How To Get From Caye Caulker To San Pedro (2023)

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Looking for the best ways to get from Caye Caulker to San Pedro? You’re in the right place! If you’re backpacking Belize, you may want to travel between and to both of the islands to really get a feel for what the Caribbean side of Belize has to offer.

San Pedro and Caye Caulker aren’t far in distance from each other, but what they offer is totally different. For example, San Pedro attracts an older crowd, with large hotel resorts, swimming pools and regular, paved roads. It’s actually five times bigger than Caye Caulker and is known as the big ‘party’ island by the locals.

Then Caye Caulker is better suited for backpackers and tourists who want to ‘go slow’ (in fact, ‘go slow’ is the island’s motto). So don’t expect any paved roads, cars or resorts; it’s too small and most walk around barefoot on the sand.

So, how do you travel from Caye Caulker to San Pedro? In this post, I explain the best ways to travel between the two, as well as deciding which island is best for you. Let’s get started!

Caye Caulker To San Pedro: A Summary

In summary, there are two ways to get from Caye Calker to San Pedro (or in reverse, San Pedro to Caye Caulker).

These options are:

• Ferry (30 minutes)
• Plane (5-10 minutes)

(No guesses as to which option backpackers usually choose).

Ultimately, the ferry is the easiest option for backpackers and mid-range travellers. We didn’t mind it – it’s only short, and you get to sit back and enjoy the incredible views as you travel.

1) Caye Caulker to San Pedro by ferry

• Cost: $35 USD for a round-trip
• Duration: 30-45 minutes, depending on the weather
• Starting point: Caye Caulker pier

The ferry (well, more like a speed boat) takes less than 30-45 minutes to travel from Caye Caulker to San Pedro. There are currently 9 departures per day from Caye Caulker to San Pedro, run by the company San Pedro Belize Express.

A roundtrip ticket costs around £30 ($35) per person. You’ll board from the Caye Caulker pier and be in San Pedro in no time!

The ferry is around 30 minutes between Caye Caulker to San Pedro, unless there is bad weather. In this case, it can take around 45 minutes to reach San Pedro from Caye Caulker.

This is the same if you are travelling from San Pedro to Caye Caulker. The ferry will still take 30 minutes, and can either be booked online or from the in-person ticket booth.

2) Caye Caulker to San Pedro by plane

• Cost: $120 USD per journey
• Duration: 10 minutes, depending on the weather
• Starting point: Caye Caulker airport

If you’re getting a plane from Caye Caulker and San Pedro, the journey is less than 10 minutes! But it’s much more expensive than the ferry, and can cost upwards of £100 per journey, depending on the time of year.

Flying with Maya Air is the most popular option, and you can check out tickets here.

How long is the ferry from Caye Caulker to San Pedro?

If the weather is good (and it hopefully will be!) it is around 30 minutes between Caye Caulker to San Pedro. It’s good to know that boats won’t run if there’s bad storms, or will take a little longer (up to 45 minutes) if it’s raining.

Our ferry journey between Caye Caulker and San Pedro was beautiful. Just sitting back and relaxing, enjoying the waves of crystal clear blue water as we sailed through the Caribbean Sea. It was part of the experience!

How much is the ferry from Caye Caulker to San Pedro?

If you are boarding the ferry from Caye Caulker to San Pedro, it is £16.50 ($20.50) for a single ticket, or £29.50 ($36.50) for a return. You can book tickets on the Belize Express Water Taxi website here.

Caye Caulker or San Pedro?

This depends on what kind of person you are, but if you’re a backpacker, I recommend Caye Caulker. Caye Caulker is small and laid back, with a real backpacker vibe to it. San Pedro attracts more American tourists (big families, older couples) to stay in their grand resorts and apartments.

Caye Caulker has better hostels, but a more chilled nightlife than San Pedro. There are a few bars in Caye Caulker (the Sports Bar, which closes at midnight, and the Reggae Bar, which closes at 2/3am). But that’s it. So if you want crazy nightlife, head to San Pedro.

Don’t worry, backpackers still have big nights out in Caye Caulker, it just doesn’t have a ‘superclub’ vibe.

Caye Caulker has sandy roads with no cars. San Pedro has tarmac with cars, big buildings and is five times bigger than Caye Caulker. So, you decide which is better for you!

Is San Pedro Belize worth visiting?

This depends on what you’re looking for when you travel. Most backpackers in Belize skip San Pedro, because it doesn’t have the same laid-back and chilled vibes as Caye Caulker.

It’s more built up, with large resorts and expensive restaurants, without the small hostels and under-developed beach bars.

Of course, it is still beautiful, and there is a lot to do there. The nightlife is some of the best in the country, so if you’re looking for a wild night out, San Pedro is for you!

