The Great Belize Cayes: Choosing Your Island Escape

Belize is a breathtakingly beautiful country with over 200 islands or cayes, offering everything from lively nightlife to tranquil beaches. The largest of these cayes is Ambergris Caye, a thriving tourist destination with bustling settlements, an array of restaurants, bars, hotels and resorts, and a variety of water sports. For those seeking a more relaxed vibe, Caye Caulker is a laid-back alternative with a go slow mantra, Creole and Rastafarian traditions, tranquil beaches, and a car-free environment. Tobacco Caye is another great option for those on a budget, offering lodging and food options that won't break the bank. Belize truly has a caye for every traveller.

Ambergris Caye: the largest Belize caye, with water sports, scuba diving, and snorkelling

Ambergris Caye is the largest island in Belize, stretching about 40 kilometres (25 miles) from north to south and about 1.6 kilometres (1 mile) wide. It is a popular tourist destination, known for its stunning natural beauty, glowing aqua waters, and access to the Belize Barrier Reef, the second-largest barrier reef in the world.

The island's biggest settlement is San Pedro Town, a busy, boisterous village home to the majority of the island's restaurants, bars, stores, and hotels. San Pedro is also the only town on the island and is named after the patron saint of fishing, St. Peter. The east side of the island, where San Pedro is located, is where most of the action happens. Here, you will find resorts, hotels, and homes enjoying cool sea breezes and gorgeous ocean and reef views.

Ambergris Caye is a fantastic destination for water sports, especially snorkelling and scuba diving. The Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, runs parallel to the eastern coast of the island, providing easy access to world-class snorkelling and diving sites just minutes away from the island. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve, located just off the coast of Ambergris Caye, is a must-visit site for snorkelling and diving. Here, you can snorkel around the reef and spot tons of fish, rays, eels, and even manatees. The reserve also includes the famous Shark-Ray Alley, where you can jump in and swim with a tangle of sharks.

In addition to water sports, Ambergris Caye offers a variety of other activities. The far north of the island is home to Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve, a protected area with incredible wildlife and ancient Maya history. You can take an all-day boat trip to explore the mangroves, waterways, and the narrow canal that separates Belize from the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico.

The west side of the island features Secret Beach, a popular spot with calm, crystal-clear waters. While it used to be a deserted stretch of beach, Secret Beach now has a variety of beach bars and restaurants. It is known for its remote atmosphere while still offering developed amenities.

Ambergris Caye also has a small airstrip serviced by Tropic Air and Maya Island Air, as well as helicopter services provided by Astrum Helicopters. The island can also be reached by numerous fast sea ferries from Belize City and by ferry from Chetumal in Mexico.

Caye Caulker: a laid-back alternative to Ambergris Caye, with a go slow vibe

Caye Caulker is a laid-back alternative to Ambergris Caye, with a "go slow" vibe. It is a small island with a relaxed atmosphere, cheap prices, and plenty of bars and restaurants. Caye Caulker is a popular destination for backpackers and tourists looking for a break from travelling around Central America. The island has a Caribbean feel and is known for its warm and gracious locals. The primary mode of transport is by bicycle or golf cart, and there are no cars on the island.

Caye Caulker is a great place to enjoy the beach and various water activities such as snorkelling, diving, windsurfing, and kitesurfing. It is also a fantastic destination for watersports, especially snorkelling and scuba diving. The island is home to a variety of wildlife, including manatees, stingrays, sharks, and turtles. There are also several excellent fishing opportunities, and visitors can have their catch cooked at one of the local restaurants.

In addition to water activities, Caye Caulker offers full-day excursions to see local manatees or explore Mayan temples on the western border of Belize's mainland. The island's Split is a popular hangout spot for travellers and locals, offering calm, shallow waters and a bar serving food and drinks. Caye Caulker is also known for its delicious food, including barbeque and fresh seafood such as lobster and conch.

When it comes to accommodation, Caye Caulker offers a range of options, from hostels to boutique properties with modern amenities. The island has resisted major commercialisation, and lodging options tend to be simple and geared towards laid-back travellers seeking a budget-friendly alternative to Ambergris Caye. The best time to visit Caye Caulker is during the dry season, from January to April, but be prepared for higher prices during this peak tourist season.

St George's Caye: a historically significant island with a luxury resort and great snorkelling

St George's Caye is a historically significant island located just 13km (8 miles) from Belize City. It was once the largest settlement in Belize, then known as British Honduras, and was the country's first capital. In the 18th century, the Spanish were driven away from the island in a famous battle, commemorated on St George's Caye Day on 10 September each year.

Today, St George's Caye is a peaceful getaway, offering the ultimate in privacy and relaxation. The island is home to the luxurious St George's Caye Resort, an adults-only retreat with 12 beautiful thatch cabanas and three private suites in an oceanfront villa. Each room features a king-size bed, air conditioning, an en-suite bathroom, and a covered porch with a hammock. The resort offers a range of activities, including kayaking, diving, and snorkelling, with some of the best sites in Belize just five minutes away.

