Caye Caulker Local Custom Tips by Jefie Top 5 Page for this destination

Fresh fish on the pier

Every night just before dinner time, we could see birds flying in circle over the beach near the Island Magic hotel - that was a sure sign that fresh fish had just arrived! We went down to the small pier one evening to see the fisherman (I believe his name is Novell) arrive with his catches for the day. There were all kinds of colorful fish, big and small, that could be bought right on the spot - whatever isn't sold at that moment ends up at some of the island's restaurants. It was really neat to see the locals (and some visitors) pick their evening meal and to watch the fishermen prepare some filets for them. They usually throw the parts that can't be eaten to the birds (see my little video), which explains why they tend to gather around the beach when they see the boat coming. Even though we didn't buy any fish that night, I still enjoyed having the opportunity to get a glimpse of the locals' life on the island!

Caye Caulker's Chinatown!

It is rather surprising that there should be such an important Chinese population on such a tiny Caribbean island but if I remember correctly, I counted no less than six Chinese restaurants, and pretty much all the markets on the island are tended by Chinese people. Most come to Caye Caulker to learn English and spend a few months working on the island before going back to China once they've improved their language skills. It's easy to spot newcomers as they will often use a calculator and show you the total price, whereas those who've been there for a while have had time to learn their numbers. It's just another little thing that makes Caye Caulker so special and unique!

Find a fisherman and have a feast!

Fishing is Caye Caulker's second biggest industry (after tourism, of course), and practically everybody on the island knows someone who fishes. If you ask around, chances are you'll be able to find someone who'll sell you some freshly caught lobster and stone crab so you can cook your very own seafood feast! OK, since I don't eat seafood, I heated up some pasta while Sylvain and his parents were eating the crab and lobster, but it was still fun to take part in that fantastic homemade dinner!

Rum punch, panty ripper & Belikin beer!

It is virtually impossible to spend more than a day in Caye Caulker without having some rum punch - every restaurant has its own delicious recipe, and practically every tour operator will offer you some rum punch at the end of the day's activities. The secret to making this national drink: some Belizean rum, some fruit squash and some fresh fruit juice! After we got the recipe we bought all the ingredients we needed at one of the island's convenience stores (a 35 oz bottle of rum costs about US$10) and were able to make our own rum punch back at the hotel :o)

Another popular drink on the island is the "panty ripper" (usually pronounced "panty rippa"), and that is made with coconut rum and pineapple juice. For those who don't like rum, wine is available, but it is much more expensive. Two beer varieties were also widely available on the island: Lighthouse, a light-tasting lager, and Belikin, which I personally preferred because it had a bit more kick. Don't get the wrong idea now, I did try quite a few drinks during my stay on Caye Caulker, but it was only for the sake of writing this very useful local custom tip! ;o)

Mennonites in Belize

It is always slightly surprising at first to spot a Mennonite family in the middle of all the tourists clad in beachwear, but given that there are now thousands of Mennonites living in Belize, it doesn't take long before you get used to it. Mennonites first came to Belize in 1959, and signed an agreement with the Belizean government that would allow them to live their simple way of life without having to fear being persecuted for their religious beliefs. Most Belizeans are quite respectful of Mennonite communities and recognize the importance of their presence in the country: indeed, Mennonites produce over 70% of Belize's meat, dairy products, fruits and vegetables, and they do so without the use of modern technology. Talk about a hard-working bunch!