How many days should you spend in Caye Caulker?

If you’re visiting Caye Caulker for the first time, I recommend spending at least 4-5 days on the island. It’s one of those places that’s hard to leave, and the longer the better! There is so much to see and do in Caye Caulker, with some tourists staying for up to a week.

As backpackers, we arrived in Caye Caulker not really knowing what to expect. We were so surprised that we actually extended our stay by a week! And it wasn’t just us; we were surrounded by other backpackers who did the same. There’s just so much to do, people to meet, food to taste and experiences to be hard – and it’s hard to leave when you realise how beautiful it is!

Where to stay in Caye Caulker as a backpacker

As I previously mentioned, Caye Caulker is small. Really, really small. So everyone gets to know everyone, regardless of what hostel you’re at.

There’s also a lot of talk about the hostels, and what makes them great (or not so great). If you’ve done your research, you will have heard about Bella’s Backpackers. Well, yes, it might be known as the ‘party’ hostel, but it isn’t great. I’m talking bed bugs, cockroaches and rats here.

I’ve met people who have mixed reviews about Bella’s. Some have loved it, whilst some have checked out early. Do your research and read the reviews, so you know exactly what you’re letting yourself in for. Want to be nosy and read some of the epic bad reviews? Click here!

If you’d rather avoid the chaos of Bella’s, I highly recommend:

• Go Slow Hostel: we stayed here for over a week and it was perfect. Clean, comfortable, and in the best location on the island (it’s actually on the street next to Bella’s). There’s a large area to socialise and meet other backpackers, which we loved. The wifi is a little hit-and-miss, but it’s worth it!
• Sophie’s Guestrooms: If you want a quieter stay. This hostel only has 5 rooms and has a real homey vibe to it.
• Tropical Oasis: for basic dorms but a good party and social vibe. Right next to Go Slow Hostel.

Is Caye Caulker worth visiting?

Yes, yes and yes again! Caye Caulker is a slice of Caribbean paradise. There’s a reason why it’s so popular! It has a laid-back, ‘go slow’ vibe, with a fun and welcoming atmosphere.

Expect BBQs on the beach firing up jerk chicken, rum punch from a coconut and reggae vibes in the bars in the evenings.

Plus, Caye Caulker is home to the second biggest barrier reef in the world. On our snorkelling trip, we saw some of the best wildlife we had ever seen. Expect nurse sharks, stingrays, manatees, turtles, pelicans and more. It’s totally worth it!

If a slow pace and a relaxed way of life, with a mix of nature, wildlife and beach vibes, Caye Caulker is so worth visiting.

Best backpacker travel insurance for Central America

If you’re visiting Central America as a backpacker, or even for a short vacation, it is so important to have travel insurance. And if you ended up on a post that’s called ‘epic party tips’, you know (just as well as I do) that you definitely need travel insurance.

Personally, I recommend SafetyWing. As a digital nomad and world traveller myself, I can confirm it is the best travel insurance out there. And one of the cheapest – they have deals that start at just $42 USD per month.

I know, I know, you’re thinking ‘but I can’t afford that!’. I was the same! It’s tough to fork out $42 a month on something ‘you might not need’. But what if something DOES happen? That extra Mezcal shot results in you falling down the stairs, or you eat something dodgy from a street food van.

If you need medical help at any point whilst in Central America, you need travel insurance.

With SafetyWing, you’re covered on travel emergencies, basic medical costs and medical expenses throughout your trip, so you can travel without worry (at a backpacker’s price!)

Don’t even think twice about getting travel insurance for Central America. Trust me, I have heard enough horror stories about backpackers who haven’t had insurance and have ended up in a lot of debt. Don’t be that person!

If you’ve been putting the job off because it takes a lot of time and effort to research the best travel insurance companies, I understand. That’s why I’ve done the hard work for you. Sign up for SafetyWing, and the job is done!

How To Get From Caye Caulker to San Pedro (Belize): In a Nutshell

So, there you have it! Everything you need to know about how to get from Caye Caulker to San Pedro (Belize).

When you’re planning a trip to Belize, make sure you let me know over on Instagram or in the comments below!

If you haven’t come across my blog before, I write posts aimed at first-time backpackers on a budget. I’m currently backpacking Belize with my boyfriend (read more here!), whilst creating guides and itineraries for you to follow in our footsteps!

Keep an eye out for more Belize content, all written from a personal and realistic point of view. You can sign up for my newsletter and juicy travel updates here!

As always, thanks for reading and supporting the blog!

Happy travelling 🙂

Jennie x

Other Belize posts:

• How To Get From Chetumal To Caye Caulker (Belize)