Exploring Belizean Paradise with our Caye Caulker Belize Budget Guide
Not sure if ” Belizean Island” and ” budget” belong in the same sentence? We weren’t sure either! But after cashing in 20,000 Jetblue miles to fly from JFK to BZE for FREE, we figured we would try it out! Check out some of our recommendations for free things to do cheap places to to stay, and affordable spots to eat at with our Caye Caulker Belize budget guide.
Where is Caye Caulker Belize Island?
If you don’t already know, then you’re in for a treat. Caye Caulker island is a CAR FREE tiny island ( about 5 miles total, but really 2 miles long and 1 mile wide in the most developed sections) right across from Belize’s largest island- Ambergris Caye. Caye Caulker island is often referred to as the more ” budget friendly” of the islands.
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.
Your biggest expense on Caye Caulker will likely be your accommodation. Like most tropical destinations, the prices significantly vary depending on the season.
What are the cheapest months to travel to Belize?
The cheapest months to travel to Belize are during the ” low season” from mid June- mid November. When we visited, the hotel we stayed at was $60 USD/night, but during the ” peak season” it increases to over $120 a night! During the ” low season”, expect accommodations ( and tours) to be as much as 30-50% discounted. Now that is a good deal!
Where else can you travel to from Caye Caulker Belize Island?
A lot of people visit Caye Caulker island 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!
Budget Friendly Things to Do in Caye Caulker Belize
When we stayed on Caye Caulker for a week, we spent $0 on activities! Yes, there are many awesome organized tours you can book, but we chose to keep this a low budget trip so we opted out. Some friends we met there recommended this sailing and snorkeling tour , and this shark and sting ray snorkeling adventure if you are interested in a splurge. Such are the decisions of long-term travel! Even though we didn’t pay for any activities, there are still plenty of ways to enjoy your time on the island. After all, you’re probably coming to a Belizean island to do a bit of relaxing and refreshing?
Here are some free activities you can enjoy on Caye Caulker:
Caye Caulker Beaches
– The interesting thing about Caye Caulker is that there actually isn’t a lot of sand to lounge on so Caye Caulker beaches are small. Most locals chill on the concrete wall that outlines a lot of the perimeter. If you are after sand, the best spot ( and most popular) is ” the Caye Caulker split.” It’s free to swim and hang out there, and there are a few bars and local spots surrounding if you do want to splurge on an ocean-side cocktail.
-Bike Rentals : This is such a cycling friendly place! With no cars, the biggest threat to cyclists on the main ” roads” are the golf carts. While we did use bikes occasionally on the main roads, we actually preferred walking. There’s no rush, it’s built in exercise, and we felt like we really got to see the island much more thoroughly this way. Check out this resource If you do want to learn more about Caye Caulker bike rental.
We did LOVE cycling the bike path that is on the southern part of the island. There’s a narrow, sand/compacted dirt path that is even partially shaded. The bike path winds you around the southern perimeter free from tourist spots ( and most tourists). There aren’t any restaurants or bars on the path. Instead you’ll find the ocean to your left and a sprinkling of colorful houses to your right.
-Browse the Local Markets: We went ” window shopping” a few times mostly to just connect with locals.
-Watch the Sunset– The ” sunset” is such a funny concept to us because it literally happens daily, yet we only occasionally make a conscious effort to stop what we are doing to soak in the show! Luckily, Caye Caulker has endless Western facing roads that you can walk to the end to and find a quiet spot to watch the sunset in peace.
What budget restaurants offer good sunset deals?
If you are looking for a sundowner, then there’s also no shortage of bars offering Happy Hour promotions like Rainbow Grill & Bar or The Lazy Lizard ( more of a party vibe here). Our favorite spot is The Pelican which 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!
Best Places to Swim on Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker Split
If you don’t mind the lively atmosphere, one of the best places to swim is to the side of the “split.” The water can have a strong current ( it’s VERY strong between the two islands that give ” the split” it’s name), but in general it’s shallow so it’s easy to relax and cool off in the water without much effort.
