Backpacking Caye Caulker: Everything You Need To Know (2023)
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Backpacking Caye Caulker? Yay! Whilst backpacking Central America, Caye Caulker was one of our favourite places, and it is so underrated!
Caye Caulker is a picture-perfect Caribbean island surrounded by the turquoise blue waters of the Caribbean Sea, with endless amounts of wildlife, friendly locals, incredible BBQ food, cheap(ish) prices and a chilled ‘go slow’ attitude that absolutely everyone on the island adopts.
In this post, I outline everything you need to know about backpacking Caye Caulker. From safety, to where to eat, how to get there, where to party, how to make friends and where to travel to after!
So, let’s get planning and get you to this tiny island of paradise in Belize!
Other Belize posts:
- Snorkeling in Caye Caulker: BEST Company
- Shark Ray Alley Caye Caulker: Complete Guide
- Best Places To Eat In Caye Caulker (Backpacker Guide)
- Does Caye Caulker Have ATMs? Exact Locations
Backpacking Caye Caulker: A Summary
Every backpacker we met in Caye Caulker thought the same as us. We all fell in love with the island as soon as we arrived, and all of us tried to extend our stay.
Unfortunately, where the island is so small, some of our friends weren’t able to (and some actually paid to sleep in hammocks in hostel courtyards just to be able to stay a few days more – that’s how much they wanted to stay!)
We originally booked 5 days in Caye Caulker, which quickly turned into two weeks. And I’ll be honest, we could have stayed longer! It really is a special place, and one I’ll never forget.
For backpackers, the island is so small that it is nearly impossible to not make friends. Regardless of what hostel you’re staying in, you’ll get to know other backpackers on the island as you’ll all go to the same places (although I do still recommend Go Slow Hostel for first-timers).
Whilst the nightlife isn’t crazy, some bars are open until midnight, with the most popular being Sports Bar.
You’ll see pretty much every other backpacker and local in the Sports Bar past 9pm. Yep, the man who was serving you BBQ chicken for lunch or working as your snorkelling guide will then be partying with you in the evening!
Caye Caulker is one of those little bubbles in the world that’s rare to find. Every local you meet will talk about it being paradise, and it really is. Being an island, you feel cut off from the rest of the world, and quickly adopt the ‘go slow, have fun’ way of life.
There’s little to no signal on the island (if you’re a digital nomad, make sure you’re staying in a hostel with wifi) so you can totally disconnect and escape reality for a few days.
Related post: 29 AMAZING Things To Do In Caye Caulker Belize
Where to stay in Caye Caulker as a backpacker
As I previously mentioned, Caye Caulker is small. Really, really small. So everyone gets to know everyone, regardless of what hostel you’re at.
There’s also a lot of talk about the hostels, and what makes them great (or not so great). If you’ve done your research, you will have heard about Bella’s Backpackers. Well, yes, it might be known as the ‘party’ hostel, but it doesn’t receive the best reviews (in person and online).
I’ve met people who have mixed reviews about Bella’s. Some have loved it, whilst some have checked out early. Do your research and read the reviews, so you know exactly what you’re letting yourself in for! You can read some of the helpful reviews here.
If you’d rather avoid the chaos of Bella’s, I highly recommend:
- Go Slow Hostel: we stayed here for over a week and it was perfect. Clean, comfortable, and in the best location on the island (it’s actually on the street next to Bella’s). There’s a large area to socialise and meet other backpackers, which we loved. The wifi is a little hit-and-miss, but it’s worth it!
- Sophie’s Guestrooms: If you want a quieter stay. This hostel only has 5 rooms and has a real homey vibe to it.
- Tropical Oasis: for basic dorms but a good party and social vibe. Right next to Go Slow Hostel.
How to get to Caye Caulker
This depends on where you’re coming from. A popular backpacking route is travelling south through Central America from Mexico to Panama. If you’re doing this, the best way to get to Caye Caulker is to travel from Mexico to Belize by boat.
Most backpackers finish their Mexico route in Bacalar, which means they can get the ferry easily from Chetumal (30 minutes from Bacalar) directly to Caye Caulker. If you are looking to do this route, I have a full Chetumal (Mexico) to Caye Caulker (Belize) guide here.
If you’re not near Bacalar or this part of Mexico and decide to fly into Belize, you will need to fly into Belize City airport. From there, you will need to grab a taxi to the San Pedro Water Express terminal and take the 45-60 minute ferry over to Caye Caulker. Again, I have a full guide explaining how to get from Belize City to Caye Caulker here.
From all other locations, you will need to fly into Belize City airport first.
