Sunday Funday on Caye Caulker: Everything you need to know [2024]
There are so many amazing things to do in Caye Caulker. Among them is the popular Sunday Funday a laid-back beach party that occurs every weekend on the island. In this blog post, we’ll delve into everything you need to know about Sunday Funday on Caye Caulker.
So, ready to explore Sunday Funday? Let’s dive in!
WHY VISIT CAYE CAULKER?
The island of Caye Caulker is a backpacker hotspot in Belize. Located one hour from Belize City by taxi boat, Caye Caulker has got everything: sun, sea, sand, a laid-back Caribbean vibe. The island’s motto is go slow, and you can’t help but take it easy here.
Caye Caulker is also home to the Belize Barrier Reef (also known as the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef). This is the second-largest barrier reef in the world, stretching from Mexico to Honduras. Home to a ton of biodiversity and marine life, Caye Caulker offers some of the most amazing snorkelling and diving in the world.
In between exploring the ocean there are only two things to do: relax or party. This guide covers the ‘party’ aspect! Let’s dive in as we discuss everything you need to know about Sunday Funday on Caye Caulker.
WHAT EXACTLY IS SUNDAY FUNDAY ON CAYE CAULKER?
“Are you sticking around for Sunday Funday this weekend…?”
If you’re backpacking in Belize, you’ll probably be asked this question. But what exactly is Sunday Funday on Caye Caulker?
Anyone travelling in and around Central America will be well familiar with the alliterative or rhyming party names. From Panama’s Filthy Friday (spoiler alert, it’s not that filthy) to the many Sunday Fundays from Nicaragua to Guatemala, Central America often feels like any excuse for a party.
And Caye Caulker’s Sunday Funday is without a doubt the social highlight of the week for this tiny island. Invented by Bella’s Backpackers Hostel as a way to bring travellers and locals together, Sunday Funday has evolved into an iconic weekly event that people time their visit to Caye Caulker to experience. With a laid back afternoon party followed by a boozy sunset cruise, you’ll definitely want to sign up for Sunday Funday on Caye Caulker!
Oops! I didn’t take any photos of Sunday Funday on Caye Caulker! I didn’t even bring my phone. If you want to see what this event looks like, head to Bella’s Backpacker’s website. They have tons of photos on there.
SUNDAY FUNDAY CAYE CAULKER: WHAT TO EXPECT
Azure waters, golden sands, and a lively atmosphere. That’s the scene awaiting you at Caye Caulker’s Sunday Funday.
The party typically kicks off mid-afternoon at Bella’s Backpackers Hostel. It’s super chill, with giant jenga, beer pong, beach volleyball, and water balloon fights. The all-inclusive rum punch is free-flowing and the DJ plays one nostalgic hit after another.
As the sun begins to set, everyone hops on one of the small house boats and sails out into the turquoise ocean. The boats drop their anchors, a bunch of floaties are tossed into the sea, and you get to just float around and hang out, drinking rum punch, listening to the tunes, and chatting with new friends. There are a bunch of beach balls to toss around. It’s really fun!
Once it gets dark, you’ll sail back to Bella’s under the moonlight and the party continues on land. You’re free to go away and grab some food if you like, then party as long as you like. It’s not over until everyone’s gone home
SUNDAY FUNDAY ON CAYE CAULKER: HOW MUCH DOES IT COST
Sunday Funday on Caye Caulker currently costs $50 BZD or $25 USD (the Belizean Dollar is pegged 2:1 to the US dollar – handy!)
Included in that is:
- Party and games on the beach at Bella’s Hostel
- Sunset cruise
- More party into the evening
- Unlimited rum punch
Is it worth it? We think so! Keep reading for our experience of Sunday Funday on Caye Caulker!
SUNDAY FUNDAY ON CAYE CAULKER: OUR EXPERIENCE
It seemed like every backpacker and their hypothetical dog was going to Sunday Funday on Caye Caulker. Some travellers we met on the way had even organised their visit to the island to make sure they didn’t miss it!
I wouldn’t exactly describe myself as a ‘party tourist’. I usually prefer spontaneous pool volleyball or giant jenga with a couple of beers, over an overpriced and over-hyped night out. So naturally, I hadn’t heard about Sunday Funday until we arrived to Caye Caulker.
And honestly, I was a little hesitant to go to yet another party. The last few had been a little underwhelming. Plus, I was still recovering from three days spent in bed too sick to enjoy Guatemala’s Semuc Champey the week before.
But everyone was going. I wanted to see what the fuss was about.
Sunday Funday on Caye Caulker was so chilled out, and exactly my kind of vibe. It starts in the afternoon and ends around 11pm, so it’s not a super late night. You get a wristband and can come and go as you please, so if you want to slip out to grab some food, you can!
The activities were great too. There were tons of games to play, from giant jenga, to beach volleyball, and spontaneous water balloon fights. The rum punch was free-flowing and delicious. It was all-round good vibes.
TIPS FOR MAKING THE MOST OF CAYE CAULKER’S SUNDAY FUNDAY
- Sign up on time! There are limited places on the boats for everyone, so if you know this is something you want to do, get your ticket in advance. You can sign up at the reception of Bella’s Backpackers, or online here.
- Stay hydrated. Remember to drink some water in between all that free-flowing rum punch. You’ll thank us in the morning!
