Relax And Recharge At This Beautiful Caribbean Island's Beaches

One of the best regions for a quick, relaxing getaway for those who live on mainland U.S.A. is the Caribbean. With frequent flights from big cities such as New York and Boston, it's easy to travel to luxurious destinations like Barbados, economical all-inclusives in the Dominican Republic, and unique places like the Bahamas where you can swim with pigs. These popular island nations, like Jamaica and Aruba, are usually the first places that come to mind when you think of the Caribbean. But there are lesser-known islands that provide a similar relaxing oasis. 

Of those destinations, Caye Caulker, Belize, offers pristine beaches, top-notch diving and snorkeling, and nearby popular islands. It's also a quick and easy jaunt to get there from mainland U.S. Caye Caulker might not be as widely talked about as Punta Cana or Montego Bay, but it's just as worthy of a visit to kick back your feet, sip a rum cocktail, and leave your worries at home.

The motto of Caye Caulker is "go slow," so don't come here with expectations of doing anything other than kicking back and relaxing. It's part of the Caye Caulker way.

There are no cars on Caye Caulker. Instead, everyone gets around by either walking or biking. Most Airbnb rentals and hotels on the island will include a bike rental.

Caye Caulker is an excellent choice for those who want to get in the water. Several boat tours from the island will take visitors out to Shark Ray Alley, where you will have the chance to swim alongside nurse sharks and stingrays. Shark Ray Alley is only a 5-10 minute boat ride from Caye Caulker, so this is one of the most popular things to do on the island. If you'd like to go scuba diving, the infamous Blue Hole is a two-hour boat ride from Caye Caulker and a great option for enthusiastic divers.

The best way to get to Caye Caulker is to fly into Belize City. There are direct flights from Miami International Airport. Once you land in Belize City, you'll need to take a land taxi to the water taxi terminal, which is about a 20-minute drive. The best way to do this is by either grabbing a taxi directly from the airport or booking one ahead of time on a service such as Booking.com. Once at the water taxi terminal, you can take the San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi from Belize City to Caye Caulker. Tickets can be purchased at the terminal or ahead of time online.

You can also fly from Belize City to Caye Caulker via Tropic Air or Maya Island Air. The flight is only 10 minutes long.

Caye Caulker provides warm temperatures year round, so there's never really a bad time to visit. However, prime season is from January to April, as the weather is typically dry and provides ample Caribbean sunshine. Rainy season lasts from June to July, and hurricane season is from June to November.