Caye Caulker (CUK)

Caye Caulker has been on the backpacker travel circuit since the 60’s, but today there is also a growing number of hotels catering to a wider variety of visitors, with activities centering around the sea. The Caye Caulker Marine Reserve is a diver and snorkeler’s paradise, and the nearby Hol Chan reserve together with Shark Ray Alley are not to be missed excursions. Other activities on the island include kayaking, sailing, swimming, windsurfing and kitesurfing, and of course just hanging out in one of the local bars and restaurants of which there is no shortage. The iconic “Split” is a thin canal dividing the northern and southern portions of the island, and has become a favorite place to “hang out”, swim, and meet fellow travellers.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve is a snorkeler’s dream, alive with schools of fish, big and small. Shark-Ray Alley allows visitors to get up close and personal with friendly nurse sharks and stingrays. The island’s clear, shallow waters and prevailing winds are ideal for windsurfing, sailing and kite surfing. North of the island, the Bacalar Chico Reserve is an adventurer’s paradise. The lagoon on the island’s western side provides an excellent opportunity for birding and flat fishing for tarpon, bonefish and permit. There is even a small Maya site, Marco Gonzalez, on the south end of the island.

San Pedro town has a unique feel and offers sophisticated international cuisine in beach side restaurants, mixed with local cafes and bars serving traditional Belizean food and drinks.

The island is also home to many award winning hotels, spas, tour operators and resorts. The town streets bustle with local artists and craftsmen displaying their wares. Best of all it is also the place Tropic Air calls home.