Belize Cayes, Belize

Home to the world’s second largest barrier reef, Belize is a diving hotspot with over 200 islands that are known as cayes.

From the popular northern Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker to the remote Tobacco Caye, FlipKey has a portfolio of rental properties to suit all your needs.

About Belize Cayes

To understand the Belize Cayes you must first get to know the history of this former British Colony.

About the size of New Hampshire, Belize has one foot in the Central American Jungle and the other in the warm waters of the Caribbean.

With lots of opportunities, Belize is a traveler-friendly country where you can snorkel on the barrier reef one day before exploring Mayan ruins in the jungle the next.

The two main islands of the cayes are Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker where you will find a small airport and a ferry connection to Belize City.

It is easy to fall under the spell of the cayes with their ramshackle housing, dirt streets and miles of unspoiled coral beaches. A favorite sign you will see just about sums it all up in a nutshell: “No Shirt, No Shoes…No Problem!”

What to do in Belize Cayes

Traditionally making their living from the sea by catching red snapper and spiny lobsters, the locals have embraced the tourist trade without spoiling the natural environment. You won’t find a single KFC, Burger King, or a McDonald’s anywhere, but you will find cold beer and delicious Latin American and Creole-inspired dishes that will have foodies smiling from ear to ear.

Water sports, diving and just relaxing in a hammock is what the cayes are all about. The 354ft. deep Blue Hole at Light House Reef is on most scuba divers’ bucket lists, yet a more rewarding experience can be found in the turquoise waters that surround Half Moon Caye.

The quality of fly fishing for Bonefish in the shallow flats is on a par with the Bahamas and, as you move into deeper waters away from the cayes, the chances of landing a billfish, tuna and wahoo increase.

Top travel tips for Belize Cayes

The best time to visit the Belize Cayes is between December and April. The rainy season is June to mid-November, with hurricanes possible between August and October.

Take the ferry from Belize city—it's much cheaper than flying and only takes 1 hour 15 minutes to San Pedro on Ambergris Caye.

Both the Belizean dollar and U.S. dollar are accepted in Belize, with the American currency worth twice that of the Belize. All change is given in local currency.

Take advantage of happy hour, when late afternoon most bars offer two drinks for the price of one.

If you are looking for the Caribbean the way it used to be before the big resorts and cruise ships took over, the Belize Cayes are for you. Choose FlipKey to find the best available properties on the cayes to suit any budget.