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The Cayes (small islands surrounded by extensive coral reefs) off the coast are Belize at its best.

Tranquil and beautiful with a laid-back Caribbean feel, this is the place to come to enjoy fishing, snorkelling, diving or simply relaxing. Most cayes are uninhabited or home only to local fishermen, but the largest, Ambergris Caye, is the most developed with some lovely beachfront properties.

Accommodation

From the mainland you fly to the town of San Pedro where you travel by motorboat or car to your accommodation. Although the town itself is great for shopping for local gifts, nightlife and delicious seafood restaurants most people prefer to stay in the more secluded parts of the island.

Diving and snorkelling

The main attraction is snorkelling and scuba-diving on the stunning reefs among the soft and hard corals, abundant with sea-life. Excursions are widely, such as a boat trip out to meet the weird and wonderful manatees as they rummage through the mangroves.

For more experienced divers, full-day trips out to Lighthouse Reef, Half Moon Caye and the Turneffe Islands can easily be arranged locally. From these cayes you can dive famous sites such as the spectacular Blue Hole.

Speak to someone
who's been there
Audley Travel specialist Tom

Start planning your tailor-made trip to the Cayes by contacting one of our Belize specialists

Suggested itineraries featuring the Cayes

Our itineraries will give you suggestions for what is possible when you travel in the Cayes, and they showcase routes we know work particularly well. Treat them as inspiration, because your trip will be created uniquely by one of our specialists.

Map of the Cayes

Places & hotels on the map

    Places near the Cayes

    Our expert guides to exploring the Cayes

    Written by our specialists from their own experiences of visiting the Cayes, these guides will help you make the most of your time there. We share both our practical recommendations and the best ways to appreciate the Cayes at its best.

    • Belize honeymoons: ideas for exploring the rainforest, ruins and reef
      Ambergris Caye, Belize

      Belize honeymoons: ideas for exploring the rainforest, ruins and reef

      Belize honeymoons: ideas for exploring the rainforest, ruins and reef

      Travel specialist Leticia shares her ideas for the best places to honeymoon in Belize, Central America’s only English-speaking country. She suggests focusing on exploring the rainforest, Maya ruins and the barrier reef, before relaxing on the beaches of Ambergris Caye.

      9 min read

      Read this guide

    Accommodation choices for the Cayes

    We've selected a range of accommodation options for when you visit the Cayes. Our choices usually come recommended for their character, facilities and service or location. Our specialists always aim to suggest properties that match your preferences.

    Ideas for experiencing the Cayes

    Our specialists seek out authentic ways to get to know the places that could feature in your trip. These activities reflect some of the experiences they've most enjoyed while visiting the Cayes, and which use the best local guides.

    • Great Blue Hole Three Tank Dive
      Sealife, Placencia

      Great Blue Hole Three Tank Dive

      Great Blue Hole Three Tank Dive

      This excursion departs early in the morning, at around 6am, and arrives back at around 5.30pm — a full-day trip which allows for three incredible dives in some of the most pristine and beautiful underwater sites in Belize.

      View details