Snorkeling · Full day, about 6 hrs
Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley
The classic reef day from Caye Caulker: the marine reserve channel, then nurse sharks and rays in shallow water. 4.8 from 1,093 reviews on GetYourGuide.
from US$110Check dates
Caye Caulker, Belize
Reef trips, water taxi schedules and places to stay on Belize's go-slow island.
Independent, research-led guide · prices and timetables checked November 2026 · sources listed on every guide · how we research
Caye Caulker at a glance
Getting there
45 min water taxi from Belize City, or a 10 min flight
Island size
About 5 miles long and under a mile wide
Getting around
No cars: golf carts, bikes and sand streets
Currency
Belize dollar, pegged at BZ$2 to US$1; USD accepted
Peak season
December to April, the dry season
Language
English is the official language
Caye Caulker is a small island on the Belize Barrier Reef, about 20 miles northeast of Belize City. It built its reputation with backpackers: no cars, sand streets, cheap rooms near the water, and reef trips that leave from the village pier every morning.
The reef is the draw. Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley sit a short boat ride away, the Great Blue Hole is a long day trip east, and snorkel boats run year-round. A half-day snorkel trip costs about US$55-75, and a full day to Hol Chan about US$109-129.
Top trips from the island
Compare snorkel trips
Diving · Certified divers
Great Blue Hole dive trip
A long boat day to Lighthouse Reef: one deep dive in the hole, two reef dives on the way back. Park fees included from Caye Caulker.
from US$355Compare dive trips
Scenic flight · About 1 hr
Blue Hole flyover
The only way to see the whole circle, and it fits around a snorkel day. No diving needed.
from US$250 a seatCompare flights
Getting to Caye Caulker
Full route guide
Schedule last verified November 2026 · Source: San Pedro Belize Express schedule, Caribbean Sprinter sailings
Explore the island
Hol Chan Marine ReserveThe protected channel most snorkel trips are built around- Shark Ray AlleyNurse sharks and southern stingrays in shallow water
SnorkelingHalf-day and full-day trips compared
Great Blue HoleDive it, snorkel the rim or fly over it- The SplitThe swimming channel and bar at the village edge
- Getting thereWater taxi times from Belize City, flights and routes
Find somewhere to stay
Where to stay in Caye CaulkerThe village and the SplitThe pick for first visits: restaurants, tours and the water taxi piers all a short walk away. Guesthouses from about US$45 a night.The quiet south endBeachfront cabanas near the airstrip, a bike ride or golf cart taxi from town.The north islandVillas and pools across the Split, reached by a small ferry that runs on demand until about 10 pm.
Visiting Caye Caulker: your questions answered
Where is Caye Caulker?
Caye Caulker is a small island off the coast of Belize, about 20 miles northeast of Belize City and just inside the Belize Barrier Reef. The water taxi from Belize City takes about 45 minutes.
How do you pronounce Caye Caulker?
Caye Caulker is pronounced "key CAW-ker." Caye is the Caribbean word for a small, low island and is always pronounced "key."
How big is Caye Caulker?
Caye Caulker is about 5 miles long and less than a mile wide. A channel called the Split divides the island in two, and the village sits on the southern half.
How far is Caye Caulker from Belize City?
Caye Caulker is about 20 miles from Belize City. The water taxi takes about 45 minutes, and a Tropic Air or Maya Island Air flight takes about 10.
Are there sharks in Belize?
There are sharks in the waters around Belize, most famously the nurse sharks that gather at Shark Ray Alley near Caye Caulker. Nurse sharks are slow bottom feeders, and most Caye Caulker snorkel trips stop to swim with them at Shark Ray Alley.
Planning a trip? Start with how to get here.
Water taxi times & routes