You can either board a small, domestic flight to Caye Caulker, or use the most popular option of getting to the ferry terminal and taking the 45-60 minute journey over to Caye Caulker.
Remember Caye Caulker is a Caribbean island, so you will need to either fly or get a boat for part of the journey!
Visas and requirements for entering Caye Caulker
If you are a UK or US resident, you will automatically get a 30-day visa when entering Belize. This means you do not need to apply for any other visa.
Caye Caulker daily costs
Everyone talks about how expensive Caye Caulker is, but after arriving in Belize after Mexico, we didn’t find this to be the case! In most instances, things were cheaper than what we had paid in places like Isla Holbox and Tulum.
| Accommodation (per night) | Food (per day) | Activities | |
| Low-budget backpacker | Shared dorm: £8-15 | £20-30 | £0-50+ (some activities are free!) |
| Mid-range backpacker | Private room: £40-60 | £20-50 | £80+ |
Prices will vary and depend on the time of year that you are visiting. My biggest tip when backpacking Central America is to book hostels in advance. We found the nicest and most popular hostels in Belize book up quickly, and if you don’t book with enough time, you could end up missing out!
Plus, as I have mentioned quite a few times – Caye Caulker is tiny. There are only so many hostels (and the rest is just expensive hotels), and if you want to extend, it’s not going to be easy! Book early to avoid any disappointment!
TOP TIP: Most places in Caye Caulker only take cash. But, this is changing, and some now take card (just expect a 5-10% fee on top). If you do need to withdraw cash, check out my post explaining the ATM situation on Caye Caulker here.
Bucket list experiences in Caye Caulker
As backpackers, we want to experience everything. It’s likely you’ll only be in a certain location for a short amount of time, and that FOMO feeling is the worst.
Here’s a list of the best bucket list experiences you can do in Caye Caulker (with a helpful budget sign too!)
- Snorkel with manatees, nurse sharks and stingrays (££)
- Take a scenic flight over the Blue Hole (£££)
- Feed the stingrays at the Iguana Reef Hotel (free)
- Scuba dive with manatees, sharks and stingrays (£££)
- Take a sunset cruise (£)
- Kayak on the Caribbean Sea (£ or free with your hostel)
- Go tubing in the Caribbean Sea (£)
If you only have the budget to do one of these epic bucket list activities, I recommend snorkelling. It may be a little expensive (around £65 per person), but it’s worth every penny. You can find out what the snorkeling tour involves here.
You can check out more of the best things to do in Caye Caulker in my guide here!
Free and cheap things to do in Caye Caulker
If you’re backpacking Caye Caulker on a budget, there are still plenty of things to see and do.
The best things to do in Caye Caulker on a budget include:
- Swimming at the Split and diving off the 20ft platform
- Kayaking (most hostels allow you to use their kayaks for free, for example, Go Slow Hostel does!)
- Seeing the stingrays at sunset at the Iguana Reef Inn
- Having a traditional Caribbean BBQ
- Partying at the Sports Bar (5 BZ rum punch!), taking part in the pub quiz or karaoke
- Hiring a bike to cycle to the north island
- Watching the sunset from the Split
- Grabbing a beer from the shop and sitting by the Caribbean Sea
- Volunteering at the animal shelter (opposite Ice and Beans)
- Getting a morning coffee and watch the world go by in Ice and Beans
- Eating yummy Chinese food from Yummy Yummy (under £5 a person)
- Going for a walk and exploring the island at your own ‘go slow’ pace
If you have a bit of money to spend, the other incredible activities at Caye Caulker include:
- Snorkeling the second-biggest barrier reef in the world with nurse sharks and manatees
- A scenic flight over the Blue Hole
- Scuba diving the Blue Hole
- A sunset cruise (some of the hostels organise these)
- Tubing in the sea at sunset
Don’t forget to book your hostel in advance! I recommend this hostel in Caye Caulker; as it’s clean, social (but not too wild) and in the best location on the island.
Where to eat in Caye Caulker on a budget
We found the food in Caye Caulker to be quite hit-and-miss. There were incredible BBQs on the beach which served up juicy jerk chicken, fresh salad and tasty coconuts, but then some of the restaurants on the main strip sadly weren’t as great.
These are the restaurants that I recommend to backpackers. They’re all fairly priced (unless stated otherwise) and had great food. We did eat at a few other venues that I haven’t included in the list, just as the food really wasn’t up to a good standard!
