Caye Caulker lies off the coast of Belize, a small island that was once a quiet fishing village and today still feels wonderfully uncrowded compared to many Caribbean destinations. Its name likely comes from an English twist on “Hicaco,” the old Spanish name meaning coco plum, a nod to the island’s early days and bilingual roots. With no cars on the sandy streets and only bicycles and golf carts, explorers get around at a relaxed pace, soaking up the bright wooden homes, friendly waves from locals, and the sound of music drifting from beachside bars.

Water is never far away here. Caye Caulker sits at the edge of the Belize Barrier Reef, part of the world’s second-largest reef system, which supports colorful coral, tropical fish, and regular visits from rays and nurse sharks in areas like Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley. Many day trips leave from the island’s docks to take visitors snorkeling above coral gardens and through clear channels, with opportunities to spot manatees or sea turtles, especially near the mangroves on the northern shore.

A mythical moment on the island is “the split,” a narrow channel that cuts Caye Caulker in two after hurricanes reshaped its shoreline in the mid-20th century. At this waterway, people swim, float with a drink in hand, or sit in the shade of strung hammocks and simple bars watching the tide slide by. Bicycling from the village to the Split or riding out to quieter beaches paints an easy picture of island life and lets visitors take in the salt air with a slower tempo than on larger islands.