Useful Information About
Caye Caulker


CLIMATE

Typically a tropical lowland climate. Rainforest to the south and west of the lowlands. Island temperatures drop in the winter months, and average mid/late 70's in the day and dropping about 10 degrees at night. Summer months are hotter and much more humid. The temps still drop by about 10 degrees at night, and average daily temps are around 85 - 90's. The islands usually have a sea breeze that can feel like air-conditioning when the rest of the country is sweltering! The rainy season is supposed to start after Easter sometime and carry on till Oct. This has not been the case in recent years and we are seeing more rain later in the year. Usually great thunderstorms with massive lightening shows in the late afternoon or at night. Climate around the world is changing - so no promises!

For today's weather, click on here:www.belizenet.com/weatherix.shtml

LANGUAGE

English is the official language but you will hear all kinds of other ones too. Spanish, Mayan, Garifuna, Creole, to name but a few.

MONEY

We have the Belize Dollar. BZD$. It is pegged to the US dollar at 2BZD:1USD. There is one ATM here, which accepts foreign cards. The bank (Atlantic Bank Ltd) will also provide cash advances with credit/debit cards and charges $10BZD commision however large the transaction (need to show your passport). US currency is widely accepted and your change will come back in BZD dollars. Travellers checks are a good idea and you can spend them as 'cash' at most places and also change them at the bank ($IBZ per check). Again your change will be in local currency. Remember large notes are always a problem for smaller vendors.

THE ISLAND AND FACILITIES

As with all places now, the climate changes are going to affect us as well as everywhere else. Although we provide such luxuries as air-conditioning, I ask all my guests to be aware of the small things that will make a difference and hopefully give the island a few more days of survival. This is how it works - so that you can better understand what we are up against! Tourism is good, but let us be responsible.

WATER here is well water, a shallow 4-6 feet hole where the fresh water sits on top of the salt water. There is only so much to go around. The only other water we have is collected rain water. The less we use the better we all are. Please take shorter showers and perhaps not flush the toilet every time?! Toilets use more water than any other household appliance! If you hear a toilet running or see a shower dripping, please let us know as soon as you can.

POWER: we have diesel generators here on the island that supply all of our power. The less we use the less greenhouse gases we produce. Please turn off A/C's, fans and lights whenever plausible.

RECYCLING: there is no official recycling here, but we do a number of things as responsible foreingers that may help at least! Glass bottles like beer, sodas are returnable. When buying drinks, try to use the glass bottles instead of the plastic. Leave them next to the trash for the kids to take back and make some pocket money. Plastic bottles we reuse in the guise of the fruit lady and her juices. Keep them seperate too. Whenever possible reuse shopping bags as trash bags or some other use, like toilet trash bin liners. Many 'take-out' food containers are polystyrene, please crush and dispose of in the trash or better yet, take your own container!

A slice of island life!

POST/INTERNET

There are two internet cafe's on Front St. Just ask anyone! The Post Office is on Estrella Street, just off Front Street or Hicaco Drive which we are still getting used to calling it!

GETTING HERE FROM THE MAINLAND AND SAN PEDRO

TAXI FROM THE AIRPORT TO THE WATER TAXI TERMINAL: If you let me know when your flight arrives at the airport I can set up a driver to meet your flight and take you to the water taxi. It is a 20 min journey (there is no bus or other options - except walking!) and the standard posted rate is $US25 for a couple and $US7 per extra person. My driver charges the same, but you have the comfort of being met by a reliable driver who also lives here on the island and knows the water taxi drivers etc, so can answer any of your questions. There is also a taxi rank there at the airport if you feel more comfortable doing that.

WATER TAXI - Is the way we locals get around. There are 2 water taxi providers, each with their own terminal, the original, Caye Caulker Water Taxi and the competition, San Pedro Express Water Taxi. The fares are identical at $20 USD per round trip and the trip duration for both is approx 45 minutes. Although round trip tickets are available, we advise buying one way tickets. That way if you need to use the alternate company in order to make a flight time on departure, you are not out the $10 US/$20 BZ.