- Wear sunscreen but make sure it’s reef safe and 100% biodegradable! Coral reefs are dying, species are disappearing at an alarming rate, and whilst this isn’t entirely down to your choice of sun protection, the chemicals in sunscreen are super hazardous to ocean wildlife. If you don’t have reef safe sunscreen, cover up with a t-shirt instead.
- Respect the local culture and customs, and always exercise responsible behavior. Not everyone on Caye Caulker wants to party, so try and keep any rowdy behaviour to the venue!
- Capture the memories with plenty of photos and videos to cherish long after the party ends.
OTHER AMAZING THINGS TO DO IN CAYE CAULKER?
We loved Caye Caulker! This little island has such a different vibe from all the other Central American beachy locations – in the best possible way of course! The motto of Caye Caulker is “go slow”. And there isn’t a whole host of activities to tick off the list, so you kind of have to!
Really though, there isn’t much happening on this island. If you aren’t into diving, snorkelling, or relaxing, you’ll probably find it a pretty boring place. We spent 5 days in Caye Caulker and thought that was plenty to enjoy diving, snorkelling, relaxing, and the famous Sunday Funday. Here are our favourite things to do in Caye Caulker.
#1 SWIM WITH MANATEES
Belize has the most manatees of any country in Central America. If you take a snorkel tour, your chances of seeing one there in the wild are high. And, if they don’t swim away, you can also snorkel with these chill little sea blobs. Swimming alongside manatees was an incredible ethical wildlife encounter. Find out more about our experience and how you can swim with manatees in Belize here.
#2 CHILL OUT AT THE LAZY LIZARD
The Lazy Lizard, on the tip of the southern island of Caye Caulker, is one of the coolest bars on the island. Grab an ice-cold beer or soda, kick back and watch the sunset from the Split. If it’s hot, you can dive off their pier and float around in the ocean. Watch out for stingrays!
Fun fact: Did you know that the islands of Caye Caulker used to be joined? Caye Caulker was one island until a hurricane ripped through and split it into two, creating what locals fondly called ‘The Split’.
#3 RELAX IN A BEACH HAMMOCK
Embrace Caye Caulker’s laid-back island life and relax in a beach hammock, close your eyes, and listen to the waves. If your hostel doesn’t have any hammocks, head down the main street, where you can pay a couple of dollars a day to use the hammocks of larger hotels. They’re just as good!
#4 GRAB AN ICED COFFEE AT ‘ICE ‘N BEANS’
Ice ‘n Beans is one of the best spots in Caye Caulker for good coffee, breakfast, and ocean views. The staff hand out free coffee shots and mini doughnuts whilst you wait, and you can spend the morning relaxing in a hammock or a beach chair. They also have amazing Wi-Fi connection, perfect for digital nomads who need to get some work done.
#5 GO DIVING
This was one of the craziest things that we did in Central America! If you’re a diving enthusiast, Belize is an absolute gem. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve is home to nurse sharks and Caribbean Reef Sharks, creatures that may seem intimidating but are surprisingly chill (as long as you respect their personal space!).
Joining a scuba diving tour almost guarantees an encounter with several species of sharks, along with a vibrant marine world featuring an abundance of fish, turtles, corals, and starfish. It’s an underwater spectacle you won’t want to miss!
#6 SNORKEL WITH NURSE SHARKS
Head out on a snorkel tour to Shark Ray Alley and swim, totally surrounded by nurse sharks. This shallow, sandy snorkel spot is a good opportunity to get close to these gentle bottom feeders. Don’t worry, they may be sharks but they aren’t dangerous. If you’re taking this tour, make sure you check out our guide to do it ethically!
THINGS TO AVOID IN CAYE CAULKER
#7 FEED THE STINGRAYS AT IGUANA REEF INN
You’ll see a lot of travel bloggers recommending feeding the stingrays at Iguana Reef Inn. Every evening at 5 pm the hotel staff feed the stingrays from their private pier. They’ll encourage you to touch and hold the stingrays as they glide through the water and even feed them by hand.
This should be a big red flag! These stingrays are wild, but their behaviour is being changed by humans, for our entertainment. If you want to see stingrays, we recommend booking onto a snorkelling or diving tour. Or just go for a swim off one of Caye Caulker’s little beaches. These guys are literally everywhere. You don’t need to support unethical wildlife practises to see them.
We loved Caye Caulker!
HOW TO GET TO CAYE CAULKER
Planning on heading in Caye Caulker? Luckily, getting to Caye Caulker is relatively straightforward, and there are several options available depending on your preferences and budget.
GETTING TO CAYE CAULKER BY BOAT TAXI
1. Water Taxi from Belize City: The easiest option is to take a water taxi from Belize City to Caye Caulker. Several companies, including San Pedro Belize Express and Ocean Ferry Belize, offer daily ferry services between Belize City and Caye Caulker. The journey takes around 45 minutes to an hour, depending on sea conditions.
2. Water Taxi from Ambergris Caye: If you’re already on the nearby island of Ambergris Caye, you can also catch a water taxi to Caye Caulker. The journey typically takes around 45 minutes to an hour
GETTING TO CAYE CAULKER BY AIR
From Belize City, you can catch a short domestic flight to Caye Caulker’s small airstrip. Maya Island Air and Tropic Air operate frequent flights between Belize City and Caye Caulker, with the journey taking approximately 20 minutes.
Honestly, there’s really no point doing this! It’s not cheap, not sustainable, and not worth the hassle!
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Alice
Alice is a UK travel blogger who advocates sustainable travel and being more eco-conscious on a budget. She loves coffee, her houseplants and summiting mountains.
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