The Southern Cayes of Belize
Ambergris and Caulker are the most known cayes to tourists, but Belize has hundreds of little tiny islands and some other popular ones are in the southern part of the country. Islands are called cayes in Belize and pronounced key.
To go out to the southern cayes, fly into Belize City and then catch a 15-minute puddle jumper to Dangriga on either Tropic Air or Maya Airlines that costs about $86US/$172BZ. From there, a two-minute taxi ride to catch a boat for about $2.50US/$5BZ taxi ride to the river to catch a boat. Some of the resorts provide transportation in their rates and take their guests to the their boat, while others can arrange for your transportation to the boat and boat ride out to the cayes.
In Dangriga, there are many boat captains that make regular runs to cayes until early afternoon. You catch a ride with them on the river, across from the Riverside Café. Just ask for directions to Riverside and everyone will point you in the right direction. Belize is not known for it’s signs and Dangriga and the “water taxi” is no different. (Please note there is no water taxi with a set schedule, but boat captains make daily runs to the cayes.) The cost can vary and be negotiated at times, but generally speaking a boat or trip is $20US/$40BZ. There will be times that boat captains will choose to wait a few minutes in order to make the ride more economical and add more passengers.
Those wanting to go to the southern cayes from Dangriga, as opposed to Hopkins, because it is more economical and a quicker trip. From Dangriga, the cayes is about 10-miles (a 20-minute boat ride) as opposed to a 45-minute boat. Go to the cayes first and then on the return, book a snorkel or dive tour from a Hopkins guide and have them take you directly to your hotel—ask for a beach drop off. Or, simply return to Dangriga and go to Hopkins by bus or taxi.
How to Get to Hopkins from Dangriga: https://www.hopkinsinn.bz/how-to-get-to-hopkins.html
Some of the more popular cayes in the south are Cocoplum, South Water Caye, Tobacco, and Thatch Caye. Most are about 15 acres, with Tobacco Caye being 5-acres. Bread and Butter Caye is even smaller. Accommodations vary widely from bunk-style dorm rooms to private pent houses. Some charge additional fees for paddle boards and kayaks, while others include it in their price.
South Water Caye has two resorts on the 15-acre island with basic lodging ranging from a dorm-style, rooms, or cabana. Cocoplum and Thatch Caye is for travelers seeking an upscale island experience, with private cabanas and suites. Tobacco Caye has three different accommodations that consist of basic beach cabanas.
South Water and Tobacco include meals with their rates. Meals are served home-style. Breakfast usually consists of eggs, beans, fry jacks, fresh fruit, juice, and coffee. Lunch and supper varies, but think fish, or stew chicken with rice and beans for at least one of the meals. The food is made fresh and enjoyed with no complaints as guests share stories of the day’s activities. Tobacco also has one restaurant on the island that serves casual food—fish, burgers, and rice and beans. Bread and Butter has little cabanas that would be similar to camping and it is also popular for day trips. The beaches, blue waters, fishing, snorkeling, and diving are prized on all of the cayes regardless of where one chooses to stay or how to get there.
If you don’t believe “island life” is suited for you, day trips out to the cayes are common as well. One can incorporate a tour of snorkeling and diving, or if a day get-away is all you want, there are tours that take you out to hang out on the beach, have some refreshments, and bring you back to the mainland before dark for an island experience without staying overnight.
