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“Caye Caulker or San Pedro? Which is better?” The answer to this question largely depends on your personal likes and dislikes, along with exactly what type of vacation you are looking for. I will list the differences between the two destinations, and that should help you be able to make the best choice. Let me know in the comments below which one you prefer and why. Feel free to send me a message as well, I love hearing from all of you!
Which One is More Touristy? Caye Caulker or San Pedro?
Without a doubt, San Pedro is THE most touristy place I have ever visited in Belize. There were people constantly trying to sell us a service or product. You can rarely enjoy a meal at a restaurant without someone coming up to you to sell jewelry. I do not like being disturbed when I am eating, however, this did not bother my friend. She bought a few items from the sellers.
At almost every location that I went to in San Pedro, and even on the streets, there were always a lot of tourists around. We went during slow season, so I can just imagine how busy San Pedro gets with the large inflow of tourists that it sees during high season.
When I visited Caye Caulker, during slow season, however, this was not the case. Caye Caulker had a higher percentage of locals, than tourists. If you are someone who likes to experience more of a local vibe, then Caye Caulker is the better place for you to visit. If you’re not interested in getting a “local” experience of a destination, then San Pedro would be a great option for you.
Which One is Bigger? Caye Caulker or San Pedro?
San Pedro was almost like a mini city due to its size and the amount of business establishments on the island. I did not necessarily need a golf cart when I went to Caye Caulker. My friends and I walked everywhere, even with a two year old child, and it was still okay. When I went to San Pedro, however, I definitely needed a golf cart. San Pedro has way more places to visit than Caye Caulker, and they are all far away from each other. Renting a golf cart seemed like the most sensible investment, rather than paying for a taxi.
A good golf cart renting company is Rock’s Golf Cart Rental. Send me a message using the message icon below or to my e-mail, if you would like me to help you book your golf cart rental. I can help you get the best price available at the moment.
Which One is More Expensive? Caye Caulker or San Pedro?
Hands down, San Pedro is more expensive than Caye Caulker. This has everything to do with the accommodation all the way to food and beverages. This is mainly the case because San Pedro is further than Caye Caulker, so it is more pricey to get supplies to that island. It is also due to San Pedro being more touristy than Caye Caulker, which results in higher prices for products and services.
Secret Beach or Northside Beach Club (formerly Koko King)?
Secret Beach in San Pedro and Northside Beach Club in Caye Caulker are two highly recommended places to visit if you are ever on either of the islands. These are some of the things that I noticed when I visited both of them.
Secret Beach in San Pedro
Secret beach has several restaurants/bars on the beach. You can walk the length of the beach and choose the one that calls your attention the most. A decent amount of people were at Secret Beach, some of which were very friendly.
I was not impressed when I arrived at Secret Beach. The water looked dirty; it was not inviting in the least bit. The restaurants and bars on the beach did not seem very enticing, and there was a lot of competition among them in order to get you to choose their establishment. I personally prefer to be left alone to choose where I want to go rather than have several different people fighting for my attention/business. This sales method, however, is simply due to San Pedro being a very touristy location.
Long story short, Secret Beach did not live up to the high expectations that I had. I think people overexaggerate how great the place is. My friend and I got one drink and left, which was very disappointing because it was about a 30-45 minute drive to get there on a golf cart.
***Beware of taxi drivers who will try to charge you a ridiculously high amount to take you to Secret Beach. One taxi driver quoted my friend and I USD$75.00 to take us to Secret Beach. I think he overpriced it because he thought we were tourists. I would advise you to simply rent a golf cart, and go on your own. It will be way cheaper.
Northside Beach Club formerly known as Koko King in Caye Caulker
I wrote a more in-depth explanation of my experience at the Northside Beach Club in this blog post. It was a very pleasant experience for my friend and I. The water was clear and clean. They had several floating devices in the water for children to play with and adults to relax on. There was also a volley ball net in the water, so a group of people were playing volleyball. They had great music playing and a bar on the waterside. The drinks that they serve are a little pricey, but very delicious. The staff are very friendly and attentive, but not in an overwhelming way. My only regret is not arriving earlier and staying there all day.
Sadly, I did not get a chance to try the pool that they have, but I will definitely add that to my to do list on my next Caye Caulker visit.
Which one do you prefer, Secret Beach or Northside Beach Club? Let me know in the comments below or feel free to send me a message.
Activities in San Pedro, Belize
Below are the recommended places to get your golf cart rental, jet ski rental, shuttle from the airport to the water taxi, Hol Chan Snorkeling Tour, or photography services in San Pedro, Belize. When you arrive to Belize, if you do not have a rental, you will need transportation from the airport to the water taxi so you can catch your boat. Below is a link to book this service.
I highly recommend getting a golf cart when you are visiting San Pedro. It is bigger than most people realize and it is not easy to walk to your different destinations. Especially if you plan on visiting the Secret Beach. This is a long drive and most taxis will charge you a lot to take you there. Having a golf cart will allow you to leave and return when you desire without having to worry about a taxi overcharging you, or not coming back for you on time. Also, while at secret beach, there are a few activities you can do there, and one of the best ones is going on the jet skis. Below is also a link for you to book this activity ahead of time, so you can secure your jet ski before anyone else.
While in San Pedro, Belize, the most popular activity that everyone books is snorkeling at the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. You will get to experience swimming with sharks and stingrays. It is a wonderful experience!
Activities in Caye Caulker, Belize
Below are a list of some of the tours you can book in Caye Caulker, that I would recommend that you try. Snorkeling at Hol Chan, and even going water skiing has been the highlight for some people’s vacation in Caye Caulker. Try it out and feel free to let me know how it goes for you.
Which is Better? Caye Caulker or San Pedro? – Takeaway
In my opinion, “which is better? Caye Caulker or San Pedro?”. I would say Caye Caulker is better than San Pedro due to the local vibe that it has. Very touristy places is not something I prefer. I did like how big San Pedro was and the fact that it has more options when it comes to places to visit and things to do. However, I really dislike when I am being constantly approached by different sellers when I am trying to enjoy a meal. I also dislike not being able to walk for a whole minute without someone trying to sell me something or desperately trying to get my attention.
If you are on a tight budget, I would advise that you stick to Caye Caulker. You will have an amazing experience for a lower price. However, if money is not an issue and you don’t mind being somewhere touristy, then you can visit San Pedro and get to experience the beautiful island for yourself.
If you would like recommendations on places to stay or things to do in Belize, click the respective links.
THE BEST ADVICE IS LOCAL ADVICE
