The Cayes are Belize’s island paradises with a tranquil, Caribbean feel. Ambergris Caye hosts San Pedro Town with an extensive variety of accommodation options available on its beachfront.
Make sure to sample some Lizard Juice! Or visit The Split, which was formed by Hurricane Hattie in 1961.
Ambergris Cayes
Ambergris Caye was first discovered by ancient Maya long before sun-seekers and avid divers discovered it for themselves. Today it stands out as one of Belize’s largest and liveliest islands, jutting into the Caribbean Sea like an extended peninsula from Mexico that runs parallel with Belize Barrier Reef. San Pedro serves as its sole town – offering beachfront hotels, restaurants, tiki bars, and souvenir shops in its compact “downtown.”
The north and west sides of the island feature beautiful white sand beaches ideal for strolling and sunbathing, while resorts and homes on its east side provide easy access to world-class snorkeling adventures along the Belize Barrier Reef. Many of its beaches have also been protected by coral reefs; when visiting this incredible marine ecosystem, it is recommended that sunscreen suitable for coral reefs is applied before visiting these beaches.
Once a fishing-focused economy, Coco Island’s economy now relies heavily on tourism. Visitors can easily find accommodations to fit every budget here – from simple beachfront bungalows to luxurious condominium resorts and private villas. Many resorts feature their own piers where guests can spend their days lounging by the water’s edge or swimming in its tranquil turquoise waters. Being near to both barrier reef and rainforest makes Coco an excellent base for exploration; resorts provide various tours.
Dining options range from gourmet eateries to cozy cafes, with many restaurants providing breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Fresh fish served up with all of its local sides is just one option available here: in addition to seafood dinners featuring lobster or conch dishes as well as classic breakfast favorites like pancakes or muffins for breakfast!
Golf carts are the primary mode of transport on this island, helping keep it quiet, safe, and charming. Visitors can walk or bicycle to all their desired destinations during the day; come evening, the island comes alive with great restaurants, bars, and clubs to discover!
Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is a leisurely island that welcomes all types of travelers who seek casual tropical recreation. Home to vibrant social scenes, delicious restaurants, and plenty of activities – many tourists choose just to relax on hammocks while sipping refreshing coconut cocktails while admiring its breathtaking waters and landscapes.
Caye Caulker offers breathtaking scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities, and there is no shortage of dive companies offering certification courses and guided excursions. Additionally, The Great Blue Hole in Lighthouse Reef is a must-see attraction, featuring an awe-inspiring natural sinkhole that offers breathtaking sights from below the surface – the best ways to appreciate its size, depth, and beauty are with either scenic flight or diving certification courses!
Boat tours provide an exciting and unforgettable experience, taking visitors on tours to see manatees in their natural habitat, or to one of Belize’s many Mayan temples on mainland Belize. Though more costly, these unforgettable boat excursions make sure no memory will ever fade!
An exciting activity on the island is to attend a lobster festival. Not a regular event, this festival only occurs when there are enough lobsters available to host it. At these festivals there will be music, dancing, and plenty of delicious lobster dishes being eaten during this event – there is even a Miss Lobsterfest pageant held!
Many visitors take a domestic flight from Belize City to Caye Caulker. There are two airlines operating direct flights there – Tropic Air and Maya Island Air. Flight times typically last approximately 20 minutes and provide breathtaking views of Belize’s incredible barrier reef system.
If traveling on a tight budget, ferry services offer another affordable means of reaching the island. They run frequently throughout the day and only take 45 minutes; however, due to possible rough seas conditions, it’s wise to take some Dramamine in case sea sickness strikes.
On the island, there are various accommodation options, ranging from luxury resorts such as Matachica Resort & Spa to beachside bungalows at Victoria House Resort and Spa and even some Airbnb options.
Lighthouse Reef Atoll Cayes
Lighthouse Reef’s highlight, the world-famous Great Blue Hole, is well known. But this marine sanctuary holds much more to discover. From visiting its stunning atoll cayes to snorkeling its coral gardens, mangrove forests, and pristine wetlands – Lighthouse Reef provides an experience not to be missed! Furthermore, Lighthouse Reef provides habitats to some of Belize’s most important wildlife populations.
