So you’re planning a trip to Caye Caulker in Belize? Amazing choice. The island is a true tropical paradise, with crystal clear waters, the world’s second-largest barrier reef, and the motto ‘go slow’.
But you might be wondering, is Caye Caulker safe? Belize gets a bad rap for violent crime and gang wars, and if you listen to the sensationalised media reports, you might be scared away.
Caye Caulker is a tiny island that is immune from most of this violence. It’s a safe and welcoming place with friendly locals, little crime and a great travel community. By taking a few standard Caye Caulker safety precautions, you can have a safe and enjoyable trip to this amazing island.
In this post, we’ll unpack the issue of safety in Caye Caulker, discussing things to be aware of and a range of tips to help ease your mind and keep you safe in Caye Caulker.
About Caye Caulker
Picture warm, turquoise Caribbean waters. Palm trees swaying above small strips of sandy beach. Colourful clapboard houses, beachfront BBQs and a constant stream of reggae pouring from speakers.
Welcome to Caye Caulker, a slice of Caribbean paradise in Belize. The island is one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, but it has managed to retain a laidback, local vibe without any large resorts or overdevelopment.
The island’s motto is ‘go slow’, and you’ll see hand-painted signs hung all over town reminding you to do just that. Life moves slower on Caye Caulker, so be prepared to relax, chill out and take it easy.
There are no cars and no paved roads, just a handful of golf cart taxis and bicycles to get around. You can easily while away days swinging in a hammock, lazing in the sun at ‘The Split’, a deep channel for swimming and watching fiery sunsets. But the offshore reef calls, with snorkelling in Caye Caulker and diving tours or scenic flights over the Great Blue Hole.
I completely fell in love with Caye Caulker, and I’m sure you will too. Understandably, before you commit to a trip here, you’re probably wondering, is Caye Caulker safe?
Is Caye Caulker Safe?
In short, yes Caye Caulker is safe. For travellers of all kinds – solo travellers, female travellers, families, couples, seniors – Caye Caulker is a safe travel destination.
Let’s unpack that a little more though, as Belize sadly has a bit of a negative reputation as an unsafe country.
If you check the travel advisories for Belize from countries like the USA, Canada or Australia, you will see they all advise to ‘Exercise a High Degree of Caution’ when visiting Belize.
This can be alarming for travellers, especially if it’s your first time visiting Belize or Central America.
It’s true, Belize does have a high level of violent crime. This is mostly related to gang wars and involvement in the drug trade, as Belize sits on the trafficking route between South America and the USA.
However the vast majority of this crime occurs in Belize City, and it’s extremely rare that it involves tourists. If you dig into the travel advisories a little deeper, you will see that most warnings apply to Belize City, with no other specific warnings for any other destinations.
Belize City is best avoided, as there isn’t really all that much to do or see, in comparison to the paradise you’ll find on Belize’s cayes. But you will most likely have to transit through the city en route to the islands. It’s completely safe to do this, as most of the violence and gang issues are concentrated in the Southside, which is the area south of Haulover Creek Canal. The water taxi dock is not in this area, and most tourist hotels and attractions are in the north.
Caye Caulker is a tiny island, with just a very small village and a population of around 2,000 people. Crime is very rare, and if it does occur, it’s usually just petty theft.
As a female traveller, I felt completely comfortable in Caye Caulker. There are some precautions you should take like you would anywhere else in the world. But the island is friendly and laidback, with little crime or danger to be worried about.
Why Caye Caulker Is a Safe Destination for Travellers
Caye Caulker is a very safe destination for travellers, but there are a few factors in particular that help to make this island welcoming and comfortable for tourists and might ease any concerns you have.
- They speak English: the official language of Belize is English. It’s the only country in Central America that doesn’t have Spanish as its main language. Whilst no country should have to speak English to cater for tourists, you can’t deny it makes things a whole lot easier when there is no language barrier. You’ll feel more comfortable knowing you can communicate with the locals.
