Caye Caulker Itinerary (4 Days): Complete Day-by-day Plan

Caye Caulker Itinerary (4 Days): Day-by-day Guide

Planning a trip to Caye Caulker in Belize and you’re not sure where to start? Well, you’re in the right place, as this 4-day Caye Caulker itinerary will cover all the activities (and relaxing) that you will need for your trip! This small Caribbean island located just off the coast of mainland Belize is popular with both backpackers and short-term vacationers alike. And for good reason! Providing good vibes, amazing seafood, ‘unBelizeable’ sunsets, and a touch of tropical paradise that everyone needs in their life, Caye Caulker isn’t one to be missed.

Of course, on this laid-back island, you’re welcome to do as much or as little as you like, but this 4-day itinerary provides an idea of things to do in Caye Caulker to make the best use of your time. Plus having a couple of days planned out might help when the Caribbean vibes take over and you solely want to focus on the chill side of life!

Caye Caulker Itinerary in Short

• Day 1: Arrive, Relax and Explore the Island
• Day 2: Snorkel at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve
• Day 3: Go Slow and Enjoy the Split
• Day 4: Watersports Day (Diving/Kayaking/Kitesurfing/Paddleboarding)

Caye Caulker Itinerary in Full

How many days do you need in Caye Caulker?

Caye Caulker is one of those places where you could easily forget to leave. The island’s motto is “Go Slow” so by namesake you really shouldn’t be rushing through trying to fit everything in, otherwise, you wouldn’t have an authentic experience of this chilled Belizian island.

That being said, I probably couldn’t spend much longer than a week here before getting itchy feet and wanting to move on. With that in mind, I think the best amount of time to spend in Caye Caulker is between 4 and 6 days. Personally, as a backpacker, 4 days was the perfect amount of time. Whereas, if you’re visiting on holiday you may wish to extend your time with more chill and relaxation days (or dive days if you’re a diver).

4-Day Caye Caulker Itinerary

Going with the flow of Caye Caulker’s slow lifestyle, I haven’t over-crammed the days in this itinerary. This will give you plenty of time to relax, get a tan, and absorb the beautiful country you’re visiting. The days in this itinerary are balanced between relaxation and adventure (as that’s how I prefer to travel), however, there is still scope to modify the itinerary to suit your own individual needs.

Day 1: Arrive, Relax and Explore the Island

Arriving at Caye Caulker

Exploring Caye Caulker

Since it will be your first day in Caye Caulker, I recommend exploring the island. This shouldn’t take too long due to its small size! Thankfully, this also means that the location of your accommodation won’t matter.

Stroll along both the east and west sides of the island and cut through the middle if you want to scout any other good places to eat or drink. If you don’t want to walk, you can rent bikes or drive the iconic golf buggies. You might even decide to stop off for ice cream or some fry jack (a local delicacy).

A couple of things you won’t want to miss while exploring are:

Caye Caulker Animal Shelter

The Caye Caulker Animal Shelter is a small, non-profit shelter hidden away from the shore where animals are looked after and re-homed. You can pet the animals and chat with the owner, Kenny.

Tarpon Feeding

In the waters surrounding Caye Caulker, there are loads of huge fish called tarpon – known for their acrobatic leaps out of the water. Make sure to set aside 30 minutes to feed them and watch them jump out of the water!

2.50BZD can get you a couple of sardines to dangle above the water and tempt the hungry fish below. The tarpon viewing spot is located at the end of Calle La Poza on the west side of Caye Caulker. Though it can be reached on foot, some boat tours also pass by to let you watch.

See the pelicans and stingray

Further along the west coast of the island is the Iguana Reef Inn, a popular spot for sunset. I recommend spending the rest of your afternoon here. There is a bar; options to sit down and relax; as well as the perfect spot to watch the sun go down.

You’ll see plenty of pelicans and other bird species circling, as well as stingrays and other fish in the water. Alongside the pier, you can also search for seahorses latching onto the vegetation. It may take you a while to spot anything, but staff often come and point them out!

Day 2: Snorkelling at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley

Belize is home to the world’s second-largest coral reef, only behind Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. It is also the largest living coral reef in the world! This makes it one of the best places in the world to explore under the sea!