Half Moon Caye Marine Park provides an idyllic habitat, making it the ideal spot for birders seeking endangered Red-footed Boobies and Magnificent Frigatebirds. Declared the first protected natural area in 1928 to safeguard this rare colony of birds, Half Moon Caye was declared a Natural Monument to ensure their preservation – now recognized as one of the premier birding spots in the Western Caribbean.
Snorkelers can enjoy exploring the lagoons and reef flats surrounding Half Moon Caye or diving the iconic Great Blue Hole made famous by Jacques Cousteau (who seems to have an extraordinary quote for every underwater destination he visited!). Additionally, snorkelers and divers will discover Half Moon Caye Wall: this underwater ridge offers spectacular growths of club finger coral, large brain coral, yellow pencil coral, and forked sea feathers; Long Caye’s west side provides divers with healthy reefs, abundant sponges, as well as abundant sponges that offer amazing marine life encounters!
Half Moon and Long Cayes’ waters are rich with nutrients due to the easterly trade winds which maintain clear conditions on their leeward shores, eliminating brackish lagoon water from entering them. Coupled with an absence of strong currents, this makes these sites suitable for all levels of scuba divers.
These considerations should persuade the Belizean government to place more value on the marine protected area’s living fish and biodiversity than on licensing fees generated from large-scale commercial fishing activities that threaten its coral reefs – but McNeil is concerned that many resort owners, tour operators, and dive guides remain indifferent about its decline despite having a financial stake in their success.
Avoid the crowds of Belize’s more well-known destinations and explore this unspoiled atoll of soft sand beaches, shady palms, and crystal turquoise water on this six-night adventure! Relax at Half Moon Caye and Long Caye Aquarium while discovering Crooked Tree Wildlife Sanctuary by boat tour. Learn the importance of protecting marine species through ecotourism with local community partnerships when traveling with an outfitter committed to eco-tourism through community partnerships.
South Water Caye
South Water Caye is a 15-acre island situated directly atop of Belize Barrier Reef and therefore popularly visited on fishing, snorkeling and diving tours. Additionally, two resorts – Pelican Beach Resort and Blue Marlin Beach Resort- as well as a marine biology field research station for IZE Belize students can be found there.
The Caye Islands boast pristine reefs, mangrove islands, and tidal seagrass flats which provide a haven for coral, fish, sea turtles, birds, and other forms of wildlife such as Roseate Terns and Brown Booby Birds – making it one of the most biodiverse marine areas in Belize. Furthermore, they serve as crucial nesting grounds for several nationally significant bird species such as Roseate Terns and Brown Booby Birds that nest here.
South Water Caye offers visitors an idyllic Caribbean setting for exploration by foot, boat, kayak, and canoe. Its picturesque beaches make the island the perfect place for relaxing or swimming in its warm waters.
Snorkeling is one of the most beloved activities on South Water Caye and it is widely considered among some of the best off-the-beaten-reef snorkeling destinations in America. The turquoise waters here boast vibrant coral reef life that often include spotted eagle rays or larger southern stingrays for visitors to admire.
South Water Caye offers visitors an opportunity to learn about local fishing practices on both inner and outer reefs, such as handline fishing in mangroves or trolling for lobster and conch in deep-sea zones. All fishing on South Water Caye takes place according to environmental laws and respecting any no-take zones or protected zones.
Visits to South Water Caye usually include a boat stop at nearby Carrie Bow Caye, home of the Smithsonian Research Station and Belize’s largest sand caye, Carrie Bow Caye is where you can gain knowledge on coral reef ecology and rehabilitation while visiting its underwater observatory that provides up close views of their flourishing relationship.
South Water Caye, situated within one of the nation’s largest marine reserves, makes for an unforgettable day trip or overnight stay. For an immersive experience, book one of Blue Marlin Beach Resort’s oceanfront suites or rooms featuring complimentary cocktails as well as big discounts for 2023-2024 travelers.
