"No Shirt, No Shoes..... No Problem! " a Caye Caulker Travel Page by windsorgirl

Caye Caulker (pronounced Key Cocker) is a very small island. It was made smaller still in 1961 when Hurricane Hattie ripped through and literally divided the island into two. You can easily navigate this island by foot although bikes and golf carts are available for rent. It is only 1km from The Split to the outer edge of town and the island is only 600m wide at its widest point.

My visit to Caye Caulker was the second half of my 2 week holiday in Belize and I loved the laid back and relaxed atomosphere here. The streets are unpaved and sandy, and best of all there are no cars allowed on the island apart from a police car and a delivery truck. There are plenty of budget accomodations to choose from, I showed up in March without a reservation and had no problem finding a room. There are also many operators offering snorkel trips but despite the competition, I was never hassled about joining a tour.

Let's hope that Caye Caulker remains a quiet, laid back and inexpensive destination for many years to come.

Caye Caulker has a population of 800 permanent residents, most of whom gain their living in the tourist trade.

You can reach the island by a 45 minute water taxi ride from Belize City or a Tropic Air Flight from either the municipal or international airport. The island lies 33kms north of Belize City and 22 kms south of Ambergris Caye.

Two kms east of the island lies the longest barrier reef in the western hemisphere at some 290 kms long. This attracts alot of divers and snorklers to the island. You should join a boat tour to snorkel the reef, but you can also see some fish if you snorkel near the split.

There is not much of a beach here on Caye Caulker as the shoreline has alot of mangroves and seaweed. Most people lounge on their hotel docks or at the public pier by The Split. The best swimming is also at The Split.