Sleeping Caye Caulker
Dirty McNasty’s Hostel
Recently purchased by a Texan, the once abandoned structures across from Bella’s Backpackers have blossomed into quite the enjoyable hostel compound. One building boasts comfortable dorm and private rooms with long spanning porches. The other building has a kitchen, pool tables, hammocks, music, and free rum punch at 8 pm nightly. The rooms are clean, there are canoes and bicycles to use for free, as well as drinking water. Breakfast is included in the price and the wifi signal here is strong and reliable throughout. You may scoff at the name, nee, of course you will scoff at the name — but Dirty McNasty’s is nothing short of an enjoyable and dependable place to stay on Caye Caulker.
RATES:
Dorm bed, fan, bathroom in room — $28bze/$14usd
Dorm bed, air conditioning, bathrrom in room — $40bze/$20usd
Private room, fan, bathroom in room — $66bze/$33usd
Private room, air conditioning, bathroom in room — $100bze/$50usd
CONTACT:
tel: 501 636 7512
email: lorne@dirtymcnastys.com
1 Crocodile Street, Caye Caulker, Belize
Yuma’s Hostel (formerly Tina’s Backpackers)
Yuma’s is one of three hostels on Caye Caulker and because of it being a bit of an institution on the island among travelers — many think it’s the only one. (For years it was known as Tina’s Backpackers. It was bought recently but still maintains its reputation.)
Getting off the water taxi, it’s impossible to miss, to the right off the docks, brightly painted with a welcoming and relaxing front courtyard on the beach and a palapa on the dock over the water with various trampers lounging in the hammocks at any given moment. It is a well-known hostel and deservedly so. But be aware, the owner is very strict with the guests-only policy here — if you have friends staying at another place, you’ll have to meet them or talk with a fence between the two of you — Yuma does not like strangers and/or locals in her yard.
The beds and rooms are clean, the bathrooms too. There are two kitchens at your disposal and the camaraderie is unlike most any other hostel. Whether you have more lobster tails than you can eat on your own or more rum than you should drink on your own — at Yuma’s it’s easy to find some interesting and fun people to share. And if not, head down to the split in the afternoon and you’ll make plenty of friends over a bucket a beer.
RATES
4-bed dorm with shared bathroom — $27BZD ($13.50USD)
Private double with fan for two — $62BZD ($31USD)
CONTACT
Located on the beach between the two water taxi docks
Phone: 501 206-0019
Email: yumashousebelize@gmail.com
Website: www.yumashousebelize.com
Bella’s Hostel
On Caye Caulker, you’d be missing out if you don’t stay at least a night at Bella’s. It’s fairly new to the island and set on the bay side, but this place really exudes a lot of local flavor — literally and figuratively.
There are hammocks for lounging, a kitchen for cooking, a barbecue for grilling, bikes for cruising and boats for rowing here. While here we feasted on lobster and barbecue chicken, along with 30 of our fellow travelers and local islanders. The dinner was followed by some of the most amateur limboing I’ve seen in a while, but all in all it was an incredible night with incredible people. And the vibe at Bella’s was the perfect host.
While Yuma’s may have the beach and the reputation, Bella’s has the true island feel, and a price that’s hard to beat. $10usd will get you a dorm bed and $20usd will get a private cabin with two beds. Wi-fi is available here.
Mention BORDER TRAMP and get 10% off your first night at Bella’s!
RATES
Dorm — $20BZD ($10USD)
Private cabin with bunkbed — $40BZD ($20USD)
Private cabin with one double bed and one twin — $50BZD ($25USD)
CONTACT
Crocodile Street
Phone: 501 226 0360
Email: bellas.hostel@yahoo.com
Website: http://bellasbackpackers.com/
Edith’s Guesthouse
It certainly isn’t the ritziest of guesthouses on the island, but at $17.50usd for a double room with bathroom and free use of a kitchen and washing machine — it may be worth the lack of style and design. It is owned by the same man who owns Frenchie’s Diving, and if you plan on doing any SCUBA diving while in Caye Caulker, staying at Edith’s will get you a 15% discount.
So it may not rank as the most comfortable place, but its among the cheapest. Plus, you’ll be spending your time out at sea snorkeling and diving, and lounging on the beach anyway.
RATES
Private double with bathroom and kitchen use — $35BZD ($17.50USD)
CONTACT
Middle Street
Phone: 501 629-5053
Email: edithguesthouse@gmail.com
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