The Schedule for Belize City to Caye Caulker:

Caye Caulker Water Taxi
Departs Belize City at 08:00, 10:30, 1:30, 4:30
Arrives Caye Caulker at 08:45, 11:15, 2:15, 5:15
Departs Caye Caulker at 08:25, 09:55, 1:25, 3:55
Arrives Belize City at 09:10, 10:40, 2:10, 4:40

San Pedro Express Water Taxi
Departs Belize City at 09:00, 12:00, 3:00, 5:30
Arrives Caye Caulker at 09:45, 12:45, 3:45, 6:15
Departs Caye Caulker at 07:00, 11:55, 2:55, 4:55
Arrives Belize City at 07:45, 12:40, 3:40, 5:40

Note: The schedule is loosely held to but do not be surprised if the boat you are on leaves late.

Note: Schedules for other destinations such as San Pedro available on request.

For more information go to http://cayecaulkerwatertaxi.com

FLYING TO CAYE CAULKER -

There are 2 local carriers that fly from Belize City airports, both the Phillip Goldson International and Belize Municipal. Of the 2, Maya and Tropic, we at Caye Caulker Rentals recommend Tropic Air. The flight takes about 11 minutes from take off to landing and costs $63.50 USD one way from the international airport.  Here is the link for Tropic Air who have a great and easy site to book through. . . www.tropicair.com.  Should you book with Caye Caulker Rentals and wish us to, we can make reservations with Tropic or Maya on your behalf. We can have a golf cart taxi meet you on arrival at the Caye Caulker air strip.

BUS FROM CHETUMAL OR FLORES

I think that all the bus's now stop at the water taxi terminal on arrival into BZ City. If not, the Bus Station is not far away and you can jump in a taxi for $US7.50 and ask for either water taxi terminal, according to the provided schedule. We at Caye Caulker Rentals advise you NOT to walk.

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER

If flying out of Belize, remember that there is a $US37.50 departure fee from Belize. Usually this is included in your ticket, but be careful to save enough cash if not, as they do not accept credit cards. They say they want it in US dollars, but I have often paid in local currency.

WHAT TO PACK

THINGS TO DO

Diving - there is excellent diving here and these guys are the best! www.belizedivingservice.com and www.frenchiesdivingbelize.com.

Snorkeling - lots of shops up and down Front Street, all good, check them out and see who YOU like best! You have to spend the day with whoever you choose, make sure you meet the guide! We have a recommendation on snorkelling but cannot elaborate until you are here!

Fishing: big fishing destination. for the fly fisherman, there is permit, tarpon and bonefish, for the reef fisherman there is grouper, snapper, barracuda, tuna. For the deep sea fisherman there is sailfish, marlin, dorada and many more!! I have a list of great fishing guides, so just ask!

Sailing, Kayaking, Windsurfing and Kite Surfing ( the last usually just from Dec - April).

Tours: Mayan ruins, Belize Zoo, zip-lining, cave tubing, butterfly farms, waterfalls, horsebackriding and lots more. We at Caye Caulker Rentals can arrange all your mainland tours for you. Most of the tours can be done as day trips from Caye Caulker so you are able to experience the ruins, cave tubing, zip lining etc and still be back for a sunset and dinner on the Caye. We offer combo packages and our rates are as competitive as any in the business.

Please do not feel that you have to do anything at all! This is a laid back place and doing nothing is just fine!!

GETTING AROUND

There are no cars here. There are golf carts and bikes and legs. Most guests who stay further south of the main village rent bikes for the duration of their stay. They are cheap at US$5 per day/US$25 per week from my office. The golf cart rentals are more expensive at around US$360 per week. Caye Caulker is small for the most part though and walking is possible all over the place!

THE SHOP - CHECK IN

We have a new location. 1 block North of the water taxi terminal on the beach. Look for the Caye Caulker Rentals Sign. This is Check In!

The shop, Frank the cat, Miss Julia with the best fresh fruit juice there is!!

Caye Caulker Rentals - Check in 1 block North of the water taxi terminal on the beach. Look for our sign.