Caye Casa

There isn’t anything cuter along the beach in San Pedro than Caye Casa. The terra-cotta building, with its lime-green shutters, thatched roofing, and sandy “front lawn,” looks like a Caribbean dream. Upon arrival guests are welcomed by Reef, the manager’s German shepherd and self-appointed hotel mascot. There isn’t much of a lobby, just a simple front desk next to the pool. Caye Casa’s atmosphere is serene and quiet, which can be hard to find in San Pedro Town. Thanks to the hotel’s location on the northern edge of town, its surroundings are much more relaxed than areas in the center of downtown. The majority of guests here are couples, though families tend to rent the larger villas. 

Located on the northern edge of San Pedro’s beachfront drag, Caye Casa has a quieter location than most hotels in town. Caye Casa is still within walking distance of restaurants, supermarkets, dive shops, and beachfront bars, but feels more tranquil than its neighbors. Still, the ramshackle town of San Pedro has a frenetic energy that’s hard to ignore, so it’s not the best spot on the island for those seeking total serenity. Travelers in search of perfect peace should head north or south of town, where the atmosphere mellows significantly. Hotels like La Beliza (north) or Mata Rocks Resort (south) are good picks.  

Another benefit of Caye Casa’s location is its beach. Most of the beaches in San Pedro Town are used as thoroughfares for golf cart, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic, and many are plagued by seaweed. At Caye Casa, there is a tiny strip of sand in front of the water that remains untouched by golf carts. There’s also less seaweed here than other beaches nearby — though there’s enough to prevent some guests from swimming. The large piles of seaweed that wash up along the shore are unsightly and foul smelling, but guests should keep in mind that the seagrass is an island-wide problem that can’t be avoided on Ambergris Caye.  

Ambergris Caye is Belize’s largest island. It’s best known for its proximity to the Belize Barrier Reef, which is a mere 20-minute boat ride from the island. The Belize Barrier Reef is part of the larger Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which extends from eastern Mexico to Honduras — making it the second largest reef system in the world, after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Needless to say, travelers visit Ambergris Caye to experience its rich marine life and exceptional dive sites, such as Hol Chan and the Blue Hole. Ambergris Caye is an ideal destination for divers and avid snorkelers, and is an excellent place for those seeking scuba certification. It’s not an ideal destination for travelers in search of beautiful beaches (check out Placencia or Hopkins instead). Nearly all of Ambergris Caye’s beaches are man-made, and the beaches in San Pedro town are often used as thoroughfares for golf cart traffic. 

Rooms at Caye Casa are superbly decorated with bright colors, casual furniture, and bold local artwork. They’re upscale without being stuffy, and have a light, airy feel thanks to large windows that let in lots of natural light. Classic Rooms are the hotel’s entry-level category, but they hardly feel standard. Four-poster beds give them a romantic touch, while colorful canvas artwork and hand-painted bathroom sinks add whimsy. They are equipped with small desk spaces, mini-fridges, coffeemakers, and purified water. They also have tiny flat-screen TVs, electronic safes, and useful gadgets like flashlights and hairdryers. Bathrooms don’t have any separation between the showers and the rest of the space, which can cause bathrooms to get pretty wet. The hotel provides tropically scented soap, shampoo, and conditioner, and white bath towels.  

Guests looking for extra space should upgrade to Casitas or Villas, because Classic Rooms are pretty cramped. Casitas have two rooms — a bedroom and a separate living space with a tiny kitchenette. They also have large outdoor balconies or patios — another amenity that Classic Rooms lack. Wicker furniture with brightly colored cushions give the Casitas a relaxed, comfortable feel, while vibrant local artwork brings Belizean flair. Kitchenettes are equipped with mini-fridges, microwaves, coffeemakers, toasters, flatware, and a few basic kitchen tools. Bedrooms in the Casitas are tiny — barely large enough to fit a double bed — and bathrooms are pretty cramped as well. On the plus side, the Casitas’ bathrooms have more distinctly separated showers than those in the Classic Rooms, which helps keep the bathrooms dry when showering.  

The largest rooms at Caye Casa are the Villas, one- and two-bedroom units with large living spaces, full kitchens, and beautiful oceanfront balconies. Villas’ decor is similar to other rooms’ — casual and island-inspired with bright pops of color and lots of interesting local artwork. Full kitchens have plenty of prep space, oven/stove combos, and large refrigerators. Cabinets are stocked with flatware, cutlery, and cooking utensils. Master bedrooms feature four-poster beds, and bathrooms are larger and more spacious than those in the smaller room categories. Outdoor balconies overlook the beautiful beach and are equipped with four cushioned Adirondack chairs. 

Caye Casa’s tiny pool and the beach across the street are the hotel’s only features. Unlike other hotels in the area, Caye Casa doesn’t serve any kind of breakfast in the morning. The small plunge pool is located in the front of the property in a courtyard-like space. The pool’s skinny shape and shallow depth prevents any kind of real swimming, but it’s a nice place to cool off after a long day exploring the island. The hotel does a nice job of creating its own little beach on its “front lawn.” The sandy area is lined with lounge chairs and overlooks the beach in the distance. Guests have to cross the “street,” aka sandy thoroughfare, to reach the beach. The beach has a rickety pier that guests can use to reach a suitable swimming area offshore. Besides the pool and beach, Caye Casa has free, reliable Wi-Fi that’s fast and easy to connect to.