What's on in Caye Caulker (Caulker), Belize through the year

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Lobster season opens (15 Jun – 14 Feb)

Busy — Dry season on the reef

• Season

  Dry season on the reef

  1 Feb – 31 May · usuallyCrowded

  The rain stops, the trades ease off through April and May, and the water over the reef goes glassy. It is the best run of the year for the Blue Hole day boats, which cancel outright in wind.

Still on: Lobster season opens (15 Jun – 14 Feb)

Busy — Dry season on the reef, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in March.

Still on: Dry season on the reef (1 Feb – 31 May (usually))

Busy — Dry season on the reef

• Season

  Sargassum on the windward side

  1 Apr – 30 Sep · usuallySargassum season

  The east shore and the Split collect weed through the summer and crews rake it at dawn. Swimming here is off a dock ladder in any case, which takes most of the sting out of it.

Still on: Dry season on the reef (1 Feb – 31 May (usually))

Busy — Dry season on the reef

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Dry season on the reef (1 Feb – 31 May (usually)), Sargassum on the windward side (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually))

Quiet — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

• Hazard

  Hurricane season

  1 Jun – 30 Nov

  The island is barely a metre above the sea and evacuates by water taxi. Belize's serious weeks run from August into October, and the dive shops shut days before a system is due. Source ↗

• Opening

  Lobster season opens

  15 Jun – 14 FebForaging season

  The spiny lobster season legally runs from 15 June to 14 February. Outside it, any menu still offering lobster is selling something frozen or illegal, and the boats switch to conch and snapper. Source ↗

• Festival

  Caye Caulker Lobster Fest

  17–19 JulMajor festivalCrowdedBook early

  Three days at Palapa Garden a few weeks after the season opens: grilled tails on every stand, a beach party and local bands. The island has few rooms and they are all taken for it. Source ↗

Still on: Sargassum on the windward side (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — Caye Caulker Lobster Fest, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in July.

Still on: Sargassum on the windward side (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)), Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov), Lobster season opens (15 Jun – 14 Feb), Caye Caulker Lobster Fest (17–19 Jul)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Sargassum on the windward side (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)), Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov), Lobster season opens (15 Jun – 14 Feb)

Busy — September Celebrations, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Festival

  September Celebrations

  10–21 SepMajor festivalCrowded

  St George's Caye Day on the 10th and Independence on the 21st bracket eleven days of flag raisings, carnival parades and boat trips over to Belize City for the bigger version of both. Source ↗

Still on: Sargassum on the windward side (1 Apr – 30 Sep (usually)), Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov), Lobster season opens (15 Jun – 14 Feb)

Quiet — one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov), Lobster season opens (15 Jun – 14 Feb)

Busy — Garifuna Settlement Day

• Holiday

  Garifuna Settlement Day

  19 NovMajor festival

  Drumming and the re-enactment of the 1832 landing happen down south in Dangriga and Hopkins. The caye takes the day off, and the buses and boats heading that way are full the night before. Source ↗

Still on: Hurricane season (1 Jun – 30 Nov), Lobster season opens (15 Jun – 14 Feb)

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in December.

Still on: Lobster season opens (15 Jun – 14 Feb)