Caye Caulker – the Wonders & Activities of La Isla Cariñosa
If you are trying to get away from the hustle and bustle of the urban setting, an escape to Caye Caulker might be exactly what you need. It is an hour-long ride by boat from Belize City to the island which offers a wide range of activities that you can do. Whether it is indulging in a lizard juice, feeding the tarpons or even water activities such as snorkeling with sharks near the reef, or a relaxing sunset cruise, there is something for the entire family. News Five’s Duane Moody and cameraman Darrel Moguel joined a local press trip to La Isla Cariñosa and despite the rains, captured the amazing experience that you too can enjoy.
Duane Moody, Reporting
Last year, I was given the amazing opportunity as an influencer for the Belizean Traveler Program of the Belize Tourism Board. Back then I said, while I’m originally from Corozal, Cayo quickly became my new favorite place to visit. Fast track to 2022 and there’s a change of heart because I am now in love with La Isla Cariñosa, Caye Caulker.
Seleny Villaneuva-Pott
Seleny Villaneuva-Pott, Independent Candidate, Caye Caulker Village Council
“We’re the next talked about destination in Belize and we are grateful that it worked out positively and in our favour. We are one of the most sought out destination in Belize now.”
Maria Vega
Maria Vega, B.T.I.A. Chair, Caye Caulker Chapter
“It’s an immediate change of pace, whatever you were doing before, you can just say ahh and take a break. We have a lot of fresh air still; you can’t beat that – that’s a health benefit. Just being close to the sea and being immersed in nature is a major health benefit to renew and refresh you.”
It was an invitation that I simply could not refuse. Over the weekend, the B.T.B.’s annual familiarization trip, which had a two-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, took the media corps to the island. Despite the inclement weather and rough seas, there was so much to take in, as we experienced the many wonders that Caye Caulker has to offer.
Mike Hernandez Jr
Mike Hernandez Jr., Media Relations & Communications Officer, B.T.B.
“The opportunity to experience the beauty, the richness, the tourism product that Belize has to offer. You guys are constantly on the move, been working very hard and this is a good opportunity for you guys to travel a little bit, take a little break from the day to day activities and be able to enjoy.”
For those who may not know, I’m definitely not a strong swimmer, but Joel Coh, better known as Captain Jack Sparrow, and his crew from Wanderlust, made snorkeling at Shark Ray Alley and Coral Garden an adventure for foreigners and Belizeans alike. We swam and interacted with marine life and experienced the wonders of the Belize Barrier Reef.
Joel Coh
Joel Coh, Owner, Wanderlust Sailing and Snorkeling
“We offer half day, full day snorkeling, fishing. We also do diving. So there’s a variety of services. We do sunset tours, sunset dinner cruises, we do overnight charters, island hopping. We’re inside the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve, if you guys take a look at the background, we have the Barrier Reef, one of the sites we’re doing, which is the Caye Caulker Channel. So it’s a guided tour, we have guides get in the water and give different kinds of coral information, fishes. We do Shark Ray Alley as one of the stops, there’s two Shark Ray Alleys, Caye Caulker has one, Hol Chan has one. And then the last stop we do is Coral Gardens and from here we’re gonna go behind the island to sail, where we offer a variety of alcoholic drinks. Also we’re going to be preparing some fresh shrimp ceviche and let’s see how the sun comes down.”
The rains cut the sunset tour a bit short and we called it a wrap for day one; we retired for the night anxious about the next day’s activities. For most of us, it was the first time that we would be visiting the Blue Hole National Monument, located at the center of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll. Our visit to the Blue Hole was brief, before heading over to Half Moon Caye, the first nature reserve to have been established in Belize under the National Park Systems Act in 1981 and the only place in the entire Caribbean that you can find the red footed booby birds.
Ramon Aguilar
Ramon Aguilar, Site Manager, Blue Hole & Half Moon Caye Natural Monument
“It is a world heritage site and it is one of the most famous dive sites within the country of Belize, the Half Moon Caye wall. That alone and aside from the Blue Hole do attracts tourism every day. For a month, we would see like over two thousand; on a good month, we would get like two thousand for the day. We would get a dive boat like three times for the week and one dive boat, some would bring like twenty divers for that day. This is our livelihood for one. It is somewhere that is on the bucket list for many people across the world and as a world heritage site, it is very significant for us as Belizeans. It is sad that a lot of Belizeans haven’t visit this place. It would be great to have more Belizeans visit.”
The journey by boat was rocky. For almost two and a half hours, much of the ride from Caye Caulker requires traveling across open sea. Despite blinding sheets of white rain and lightning strikes it was an exhilarating experience. Checkmark – visit to the blue hole complete; and that brought day two to an end.
No more boat rides, as the third and final day featured a popular attraction on the island – tarpon feeding. While on a pier with bait between your fingers, you would extend your hand out and these huge fish, which are protected by law, would jump out of the water to grab the bait. It’s not for the faint of heart. And if you’re saying that this is way pass your budget, think again. Domestic tourism still plays a key role in the sustainability of the industry and you can access deals on trips for you and the entire family.
Seleny Villanueva-Pott
“Hotels do offer Belizean rates and I encourage Belizeans when they travel to mention when they are making a reservation to mention do you offer a Belizean rate. Just as how international tourists travel and visit our destination, I believe that Belizeans should have that opportunity. I know membership through B.T.I.A., if you are a member, you get a membership card and you get a discount to visit other destinations.”
Duane Moody for News Five.
