There is a debate ongoing between the two most popular islands in Belize; Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker.

Which island to visit? Which island to spend your invaluable vacation days on? Which island is going to give you your ultimate Belize experience?

Which is the better island in Belize? Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker?

Countless friends and acquaintances retold tales of their experiences from the island they went to, and their stances on both of the islands including which to visit (and often why I didn't need to visit the other), yet rarely did these people visit both Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. If they didn't visit both, could they really make an accurate assessment of which is better?

I (Stephanie, co-owner of Sapphire & Elm Travel Co.) began 2017 in Belize. I made it of particular importance to visit both Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker in order to experience what these islands have to offer. Moreover, I needed to stay on the islands until I felt that I had a great grasp on the activities and vibes so that I limit any potential bias.

Here is what I found. Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker - which is the better Belize island?

Ambergris Caye, Belize

Ambergris Caye has a population of roughly 14,000 people and is 25 miles (40km) long and 1 mile (1.6km) wide. While on Ambergris, most of the people stay in the main town of San Pedro.

The island is really two conjoined by a bridge. San Pedro is on the main part of the island which is south of the bridge. Additionally, the airport is on this part as well. Ambergris is large enough that I highly recommended getting a golf cart to get around, especially if you want to explore north of the bridge.

San Pedro offers countless options for accommodations, dining, shopping, nightlife and more; the beachfront is lined with things to do ideal for a beach vacation. You could spend hours or days walking along the oceanfront, discovering delicious seafood restaurants, live music, and more.

Discover more activities: Things to do on Ambergris Caye Belize

Caye Caulker, Belize

In contrast to Ambergris Caye, Caye Caulker has a population of roughly 1,500 people. The island is 5 miles (8 km) long north to south, and less than 1 mile (1.6 km) wide.

The island is so small there is no town, however, there is a congregation of establishments that make up what is called Caye Caulker Village. There are roughly 30 tiny hotels, dozens of restaurants, and a handful of shops. You can walk around the main island, no golf cart necessary.

The most common complaint against this smaller island is that there is a lack of activities when compared to Ambergris Caye. While I agree that there are absolutely more to do on Ambergris Caye, there is still many things to do on Caye Caulker that will keep you entertained for the duration of your trip!

Comparing Belize's Two Most Popular Islands

Both islands are white sand beaches surrounded by idyllic crystal blue waters created by the barrier reef on the eastern coast, and mangroves on the western coast.

Additionally, they are both comprised of two parts. Ambergris Caye has a bridge connecting the two islands, so you'll often hear "north of the bridge". Whereas there is no bridge connecting the two parts of the island in Caye Caulker. This area of Caye Caulker is known as "The Split".

For both islands, the two main attractions are to dive or fly over The Great Blue Hole or to snorkel or dive in the Belize Barrier Reef. This impressive barrier reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is second in size only to Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

These two islands are the most popular islands in Belize. However, Ambergris Caye and the town of San Pedro is much more frequently visited. Ambergris Caye is much busier, here you will find more locals and many more tourists.

Perhaps the best way of explaining the difference between the two islands (according to some locals) is:

Ambergris Caye - "Go Fast"
Caye Caulker - "Go Slow"

There are signs all over Caye Caulker reading "Go Slow". I even got a "speeding ticket" from a local when I was power walking to catch a boat for my snorkeling trip!

The vibe on Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye was the biggest difference for me.

While staying in San Pedro, I went out a lot at night for dinner, drinks, dancing, an AC/DC cover band, etc. The town of San Pedro, while there are certainly a lot more things to do, felt almost dirty and lacked charm. Additionally, as a solo female traveler, there were a few instances where I felt uncomfortable going out for dinner at night alone - not a fun feeling.

However, in Caye Caulker, the town is quaint, the roads aren't paved instead they're made of dirt or sand. The vibe is slower, more chill, you don't feel like you need to go, go, go. You can relax and enjoy, even though there is still a lot of activities to engage in.

I enjoyed both islands very much (to me, outside of San Pedro redeems Ambergris Caye), however, my heart connects with Caye Caulker more so than Ambergris Caye.

At the end of the day, this is still just my opinion. You might prefer Ambergris Caye to Caye Caulker, you might prefer Ambergris Caye to Caye Caulker. We are all different; we all have different preferences and wants out of a trip. This is the reason that Sapphire & Elm Travel was started to plan custom vacations. Everyone is different, and your trip should be unique to you. No pre-packaged, non-negotiable itineraries because no two people, groups or trips should be the same.

Next: What to Expect Sailing the Islands of Belize

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Note: Belize has roughly 240 miles/400km of coastline. There are more than 200 islands (or cayes) in Belize, many are uninhabited mangrove islets, about 20 are large enough for cabanas and overnight stays. After Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, I was fortunate enough to sail to another four islands. There are many, many more islands to explore.