Island-Hopping In Belize: A Tropical Adventure Guide

Belize is home to more than 200 islands dotted along its Caribbean coastline, ranging from uninhabited mangrove islets to larger islands with postcard-perfect beaches. Island hopping in Belize is a great way to experience the country's diverse landscapes, from the colourful and laid-back Caye Caulker to the rugged beauty of Ambergris Caye. With a range of transportation options, including water taxis, flights, and chartered boats, visitors can easily explore multiple islands during their stay.

Caye Caulker: a laid-back island with a 'go slow' attitude, great food and snorkelling spots

Caye Caulker is a laid-back island located 21 miles northeast of Belize City and 11 miles south of Ambergris Caye. It is the second-largest of the Belizean cayes and attracts tourists with its relaxed vibe and beautiful scenery. The island's motto, 'Go Slow', perfectly encapsulates the tranquil and unhurried atmosphere that invites visitors to unwind and embrace the slower pace of life.

The local community, a mix of Latinos, Creoles, and a few expats, contributes to the island's charming and easy-going spirit. With a length of about 5 miles and a width of less than 1 mile, Caye Caulker is the perfect size for a leisurely stroll or a fun golf cart or bicycle ride. The primary mode of transportation on the island is either by golf cart or bicycle, adding to its unique character.

Caye Caulker offers a range of activities for visitors seeking relaxation or adventure. The island is known for its nearby Barrier Reef diving, making it a popular destination for scuba divers and snorkelers. The Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, just a mile from the island, provides an opportunity for diving and snorkelling enthusiasts to explore the vibrant marine life. Marine and ecotourism fans can also embark on manatee tours, where they might encounter curious juvenile manatees swimming up to their boats.

For those who prefer to stay on land, Caye Caulker has plenty to offer as well. The island features gift shops selling arts, crafts, hand-painted T-shirts, and colourful traditional clothing. Additionally, there are several good restaurants offering a variety of culinary delights, including fresh lobster, seafood, Creole spicy stew chicken, Mexican, and Chinese cuisine. Street grills cooking up delicious seafood until the late afternoon can also be found on the island.

Caye Caulker's "Split" is a channel that divides the island into two parts and is a popular hangout spot for both locals and tourists. The calm, shallow waters of the Split provide a perfect place to cool off, and the Lazy Lizard bar offers a selection of drinks and food to enhance the experience.

The island also has a rich history, having been uninhabited until the middle of the 19th century when it became a refuge for a small group of refugees fleeing civil war in Mexico. Over time, the settlers developed a profitable fishing industry, and today, fishing remains an important source of income alongside tourism.

With its laid-back attitude, stunning natural beauty, and array of activities, Caye Caulker is the perfect destination for those seeking a relaxing and authentic Caribbean experience.

Ambergris Caye: the largest inhabited island in Belize, with great views of the Belize Barrier Reef

Ambergris Caye is the largest inhabited island in Belize, measuring about 25 miles long and one mile wide. The island is a popular tourist destination, attracting divers, snorkelers, fishermen, and sailors with its stunning turquoise seascapes and access to the Belize Barrier Reef.

The centre of life in Ambergris Caye is San Pedro Town, which is flocked to by thousands of tourists each year. San Pedro is the island's only town and has a lively, energetic downtown area with shops, bars, restaurants, water taxi stops, docks, and beach bars. Golf carts are the main mode of transportation on the island, zipping along the sandy roads and providing a fun way to get around.

Ambergris Caye offers a range of activities for visitors, including snorkelling at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley, and diving at the Blue Hole, a 400-foot deep limestone circle teeming with marine life. The island also has a variety of restaurants, bars, and nightlife options, as well as boutique shops and art galleries.

For a unique beach experience, Secret Beach on the west side of the island offers calm, crystal-clear waters. Once a deserted stretch of sand, it is now a bustling spot with beach bars and restaurants. Getting to Secret Beach is an adventure in itself, involving a bumpy golf cart ride through the middle of the island.