Where else? Well, you are on a ( tiny) island so you can technically swim from any other point. We followed the locals to help spot out areas that were safer and accessible. Though we did meander down to ” the split” a few times, we much preferred the unnamed sandy/rocky beach areas that we found on the Southern part of the island. Just walk down any road ( it’s very easy to navigate) until you pop out on ocean property that looks appealing to you! If you are creative on your idea of a beach, then Caye Caulker beaches will pleasantly surprise you!
Can you swim across the Caye Caulker ” split”?
Definitely not. There are lots of signs advising against swimming between “the split” ( the narrow body of water that separates the north island from the ( main) south island) because the current is VERY strong. Lots of little boats pass there too.
Budget Friendly Restaurants on Caye Caulker:
Here are our favorite budget friendly places to eat on Caye Caulker that we actually went to:
–Caye Caulker Bakery ( delicious pastries for breakfast for less then $2USD)
–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!
–Ice N Beans Café Popular coffee shop with all the types of coffee and fancy coffees you would find in the States. US prices.
–Ana’s Papusas – We went here 3 times. Delicious, freshly made pupusas. Around 10 different options to choose from, lots of vegetarian options too.
–Chef Kareem’s Unbelizable lunch: Fresh grill rolling with a long line of both tourists and locals. Everything is made to order, cooked right infront of you, and enjoyed outside on a picnic bench.
Best Budget Friendly Caye Caulker Belize Hotels
We really enjoyed Caye Caulker for many reasons, but one main reason is that it attracts all types of folks. While there aren’t chain resorts, there are higher end hotels like this resort or this hotel for around $200 USD/night, mid range hotels like the Rainbow Hotel or Tropical Paradise for under $100 USD/ Night. You can definitely stretch your budget when searching for ” Caye Caulker Belize hotels” or you can easily splurge!
Hostels in Caye Caulker Belize:
Check out Hostelworld.com for recommendations on affordable properties on Caye Caulker. We heard good things about Sophies Guest Rooms which has a 9.0+ rating with over 700 reviews and Popeyes Beach Resort which has beach-front access. Regardless of your pick, there are plenty of solid hostels in Caye Caulker Belize to choose from!
Where did we stay on Caye Caulker?
We chose to stay on the South side of the island about 1 mile away from the center. We think this is the perfect spot if you want to avoid crowds! To experience a few properties in that area, spend a few nights at Palmetto Cabana Studios and a few nights at Mayan Falls ( with a pool!) Both properties are solid mid budget options ( $50/night). Accommodation can range from $30 for a shared room/hostel up to $300 USD for more luxuries. For a small island, there are plenty of options to meet your housing style. Check out some of the most popular recommendations for accommodations on www.booking.com for competitive prices.
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?
Can you fly to Caye Caulker?
Technically yes, but not internationally. To get from Caye Caulker from Belize City, you’ll first land in Belize City and then take a ( very short) 20 minute domestic flight over. We don’t love small planes, want to save money, and help out with Mother Nature when we can, so we opted for the public ferries. The ferries are efficient, easy to book, and run frequently!
You can take a ferry from Belize City or from Ambergris Caye too. The same companies that run water taxis from Belize City also run frequent rides between Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. You can pre-book your ticket online, but it’s a few dollars cheaper to walk up to the ferry counter the morning of your departure. From Ambergris Caye, the ferry is about 30-45 minutes and costs around $30 USD.
How big is Caye Caulker?
From it’s longest point end to end, Caye Caulker is 5 miles long and less then 1 mile wide! We think it’s the perfect size to explore over a week.
Caye Caulker is our favorite spot in Belize ( so far) and we hope you enjoy it’s charm too! If you’re looking for suggestions on where to go next nearby check out our other Belize suggestions:
- Ambergris Caye Budget Itinerary ( without crowds)
- Mayan Ruins in San Ignacio ( without a tour)
- 2 Week Budget Belize Itinerary
- 10 Cheap Eats on Caye Caulker
Looking for more travel inspiration in Central America?
Mexico:
–Puerto Vallarta Budget Itinerary
Guatemala:
–5 Nights in Guatemala ( Budget Itinerary)
–Acatenango overnight hike- what to expect!
Chile:
