There are so many incredible things to do in Belize, and one of the highlights is spending time on the islands.
We visited both Ambergris Caye (San Pedro) and Caye Caulker. Two beautiful islands only about 15 miles apart from one another. Although close in proximity, these Belize islands could not be more different from one another.
There is a longstanding debate around which of the two islands is better, and depending on the time constraints of your travels, you might only have the opportunity to visit one. In this post, we break it down for you–Caye Caulker vs San Pedro– exploring their similarities, their differences, and sharing all that each Belize island has to offer.
At the end of the post, we also include a free Ultimate Belize Island Packing List, to ensure you have everything you need for you trip. YOU’RE WELCOME 🙂
Read About
- Main Differences
- Transportation
- Cuisine
- Drink Spots!
- Activities & Adventure
- Belize Island Packing List
Main Differences
Caye Caulker
Let’s kick it off with Caye Caulker. Caye Caulker is a small island only about 5 miles wide with a population of 1,500 people. The best way to describe it would be a backpacker haven.
It’s one of those places you’d have a blast visiting with a group of people, but would have no problem traveling to alone.
Caye Caulker is extremely laid back and a bit minimalistic in nature. It is an ideal vacation destination for the care free backpacker.
CLAIM TO FAME: When people think of Caye Caulker, what comes to mind?
Caye Caulker is mainly known for its lagoon at the edge of the island called “The Split”. The reason it is called “The Split” is because there is a water divide separating the main part of the island from the rest. UNREAL.
“The Split” is a popular hangout spot on the island where you can sun bathe and relax. The ocean is super shallow around “The Split” so you’ll find a lot of people hanging out in the water as well. We go more into this and other fun things to do in Caye Caulker below.
Ambergris Caye (San Pedro)
Ambergris Caye, on the other hand, is a town of 14,000 people and spreads about 25 miles wide. San Pedro is the main town on the Ambergris Caye island and it is bustling with people (both locals and tourists).
You may hear people use “San Pedro” to refer to the entire island of Ambergris Caye, because San Pedro is usually why tourists will visit Ambergris.
We learned that the native Belizeans will often choose to spend their weekends partying on San Pedro’s beaches, and then retreat back inland during the week.
If you are thinking you want a more luxurious experience—be it romantic or family friendly—you’ll love San Pedro! As far as islands go, it is very built up with tons of restaurants, shops, and bars to explore.
Transportation
Transportation TO the Islands
You can get to both islands by water taxi from Belize City. If you are not familiar with Belize City, this is where the main airport is located. So if you are coming from places like the United States or Europe, you will likely fly through Belize City to get to either of these Belize islands.
The water taxis from Belize City run every couple of hours and are at an extremely affordable rate. We paid $14 for a one-way ride from Belize City to San Pedro, and then $9 from San Pedro to Caye Caulker.
Expect an hour and a half ride from Belize City to San Pedro, and about 45 min from Belize City to Caye Caulker. If you do decide to visit both islands during your trip, the water taxis will take you between islands as well.
It is a fairly quick ride and gives you a killer view of the coast. Keep in mind that prices will vary depending on the time of year and day of the week. But it is a convenient and affordable option that we would highly recommend.
You can check out the full water taxi schedule along with the prices here. http://www.belizewatertaxi.com/.
Transportation ON the islands
Once you arrive, you’ll find that the islands are not very big. You should have no problem getting around by foot.
Another option would be to rent a golf cart, which you can do on either island.
This is definitely not necessary (haha), but the golf carts were $75 for a full day rental. You could rent them for even cheaper if you only want to use them for a few hours. We thought it was a great way to explore the area in style!
If you do decide to rent a golf cart, we’d recommend doing it in San Pedro. There is a little more ground to cover and some pretty cool trails to explore.
Cuisine
Belizean Cuisine is among our top favorite foods from around the world. Even the pickiest of eaters will be able to find something that satisfies their taste buds in a Belizean dish.
The best way to describe the food on the islands is FRESH. You are of course right on the water, so everything you are eating is fresh from the sea.
How you can expect the food from inland Belize to be a bit heavier, the food on Belize islands is very light, with seafood being the main component in every meal.
In Caye Caulker, we would walk down the narrow streets and let the smell of grilled shrimp guide us to where we’d eat that day. Many of the restaurants are in the form of food stands or family style cookouts. Almost everything is taken to go–people need to get back to the beach after all! Picnic benches are a staple in Caye Caulker restaurants.
You’ll find San Pedro food to be charming with its outdoor restaurants that you can walk up to straight from the beach. You should not have an issue finding good eats with an ocean view. While still laid back, the restaurants in San Pedro are a bit fancier in comparison.
We dive deep into all types of Belizean Cuisine including specific restaurant recommendations in our post Belizean Eats.