- It’s a small island: Caye Caulker measures just 8 km (5 mi) long, and the main village only spreads for about 1.6 km (1 mi). At its widest point, it is less than 1.6 km (1 mi). Basically, it’s a tiny place! You can’t get lost, you’ll be oriented and familiar with the village within a few hours, and most accommodations, restaurants and activities are concentrated in a small area. This means less travelling around, you’ll run into the same people over and over, and feel comfortable navigating the island.
- Great traveller and local community: whether you’re a solo traveller looking to make friends and meet people, or a couple or family who are happy with their own company, Caye Caulker has a great community of both travellers and locals. People are friendly, and the atmosphere on the street is kind and fun. You’ll never feel lonely here if you don’t want to.
Caye Caulker Safety Concerns
Like every destination in the world, there are a couple of safety concerns to be aware of on Caye Caulker. It’s not perfect, nowhere is, but by being armed with information and researching in advance, you can avoid any problems.
- Catcalling: male catcalling can be a problem for female travellers. Generally harmless, being wolf-whistled at or teased on the street can make you feel uncomfortable. The majority of the time it won’t lead anywhere unsafe, but understandably, it’s intimidating and it doesn’t make it okay. The best policy is to respond with a polite greeting and keep walking. Ignore it as much as possible, and don’t let it upset you.
- Petty theft: this used to be a bigger problem than it is these days, but theft is always possible on Caye Caulker. Items left on the beach, bags hanging on the backs of chairs or phones or wallets left unattended on tables are all opportunistic thefts. Always keep an eye on your things, and don’t carry more than you need to. Leave excess cash, bank cards, passports or other valuables safely secured in your room.
- Health and physical safety: the other main safety concern on Caye Caulker is for your health and physical welfare. It’s a tropical destination with bugs, water activities, unsafe drinking water, different foods and hot and humid weather. Don’t forget to look out for your health, as safety doesn’t always mean crime. Follow some of our precautions below to look after yourself in Caye Caulker.
Precautions to Take When Visiting Caye Caulker
By taking a few normal safety precautions, you can have a safe and stress-free holiday in Caye Caulker.
- Limit alcohol consumption: the quickest way for bad things to happen when you’re travelling is to get blackout drunk. Limit yourself to a few drinks, and don’t lose control of yourself to the point you’re not aware of your surroundings.
- Avoid drugs: Belize has a strict stance on drugs. They are illegal, and if found with drugs in your possession, you could face a lengthy jail sentence. You will see (and smell) people with marijuana around Caye Caulker, and we were offered cocaine on a few occasions. Just ignore these people, and steer completely clear of any drugs.
- Water safety when swimming and snorkelling: so many of the best things to do in Caye Caulker revolve around the water. Swimming, snorkelling, scuba diving, you’ll spend a lot of time in the Caribbean Sea. The ocean has its risks, so always be mindful of your swimming abilities, check your gear thoroughly and take advice from your tour operators.
- Don’t drink the water: tap water is not safe to drink on Caye Caulker. Most accommodations will provide large dispensers of purified water. If not, you can buy drinking water from the supermarkets (buy large containers to reduce your plastic waste).
- Watch your belongings: always keep an eye on your things. Whether you’re swimming on the beach, at a restaurant, or even inside your hotel room. Don’t carry more than you need when you head out for the day. There is no need to take all your cash, passports and bank cards, especially if you’re going out for a night of drinking. We had no issues leaving our things on the beach while swimming, but we had everything zipped up in bags, and we kept an eye on it.
- Don’t end up alone at night: whether you’re a solo traveller or travelling with companions, don’t get yourself into a situation where you’re alone late at night. Although the main village of Caye Caulker is quite compact, there are some unlit and remote streets that you should avoid. Don’t walk along or hang out on the beach at night either.
- Protect against mosquitos and insects: Belize is known to have cases of Zika virus, malaria and dengue fever. It’s important to protect yourself from mosquito bites with repellent, or long clothing in the evenings. Caye Caulker also has a viscous population of sandflies (aka no-see-ums) that can ravage you and leave behind sore, itchy bites for days.
