Sunrise on Tom Owen's Caye |
Tom Owens Caye is leased by Gayle and Dona Scafe of Cuxlin Ha Resort
in Eldridgeville, Toledo. It is used by Reef CI for diving groups from Monday
to Friday each week apart from the month of October and two weeks in February.
At the weekends guests can make arrangements with Cuxlin Ha to go out for
a weekend staying on the tiny 1 acre caye on Saturday night.
Reef CI +501-629-4266 [email protected]
Cuxlin HA +501-732-4747 [email protected]
North East Sapodilla Caye is uninhabited and unused. It is the
northern most point of the "No Catch Zone" that extends down to Lime Caye at
the southern end of the Sapodillas.
Frank's Caye is for sale. It is not open to the public. The buildings on it
are dilapidated.
Nicholas Caye is privately owned by Belcampo Lodge.
A bottlenose dolphin surfaces to greet a tour boat |
Hunting Caye is home to various branches of the Belize government.
The Belize Coastguard has a base there as well as the Belize Port
Authority that is responsible for the lighthouse. The Immigration Department
has a unit there and sailing boats and other craft can do their entry
and exit procedures at Hunting Caye. The Fisheries Department is responsible
for the enforcement of the marine park laws and marine research.
This includes monitoring water quality and the health of the reef
monitoring Nassau grouper, lion fish and the sea turtles.
The University of Belize has a student dormitory that can accommodate
up to 30 and also receives some international student groups. Victor Jacobs
from Punta Gorda is the Field Manager and can be contacted on
742-2801
The Toledo Tour Guide Association offers drinks and food at the Hawks
Looking north towards Hunting Caye from Lime Caye |
Lime Caye is owned by the Garbutt family. The Garbutts offer salt water
fly fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving with a complete dive shop/ Kayaking is
also available with an advanced booking. There is a restaurant and bar serving a
buffet with creole style fresh fish, conch and lobster with vegetables, rice and
plantain alonmg with frsh fruit juices.
There is accommodation in 4 cabanas (two with en suite bathroom) and one
bunkhouse that can accommodate sixteen. They all have flushing toilets and running
water.
Those looking for an authentic "desert island" experience should avoid certain
dates in the years when Lime Caye is taken over by large groups of visitors from
Guatemala and Honduras. These periods include Easter Week, the first of May
and New Year. Visitors can observe the nesting habits of the Hawksbill and Loggerhead
Turtle between the beginning of June and end of October. Whale shark
can be seen year round but the best chance is around the period of the full moon
s from March to June.
Heading back to P.G. from the Sapodilla Cayes |
The Toledo Howler