Best Hostels In Caye Caulker For Backpackers (2023)
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Looking for the best hostels in Caye Caulker? If you’re backpacking Belize, you will have seen that there isn’t much of a choice in Caye Caulker when it comes to hostels. The island is tiny, so there are only a few hostels to choose from!
We spent over two weeks in Caye Caulker in hostels, as well as talking to other backpackers in the area who stayed in hostels nearby.
As always, be sure to read the Hostelworld reviews before booking anywhere (even after reading this post). The information shared here is accurate for August 2023, but things do change! Read the reviews and ultimately, make the decision yourself.
If you’re contemplating skipping Belize and going straight to Guatemala or Mexico, think again! Caye Caulker was one of the most beautiful places we visited on our Central America trip. If you like the idea of a Caribbean island without the Caribbean prices, add Caye Caulker to your itinerary!
So, let’s get down to the best hostels in Caye Caulker so you can have the most epic backpacking trip in Belize!
Need more info on Caye Caulker? Check out my backpacking Caye Caulker complete travel guide.
Best Hostels in Caye Caulker: An Area Guide
Caye Caulker is small. Really, really small. Everything is within walking distance, so regardless of which hostel you’re staying at, you’ll be in the centre of the action.
During our time in Caye Caulker, we became friends with people from multiple hostels. We predominantly stayed at the Go Slow Hostel, but had friends from Tropical Oasis, Bella’s, Sophies Guest Rooms and Popeye’s.
The main difference between travelling Central America to Southeast Asia or other popular backpacking destinations is how busy it gets. If you know you’re going to be in Belize or Caye Caulker, book your accommodation as soon as possible.
There aren’t many hostels on Caye Caulker, and if you don’t book quickly, you could end up paying ten times the price for a fancy hotel room. Or, as our friends had to do, pay to sleep in a hammock in a hostel garden. Yes, it really does get that busy!
Sadly we met a backpacker who showed up at Caye Caulker looking for a dorm bed, couldn’t book in any of the hostels and didn’t have the budget for a hotel room. He then had to get the ferry back to Belize City just to be able to find a room for the night!
Pre-book all of your accommodations for Belize, especially Caye Caulker. It just isn’t built up enough yet to host hundreds of backpackers, and there aren’t many places to stay. Be prepared!
Caye Caulker Tours. Top Picks
- Explore local marine life: during this Local Reef Half-Day 3-Stop Snorkeling Tour with a professional tour guide
- Discover one of the oldest marine reserves in Belize: Hol Chan Marine Reserve Small-Group Tour
- Have a great time on this Sunset Cruise on a Houseboat with food & drink
- Get to know with turtles, harmless sharks and swim among coral reefs: 7-Stop Snorkeling in the Belize Barrier Reef
1. Go Slow Hostel
😀 Best for: solo travellers, couples, a mix of socialising and relaxing
⭐️ Overall Rating: 8.8 (Fabulous)
📍 Location: A 5-minute walk from the Split
💸 Budget: ££ (Medium)
🥳 Hostel vibe: Chill yet social
❄️ Air conditioning: Yes
💻 Wifi: Yes, but it works best in the main courtyard area rather than in the rooms
🍽 Kitchen: Yes
🏊♀️ Facilities/extras: Free kayaks to use, large communal area, kitchen, hammocks and sun loungers.
🏖️ What’s nearby?: BBQs, the Split, Ice and Beans, bars, cafes, and restaurants. This hostel is centrally located in Caye Caulker.
Find out more on Hostelworld.com.
We stayed here for over a week and it was perfect. In fact, it’s actually one of our favourite hostels we’ve ever stayed in!
It’s clean, comfortable, and in the best location on Caye Caulker, right in the middle of the main street. You’ll be a 30-second walk away from the beach BBQs, the famous Ice and Beans coffee shop and the beach bars at the Split. Our private room was also cleaned and left sparkling every day which was something we were not used to!
There’s a large area to socialise and meet other backpackers, which we loved. The wifi is a little hit-and-miss, and the shower water pressure could be a tiny bit stronger, but it’s worth it!
Need more info on Caye Caulker? Check out my backpacking Caye Caulker complete travel guide.