How to Get to Caye Caulker
Being an island, there are only two ways to get to Caye Caulker:
- By air: short flights run from the Belize City International Airport. The airport on Caye Caulker is only a tiny domestic airport, so you first need to fly into Belize’s main international airport and transfer to a flight. The flight time is less than 10 minutes, and local airlines Tropic Air and Maya Island Air run the route frequently.
- By water taxi: water taxis depart for Caye Caulker from Belize City (45 minutes) and neighbouring San Pedro on Ambergris Caye (30 minutes). The San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi is a reputable operator, and you can buy tickets online in advance. They also offer a route from Chetumal in Mexico, and this is the quickest and easiest way to cross the border into Belize and travel straight to Caye Caulker. Here’s a good article about how to travel between Caye Caulker and Tulum.
Top Things to Do in Caye Caulker
There are so many great things to do in Caye Caulker, but also be sure to save time to do NOTHING and just soak up the relaxed island vibe.
Can’t miss activities are:
- Snorkel or dive on the Belize Barrier Reef
- Hang out at The Split at The Lazy Lizard Bar (jump off their diving platform if you’re feeling brave!)
- Taking a scenic flight over the Great Blue Hole
- Catch an amazing sunset from the west side of the island
- Rent a bicycle and ride around the island for the day
- Laze in a hammock at Ice and Beans, a Caye Caulker institution
- See the giant stingrays at sunset at the Iguana Reef Inn
- Take a yoga class at Namaste Cafe
Where to Stay in Caye Caulker
There are so many great places to stay in Caye Caulker for all budgets and travel styles.
Be sure to book in advance, especially during the peak season (November – April), as things can sell out quickly.
Some top recommendations:
- Budget:
- Mid-range:
- Boutique:
Where to Eat in Caye Caulker
The food in Caye Caulker is delicious. Think fresh seafood, creamy Belizean curries, beachfront BBQs and fresh tropical fruit. Oh, and don’t forget the lobster! From July – February, you can eat fresh and delicious lobster for one of the cheapest prices in the world.
It doesn’t really matter where you choose to eat, I don’t think you’ll have a bad meal.
Some favourites to try:
- Ice and Beans
- Errolyn’s House of Fry Jacks
- Steve’s Grill
- Reina’s
- Wish Willy Bar & Grill
- Chef Kareem’s Unbelizable BBQ
- Namaste Cafe
Caye Caulker Tips
- Phone and SIM Card: you can get a local SIM card from Digi Store on the island. The mobile packages in Belize aren’t great, and they’re quite expensive for the amount of data you get included, but Digi is the best option. You can also buy an E-sim ahead of time through Airalo and benefit of much better rates. Use the code OANS9413 for 3$ off your first order.
- Currency: Belize uses the Belize Dollar (BZD). However, it is pegged against the US Dollar (USD) at a consistent rate of $2 BZD = $1 USD. You can pay for things in Caye Caulker in either BZD or USD. You might get change in a different currency.
- ATMs: there are only a couple of ATMs on Caye Caulker, one with Atlantic Bank and one with People First Bank (formerly called Heritage Bank). You should be able to withdraw BZD with foreign cards from either ATM, but it’s not unusual that they would be out of cash or not functioning. It’s best to come to the island with a good wad of cash, as not everywhere accepts credit cards, or they charge a fee.
Caye Caulker Safety: Final Thoughts
Caye Caulker is a gorgeous island in Belize that is worth a stop on your Belize itinerary. In fact, I think it’s one of my favourite islands of all time!
With some good research and planning, and taking some normal precautions you can be comfortable knowing Caye Caulker is a safe travel destination.
With friendly locals, a small village you’ll orient yourself in quickly and English as the main language, you’ll fall in love with Caye Caulker in no time.
So go slow, enjoy the postcard tropical scenes you’ll find all over the island and make sure you allocate plenty of time for Caye Caulker, I guarantee you won’t want to leave!
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