Picture this: you’ve been offered to go on 2 separate dates at the same time, and you can’t be in 2 places at once, so you have to pick one. This is how it feels when we travel and have to decide where to stay. When it comes to Belize, travelers are often deciding between the two most popular cayes – whether to stay on Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker. We’re going to set you up with these two islands in Belize to help you decide which one is more your type.
You can have it all
If you only have a 3-7 days to explore, we recommend booking your accommodation on just one of these islands. But even with a week or less in Belize, you can still visit both cayes by taking a day trip to the one you didn’t choose! The water taxi connects the two islands by a short 30 minute boat ride. Our best advice is to remember that you can have it all when it comes to travel. Make the most of your trip by visiting both islands and experiencing even more of what Belize has to offer!
How to get to the Cayes in Belize
First, let’s get you to the islands. Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are both reachable by water taxi and plane. International travelers should book your initial flights with one of these 5 eco airlines and fly into Belize City (BZE). You’ll continue on to the islands from there.
Produce stands in Ambergris Caye
Snorkeling in Ambergris Caye
Over water restaurant in Caye Caulker
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By Water Taxi
Round Trip Price: $120
The water taxi is the cheaper option, but it requires a bit more time and effort on your part. After arriving in Belize City and getting through customs, you’ll exit the airport and take a taxi to the water taxi. Taxis are unionized in Belize and the price is fixed at $30 USD, but it goes up by $5 if you have more than two travelers. In our case, we paid $35 for our group of 3 and tipped $5, for a total of $40 USD.
There are two ferry companies in Belize, your driver will know which to take you to based on the next leaving boat. When you arrive at the ferry, give your luggage to the workers and purchase your tickets. Tickets are $32 USD one way ($59 roundtrip). The boat stops at both cayes. The ride to Caye Caulker takes 1 hour, and the ride to Ambergris Caye takes 1.5 hours.
By Plane
Round Trip Price: $170-180
Many travelers decide to pay the extra $50 to save time and have the experience of arriving to the cayes by plane. You can book your flights on Maya Air or Tropic Air – both are reliable so find the best price. If you travel by plane, you’ll simply move from one area of Belize’s International airport to another for your connecting flight. The flight time is 15 minutes, which means you’ll get to enjoy more of your first day on the cayes, if you choose this option.
After testing both options ourselves, we found we preferred the flight. Getting the chance to see the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world from the sky was an amazing experience, and one we highly recommend!
@baggagegirls If you’re traveling to Belize, you’re going to want to get to know the Cayes 🏝️ This week on the blog: we’re comparing Belize’s 2 most popular islands to help you decide which one is right for you 💌🌴🐠🍹 Head to Baggagegirls.com for the full post on the differences between Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, Belize 💌 ••• #belizetravel #centralamericatravel #traveltips #wheretostayinbelize #baggagegirls #ambergriscayebelize #cayecaulkerbelize
♬ Caalm Dooown - EL Locco
Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker: Where to Stay
Honestly, both Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are great places to stay. But what’s right for one isn’t always what’s right for another, and these islands are quite different! It’s best to know which is more your type so that you can book your accommodation in the one you want to spend more time in. Then, you can plan to take a day trip to the other island.
To help you decide where to stay in Belize, we’ve created dating profiles for both Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, so you can pick your perfect match.
Ambergris Caye’s Profile
Age
Ambergris Caye is OLD, inhabited by the Maya as early as 200 B.C. (International Living). This island gained popularity as a tourism destination beginning in the 1970s.
Location
The largest of the 200 cayes in Belize, Ambergris is 25 miles long, located northeast of the country’s mainland, in the Caribbean Sea. This island has a year round population of about 20,000.
Looking for
- Resorts
- Restaurants
- Large downtown (San Pedro)
- Family vacation destination
- Stunning beaches
- Great views
- Busier atmosphere
Drinking
Sip drinks at your resort’s pool bar, head to Secret Beach to spend the day drinking at one of the tables in the water, or head into San Pedro to try some of the lively beach bars. Order anything frozen, or stop at a fruit stand for something fresh and make your own cocktails in your hotel’s kitchen.
