Caye Caulker

Upon arrival, this is the first stop:

The split. A few years back a hurricane ripped Caye Caulker in two. What remains is called the “split,” and it is where locals and tourists alike hang out, soak up the sun, and swim around.  The part of the island that got separated is swimming distance away.  

To get a taste of the local culture, this is essential:

Leaving the tourist trail. Heading into the “neighborhoods” of Caye Caulker, around the middle of the island, gives a glimpse of what everyday life is like on the island.

This meal here, had me begging for more:

The Little Kitchen. It is in the back of a house off of a side street on the middle of the island, but despite the slightly sketchy area of its location, the women cooking know their way around the kitchen! They cooked up the best creole lobster and jerk shrimp, and make sure to eat the stewed rice and beans.

 

To ride in style like this locals, I recommend this form of transport:

Biking. All the locals mob around on bikes (and golf carts) because vehicles are not allowed on the island. So grab a beach cruiser and slowly work your way around the island. 

You will sleep like a baby here:

Sea Dreams hotel. Air conditioning was an added bonus that made us sleep, well like babies. 

Want a souvenir, take this home:

Marie Sharp’s hot sauces. This is a Belizian staple. Marie Sharp has created an empire based off of her local hot sauces and jams. They are so popular that she owns her own island!

The locals and tourists like to get tipsy here:

The Lazy Lizard. Happy hour is from 4-8 and locals and tourist head here to drink the Lizard Juice (known to knock out even the biggest of men) or my favorite, 2 for 1 Panty Rippers. Basically you can’t go wrong with local coconut rum mixed with pineapple juice!

The culture here is unique because:

It is seriously a mixture of all different people and walks of life.

Kriol, Maya, Garinagu (also known as Garifuna), Mestizo (a mixture of Spanish and Native Americans), Mennonites who are of German descent, with a blend of many other cultures from Chinese to Lebanese. 

If I had 24 hours here, I would spend it this way:

I would rent a bike in the morning, head into town to get some fry jacks for breakfast. Then around noon, when the sun is pounding, I would head to the split, strap on some fins and a mask and snorkel around the island. I would end the day by grabbing jerk chicken or grilled lobster from a road-side bbq cart and wash it all down with an ice cold Belikan beer.