LUNCH
- Kareem’s BBQ or any of the other BBQs along the beach
- Ice and Beans
- Auntie’s Take-Out Food
- Errolyn’s Fryjacks
- Amor Y Cafe
- Axios Sun
- The Lazy Lizard (££)
- Sip and Dip (££)
DINNER
- Yummy Yummy
- Roy’s Blue Water Grill
- Fantasy Dining
- Maggie’s Sunset Kitchen
- Iguana Reef Hotel (££)
- Swings
- Pasta Per Caso (£££ – only for special occasions!)
- The Happy Lobster
- The Taco Express Bar
You can check out more about the best restaurants in Caye Caulker and what kind of food they serve here.
Local food and drink in Caye Caulker
FOOD
The national dish of Belize is rice and beans. This is served with most meals, especially if you get a BBQ on the beach or Belizean stew chicken in a restaurant. Other common foods in Caye Caulker include Belizean stews, coconut rice, fry jacks, and of course, freshly caught lobster!
DRINK
Belize’s national drink is rum punch, and you will be able to buy it everywhere in Caye Caulker (even in a coconut). It’s fairly priced, and you shouldn’t need to pay more than 8 BZ for one anywhere on the island.
If you’re not a fan of rum, the other most popular drink is a Belikin beer, which is also one of the cheapest drinks you can find! We ended most of our days with a Belikin overlooking the sea and watching the sun go down.
How to get around Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is a small island, and you can walk to most places you’ll need to get to. However, if you have heavy bags after arriving from the ferry, or want to visit the north island, you can hire either a:
- Bicycle: prices start at £5 ($6) per 24 hours
- Golf cart: these are also available as ‘taxis’ if you need help with your bags. Prices for golf carts are considerably higher and are not worth it unless there is a group of you.
TOP TIP: If you’re visiting the North Island of Belize, I highly recommend hiring a bike because of how big and vast it is. You can take this bike on the Split to Split ferry for under £3 ($4) each way, per person. Ferries run across the Split from early in the morning until late at night, but if you are unsure, check with the ferry attendant.
Wildlife in Caye Caulker
If you’re anything like me when it comes to spotting wildlife whilst you’re backpakcing, Caye Caulker is for you. There is an abundance of wildlife, and it’s pretty much everywhere you look (especially in the water!)
When backpacking Caye Caulker, you can expect to see:
- Nurse sharks (with a chance of swimming with them!)
- Stingrays (every night at the Iguana Reef Hotel)
- Manatees (whilst snorkeling)
- Dolphins (whilst snorkeling)
- Sea turtles (whilst snorkeling)
- Pelicans
- Seahorses (at the Iguana Reef Hotel viewing area)
- Eels (at the Iguana Reef Hotel viewing area)
- Starfish
- Tarpons
- Giant iguanas (and lots of them)
- Wild dogs
- Hermit crabs
- Crocodiles (although I don’t recommend finding these! They live on the north island)
Making friends in Caye Caulker as a backpacker
As a backpacker, you’re going to want to make friends to make the most of your experience in Caye Caulker. If you’re a solo traveller with a lot of confidence and an extroverted personality, this is going to be easy. But for some of us, it just isn’t!
Here are my best tips for making friends whilst backpacking Caye Caulker, regardless of if you’re travelling in a couple, solo, with friends or you’re a bit of an introvert (like me!)
- Get the boat from Chetumal to Caye Caulker. The majority of friends we made in Caye Caulker were on this boat. It is full of other backpackers travelling from Mexico to Belize! Everyone on the boat was mingling and stayed in touch after, regardless of what hostel we were at. You’re also all sitting quite close together so there are no awkward cliques or groups you’ll need to dive into. Everyone just talks together!
- Book a snorkeling tour. Our trip with Nauti Time Tours was again, full of other backpackers! We all went for drinks after the tour (although I was a little sunburnt and had to have an early night…)
- Stay in a hostel (even if it’s a private room). Our hostel – Go Slow – had outside decking, right in front of our room, which we shared with other backpackers. We made a lot of friends here without having to do anything!
- Go to the Sports Bar, or Swings after sunset. Swings has long benches so it’s easy to sit on the other side of another couple or group. You can then start chatting!
- Feed the stingrays at the Iguana Reef Hotel at sunset. We met so many other backpackers here through minimal effort!
Where to party in Caye Caulker
In summary, the best places to drink and ‘party’ for backpackers in Caye Caulker are:
- Pre-drinks: Swings, Lazy Lizard, Sip and Dip
- Evening: Sports Bar
- Past midnight: I and I Reggae Bar
Caye Caulker is not necessarily a party island, but there are still some places to have a great night out. Caye Caulker is exceptionally small, so everyone on the island tends to go to the same places in the evenings (including the locals; we recognised everyone in every bar!)
