An island located in the culturally eclectic mixed country of Belize, is the sun tanned, sand swept, seafaring island of Caye Caulker, part Latin, part Caribbean. Where the hot sauce still has it's place on every table top and the ceviche has never been fresher; made out of prawns so tasty they be giving themselves up to be eaten. Here though reggae is played out of every boom box in the background, brightly coloured wooden cabana buildings line the streets and mon' is it hot. Here shirts are optional, but so is waking up for the day and doing much of anything at all.
This island paradise knows no pressure of time, with a lack of big world problems the island's saying is 'Go Slow'. Without actual roads, only sand lies beneath your feet. Three, kilometre long strips make up Caye Caulker and it's town, you could circle the island in 30 minutes. There are no cars or vehicles here, travelling is done by golf cart, bicycle or mere foot. It's actually quite scary as the silent electric carts creep up on you without warning, I actually wanted people to start shouting out at me 'get out the way'.
Whilst this island is idyllic to say the least, it does lack in proper beach real estate, although there are piers to sit along and endless amounts of waterfront bars to sit at, replacing their stools for hammocks and swings. Whilst a questionable mix, alcohol and moving seats they are usually the first to be taken.
To make up for the lack of beach it's the water we gather here for, crystal blue and clear we want to be in it not just near it. Water activities are more than just a sport here, it's a massive part of life, there is actually nothing else to do here but water sports. The famed Blue Sink Hole lies just off Caye Caulker's reef. Take a sailboat out to the reef, swim with the rays, turtles, fishes and sharks in the protected waters where they make their home. The water is so clear the only way you could tell I was even in water is the fish in the middle of the photo. Rastamuffin tours were the perfect pirates to take us out on the sea.
Your other option being to sit back spending endless amount of hours in the shade of the palms or sway of the hammock, filling yourself up on fresh fruit or the abundance of seafood. Note* Try and make it for lobster season, we missed out by days, this was the only disappointment during the time spent here. From June 15 - February 15, lobsters are sold for pennies in comparison to home prices.
Coconut rum is the poison of choice here, it knocks you off your feet by being so sweet, I've seen it take out grown men like they're sixteen year olds on mixers.
The other option being rum punch, it also packs a hit and it's always time for rum punch round these parts.
Let the local Rastafarians show you their style of hospitality, one place in particular Wish Willy's. It's a backyard BBQ serving up way more than you can eat, with three BBQ's cooking simultaneously there's one for chicken, one for pork and one for seafood and veg. Willy is all about filling up his guests with good hearty food, you could recreate a carcass out of the bones left on your plate. Not to mention Wish Willy's has the hottest hot sauce in all the peninsula.
In true style: 'Get that man more rum punch he's only had one drink tonight' - Willy
Caye Caulker's vibe is one to be experienced for your own. For years it's been a hidden gem only backpackers played at, but more and more visitors by the cruise-ship load are making their way here. It seems more tourists make up the Islands population than actual locals these days. It's all still quite rawly Caye Caulker but there is no time like the present before 'go slow' becomes more like a moderate fast paced speed walk.
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