The snorkelling in Caye Caulker is so good that I recommend going on a full-day snorkelling tour. Most full-day tours last 6-7 hours and will take you to 7 different stops. These include the Hol Chan Marine reserve, Shark Ray Alley, Coral Gardens, Conch Shell Graveyard, ‘Belizean Titanic’ and alternative stops in search of manatees and turtles.

Half-day tours are also available and are closer to 3 hours long and comprise fewer snorkel stops. You will still visit Shark Ray Alley and Coral Gardens. However, instead of the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, you will visit Caye Caulker Marine Reserve which is nearer to Caye Caulker.

There are several places on the island where you can book the tour but most places average around $90 for the full-day and $50 for the half. Tours include a boat for the day, lunch, fruit, national park fees, a guide, GoPro footage (usually), and the all-important rum punch!

I booked with Salt Life Eco Tours, which cost $90. Meet time was at 9:00 am and we returned at around 15:30 pm.

NOTE: If you’re on a tighter budget, some tour providers are flexible on price (particularly if you say it’s your birthday!).

Day 3: Chill Day at the Split

Start your chill day off with a yoga class in the morning. There are classes that run around the island, but one of the more popular spots is Namaste Cafe. Classes at Namaste Cafe begin at 9:00 am on their rooftop and are run on a donation basis (closed Sundays). They provide mats, straps, and blocks as required.

After a relaxing start to the day, wander towards the Split. So named after the gap between the two Caye islands caused by Hurricane Hattie in 1961.

The Split is Caye Caulker’s best-known hangout and is home to several bars and restaurants, a picnic area, a volleyball net, a diving platform, and the infamous colourful signs. Whether you’re soaking up the sun with a book; snorkeling in the clear waters; or sipping on cocktails watching the world go by, the Split is a great way to spend a day.

The most notable spots there are the Sip n Dip and the Lazy Lizard. Neither of which you can miss! The Sip n Dip is a novel spot for a drink with seating in the water, whilst the Lazy Lizard is Caye Caulker’s most iconic beach bar. Watch another of Caye Caulker’s incredible sunsets from here with a drink in hand.

If you are in the mood for some music in the evening, wander along the seafront in search of some reggae or live music. There is usually something going on!

Alternatively, head to the Sports Bar – Caye Caulker’s ‘biggest’ night out.

Day 4: Watersport Day

Your last day on the island can be spent doing one of the many activities. You have a lot of options!

Diving

Caye Caulker is a stunning place to dive due to the sheer amount of biodiversity in such a small area. Plus it’s home to a bucket list dive site, the Great Blue Hole, as well as opportunities to night dive.

There are several dive shops offering a variety of diving opportunities. I have heard good things about Blue Wave Divers. Prices are on their website, though the least you will spend is around $150. Consider carefully whether you want to dive in Belize as it is expensive!

If you’re looking to learn and become qualified to dive, be aware that the Great Blue Hole is inaccessible to beginners due to its depth. Though there are plenty of other amazing dive sites for beginners in Caye Caulker, there are much cheaper places in the world to get PADI certified. Albeit less biodiverse.

Note: If you do decide to dive, be aware of any upcoming flights if you need a decompression day.

Kitesurfing or Windsurfing

One of the only places to organise kitesurfing on Caye Caulker is Reef Break Surf Shop. Prepare to pay $90+ depending on the gear or assistance you need.

If you don’t fancy flying through the air (or paying the price for it), you can try your hand at windsurfing.

Paddleboard or Kayak

I chose not to dive in Belize due to my budget, and due to the lack of wind, I went for a kayak. Many hostels provide free kayak rentals for their guests, but you can also rent a kayak for around $10.

Apparently, there are places on the island that rent clear kayaks so you can look at the fish below. Bella’s used to do this but stopped so you may have to ask around for this one (sorry).

Most places that offer kayak rentals or water sports on the island also rent out paddleboards. You should expect to pay around $10 for an hour.

Try the lobster

On your last evening, say farewell to the island with one of Caye Caulker’s top dishes: lobster. Your initial thought might be that lobster is crazily expensive (particularly in Belize!). But, you’d be surprised!