2. Sophie’s Guesthouse
😀 Best for: couples and solo travellers wanting a relaxed vibe
⭐️ Overall Rating: 9.7 (Superb)
📍 Location: Near the Lazy Lizard
💸 Budget: ££ (Medium)
🥳 Hostel vibe: Chilled
❄️ Air conditioning: Yes, but at an extra cost
💻 Wifi: Yes
🍽 Kitchen: No
🏊♀️ Facilities/extras: Coffee, water, BBQ, hammocks, sunset views
🏖️ What’s nearby?: BBQs, the Split, Ice and Beans, bars, cafes, and restaurants. This hostel is centrally located in Caye Caulker.
Find out more on Hostelworld.com.
Sophie’s Guest Rooms is perfect if you want to socialise, but don’t want to be up until midnight drinking. There are only five rooms on site, so it’s easy to make friends. It’s also only a stone’s throw from the Split and the Lazy Lizard bar, two of the most popular places to visit in Caye Caulker.
The rooms are nicely decorated with pastel colours and are cleaned every day. It’s small, but perfect for most backpackers!
3. Tropical Oasis
😀 Best for: solo backpackers who want to party and don’t mind the budget and basic rooms.
⭐️ Overall Rating: 8 (Fabulous)
📍 Location: Next to Go Slow Hostel
💸 Budget: £ (Low)
🥳 Hostel vibe: Party and social
❄️ Air conditioning: No
💻 Wifi: Yes
🍽 Kitchen: Yes
🏊♀️ Facilities/extras: Access to grill, hammocks, large communal area
🏖️ What’s nearby?: BBQs, the Split, Ice and Beans, bars, cafes, and restaurants. This hostel is centrally located in Caye Caulker.
Find out more on Hostelworld.com.
Tropical Oasis isn’t the most luxurious of hostels, but you get what you pay for. Expect basic dorms and beds, and just a place to rest your head at night. If you’re backpacking solo, it’s perfect to dump your bag and spend your days exploring the island.
There’s a large communal area that plays music throughout the day. It’s great for socialising and meeting new people, and many backpackers from other hostels pre-drink here (or at Go Slow, right next door).
Just read the reviews first before booking, and double-check you’re ok with the basic facilities.
Other hostels in Caye Caulker
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, and decide for yourself. Know exactly what you’re letting yourself in for! If you want to read them yourself, you can check them out here.
There’s also Blue Fin Cabanas, but it’s such a new hostel that it doesn’t have any reviews, and I haven’t met anyone who has stayed there. It looks beautiful, and if we return to Caye Caulker, we’ll be sure to check it out! (Let me know if you’ve stayed there, or know someone who has!)
And finally, Popeye’s Beach Resort is on Hostelworld, however, this is more of a hotel than a hostel. It has a swimming pool and private rooms. If you have the budget, it’s definitely worth checking out!
Is Caye Caulker a party island?
Not necessarily, but there are still some places to have a great night out. Caye Caulker is exceptionally small, so everyone 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 onto 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.
What to pack for your hostel in Caye Caulker
Staying in hostels in Central America? Don’t forget to pack:
- A padlock: to keep your valuables secure when you leave your hostel room.
- A hanging wash bag: to make sure all your toiletries are kept in one place, and won’t get confused with anyone else!
- Speakers: because, well, who doesn’t love music? Just make sure everyone in your room gets a chance to pick a song! (And no one minds you playing the music)
- A microfibre towel: Not all hostels will provide you with towels for free. Bring your own to save extra ££.
- Earphones: for loud nights and disruptions to your sleep.
- Flip flops: if you’re using shared showers.
- Eyemask: for uninterrupted sleep.
- World travel adapter or an extension lead: so you’re not using more than one plug!
- Your laptop or tablet: for movie nights, of course! 🍿
Best Hostels in Caye Caulker: FAQs
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!
What are the 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!
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.
Need more info on Caye Caulker? Check out my backpacking Caye Caulker complete travel guide.
Best Hostels in Caye Caulker: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about the best hostels in Caye Caulker.
When you’re planning a trip to Belize, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!
If you haven’t come across my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently backpacking Central America with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in 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
Other Belize posts:
- Snorkeling in Caye Caulker: BEST Company in
- How To Get From Caye Caulker To San Pedro
- How To Get From Chetumal To Caye Caulker (Belize) Guide
- Backpacking Caye Caulker: Everything You Need To Know
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).
