Hi - learning how this whole vacationing on the Cayes works...here's my questions:

1) On Ambergris Caye, the beaches have a lot of seagrass and the bottoms can be rough from coral, so there are long piers built with palapas on them and people hang out under the palapas and then jump or climb down into the water to swim? Is this right? Are there proper beaches where you can lay in the sand, etc. and wade into the water or do you do your sunning on the beach in a beach chair and your swimming off the end of the pier?

2) On Caye Caulker, there is only really good swimming at the split, which isn't really a beach but does have restaurants and big cement slab things. Are there piers on Caye Caulker? How do people swim when they're there?

Thanks!

There are a couple of beaches on Ambergris where you can walk in swim one is Ramons Beach and the other Mar de tumbo most others are too shallow and people swim off the docks as you describe.

Caye caulker is the same as Ambergris with the exception of the Cut at the river.

Gaz

Do a lot of people swim while they're on either Caye? If we're not staying at Ramon's, can we plop there for the day on the beach in beach chairs if we're ordering food and drinks throughout?

thanks!

if you mean can one just lay on a towel in the sand, then wander in, splash around & cool off, i'd say yes, there are some lovely, beaches like that - where gaz mentions, the boca del rio area up to the cut, and around caribbean villas are only some examples. the water is shallow but you can often wade out where deeper or swim off a pier. you could easily make a fun day. bring your mask & snorkel, all kinds of little critters in some places.

ex - a beach in boca del rio:


my hunny snorkling right off that same beach (taken from our balcony):

ooohh!!!! perfect!

Another beach which is seldom mentioned on the forums is the one at Tranquility Bay. It is one of the best on the island and you can snorkel safely all the way to the reef.

Cheers,
Carlos

Tranquility Bay is an AMAZING place to hang out for a day. Great beach and the water colors are incredible. Lots of fish at the dock also to see.

Carlos, Your bartender was so nice to us last week. We took a golf cart up and had a few drinks and just hung out for a while. We were the only folks around. He got a fishing pole for my son and showed him how to cast. Alec caught a nice sized fish and was SO happy. We had to hear about that fish story the rest of the day! Tell him thanks again!

Another nice beach is at Mata Chica/Rojo Lounge.

The point about Tranquility Bay is that it is right at the northernmost end of our reef before it meets the land at Rocky Point, and is north of the northernmost cut. It's totally safe to swim or snorkel anywhere there all the way to the reef as there's no boat traffic. And the reef isn't too far off.

agreed, tranquility bay is a pretty neat place to spend a day.

but wow, reaper, how long did it take you to DRIVE up there??? not sure i could handle being in the back of a cart on that "road" for that long!

It takes about 2 hours to drive a golf cart all the way up here, and TBR is a nice place to spend a week not a day!

Cheers,
Carlos

It is our favorite adventure with the family. We drive up every year. It took 2.5 hours up and 2 back. I think it's about 15 or 16 miles. The "road" is rough around Captain Morgans, but the further north you go the smoother it is. It had been pretty dry also which makes it MUCH easier to drive. We drove up to Portofino one day also to visit Jan and Sandra and hit all of the "spots". Lazy Croc, Palapa, Mata Chica, Rojo etc. are all great stops. We're a little crazy I guess.

Is there a road other than the beach all the way up?

nah, not crazy. i was just curious as it took us about 45 min to boat to TB. we've only ever driven as far as portofino once (and were thinking of visiting jan & sandra next month, pretty much barhopping in your footsteps). it is a fun adventure and so pretty up there.