Caye Caulker has a vibrant village life, aside from tourism. It has a local population of about 1300 people who speak a variety of languages, including English.
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There is an elementary school, and two churches.
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The local population owns and operates many of the hotels, restaurants, tour companies, and other businesses associated with tourism, and many are still involved in fishing and lobster trapping.
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There is also a bottling company on the island, which supplies purified water, soft drinks, and the locally brewed beers (Belikan and Light House) to stores, and delivers directly to homes.
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Electricity is generated on the island and telephone services are provided by BTL, which has a branch office on the island. There is an airstrip and a main boat dock where planes and boats stop by regularly on their way to and from the mainland and San Pedro. For more information about transportation to and from the island, go to HOW TO GET HERE.
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Banking services and currency exchange
There are two banks on Caye Caulker with ATMs where you can exchange travelers’ checks (in USD) and U.S. currency for Belizean dollars at the rate of 1 to 2 ($1US = $2BZE). US dollars and major credit cards are also accepted at most businesses.
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Communication
Telephone: There is a phone in the house for incoming calls. The phone number is 501-206-0026. If you wish to make a local or international call from this phone, or from pay phones in the village, you will need to buy a phone card. Phone cards are sold everywhere.
Internet access: There are several internet cafes open daily and late into the evening.
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Post Office: The post office is right next to the library. You can buy stamps and mail and receive letters and packages, if you stay long enough on the island to have them forwarded to you.
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Shopping
Groceries: There are several general and specialty food stores, as well as fruit and vegetable stands. Bottled water, soft drinks, and beer can be bought by the bottle or delivered to the house.
There are also many convenience stores where you will find most household and personal care items and one hardware store.
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Artwork and crafts: There are several souvenir shops, as well as art and craft shops. Several artists who live on the island sell their artwork direct from their studios.
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Restaurants
There are many fine restaurants which offer excellent food for affordable prices. Some foods are seasonal, such as lobster, which is available from July to February. Prices range from $3 - $6 for breakfast, $6 - $12 for lunch and $8 - $20 for dinner.
Bars
There are several excellent bars with friendly service. Happy hour is generally 4 – 6 pm when local rum drinks can be had “two for one.”
Rental businesses
You can rent the following equipment by the hour, day, or week: Bikes
Golf carts
Fishing rods and reels
Kayaks, windsurfing and other water sports equipment
Snorkeling and diving gear
Medical facilities
There is a health center where medical personnel are available for consultation. There are several pharmacies where a wide variety of over-the-counter drugs and medical supplies can be purchased.
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Police, Emergency, and Fire Services
The island has its own police station with several local police constables and a fire station and truck.
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Weather
Belize lies in the sub-tropical belt. Generally the temperatures hover in the 80s or low 90s during the day and drop to the upper 70s or the low 80s at night, with gentle sea breezes. There are brief periods of heavy rain from June to October; however, the showers are generally mixed with sunshine. The sea breezes can be strong in December and January, and temperatures can drop into the upper 60s or lower 70s at night with very pleasant daytime temperatures.
For more information about the island, its history and culture, check these websites:
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