"Caye Caulker: laid-back rasta life " a Caye Caulker Travel Page by Icemaiden02

Belize, formerly known as British Honduras, is a small nation on the eastern coast of Central America, bordered by Mexico to the north and Guatemala to the west and south. Belize is the only English-speaking country in Central America. Everything is small-scale in Belize: the biggest hotels rarely have more than a couple of dozen rooms. The Maya civilization spread over Belize between 1500 BC and 300 AD and flourished until about 900 AD. European settlement began with British Jews, privateers and shipwrecked English seamen.

The north of Belize consists mostly of flat, swampy coastal plains. The west contains low mountain range of the Maya Mountains. The Carribean coast on the east is lined with a coral reef and some 450 cayes forming the second longest barrier reef in the world (after the Great Barrier Reef off Australia).

After four days in the Maya mountains of Belize, trekking through tropical jungles and trying to explore Maya ruins, we were ready for some sun and relaxation! So we drove from western Belize back to the eastern shore, dropped the rental car off, and hopped a four-passenger plane to the cayes.

This is the vacation destination for most Americans-- in particular, Ambergris Caye, which was extolled by Madonna in the famous song "La Isla Bonita", yes she was referring to Ambergris Caye! Nowadays, though, it is too commercialized for my tastes (though many Americans disagree and find the amenities comforting and necessary).

Caye Caylker is a working fishing village that was originally settled by mestizos (of mixed Spanish and indigenous blood) fleeing the Caste War in Mexico's Yucatan in the late 800s.

Many Belizeans prefer Caye Calker to Ambergris Caye to the north, not only because hotel rates are lower but more importantly because they feel more at home here than in the busy, Americanized, overly-touristy Ambergris Caye. In fact, visitors are often reminded that Caye Caulker is not a resort community but a working village, and thus visitors ought to be mindful of noise levels after hours.