Belize Family Getaway

Welcome to Caye Caulker, the smaller island neighbor to Ambergris Caye off the coast of Belize!  With the motto "go slow," Caye Caulker tends to draw more of a backpacker crowd and has fewer amenities compared to Ambergris, but for those seeking a slow pace without the luxury hotel crowd, it might be the right fit for you.  At just 5 miles long and 1 mile wide, it can be easily explored on foot, bike, or golf cart (no vehicles to be found on this island!).  Hurricane Hattie (1961) split the island into two - north & south island - and to this they they are separated by a small channel known as "the split."  Visitors & locals can cross the channel easily on a ferry which runs back & forth throughout the day, though the majority of the shops, restaurants, and bars are found on the south island.

We took the water taxi into town from our hotel on the north island and explored on foot, stopping for fresh fruit smoothies, "panty rippers" (the local rum cocktail), and a delicious BBQ lunch.  While we felt quite comfortable and safe with our young child in tow, the typical demographic does skew towards a younger party crowd and also has quite a large community of American expats.

If you ask the locals what to do, they'll all point you to the seahorse sanctuary and tarpon feeding sites.  They're definitely worth a visit!  We included both in a full day tour along with some nearby snorkeling.