a relaxed atmosphere, and the locals' easygoing mentality makes you fall in love with this motto. There's almost always a breeze, which ensures a pleasant temperature. Because the official language in Belize is English, you can easily communicate with the locals.

How to get there?

Visiting Caye Caulker might seem like a challenge, especially since there are varying stories circulating online about how to reach the island. The route from Mexico to Belize, in particular, raises questions. You can travel to Caye Caulker either partially by land or entirely by sea.

From Mexico by sea

To travel by sea, first take a taxi to Chetumal. From there, you can take a boat to the neighboring island of San Pedro. On San Pedro, you can get your passport stamped at the immigration office. It's wise to book your boat tickets in advance, as the boats are often full. You can buy tickets online (with PayPal) and must book at least 24 hours in advance. It's recommended to arrive at the dock two hours before departure. The boat departs Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday at 10:00 AM. The trip from Chetumal via San Pedro to Caye Caulker takes approximately 3 hours and 15 minutes.

From Mexico/Guatemala by land

If you're traveling to Belize City by public transportation or taxi, make sure you walk to the port via the main road or get dropped off there. You can buy your boat tickets to Caye Caulker at the port. If you want to avoid the walk to the port, you can also travel with an organized tour. We traveled from Bacalar, Mexico, to Caye Caulker with Atlanta Express Services. Both the taxi ride to the Mexican border and the bus ride to the port in Belize City were well-organized. The journey takes about 3 to 4 hours. At the port, you can wait at the Atlanta Express office, where you can also buy boat tickets for the return trip. The ferry ride takes about 45 minutes.

Please note

When you leave Mexico, you must pay taxes (please bring the exact amount). If you flew via Mexico, the exit tax is sometimes included in your ticket. You must be able to provide explicit proof of this upon migration.

Transportation in Caye Caulker

Golf carts and bicycles are the main modes of transportation on the island. Caye Caulker is small, only 5 by 1.6 kilometers, so you can easily explore the island on foot.

Where to stay

In 1961, a hurricane literally split Caye Caulker in two, dividing the island into a northern and a southern section. It's best to stay in the northern part of the southern section, as this is where you'll find most of the restaurants, bars, and entertainment. Because the island is small, popular accommodations can fill up quickly, so booking in advance is recommended.

Go Slow Hostel

We stayed at the aptly named "Go Slow" hostel. The location was perfect: both the popular swimming spot "The Split" and the street with most of the food stalls and bars were close by. The beds in the dorms were comfortable, and the kitchenette had the basic necessities. The courtyard with hammocks and picnic benches was especially relaxing.

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Tropical Oasis

This hostel is located next to the 'Go Slow' hostel and is also a great place to stay on Caye Caulker. The common area even has a barbecue.

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Things to do on Caye Caulker

Number one activity: Go slow

Don't plan too much once you're on the island. Embrace the locals' motto and "go slow." Relax and see what the day brings. For example, you can unwind at the tropical beach bar "Lazy Lizard." This bar is located at the northernmost point of the South Island, near the stretch of sea called the "Split" (named after the split caused by the hurricane). From the "Lazy Lizard," you also have a view of the North Island. From here, you can visit the neighboring North Island by boat.

A unique experience: snorkeling among sharks

An absolute must-do when visiting this island is snorkeling. Planning ahead is helpful, but not essential. If you stroll past the snorkeling booths in the morning, there's often a tour you can join. During a snorkeling tour, you'll have the opportunity to swim among stingrays and sharks. Don't worry, these are the so-called "nurse sharks." You'll also see beautiful fish in Belize's underwater world and, with a bit of luck, manatees. Prices are generally comparable, at $45 for a half-day and $90 for a full day.

Spotting seahorses at Iguana Reef

At the jetty of the Iguana Reef Inn, a net is strung up, housing numerous seahorses. They're brown, so you have to look carefully, but if you look closely, you might spot them! If you're not lucky, there are also tarpon in the water. In the evenings, they're fed at the end of the jetty. During the day, you can sunbathe on a lounger and cool off in the water, where stingrays also swim.

Walking around the beautiful island

Be sure to take your time wandering the sandy streets of this fantastic island. You'll see beautiful colorful buildings and souvenir displays as you explore. You'll truly get that "island feeling" here, thanks to the sandy paths, palm trees, friendly people, and the gentle breeze. Just follow the traffic sign below and "go slow, but keep moving."

Enjoy delicious fresh fish

From around 3 p.m., the barbecues are fired up on the island, and it's time to enjoy the fresh catch. From that moment on, the island fills with the delicious aroma of food. There are many charming restaurants serving fantastic fresh fish.

Maggie's Sunset Kitchen

Here you can enjoy delicious fish or curries, among other things.

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Errolyn's House Of Fryjacks

Be sure to try the local breakfast delicacy, fryjack. We recommend Errolyn's House of Fryjacks for a shop with delicious fryjacks.

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Whether you're strolling around the island, exploring the underwater world, or enjoying delicious fresh fish, Caye Caulker invites you to truly slow down.

Useful information

• Official language: English

• Currency: Belize dollar ($)

• Area: 5km²

• Best time to travel: From December to May, you have the best chance of warm and dry weather on this island.