As backpackers, we started our evenings in Swings, a small bar with decently priced food and delicious rum punch. After Swings, most move to Sports Bar. A typical dive bar, the Sports Bar hosts different events each night, ranging from Trivia quizzes to karaoke. Past 9pm, the tables are moved and the whole place becomes a dancefloor with a small smoking area on the beach.
After Sports Bar, most people either head home (it closes at midnight), or south to the Reggae Bar. The Reggae Bar is the only place on Caye Caulker that is open past midnight. It’s more of a club than anywhere else on the island, so if you’re not into overcrowded dance floors, head home at midnight.
If you’re hungry, the only places still serving food past midnight on Caye Caulker are the street food vans opposite the Reggae Bar. You can get hotdogs, burgers and nachos for under £5, so even if you’re not continuing the party, you can stop off for some food!
Want to know more about partying in Caye Caulker? Check out my post: Is Caye Caulker A Party Island? Backpacker Guide.
How many days should you spend in Caye Caulker?
If you’re visiting Caye Caulker for the first time, I recommend spending at least 4-5 days on the island. It’s one of those places that’s hard to leave, and the longer the better! There is so much to see and do in Caye Caulker, with some tourists staying for up to a week.
As backpackers, we arrived in Caye Caulker not really knowing what to expect. We were so surprised that we actually extended our stay by a week! And it wasn’t just us; we were surrounded by other backpackers who did the same. There’s just so much to do, people to meet, food to taste and experiences to be hard – and it’s hard to leave when you realise how beautiful it is!
Where to go after Caye Caulker
If you have just come from Mexico, your next location will be either San Ignacio (the most common option), Hopkins or Placencia. Hopkins and Placencia tend to be quite pricy, so most backpackers skip them and go straight to San Ignacio. Of course, if you have the budget and the time, they’re definitely worth checking out!
San Ignacio is the gateaway to Guatemala, so most backpackers spend a couple of nights here before heading into their next country.
It’s an easy land crossing from San Ignacio to Flores (Guatemala), and San Ignacio is definitely worth a visit. It’s the total opposite of Caye Caulker, and instead of rum punch and coconuts, you’ll be surrounded by tall green trees and mountains!
Need help getting from Caye Caulker to San Ignacio? Check out my post: Caye Caulker To San Ignacio: Backpacker Guide!
If you are visiting Caye Caulker after Guatemala and BEFORE Mexico, I recommend travelling to Bacalar (Mexico) after Caye Caulker. Some backpackers make a 2-3 day stop in San Pedro, but this again is a pricier town, and you might want to do your research into whether you’d like it or not first.
Bacalar is easy to reach from Caye Caulker. You’ll board the water taxi, then it’s only a 30 minutes bus away from Chetumal (the location where your water taxi drops you off in Mexico).
It’s a popular destination in Mexico due to it’s brightly coloured blue lakes and party atmosphere. All information about the boat between Belize and Mexico can be found here: How To Get From Chetumal To Caye Caulker (Belize).
Is Caye Caulker safe for solo female travellers?
Yes, Caye Caulker is a safe place for solo female travellers to visit. Throughout the entire time I spent in Caye Caulker, I felt safe. This includes on my own during the day and at night.
The locals were kind, welcoming and friendly. Yes, you do get a bit of heckling and asking whether you’d like a rum or other suspicious items, but it’s nothing harmful.
In fact, Caye Caulker was where I felt safest throughout our Central American travels.
But everyone’s experiences of Caye Caulker are different. What might feel safe to me, might not feel safe for you. But in general, I found there to be no issues or problems in Caye Caulker, no immediate threat of danger and most importantly, the people were kind!
As always, make sure you have travel insurance to have extra peace of mind. As a previous solo female traveller myself, I always use SafetyWing for insurance. They have the best cover for backpackers, and signing up is easy! You can check out their cover here.
Can you walk around Caye Caulker?
Yes, Caye Caulker is walkable. The island is less than 1 mile wide (east to west) and only 5 miles north to south. Most of the tourist attractions and areas are all in the centre, and most visitors will not need to leave this area (or want to!)
However, you can hire a bike and explore the north island. You’ll need to board the Split to Split ferry at The Split (which is north of the south island) which will take you across the water to the north island.
If you do need help with luggage or a more than 5 minute walk (seriously, most things are within 5 minutes of each other), you can grab a golf cart taxi. These taxis are around throughout the day and you can hail them from the side of the road.
Caye Caulker or San Pedro?
This depends on what kind of person you are, but if you’re a backpacker, I recommend Caye Caulker. Caye Caulker is small and laid back, with a real backpacker vibe to it. San Pedro attracts more American tourists (big families, older couples) to stay in their grand resorts and apartments.
