Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker? Which Is The Best Island For You

They are both stunning Islands with a lot to offer but having visited both of them I can now say that they are both very different from the other.

So how do you know which one to pick if you have never been before?

Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. In this post, I will do a side-by-side comparison of both Islands to try and give you all the knowledge we acquired and make your decision a little easier.

So let’s dive right in!

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If you are visiting as part of a bigger trip to Belize then our one week in Belize Itinerary should give you some inspiration. Or Maybe even a bigger trip including Mexico, Belize and Guatemala?

The town of San Pedro is the only town on the island and is only 3 blocks wide. If you want to experience island life but not to feel trapped on a tiny island then Amergis Caye would be the best option.

We stayed in the town of San Pedro on the seafront and could walk across the opposite side of the island in around 5 minutes.

Caye Caulker is a lot smaller in comparison, at only 5 miles long. Caye Caulker is also now split into 2 separate islands after Hurricane Hattie tore through it in 1961. The space between the 2 islands is so small you could easily swim it but it’s best to jump in a water taxi.

When we visited Caye Caulker, we explored on foot and it felt like we had walked the whole island in about 10 minutes.

So if you are looking for a tiny, peaceful Island getaway, that feels like a true escape from the rest of the world then this would be the Island for you.

If you are looking for luxury or all-inclusive resorts then I would recommend looking at Ambergris Caye.

We stayed in a hostel in San Pedro and it was one of the nicest hostels we came across in Central America. Located right on the seafront, with a private pool, private rooms and really great dorms with AC. They also had a restaurant on site that served really great pizzas.

📍 We stayed in Sandbar Beachfront Hostal and can highly recommend it! Take a look for yourself here!

Caye Caulker does also have a lot of choices but you won’t find any big resorts here. If you are looking for a cosy guest house or relaxed hostel then this is the place to be.

That doesn’t mean you can find a luxury stay if you want one. There are plenty.

When we were there we noticed that on one side of the split, you had the chill backpacker heaven with all the hostels and guesthouses and small hotels. On the other side of the split, we saw a lot of beautiful luxury beach bungalows and waterside villas.

So if you want luxury and to be away from the crowds then I’d take a look at the options on Cay Caulker.

We put together a list of the best hotels in Caye Caulker that you might find useful.

Anyway, I digress… On Ambergris Caye there are a few great options if you are a beach lover. The most popular is Secret Beach, despite the name it is in fact one of the most visited beaches on the island. This is of course for a good reason, it is a wonderful beach with really calm waters and is located only around 4km north of San Pedro on the west side of the island.

Another fantastic option is Ramons Village. This resort located at the very south of the island has its very own strip of stunning white sand beach that guests on the resort can use or anyone coming to visit for the day. This beach is ideal if you are looking for that resort vibe.

If you want a relatively undeveloped stretch of beach then I recommend Tuto Beach. Located about halfway up the island you will find the longest stretch of white sand with almost no development around it. Just a few picturesque cabanas.

However, if you are staying in San Pedro and don’t want to stray too far you can also find small sandy patches along the edges of the town. In fact, some beach bars such as Sandy Toes beach bar in town have their own little area of private beach with chairs right on the water where you can dip your toes while you enjoy a nice cold drink.

So if you love beaches and are looking for variety then I would suggest staying on Ambergris Caye.

Caye Caulker on the other hand also has some small sandy areas along the shorelines, all of which are public. This means that dipping your toes in the sea and finding a spot to sunbathe couldn’t get much easier. All you have to do is walk a few minutes to either side of the island and you won’t be far from a patch of beach.

However, if you do particularly love a proper beach then the best one on Caye Caulker is Koko Kind Beach, located on the north island just past the split. You will need to grab a taxi boat or even a kayak and paddle yourself to reach it.

Once you get there you will be treated to a stunning white sand beach perfect for spending a lazy day in the sun.

But when it comes to Caye Caulker the sea is usually best enjoyed from a pier or dock. The waters are the most magical shades of blue and some of the nicest to swim and snorkel in. You will find most people relaxing on docks with instant access to the water.