Drink Spots!
If you are looking to have a few fun nights out, Belize islands have got you covered! No doubt.
We have listed our favorite spots on both islands to grab a drink and enjoy good company!
The Lazy Lizard at “The Split”
Earlier in the post we mentioned that “The Split” is a popular hangout spot, and a lot of that has to do with the outdoor bar that is located there, The Lazy Lizard. Grab a tropical drink and relax at the many palapas they have. Pro tip: The Lazy Lizard allows you to bring your own food & drink as well. Consider stopping at the local grocery store a few of the days. Your wallet will thank you later.
Palapa Margarita Bar
This was one of our favorite spots to hit up in San Pedro and has since left a lasting impression on us many years later. The most notable part of this bar is there outdoor extension, which includes about 15 black inner tubes floating in the Caribbean that you can relax in with a cold beverage in hand. Don’t worry about floating away into the sea– these tubes are tethered down to the dock, making it easy to climb in and out of. We highly recommend the Palapa Bar for some fun day drinking!
The Jungle
The laidback, chill vibe that we chatted about earlier with Caye Caulker goes out the WINDOW at night time. One of the popular late night bars is called the Jungle. Grab your girls and your dancing shoes (who are we kidding, you should always be wearing your dancing shoes). Open until 2 am.
I&I Reggae Bar
If you still haven’t had enough, there is a final spot people will migrate to in Caye Caulker called I&I Reggae Bar. Music lovers will appreciate the Caribbean beats blaring through these walls. But be prepared for a long night out. This bar stays open until 5am so grab your energy drinks. (Yikes).
One thing to note: San Pedro, has a better set up for bar hopping during the day since the majority of its bars are situated along the beach. At night, the clubs/bars were pretty scarce, but that of course will vary depending on the time of the year you are vacationing. The locals call it “Temptation Island” after all and see it as a huge party destination.
Activities & Adventure
The one thing that these islands have in common is that they are flowing with divers.
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving can be done on both Caye Caulker and San Pedro. There are plenty of touring companies and snorkel shops on the islands that provide this service. We went snorkeling while in Caye Caulker and absolutely loved our experience!
The Great Blue Hole, an extension of the country’s Barrier Reef, is the main diving area people travel to Belize to see. This barrier reef is one of the best in the world, second only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. You can get there from either of the islands so you’ll definitely want to visit it!
Activities like Zip lining, river canoeing, Mayan Ruin tours, and cave tubing are popular things to do in Belize but are not easily accessible from the islands. We’d recommend doing those in inland Belize, like San Ignacio.
What to Pack: Ultimate Belize Island Packing List
There are a few things that we found to be really useful to have with us while vacationing on these Belize islands. We pulled together our 10 day packing list to help make sure you have everything you need for your trip.
Clothes & Accessories
- 8 Swimsuits (main form of attire)
- 2 Denim Shorts
- 1 Sofi Shorts
- 3 Flowy Tops
- 3 Tank Tops
- 3 sun dresses (long and short)
- 1 Swim Coverup or Summer Shall
- 1 Light sweater or lightweight jacket (nighttime can be chilly)
- Pair of Walking Sneakers
- Pair of Flip Flops
- 1 Sun Hat
- 2 Sunglasses
- 2 sets of Workout Clothes
Electronics
- Outlet adapter (check to make sure that your phone charger and hair appliances are compatible with Belizean outlets before you leave).
- Phone Charger
- Hair Straightener
- Headphones
Other
- Small Backpack (great to take with you to “The Split” or for a day of exploring)
- Beach Towel
- Bandaids for Blisters
- Medicine (Sophia got bit my a bug during the trip and having these meds along with us were a game changer!)
- Bug Spray
- Chapstick
- Cash
- A good read (will come in handing when sunbathing)
- Sunscreen
- Toiletry Bag
And there you have it! A glimpse into Belize’s two most favorable islands. Depending on what you’re looking to get out of your island time, you may find one more fitting than the other. Before you decide which island to visit, make sure you think about what this trip means for you. Is it a romantic beach getaway or a wild girls weekend? Defining that will make a difference and allow you to get the most out of your trip!
THINGS WE WISH WE WOULD HAVE KNOWN
- San Pedro = more family friendly, Caye Caulker = your backpacker hub.
- The water really is as clear and blue as the pictures
- Your swimsuit is truly the only attire you need to pack. That’s island life for ya.
- There are more tourists than locals.
- Golf carts are not a necessary mode of transportation but highly encouraged for a good time.
- If you are serious about your snorkel/dive game, you should make a trip to The Great Blue Hole. We didn’t go there because we are weeny’s but it is supposed to be a breathtaking dive.
- Both islands have a great nightlife! Bars along the beach, dancing, and lots of rum punch.
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