Cheap Eats on Caye Caulker

Island life isn’t always ” cheap”, but if you are willing to pull away from the tourist-centered international restaurants- then you’ll find plenty of cheap eats on Caye Caulker to keep your budget low.

Chances are if you’re booking a trip to Caye Caulker, you already know that it’s often referred to as a the ” backpacker friendly” island compared to it’s neighboring ( and much larger) sister island- Ambergris Caye and you are in the business of traveling on a budget- us too! So after spending 7 days on Caye Caulker as part of our 2 week budget Belize itinerary, we’ve cumulated our top 10 cheap eats on Caye Caulker to share with you.

Best Cheap Eats on Caye Caulker ( Vegetarian friendly)

Our favorite budget food in Caye Caulker:

  1. Caye Caulker Bakery: If you think your morning should start off with freshly made pastries ( like we do), then this is your spot! We went here 6 out of 7 days during our stay ( it’s closed on Sundays). With a 7:30 am opening, which is one of the earliest options on the island, line up at opening and be ready to indulge. ( average pastry is less then $2USD)
  2. Axios Sun– We went here on Sunday ( when the bakery was closed) for brekkie and think this is a good spot for a variety of breakfast options. Smoothies are between $6-$8 USD but are filling. Pancakes are about $ 6 USD. On the weekends, this spot attracts both locals and tourists so it’s a nice local experience.
  3. Sea Choice Juice Bar– To supplement our pastries in the morning with just a bit of nutrition, we split a fresh fruit smoothie from Sea Choice. It’s a small walk up window spot with no where to sit, but it’s right down the street from the beach. Get a fresh juice for $4-$6 USD and enjoy your juice ( and pastry) with an ocean-front view.
  4. Smooth’s Juice Bar– Come for the juice/smoothies, return for the people! The guys that run this stand are incredibly friendly and welcoming. We went here 3 times and they asked for our names, offered us to sample different foods off the menu, and even made us custom orders. They have lots of healthy options on the menu and everything is made fresh and ready to order.
  5. Martinez’s Fast Food.– Primarily a chicken and rice stand. There aren’t many options beyond that, but for $5 USD you get a VERY full plate ( with some sort of salad on the side). I’m a vegetarian and he doubled up on the rice ( and added some beans) for the same price. Best seasoned rice we had there!
  6. Ice N Beans Cafe Popular coffee shop with all the types of coffee and fancy coffees you would find in the States. US prices.
  7. Ana’s Papusas – We went here 3 times. Delicious, freshly made pupusas. Around 10 different options to choose from, lots of vegetarian options too.
  8. Chef Kareem’s Unbelizable lunch: Fresh grill rolling with a long line of both tourists and locals. Everything is made to order, cooked right in front of you, and enjoyed outside on a picnic bench.
  9. Los Almendros– Another walk up window spot gem. A whiteboard menu will show you the day’s offerings but expect guarditos, tostados, juices, and burritos. There’s a whatsapp number to order ahead of time for pick up too. Most meals between $4-$7 USD.
  10. The Pelican Budget Happy Hour! The Pelican is right on the docks, has chill music, different options for seating ( bar stools, tables, lounge chairs) and has reasonably priced discounted appetizers during their sunset time specials. Win- Win! We normally just grabbed a cerveza from the market to enjoy at the beach during sunset, but every now and then it’s nice to spice things up and enjoy a proper tropical cocktail for less then $5 USD.

Other things to note about Caye Caulker

Is Caye Caulker expensive?

It depends! We think Belize in general is on the more mid-range budget compared to the places we’ve traveled to. A lot of the prices ( especially if you ate at a sit down Western restaurant) will be comparable to what you spend in the US. For us, we went grocery shopping, cooked some meals, and ate local food or from local house stands and found those options to be more affordable then our cost of living in the US.

How do you get around Caye Caulker?

Our favorite ways to get around Caye Caulker are walking and cycling. As it’s a car free island, your only option for motorized transportation are golf cart rentals. A LOT of tourists rent golf carts, but we think it’s a small enough island for you to navigate around without one if you’re able to. What’s the rush?

Where else can you travel to from Caye Caulker?

A lot of people visit Caye Caulker as a day trip from it’s larger neighbor- Ambergris Caye, but we decided to stay for a week! We stayed in Belize for a total of 2 weeks and visited Caye Caulker, Ambergris Caye, and San Ignacio. Check out our full 2 week budget itinerary complete with accommodation and transportation suggestions here!

After accommodation, food is typically our largest travel expense! We hope that this cheap eats on Caye Caulker guide inspires you to try some different restaurants that won’t crush your budget.

Looking for recommendations of where else to travel in Belize?

Or check out our budget guides for nearby countries:

Looking for more food travel inspiration? Kuala Lumpur Malaysia is one of our favorite food cities. Check out our recommendations for veg-friendly spot for meals all under $3.00!

Corn and fresh grilled veggies are examples of cheap eats on caye caulker
a fruit smoothie held up against the ocean in the background. Smoothies are examples of cheap eats on caye caulker

Welcome! We're Vic and Pat- 30 somethings that have accumulated 10+ years of international travel experience who finally have the guts to share their experiences. We focus on budget couple travel in unique locations that aren't necessarily on a "bucketlist." We don't believe in taking time for granted and we do believe in living our life on the move. Sometimes we have long weekends, sometimes we have a 2 week holiday, sometimes we travel and work remotely for 2+ months at a time. Regardless of what chapter of life we're in, we want to show you how to stretch your budget, maximize travel hacks, and create memorable experiences.