Where To See Stingrays in Caye Caulker: Complete Guide 2023
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Looking for the best places to see stingrays in Caye Caulker? You’re in the right place! There are a few different places in Caye Caulker to spot stingrays, so keep reading to find out the places with the best chances of seeing one!
Caye Caulker and the entire country of Belize have so much to offer when it comes to wildlife. We spent almost a month backpacking Belize, and couldn’t believe the sheer amount of wildlife and marine life we saw!
If you’re in Caye Caulker, it’s one of the best places to swim with nurse sharks, stingrays, giant turtles, tarpons, dolphins and even manatees. On land, you’ll constantly be surrounded by the comical large pelicans (who don’t particularly like humans), hermit crabs, wild dogs, and even tapirs (on the mainland of Belize).
In this post, I explain the best places to spot wild stingrays in Caye Caulker, and even a location where you can touch and feed them!
Other Belize posts:
- Shark Ray Alley Caye Caulker: Complete Guide
- Snorkeling in Caye Caulker: BEST Company
- Best Hostels In Caye Caulker For Backpackers
- Best Places To Eat In Caye Caulker (Backpacker Guide)
Where to see stingrays in Caye Caulker: A Summary
In summary, the best places to see stingrays in Caye Caulker are:
- The Iguana Reef Hotel: pretty much guaranteed every day at sunset. The hotel feeds them a couple of times a week, so the stingrays show up every evening in the hope of their dinner!
- Shark Ray Alley: known for its abundance of nurse sharks, this is also a great place to see stingrays in Caye Caulker
- The Split/The Lazy Lizard: there’s no guarantee of seeing a stingray here, but if you sit close enough to the edge of the dock, you might get lucky! We saw a spotted eagle ray here one evening at sunset. It was amazing!
Where can I see the stingrays in Caye Caulker?
The main location to see stingrays in Caye Caulker is the Iguana Reef Hotel. The hotel feeds them a couple of times a week, so the stingrays show up every evening in the hope of dinner! The stingrays usually turn up around 4pm, and are there until 6pm. You are allowed to touch, feed and feel the stingrays glide over your feet.
Iguana Reef Hotel
As previously mentioned, the main location to see stingrays in Caye Caulker is the Iguana Reef Hotel. This is an entirely free spot to see stingrays (perfect for budget backpackers) and is also a great location to watch the sunset. If you do want to buy a drink, the hotel has a full working bar and restaurant, so you can admire the stingrays with a cocktail in hand!
The stingrays usually turn up around 4pm, and are there until 6pm. A few times a week, the hotel will feed the stingrays. They only do this sporadically to ensure the stingrays still learn how to hunt food for themselves.
When the hotel is feeding the stingrays, you are able to hold a fish and feed one yourself. The stingray will munch on the fish little by little, and it’s quite a strange feeling! You’re also able to touch the stingrays (they love attention!) and feel the contrasting coarse top layer of the stingray compared to the slippery, slimy texture on the bottom of their body.
You’d think as wild animals, the stingrays wouldn’t want to be touched, but in fact, it’s like they crave it! If you stop stroking them, they’ll linger around your feet for more attention. They also like to put their head above the water and give you a little ‘smile’!
Are the stingrays you can touch at the Iguana Reef dangerous? Well, yes and no. It depends on how you treat the stingrays. If you don’t step on them, get in their way or make them feel attacked, they’re not going to hurt you. Of course, they’re still wild animals, and this is their home. So if you do anything to upset them, they’re going to protect themselves (and upset you back).
Just give the stingrays plenty of space and don’t overcrowd them. And of course, don’t stand on one!
Shark Ray Alley
Another great location to see stingrays in Caye Caulker is Shark Ray Alley.
The best way to experience Shark Ray Alley to its fullest, and to swim with the sharks and stingrays is to book a tour. It isn’t close enough to Caye Caulker to swim (and this would be incredibly dangerous) and you’ll need to be on a boat to experience it.
I highly recommend Nauti Time Tours if you are backpacking Belize for the first time. Not only do they have knowledgeable guides who go out of their way to make your day as epic as possible, but they’re eco-friendly, visit all of the best spots in the reef and their prices won’t break the bank!
When we stopped at Shark Ray Alley, we watched from the boat for around 5 minutes before jumping in to snorkel with the sharks and stingrays. We were in the water with the nurse sharks and stingrays for approximately 30 minutes. The nurse sharks never came too close to us, and we didn’t feel in any danger whatsoever.
If you want to find out more about Shark Ray Alley, check out my recent post: Shark Ray Alley Caye Caulker: Complete Guide.
The Split/The Lazy Lizard
Another great place to spot stingrays in Caye Caulker is the Split. The Split refers to the split in the land between the north and south island of Caye Caulker.
On the northern tip of the south island is the Lazy Lizard bar, which has tables and chairs right on the water for you to be able to enjoy the Caribbean sea with a beer in hand.
Whilst sitting on the deck, we were able to see a spotted eagle ray bobbing along the surface of the water. Of course, this isn’t guaranteed, but it was an incredible experience, and worth a shot!
How do I pronounce ‘Caye Caulker?’
Surprisingly, it’s not pronounced ‘Caye’ (c-ay) Caulker at all. It’s pronounced ‘key’ (k-ee) Caulker. We didn’t learn this until after arriving in 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 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!
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!
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.
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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!
Where To See Stingrays in Caye Caulker: In a Nutshell
So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about where to see the stingrays 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 Belize 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
- Best Hostels In Caye Caulker For Backpackers
- How To Get From Caye Caulker To San Pedro
- Best Places To Eat In Caye Caulker (Backpacker Guide)
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).