Kids
Ambergris Caye is full of family friendly resorts and it’s a popular family vacation destination in Belize. We saw many families traveling with young kids, and met many families traveling with kids in their 20s as well. We highly recommend this island as a great spot for a family vacation. One of our weeks here was spent with family (including our 9-year old brother) and we had the best time!
Interests
- Lively atmosphere
- Poolside cocktail sipping
- Exploring a larger town
- Restaurant hopping
- Diving
- Snorkeling
- Spearfishing
Perfect First Day(te)
Wake up at your resort and start your day with a fresh fruit breakfast from an onsite or nearby restaurant, or grab something from a fresh fruit stand for a cheaper option.
Book a half or full day snorkel trip and head out to Hol Chan Marine Reserve to experience the coral reefs yourself. You’ll be swimming with stingrays, sea turtles, a variety of beautiful fish – and maybe a few nurse sharks!
When you return, shower and relax before hopping into your golf car and heading into San Pedro for dinner and drinks. Stop at the Purple Pelican for happy hour. The food here is subpar but the ambiance makes it a place you won’t want to miss for a drink at the bar. This is also a 10/10 place to watch the sunset.
Next, head oceanside for dinner at one of the many beach bars along Gilberto “Chico” Gomez Promenade. And finally, head back to your resort for a night time dip in the hot tub before bed.
I’m Known For…
Beautiful resorts, amazing diving, the lively downtown area of San Pedro, and the not-so-secret Secret Beach.
It’s Meant To Be If…
You’re looking for a resort-style vacation in a place that is large enough to have a little bit of everything. You like to have plenty of options for places to eat and things to do. Finally, you’re willing to spend a bit more money on nicer accommodation and transportation (you’ll need a golf cart here).
Don’t forget your day trip to Caye Caulker
If you do choose to stay on Ambergris Caye, we recommend this awesome day trip to Caye Caulker that includes the boat ride, and two snorkel stops at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley.
Private beach club at Mahogany Bay Resort
Nurse shark on a snorkeling tour
Ambergris Caye
Caye Caulker’s Profile
Age
While it’s believed to have been inhabited for hundreds of years, the year round population of Caye Caulker is just 2,000 (compared to Ambergris’ 20,000). The island gained popularity as a tourism destination along with Ambergris Caye in the 1970s, but it’s always flown a bit more under the radar.
Location
The second largest of the 200 cayes in Belize, Caye Caulker is 5 miles long, and the town itself is about 1 mile long. That makes this little island much more walkable than its sister island of Ambergris Caye.
Looking for
- Cheap stays
- Hostels
- Beach bars
- Party scene
- Twenty-something travelers
- Photo ops everywhere you look
- Stunning beaches with crystal clear water
- Eco-tours
- Slow-paced/laid-back style
- Caribbean island vibes
Drinking
Head to The Split, Caye Caulker’s most famous beach bar with a swimming area and tables in the water. At night, check out the local bar scene to meet fellow travelers – we’ve heard this is the place to party!
Kids
This isn’t the most popular place for families with young children. We recommend staying on Ambergris Caye for your family vacation and taking a day trip to Caye Caulker with the kids. You can easily fit some of the best sites on the island into one day, and you’ll have a bit more modern amenity and accommodation to choose from on the other island.
Interests
- Laid-back atmosphere
- Tiny local shopss
- Ecotourism
- Beach bars
- Yoga
- Off-the-beaten path destinations
- Diving
- Snorkeling
- Spearfishing
Perfect First Day(te)
Start your day with a walk through town to Namaste Yoga studio, where you can enjoy a morning yoga class. Afterward, you can head right downstairs for breakfast at Namaste cafe.
Next, book a half or full day snorkel trip and head out to Hol Chan Marine Reserve to experience the coral reefs yourself. You’ll be swimming with stingrays, sea turtles, a variety of beautiful fish – and maybe a few nurse sharks!
When you return, shower and walk down to The Split, at the north end of the island. This is the best spot to enjoy drinks, dinner, and an evening dip. Try the Lazy Lizard for nightlife or Sip n Dip Beach bar – these two spots are right next to each other so you can see which one is busier before deciding!
I’m Known For…
- Colorful beach bars, hotels, and breakfast cafes!
