South Island
€35 – €310 per night
Weezie's Ocean Front Hotel
Walkable, or by golf cart
Caye Caulker is barely five square kilometers, but where you sleep still has an impact on your visits. The south island is the lively island, where you will always be only a short walk from every bar, restaurant, and dive shop on the island. The north side, reached by a five-minute water taxi across the Split, has an emptier beach and is quiet. Next to that, you lose the easy walking distance. We stayed on the south island on our own trip and would do it again, though a night or two north is worth adding if you want a real break and a relaxed experience.
This guide covers where to stay in Caye Caulker by budget, from private guesthouses under €50 a night to beachfront cabanas on the north side. Book early if you can: the best-reviewed hotels on this list sell out weeks ahead in the high season (December to April). If you’re still planning the rest of your trip, our Caye Caulker travel guide covers what to do, where to eat, and how to get to the island.
The Split, the narrow channel that cuts the island in two, is the real dividing line for anyone deciding where to stay. South Island is the Caye Caulker most people know and are looking for: sandy streets, golf carts, bars with reggae, and almost every restaurant and tour operator on the island within a ten-minute walk. The North Island is a different vibe. It can be reached by a short water taxi (a few dollars each way, regular during the day, less frequent after dark), and once you’re across, it’s mostly private beachfront hotels and a tropical vibe.
We stayed south, close enough to the bars and restaurants to walk over in a couple of minutes, but on a quieter street just behind the main strip. If you’re set on a north island stay for the quiet, I’d still stay a night or two on the south side. It is a differfent vibe and what makes Caye Caulker unique in my opinion.
Everything within walking distance. Bars, restaurants, dive shops, and the widest range of budget options are all a few minutes from wherever you stay.
Bar noise and golf cart traffic. Ask for a room off the main strip if you want a quiet night, especially in the budget tier.
Quiet, empty beach. Good for couples and longer stays where you don’t need much beyond your hotel.
A water taxi for anything in town, fewer restaurants and almost no budget options on this side.
All four of these are on South Island, all private rooms rather than dorms. We’ve left hostels off this list on purpose: see Good to know before you go for why. Our experience with a hostel was not great and we’ve heard the same from others. I would rather choose a nice little beach hut like Barefoot Beach Belize, than a hostel.
From €45/night (8.7/10)
A row of simple beachfront cabanas on the quieter end of South Island, with an eco-conscious setup and sea views from the room. It isn’t fancy inside, and there’s no restaurant on site, but at this price the beachfront setting alone makes it worth the stay.
From €80/night (7.7/10)
A pool-focused apartment-style hotel about 15 minutes’ walk from the Split, aimed at couples and small groups. The pool for a hotel this price is the great thing, since the beach is not right for swimming and sunbathing everywhere. The lowest rated on the list, but a pool for this price is great.
From €35/night (8.3/10)
One of the cheapest properties on the whole island, with a rating that’s high for the price, and private beach access included in the stay. Rooms are basic guesthouse standard, with shared bathrooms. Nothing fancy, but with this price, it’s one of the best budget accommodation on Caye Caulker’s South Island.
From €50/night
A small guesthouse on the quieter end of South Island, near the main swimming spot, with chairs right on the water where you can watch the sunset for free. Rooms are basic, most with a shared bathroom. This is where we stayed. The owner wasn’t the warmest, but the price-to-quality was great.
From €115/night (9.1/10)
Spacious rooms with Caribbean Sea views on South Island, breakfast included, and free paddleboards and bikes to borrow for the day. The free gear alone can save you money on a longer stay. The sea-view rooms book out first, so make sure to book early.
From €185/night (9.2/10)
A small guesthouse just off the main strip, popular enough that it often books out weeks ahead in high season. So make sure to book early! Rooms are simple but comfortable. It is one of the highest rated properties on the island and has beautiful sea views.
From €85/night (9.1/10)
Nice cabanas close to the beach with bike rental on site, a good value for money pick in the mid-budget range. It is cheaper than most of the properties in this section, and is one of my key recommendations.
From €135/night (8.8/10)
A beachfront resort with a pool and they can arrange all type of activities for you. Perfect if you rather book activities through the hotel. The rooms are quite basic, especially for the price, but all in all a good option.
From €115/night (9.1/10)
Bright, colorful cabanas right on the beach, most with a kitchenette and a private porch to relax on. It’s the most-reviewed hotel on this entire list, which says something about how consistent the experience is.
From €125/night (9.2/10)
The hotel almost every travel guide to Caye Caulker mentions first, and for a good reason. It has oceanfront rooms and garden cottages a few minutes from the main strip. It isn’t the most expensive option on this list, but still has a luxury vibe.
From €180/night (9.2/10)
Private villas rather than hotel rooms, aimed at groups or families who want their own kitchen and living space instead of a single room. At €180 a night it is on the higher price range, but there are rooms of four people available.
From €375/night (9.4/10)
Modern condos with a pool and a terrace. It has a high rating and is one of the best places we’ve found on Caye Caulker. Not cheap, but great if you want to treat yourself. 2 bedrooms, a pool, hut tub. Everything for a special vacation.
All four of these are across the Split, reachable by a short water taxi. The North side is good for couples, if you really want to relax and opt for the quieter experience.
From €250/night (8.8/10)
The best-known address on the north side, private beachfront cabanas built for privacy rather than being close to restaurants or bars. This is the one of the most popular North Island picks and offers beautiful bungalows to stay.
From €120/night (8.3/10)
An aparthotel on the north side with a lower price tag than most hotels in the north. A rare budget option! It is a place in between an apartment and hotel, so perfect if you want more privacy or stay longer.
From €350/night (8.9/10)
A newer property on the north side with an infinity pool and a sundeck. The price is higher than most accommodations, but well, you get a penthouse apartment in return. A more luxurious quality than you might know from Caye Caulker.
From €195/night (9.2/10)
If you want space, this is the way to go. These villas are huge. With only a couple of villas, you share the pool only with a couple of others. Next to that, you can enjoy great sea views and a relaxed vibe.
Good to know before you go
Questions
South Island for most first-time visitors, as you will be within walking distance of bars, restaurants and tour operations. The North Island is more suitable if you want a quiet stay. We definitely recommend to stay at least a night or two at the South Island to get the vibe.
Three to four nights is enough to settle into the island’s pace, fit in a snorkeling or diving trip, and still have a day or two to just relax on the beach. However, it is easy to spend more time here and just relax and enjoy the vibes.
Blue Wave Guest House is the cheapest at €35 a night for a private room, with Sophie’s Guest Rooms close behind at €50.
Hostels here are basic, and some carry real safety complaints in their reviews. We stayed one night in a cheap hostel and would recommend a private room with a private bathroom instead if your budget allows it.
Yes, especially between December and April. The best-reviewed hotels on this list, on both sides of the island might sell out. So make sure to book in advance.
A short water taxi across the Split, usually a few dollars each way. It runs regularly during the day and less often at night, so check the schedule if you’re planning a late return.
