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Make A Wish and Make It Caye Caulker
Updated: 6 days ago
The unofficial motto "Go Slow" is more than a saying on the Belizean island of Caye Caulker; it's a way of life. On this five-mile stretch of paradise, golf carts, bikes, and barefoot walks are the best modes of transportation. In March of last year, I joined my two sisters Lynn and Kayla in celebrating Lynn’s birthday. For a special occasion, it was the ideal vacation.
Our weekend travels started with an $8 (BZD) bus ride from Belmopan to Belize City, where we caught the ferry to Caye Caulker for BZ$74 each, round trip. About forty-five minutes later, colourful buildings, swaying palm trees, and upbeat music greeted us as we stepped off the boat to start our birthday celebration. Go slow mode was on—we were in paradise!
One thing I love about Caye Caulker is that it’s so small, everything is within walking distance. After hopping off the boat, we walked just about two minutes over to our weekend home, La Isla Resort. We checked in and then headed out to explore the island. My eldest sister had told me about this fun activity called tarpon feeding. Tarpons are a spectacular, large fish, and for just BZ$5, you can have an adrenaline rush feeding bait (sprat) to the huge, toothless fish.
The experience was worth every cent. The owner was nice and friendly, and she demonstrated how to hold the frozen bait before feeding the fish. At first, I was a bit frightened because the tarpons actually jump out of the water to snatch the bait from your hand. They move swiftly, and their mouths hit your hand with such force. It all happens in about a second. Each time a tarpon jumped up, I screamed from excitement (and a bit of fear). Eventually, Kayla and I got tired from stooping; otherwise, we might have stayed longer and spent all the money we had.
Exploring the island and tarpon feeding got us a bit hungry, and, in general, we’re a bunch of sisters who love to eat. I 10/10 recommend having breakfast at the famous Erroyln’s House of Fry Jacks. I had two of the most delicious beans, bacon, cheese, and meat-filled stuffed jacks for less than BZ$10. Again, since everything was within walking distance, we took a leisurely walk to another food spot, Ice and Beans. Besides mine that I make at home, they have one of the best iced coffees I’ve ever tasted. We relaxed under the coconut and palm trees outside the coffee shop. The cool breeze and the sound of the waves crashing against Belize’s world-renowned barrier reef about a mile offshore brought tranquility to our minds and moods.
We took a five-minute stroll from Ice and Beans back to the hotel. Relaxing on a deck chair beside the pool, I enjoyed listening to music and reading a book. Then, as the evening was approaching, my sister suggested we walk over to the beachside at Iguana Reef Inn to watch the sunset and the stingrays we had heard of. They come to the shore every evening around a specific time to feed. It’s quite an attraction. Several people came out to enjoy the sighting and even touched the gentle creatures as they floated by their feet. I was so excited when I saw them! It was a new experience for me—my first time touching a stingray. If you know what fine sandpaper feels like, you’ll understand what touching a stingray’s back feels like. I also saw seahorses for the first time! The area around the dock at Iguana Reef Inn is a habitat for several seahorses. They’re so small and camouflaged within the seagrass, you can easily overlook them. And then there was the amazing sunset—hues of yellow, orange, and red spread across the sky as the sun bid us farewell. It was the perfect ending to a wonderful day.
The following day, I woke up and wondered to myself, What is that bright light showing through the blinds? I jumped out of bed and was greeted by the most beautiful sunrise ever! The red-orange colour and the view of the Caribbean Sea made the perfect wake-up call. Lynn and Kayla woke up, and we got ready to explore the island again. Of course, I had to feed the tarpons one last time before leaving. Afterward, we walked to The Split, a narrow channel carved through the island by Hurricane Hattie in 1961. This chill spot is perfect for sunbathing, relaxing, swimming, and grabbing cold drinks and good food at The Lazy Lizard. They’re known for their famous Lizard Juice, a frozen “adult” drink. Do note that it will leave your tongue green for a bit.
I wasn’t quite hungry when lunchtime came around because I had eaten my leftover pizza from the night before. But who could resist another meal while enjoying the beauty of the Caribbean Sea? We had lunch at Barefoot Caribe Bar and Grill, where I had some fantastic, savoury shrimp tacos with a side of freshly fried, crunchy corn chips. Afterwards, we took a walk to Sip N Dip, where tables and chairs are in the sea.
After lunch, we got our luggage from the hotel and walked to the water taxi terminal, where we waited on our 3 o’clock ferry ride back to Belize City. On the trip back, I thought about how beautiful my country is. With such gorgeous shades of blue waters, it’s almost surreal. Leaving Caye Caulker was the only downside to the weekend. For me, the best parts were definitely feeding the tarpons and enjoying the food. Lyn’s favourite part of her birthday trip was simply being on the island, her favourite place in Belize, where she could enjoy its laid-back “go-slow” vibe.
It made me sad going back to reality, but happy waiting for March to come again, to see the next destination for my sister’s birthday. Hopefully, it will be that five-mile-long paradise again.
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Kylie Longsworth is a Marketing major at the University of Belize and a proud resident of Belize’s culture capital, Dangriga Town. She loves travelling, spending time with family and friends, and enjoying Belize’s beautiful islands and coastal communities.
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