- Small, locally owned businesses
- 3 long sandy streets
- Slow travel style
It’s Meant To Be If…
You’re looking for a true getaway, on a small island that’s just remote enough to make you feel a world away, while providing amenities for tourists. If you’re into BnB style accommodation, street food, beach shacks for shops, and the chance to embrace a laid back lifestyle and Caribbean water, this is the spot for you.
We think Caye Caulker is particularly great for backpackers, budget travelers, groups of friends traveling together, young couples, and open-minded travelers looking for a more relaxing getaway. Ultimately, this isn’t the place for those who seek luxury or a lot of modern amenities.
Feeding the tarpon in Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker
Dive Shop in Caye Caulker
Hotels on Ambergris Caye
For the Vacationer
Ambergris Caye is best described as a vacation destination. This island is overflowing with beautiful resorts and a variety of businesses that cater to tourists. There is always something to do here. Plus, there are sure to be many travelers and families exploring the island right alongside you. We stayed at 3 separate resorts on the island, each in a different price range. Below you will find our hotel recommendations, ranked from most affordable to most luxurious.
Belizean Shores Resort ($$)
This family-friendly resort is ideally located between San Pedro town and Secret Beach. The best features of this resort include the stunning pool, hot tub, and swim up bar. What’s more, there’s a beautiful pier with snorkel trips that leave daily right from the dock – along with free kayaks and paddle boards included with your stay. This hotel is oceanside, and you can see the barrier reef from the shore!
During our stay at Belizean Shores, we enjoyed taking a kayak out to one of the buoys near the barrier reef. We would tie off to the buoy and enjoy our own private snorkel.
Coco Beach Resort ($$$)
Coco Beach resort is perfect for just about anyone, but an especially great getaway for families with kids. This stunning resort has two massive pools, a hot tub, a rock structure with a slide, and of course – a swim up bar. Plus, Coco Beach has a phenomenal onsite restaurant, Coco Blanca. The menu includes fresh seafood and weekly specials like Taco Tuesdays and BBQ Sundays.
This resort is also ideally located in between San Pedro town and Secret beach. You’ll want a golf cart to explore these other parts of the island, but you can walk to local restaurants and an adorable cafe nearby. Kayaks and paddle boards are included with your stay, along with a variety of activities from ping pong, to life size chess. The two bedroom Oceanfront Villa offered one of the best views of the ocean that we’ve ever had. And most importantly, we can’t say enough about the hospitality and kindness of the staff here.
Mahogany Bay Resort ($$$$)
Mahogany Bay is for those who seek a little bit of luxury on your trip to Belize. This Hilton property has its own private beach club, with a boat that takes you to and from. The pool here doesn’t compare to those at Belizean Shores and Coco Beach, but the private beach makes up for it. The villas here are standalone and the onsite restaurant, pool bar, and lobby area are picture perfect in every way. This resort is located on the opposite end of the island from the other two we mentioned. Mahogany Bay Resort is closer to town, about a 10 minute drive in a golf cart.
Belizean Shores Resort
Coco Beach Resort
Mahogany Bay Resort
Hotels on Caye Caulker
For the traveler/backpacker
Caye Caulker is not luxurious, but its laid back charm, walkable downtown area, and affordable accommodation make it a traveler’s paradise. This little island offers a rich variety of water activities, including eco tours. The best thing to do here besides being in the water is probably nothing – embrace the slow pace, sip a cold drink, and wander around town with no particular direction. Meet fellow travelers in hostels or at local bars by night – and stay as long as you’d like.
While we didn’t stay on Caye Caulker ourselves, we walked past a few hotels that we would love to check out during our next trip back. We’ve listed them below from cheapest to most expensive.
Walking the streets of Caye Caulker
Namaste Cafe in Caye Caulker
Beaches on Caye Caulker
Wrap It Up: Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker
When it comes to the two most popular islands in Belize, you really can have it all. Hopefully these dating profiles have helped you decide which one of the cayes to make your home base during your trip to Belize. But, don’t forget that the best Belize travel guide includes a visit to both of these amazing cayes. Go ahead – throw out the question of Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker, and commit to getting to know both of these beautiful spots! And don’t forget to let us know in the comments below which one stole your heart.
xoxo,
Baggage girls
