For anyone who has stayed on Caye Caulker, do you have any hotels/places to stay that you loved? I'd love any recommendations that you have. No plans to go anytime soon, but always researching.

Bookmarking. (Just kidding.)

Sailwinds is a good choice if you want an apartment set up with a kitchen and balcony in a great location:
http://www.staycayecaulker.com/sailwinds.html
Their low season rates are less than 2/3 of their high season rates.

I'm sure some enjoy Caye Caulker, but there's not a lot to see or do. Granted we only spent 2-3 hrs there, but the town on CC makes San Pedro look like a metropolis.

I haven't been to Ambergris but am unlikely to ever go. We like backwater villages so much Caye Caulker seemed plenty big and busy for us. Great food, tour, and lodging options, friendly locals. It's surprisingly more expensive, though, than the Bay Islands so that's where we're heading again next summer.

Thanks, guys - hopeful, what kinds of tours have you done? SiteC, did you guys just go over for lunch? We love Ambergris, but thought it would be fun to maybe split time with another caye.

We were there in 2008 & spent 3 nights at Caye Caulker Condos. It was a nice 2bd/2ba overlooking the ocean with hammocks on the roof. I loved it there but then I like out of the way places. There were no cars on the island-just golf carts & bikes. It's all so quiet. We loved watching the little kids play in the water. We spent every day snorkeling & walking along the beach. The next week we spent at Ambergris so took a boat from Caye Caulker with a captain that agreed to let us snorkel at 3 stops on the way to Hustlers Dock--Hol Chan & shark & stingray alley. I'd go back in a heart beat!

Thanks, Idaho - does Caulker have sea grass like Ambergris? Were you guys able to snorkel from shore there?

Hi, vol -
We were just on Caulker for 4 nights. We just explored the island and hung out, ate incredible cake from the cake man (pronounced "mon"), shopped for groceries, had some laundry done, ate, and snoozed in hammocks our 1st full day. 2nd day some of us dove and the husbands hired local fisherman to drop them on a small neighboring island to flyfish, then pick them up on their way home. 3rd day we did the amazing Raggamuffin sailing/snorkeling tour, a full day with 3 snorkeling stops and healthy helpings of Bob Marley, ceviche, and rum and/or coke:
http://raggamuffintours.com/hol-chan-snorkel/

There is really only one place on Caulker where people swim, and that's the 'split'. A hurricane split the island in two, I don't know how many years ago. There's some beach there, a fun little bar, and some people snorkel. I've heard there can be currents, but I have no personal experience.

The shore line of Caulker isn't as 'beachy' as Ambergris. There is sea grass.

Caye Caulker was part of a snorkel tour we took. We spent approx 2 hrs on CC and didn't see much to make me/us want to go back. I'm not knocking it... it's just I/we like a bit more activity options...too each their own. We recently visited Roatan as part of a cruise and can't wait to go back! It's a nice in-between San Pedro & Caye Caulker.

Thanks, everyone. How long does it take to get to CC over from Ambergris? Is there a ferry that goes over?

Yes you can take a ferry at the same plan you get to Ambergris ferry in fact it may be the same one. We stayed at a nice 3 story building Pancho's Villas on Caye Caulker. it is owned by the same guy who owns Panch's Auto rentals. It had a separate bed room. from a kitchen with fridge and micro wave. It also has a barbeque on the roof where you can see the entire island. It is central. There isn't a lot to do on caye Caulker but we found the food was excellent. Some of the bars over charge but you can find our for yourself. it is defininitly a lot cheaper than Ambergris Caye. At Rosies you can pick your fish and then they will cook it for you. The snorkeling is not that great from the beach but there are the same tours that are offered from Ambergris.

The boat ride from Ambergris to Caulker is about 20 minutes. You can also charter sail boats that stop in a couple places for snorkeling, then let you off on Caulker for lunch before sailing back to Ambergris. Nice way to spend a day....

If anyone's seen these hotels, I'd love some advice?

Sea Dreams: http://www.seadreamsbelize.com/

Caye Caulker Condos: http://cayecaulkercondos.com/condos.asp

Ocean Pearle Cabana - half the price of the other options, 250/wk.

I'm looking for a homebase where I can lay in a shaded hammock and read. The condo looks nice and airy but perhaps more than i need. The hammock and space to relax are more imp to me than a kitchen.

Sea Dreams was perfect for us. It's near the split, but has its own private tiny beach and dock, as well as kayaks and bikes to borrow. Rooms surround a courtyard, where a good breakfast is served each morning. I spent time in the rooftop hammocks - this was important to me also.

Thx cattail - the room looks tiny, i assume it's not comfortable to do anything but sleep in there. I actually have to work a little - is there an area outdoors where I could comfortably sit with a computer?

fishee, the room was of average size, I'd say. We didn't bring a lap-top, so I can't answer that question - sorry. We used one of the internet cafes in town to connect to friends and family.

Gorgeous here at Sea Dreams! The room is small and a little dark but very comfortable and quite nice given the rustic air of Caye Caulker. The rooftop hammock is PERFECT as well as the location to the split. OMG, wish I could afford the cabana, it's adorable with its own private deck and hammocks. Next time....

thx again for steering me here. : )

fishee, you're already in Caye Caulker - cool! I agree, those cabanas do look comfy. Have a fantastic time!!!