With its combination of natural beauty, outdoor activities, and sophisticated amenities, Ambergris Caye offers the perfect balance of a casual beach life and upscale offerings. Whether you're looking for relaxation or adventure, this island has something for everyone.

Xunantunich: the largest Mayan ruin in Belize, located near Belmopan

Belize is dotted with islands of all shapes and sizes, with over 200 offshore islands along its Caribbean coastline. Island hopping is a great way to experience the best of Belize's striking Caribbean scenery.

Xunantunich, located just outside of Belmopan, is the largest Mayan ruin in Belize. It is a mere 20 minutes away from the capital and is within the region of the Guatemalan border. Belmopan itself has a very laid-back atmosphere, with a population of just over 16,000 people. The capital is more of a transit city for travellers, who can enjoy a day's hike in Guanacaste National Park for a small fee, or try ziplining and cave tubing in Jaguar Park Cave.

If you're looking to explore more of the islands, you can start in Ambergris Caye and take a water taxi to Caye Caulker and Belize City. Caye Caulker is a popular destination for tourists who love its laid-back atmosphere and friendly people. The Split, a narrow waterway that divides the island in two, is a great place to hang out with a drink and take a dip in the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea. You can also take a golf cart taxi tour and ask the driver to point out interesting things and tell you about the history of the island.

For those looking for more adventure, you can book a tour of the Blue Hole, a scenic flight over the second-largest barrier reef in the world, or go snorkelling at Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark Ray Alley, and Mexico Rock.

Hopkins: a small town known for its colourful houses, fishing and diving

Hopkins is a small town located just one hour south of Dangriga, in Belize. It is a central hub for the Garifuna culture, known for its colourful country houses, fishing and diving.

Fishing

Hopkins is the perfect place to go if you're a fan of fishing. Local guides offer fishing trips, from reef fishing to deep-sea fishing. You can book fishing tours with companies such as Blue Horizon Belize.

Diving

Diving is one of the most recommended activities to do in Belize, especially in the south. Hopkins is a great place to base yourself if you want to explore the underwater world, with 5-star PADI diving and snorkelling tours available with Belize Underwater.

Garifuna Drumming

Hopkins is also one of the best places to learn and enjoy Garifuna drumming. Be warned, though: it's addictive!

Glover's Reef: a former pirate hideaway and World Heritage Site, with an 18-mile-long oval ring of coral

Glover's Reef, a World Heritage Site and former pirate hideaway, is a partially submerged atoll located off the southern coast of Belize, approximately 45 kilometres from the mainland. It is named after English pirate brothers John and Rodger Glover, who used the area as a hideout in the 1750s. Before the pirates, the Mayans sailed here, and pieces of Mayan pottery have been found on the islands.

Glover's Reef is oval-shaped, 32 kilometres long and 12 kilometres wide. The atoll is comprised of five "islands" surrounding a shallow lagoon: from north to south, Northeast Caye, Long Caye, Middle Caye, and Southwest Caye. The interior lagoon is dotted with around 850 reef patches and pinnacles, and the area harbours one of the greatest diversities of reef types in the western Caribbean.

Glover's Reef is a prime destination for off-the-beaten-path sea explorers seeking seclusion and access to the unmatched biodiversity found in the Glover's Reef Marine Reserve. Popular activities include diving, snorkelling, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, sailing, and fishing. The area is a critical nursery and feeding ground for sea turtles, sharks, rays, and numerous fish species, including the endangered Nassau Grouper.

The Glover's Reef Marine Reserve was established as a national protected area in 1993 and is managed by the Fisheries Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The reserve is divided into four different management zones, with strict regulations defining permitted and prohibited activities. The Wildlife Conservation Society operates the Glover's Reef Research Station on Middle Cay, promoting and facilitating long-term conservation and management of the Belize Barrier Reef complex.

Frequently asked questions