The resort's secluded location makes it the perfect place to unplug and relax, with no public transportation, roads, cars, or crowds. It is easily accessible, however, with a complimentary 20-minute boat ride from Belize City. The resort's friendly, local staff offers unparalleled service, ensuring that guests can design their own paradise, whether they seek relaxation or adventure.

St George's Caye Resort provides a farm-to-table dining experience, with traditional Belizean, Caribbean, and Latin cuisine, as well as European and American favourites. The meal plan includes made-to-order breakfast and expertly selected set menus for lunch and dinner. The resort also offers a range of accommodation options, from oceanfront to over-the-water or nestled in the gardens, ensuring that guests can find their perfect tropical paradise.

Tobacco Caye: a tiny, budget-friendly island with scuba diving and snorkelling

Tobacco Caye is a tiny island off the coast of Hopkins and Dangriga, Belize, with a population of about 25 people. It is one of the tiniest islands in Belize, spanning just over three acres, and is known for its low-key vibe and over-water cabins. The island is located inside the Southwater Caye Marine Reserve, which spans over 100,000 acres of protected marine area.

Getting There

The best way to get to Tobacco Caye is via a 30- to 45-minute chartered boat ride from Dangriga. Boats from Dangriga do not have a set schedule but leave daily between 9 am and 12 pm from the riverside boat dock near the main bridge. The cost for a shared boat is around $35 USD per person, and a private charter is approximately $150 USD for up to four passengers.

Where to Stay

There are a few accommodation options on Tobacco Caye, including Gill's Cove, Tobacco Caye Paradise, and Reef's End Lodge. Tobacco Caye Paradise is the only accommodation with overwater bungalows, offering rainbow-coloured cabins with private bathrooms and balconies with hammocks. Reef's End Lodge has one overwater bungalow and beachfront cabins, while Windward Lodge offers beachfront cabins and budget rooms.

Scuba Diving and Snorkelling

Tobacco Caye is known for offering some of the best scuba diving and snorkelling in the world. The island is located on the Belize Barrier Reef, providing easy access to clear waters, spectacular marine life, and breathtaking underwater formations. Tobacco Caye Paradise and Reef's End Lodge are certified PADI dive operators, offering various diving options for casual and experienced divers, as well as PADI dive courses.

There are several snorkelling sites around the island, including the main entry point within Reef's End Lodge, where you can access the Belize Barrier Reef with a short swim. Tobacco Caye Paradise also offers snorkelling tours to different parts of the reef, including local spots and the Southwater Caye Marine Reserve. Night snorkelling is also a popular activity, providing the opportunity to see lobsters, eels, and octopuses.

Other Activities

In addition to scuba diving and snorkelling, Tobacco Caye offers a range of other activities. Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding are popular ways to explore the area, with equipment available for rent from Tobacco Caye Paradise and other accommodations. There are also several bars and restaurants on the island, including the Sunset Bar at Windward Lodge and the Reef's End Bar and Restaurant.

When to Visit

The best time to visit Tobacco Caye is during the dry season, typically from December to May, to avoid rain and hurricanes. April to June is considered the best time for diving in Belize.

South Water Caye: a remote island with stunning white sand beaches and great snorkelling

South Water Caye is a tiny island located just 14 miles off the coast of Dangriga in Southern Belize. It is a true tropical gem, boasting stunning white sand beaches and glorious water views. The island is around 800 metres in length and 15 acres in size, attracting travellers seeking a tranquil escape and a break from the crowds.

The caye is situated in the middle of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, Belize's largest protected marine park, which makes it a dream for scuba divers and snorkellers. The reserve is home to hundreds of species of fish and coral, and the reefs are just a quick swim from the shore. This makes South Water Caye perfect for marine exploration, with snorkelling and diving packages offered by resorts on the island.

For those looking to simply relax and unwind, the caye offers the opportunity to disconnect from the outside world and indulge in outdoor activities. Visitors can spend the day sunbathing on the beach, playing volleyball, or swinging in a hammock with a book and a glass of rum punch. As night falls, the veranda provides the perfect spot for magical stargazing.

Accommodation on South Water Caye includes eco-friendly cottages and resorts such as Pelican Beach Resort and Blue Marlin Beach Resort, which has been serving guests for over 30 years. The latter is located in the middle of the Marine Reserve, offering an exclusive and authentic Belizean experience with incredible biodiversity.

South Water Caye can be easily accessed for day trips from Hopkins and Dangriga. For longer stays, visitors can take a chartered boat from Dangriga Town, a journey of about 40 minutes, which is typically included with hotel accommodations.

Frequently asked questions