BELLIZE | CAYE CAULKER | DONNE TEMPO | BECKER TOTO

Caye Caulker - Belize Island Paradise (cont.)

Turquoise blue water welcomes you before your plane even lands. Glancing out the window, you'll see dark green tones amid the sparkling blue green expanse.

The darker green areas are the extensive barrier reef, which stretches about 185 miles and was heralded by Charles Darwin as "the most remarkable reef in the West Indies."

Your trip to Caye Caulker must include viewing those island reefs and the myriad of colorful sea creatures that inhabit it.
Your trip to Caye Caulker must include viewing those island reefs and the myriad of colorful sea creatures that inhabit it. There are numerous snorkeling and scuba opportunities to be found.

Those unfamiliar with international travel will find Belize a fine starting point. Everyone speaks English and the U.S. dollar is accepted alongside the Belizean version, which is pegged to the dollar ($2 Belizean dollars equals $1 U.S.)

The occasional Internet café can keep you in touch with your e-mail account, and DSL speeds are fast enough to satisfy most.

As you step off the plane, you are greeted by hot, sticky air, but it's not Savannah, Ga. hot. Temperatures during a recent January visit hovered pleasantly around 70-80 degrees.

It's just the right antidote to the wintertime blues.

Caye Caulker is accessible from Belize City via water taxi or a short flight ($45 U.S.). The water taxi offers beautiful scenic vistas and a chance to see the sun setting over the horizon if your timing is just right.

Belize offers a melting pot to rival the U.S.'s cultural stew.

The island is a snapshot of Belize's ethnic puree, but residents uniformly hue to the laid-back vibe.

The island is a snapshot of Belize's ethnic puree, but residents uniformly hue to the laid-back vibe.
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A few merchants will try to hard sell you on their restaurants or tours, but they quickly retreat when you offer them a firm but pleasant "no."

Automobiles are not allowed on the island, so don't fear getting stuck in traffic or not being able to find a parking spot. People move around the island by foot, bicycle and the occasional golf cart.

The inhabited part of Caye Caulker stretches less than a mile long, so nearly all hotels will be within walking area of the ocean, restaurants, and bars.

The island beaches aren't big, but they offer just enough space to spread out with a good book. Try The Split, a parcel of waterfront turf that got its name from a past hurricane, which formed it. If you want wide expanses of sandy beaches, pick another tropical destination.

Caye Caulker's accommodations are modest at best. The island does not boast luxury or chain hotels, although it is rumored that a high-end hotel may be coming soon. The island does offer clean oceanfront guesthouses with comfortable beds, sunny verandas and workable kitchenettes.

These small-scale, locally owned and operated hotels generally require advanced reservations, often via e-mail.

Before booking accommodations, read a few reviews on www.tripfinder.com as not all lodgings stand up to your mother's version of clean. For example, Da Real Macaw sits in a great spot with food, amenities and the ocean just steps away, but the shower spigots were crusted with sea water making the bathroom seem more like a frat house than island getaway.


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