"Caye Caulker - Ya Bett ..." a Caye Caulker Travel Page by Bwana_Brown

Caye Caulker, that idyllic little atoll only 21 miles from Belize City, was one of the main destinations on our 3-week trip to Belize - in fact, our first stop! After having read the intriguing descriptions of it's laid back atmosphere on the pages of 'Windsorgirl' and 'JetLagCity', Belize began to percolate in my mind! The final straw was when Delta Airlines declared bankruptcy, spurring me into action to use up our Delta travel points for a winter escape while we still could!

We were not disappointed - Caye Caulker met all our expectations and then some. In fact, as we continued on our meandering trip through Belize, we kept saying 'it's still not as good as Caye Caulker'! What makes the place so special is that it has not yet been invaded by the large hotel chains - most of the tourist establishments are owned and operated by the island locals.

The 'modern' history of the island dates from 1848, when it was first settled by Spanish and mestizo refugees fleeing the Mexican Yucatan Caste War. To supplement fishing for a livelihood, the refugees eventually planted coconut palm trees and these two industries provided a quiet if subsistance living for decades. It was not until 'hippies' discovered this little backwater many years later, that word of this paradise gradually leaked out. I would say that it is still paradise and you have a chance to sample it - if you don't delay too long!

There are no cars on the sandy streets, the people are friendly, the sun shines and the warm breezes blow! The island motto says it all - 'no shirt, no shoes, no problem'! We were sad to leave Caye Caulker for the next stage of our journey, on 'Ambergris Cay' as we spent a couple of nights in San Pedro, but our time in these various other areas of Belize was also a fantastic experience!