Caye Caulker has better hostels, but a more chilled nightlife than San Pedro. There are a few bars in Caye Caulker (the Sports Bar, which closes at midnight, and the Reggae Bar, which closes at 2/3am). But that’s it. So if you want crazy nightlife, head to San Pedro.
Don’t worry, backpackers still have big nights out in Caye Caulker, it just doesn’t have a ‘superclub’ vibe.
Caye Caulker has sandy roads with no cars. San Pedro has tarmac with cars, big buildings and is five times bigger than Caye Caulker. So, you decide which is better for you!
Can you swim at Caye Caulker?
Yes, you can swim at Caye Caulker! The water in Caye Caulker is warm, clear and is an amazing bright, turquoise blue. As it is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, you can expect all types of wildlife in the water; from stingrays to manatees and even nurse sharks!
Most people in Caye Caulker swim at the Split, which now has a couple of bars with floating tables and chairs for you to enjoy a cocktail in the Caribbean Sea! You can even bring out your adventurous side by jumping off a 20ft platform leading directly into the ocean!
There are a couple of places that you won’t want to swim due to crocodiles, especially around the North Island. If you’re worried, just check in with a local before swimming.
One of the best activities in Caye Caulker is to snorkel to the second-largest barrier reef in the world. You can find out more about this here: Snorkeling in Caye Caulker: BEST Company in 2023!
Is there a beach on Caye Caulker?
Whilst there isn’t necessarily a ‘beach’, there are a lot of places where you can safely swim and snorkel. One of the most popular areas to enjoy the Caribbean Sea is the Split, where you can jump off a 20ft diving platform, spot stingrays and even snorkel with manatees.
There are some parts of the island that have small patches of sand, but most of these will belong to bigger hotels or resorts.
If you’re a big beach fan, you may want to check out some other best beaches in Belize!
What are the other best areas in Belize for backpackers?
Looking to backpack Belize? So many backpackers skip Belize entirely but that is such a big mistake! It’s one of the most beautiful countries we have ever travelled to, and I cannot recommend it enough.
If you’re looking at where most backpackers travel to in Belize, this is a common route and Belize itinerary (which can also be followed the other way round).
- Chetumal (Mexico) > Caye Caulker
- Caye Caulker > San Ignacio
- San Ignacio > Flores (Guatemala)
Other locations some backpackers stay in whilst visiting Belize include:
- Hopkins: a beachside, sleepy town
- Placencia: a resort, holiday-like town
- Belize City: although it’s not a popular choice with most backpackers
- San Pedro: another Caribbean island
- Dangriga: where the Ragga Sailing tour ends from Caye Caulker
- Tobacco Caye: another island but on a much smaller scale
- The Hummingbird Highway: an epic jungle road from Dangriga to San Ignacio. You can stop off along the drive to hike through the jungle and visit the caves and watering holes.
- Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve: a large national park that can be accessed from San Ignacio.
More on all of these locations coming soon!
Other Central American backpacking locations
If you’re backpacking Central America, go you! It’s such an incredible part of the world to travel, and I’m so glad you’re here, reading this and considering it.
Not sure what route to take? You’re in the right place! This blog is full of Central America backpacking advice.
If you’re not sure what other countries to visit in Central America, this is the most common route backpackers take:
- Mexico
- Belize
- Guatemala
- El Salvador
- Honduras
- Nicaragua
- Costa Rica
- Panama (ending with the San Blas Island trip to Colombia)
How long you stay in each location is down to you, but if you need more information about any of these locations, sign up to my newsletter and keep an eye on the blog for when they’re published!
Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America
If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.
Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.
I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.
If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.
With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)
Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!
If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!
Backpacking Caye Caulker: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Nearly 5000 words later, and you should know everything about backpacking Caye Caulker! Phew, if you’ve got this far, I’m impressed!
When you’re planning a trip to Belize, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below. I’d love to know about your experience in Caye Caulker and if you found it as special as I did!
If you haven’t come across my blog before, I write informative and honest posts directly aimed at backpackers. Researching and planning your trip whilst backpacking can be so overwhelming, so I’m here to make it as easy as possible!
I’m currently backpacking Central America with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow our footsteps!
Keep an eye out for more Belize content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!
As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!
Happy travelling 🙂
Jennie x
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MEET THE AUTHOR!
Hi! I'm Jennie! As a part-time travel blogger based in London, I'm using my 10+ years of travel expertise to encourage & inspire you to step out of your comfort zone through sustainable, mindful and purposeful travel.
If I'm not writing, I'm either reading, drinking coffee or taking a wild swim (all at the same time if I'm feeling impressive).