There are several places to get lobster on the island and I can’t speak for all of them, but Maggie’s was tasty and one of the more affordable options.

Caye Caulker Itinerary Mapped Out

Caye Caulker Budget

You’re probably wondering how much should you expect to spend in Caye Caulker during this 4-day itinerary. Particularly since Belize is one of the more expensive countries in Central America.

As a backpacker, I spent 542BZD ($271) during my four days here. The breakdown is approximately as follows:

Most dinners are priced around 20BZD, beers at a bar or in a restaurant are around 5BZD, and breakfast including a drink is around 15-20BZD. For lunch, you can get a main meal from a restaurant, or opt for one of the street food options which vary greatly in price.

Note: The ferry price is cheaper if you book in person rather than online. It also works out cheaper if you book a return instead of two singles.

I easily could’ve spent less money by not eating out and drinking, but these are things that I budgeted for before my trip. Having said that, I could’ve spent more on fancier accommodation, more activities, or different meal choices.

What to do if you have more time in Caye Caulker?

If you have more time (and money), then lucky you! Because there are still plenty more alternatives for your Caye Caulker itinerary. You can also use some of these suggestions instead of anything on the original list, though in my opinion, these are the ‘must-dos’ of Caye Caulker.

Take a flight over the Great Blue Hole

Did you know you can see Belize’s Great Blue Hole from space?

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to do that (yet). But chartering a flight is the next best thing.

Seeing this vast blue hole from the skies is arguably the best way to see it. It can be expensive, but by gathering a small group together you may be able to charter a flight over the Blue Hole for around $250 each.

The flight over the Blue Hole takes around 1 hour in total. Approximately 20 minutes to get there, 20 minutes to get back, and the rest of the time circling the hole so everyone on board gets to see it.

Lamanai Archaeological Reserve

If you get fed up with island life, you might fancy heading back to the mainland for a day to explore the jungle and some of Belize’s less-explored Mayan ruins.

One of the best things about Lamanai is that, though it may not be ‘off the beaten track’, it’s A LOT quieter than the likes of Tikal and Chichen Itza. This makes exploring a whole different experience. Couple this with arguably Belize’s most beautiful ruins and a jungle boat ride, and the whole day feels like a proper adventure.

Sunset cruise

Each afternoon boats leave the shores of Caye Caulker and head out towards the open ocean. Chill on the deck of the boat, have some food and drink, and observe dolphins if you’re lucky. Then watch an epic sunset as the sun goes down over the water!

Depending on the experience you’re after, both romantic sailboats and houseboats with bottomless drinks are available.

Day-trip to San Pedro

If you have fully explored the small island of Caye Caulker, check out its larger neighbour – San Pedro. Though there are still no cars on the island, infrastructure is more developed with far more restaurants, bars, and activities on offer. Here are some of the best things to do in San Pedro.

Ferries run multiple times a day and take around 30 minutes from the port of Caye Caulker to the port of San Pedro.

Sunday Funday at Bella’s Backpackers

If you are in Caye Caulker over the weekend, Bella’s Backpackers run a Sunday Funday event. With fun games and cheap drinking, it’s a great place to meet fellow travellers and have a boogie.

Multi-day Sailing Trip

If you want to explore some of Belize’s more remote islands, your best bet is with a multi-day sailing trip. Though not necessarily on the island of Caye Caulker, these sailing tours do depart from the island. That still counts right?

One of the best-regarded companies for this type of sailing trip is Raggamuffin Tours. Trips vary in length, but the 3 days (2 nights) sailing trip ending further south in Dangriga near Hopkins is a popular choice. During this time, you’ll have the chance to stay on deserted islands, go spearfishing, eat seafood and enjoy the Caribbean Sea!

Before you go

Thank you for reading my 4-day Caye Caulker itinerary. If guides and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.

If you are new to Matt’s Next Steps, check out the About Me page to find out a bit more about who I am, my travel adventures, and why I wanted to become a travel writer.

Please comment below and let me know your thoughts and experiences, or if there is anything else you want information on.

Happy travelling!