The split is also great for this. There is a beach bar called the Lazy Lizard located right on the top of the southern island on the split where you can roll out a towel and jump straight in.

Instead, you will find that the most popular method of transport is a golf cart. You will find that most Taxis are in the form of a golf cart or you can just hire your very own. If you are staying in the town of San Pedro then most places will be within walking distance.

If you are staying further away then it is also possible to take water taxis around the island. To make life a little more exciting it is also possible to rent ATVs and scooters on the island too.

Caye Caulker is even simpler still. You may see the odd golf cart taxi but everywhere is within walking distance or just a short taxi boat ride away.

This will ultimately save you some money because you won’t need to rent a vehicle yourself if you stay on Caye Caulker.

All serving fish of course but it wasn’t hard to find some western food on the menu too if you need a taste of home.

We loved Juice Dive opposite the ferry piers. They did some simple yet tasty vegan dishes in there! And the food at Sandbar Beach Bar was awesome don’t forget.

If you are looking for the chance of fine dining then you are more likely to find something resembling that on Ambergris Caye.

On Caye Caulker one of the main ways to grab a bite to eat is from one of the many street-side BBQs that are fired up each day. Again you will find a lot of fish on the menus but thanks to the focus being on western backpackers, you can also find a lot of western food.

There are some great cafes and bars on the island as well as some great spots to find some veggie food.

We loved stopping by Ice and Beans cafe to grab a yummy iced coffee and enjoy it in one of their beach hammocks.

If you want to explore and be a little more adventurous then I would recommend staying on Ambergris Caye.

If you want to relax and take it easy, then I would recommend staying on Caye Caulker.

***The absolute BEST thing to do on either of the islands is to go snorkelling on Hol Chan Marine Reserve!!! This was such an incredible experience that I’m a little sad that we only did it once.

The difference isn’t huge but if you are travelling on a tight budget then I would recommend staying on Caye Caulker.

So if that is what you are after, a taste of the local’s way of life then Ambergris Caye is the Island to visit.

Caye Caulker on the other hand had a very slow, relaxed vibe. Very centered around backpackers looking for a place to chill and escape the fast pace of the rest of the world. This is one of the things we loved most about this island.

But also because of this, it did feel slightly less authentic and more catered to backpackers. With hostels and coffee bars, loungy beach bars and basically exactly what you imagine when you think of a tiny island getaway.

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	Ambergris Caye	Caye Caulker
Size of the Islands	25 miles long	5 miles long
Accommodation	Has it all – Resorts to hostels	Mostly hostels & no resorts
Beaches	several big beaches and more options	Mostly Dock access
Getting Around	Golf Carts	Walking
Eating Out	Fine dining to health food cafes	Street food & BBQs
Things to do	Snorkel, Explore the Island on ATV or gold cart, visit the blue hole	Snorkel, relax
Budget	More Expensive	More budget
Overall Vibe	Authentic experience, busier	backpackers, slow paced

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Your bags will also be collected and you get them back at the other end, just remember to keep the tag they give you.

The ferry goes first to Caye Caulker and then continues on to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye. So no matter which island you are staying on the ferry process is the same.

The ferry takes about 1.5 hours to reach Caye Caulker and then another 30 minutes to get to Ambergris Caye.

We have a whole guide on all the ways to get to San Pedro, no matter where you are travelling from that you can check out for more information.

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It felt more social and had more spaces for people to meet and connect and have fun together.

We visited in December and think this is the perfect time to go!

We personally think the pretty water in Belize is at Hol Chan Marine Reserve. The waters are shallow and clear and a stunning shade of blue. Not to mention the water is absolutely full of life!

However, if you decide to stay on Caye Caulker then I wouldn’t suggest also visiting Ambergris Caye.

But if you are a family looking to stay in a beautiful resort and go on some family adventures then no, I would say Ambergris Caye is better.

They are both amazing places, it all just depends on what you are looking for.

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I hope this was useful in helping you decide between the two and like I said if in doubt why not visit both?

We had an amazing time on the Islands and we know you will love it too.

Happy Travels!