Caye Caulker-Belize City, Belize

This is one of the many islands off the coast of Belize. 

I drove my own car into Belize so I had to store it for the days I was on the island and I did at Cucumber Beach Marina (Old Belize Shipyard) at 5.5 Miles Western Hwy (at the police check point), Belize City (www.oldbelize.com) email marketing@oldbelize.com. You might be able to stay in you RV overnight there too. They have bathroom, showers, saltwater pool, restaurants, and laundry for your use. I was charged Bz$15/7.50US per day. I rode the local bus for Bz$1.50 (that pick me up right in front of the shipyard) that takes you into town, about a 20 minute ride to the end at the terminal and for Bz$7.00 you can take a taxi to the water taxi. The Caye Caulker-Belize City Water Taxi round trip ticket cost me Bz$45. This was an enjoyable ride for about 45 minutes and then I was there. I took the local tuk-tuk for Bz$5 because I did not know just how to get to the Bella’s Hostel. After that I walked everywhere around the island. 

 

This little island town is a quiet laid back village with an ATM/bank, a clinic, many bars and restaurants, grocery and souvenir stores and street merchants. Your choice of places to stay are from hostels to hotels, and tuk-tuks for getting around if you don’t want to walk (no cars on the island); but you can walk around the island in about 30 minutes.

I snorkel the reef via a tour; I was hoping for the freedom to see the reef on my own but that is not allowed anymore. Because it seems that a hand full of people last year ruined it for the rest of us. They took lobsters, to small and out of season, along with many other things; they in effect rape the coral reef here. Tourist!!!! What are you thinking! This is not yours to do with as you please, that is true for the whole world; people from all over the world have a right to see undisturbed what is here; so take all the photos you want, but leave everything alone for the next person to enjoy along with the sea creatures that call this place home. 

 

After going on the Caveman Tour (Bz$130); I believe it is the best way to go. The Caveman is very good, knowledgeable on the sea creatures and proud of this coral reef. The rules here are strict in order to protect this section of the second largest coral reef in the world and the largest in the northern hemisphere, not to mention all the sea creatures that call it home; as it should be. I got to see a manatee, two different kinds of turtles, sting rays, sharks, and many other fish, a shipwreck, Hol-Chan Park, seahorses, and fed the Tarpon (large endangered protected fish). The Caveman is #1 on Trip Advisor too.

It was well worth the money for the day’s excursion, but if you are going to do this please be sure to wear a hat, T Shirt, bring an underwater camera (you can rent one on the island), and sunblock; but only put it on when the tour guide say it’s OK to, again to protect the coral reef.

Enjoy the underwater world it is amazing.