In December, the sand streets of Caye Caulker fill with the sound of bicycles and the smell of grilled fish drifting from roadside stands. Strings of lights go up along the main strip, and the island keeps its slow, barefoot pace.
The month sits just after the hurricane season, with long evenings on the water and a sea still warm enough to enjoy. It suits travelers who want a small island, a reef close by and few plans.
What is the weather like in Caye Caulker in December?
December is warm and tropical on Caye Caulker, with a sea that stays inviting and days that are a little shorter than in the middle of the year.
| Month | Sea at Caye Caulker (°F) | Daylight on the 15th (hours and minutes) |
|---|---|---|
| November | 84.1 | 11 h 20 min |
| December | 82.3 | 11 h 07 min |
| January | 81.3 | 11 h 13 min |
The sea is the first thing you feel. It has cooled a little since November, yet it still welcomes a long float off the end of a dock, and snorkelers will find it comfortable in a thin shirt or on its own.
The light is the other marker of the month. Days are slightly shorter than in autumn, so the sun comes up on a quiet island and sets early enough that dinner happens under the stars.
In Belize City, highs average about 84°F in December, with lows near 69°F and just over ten days with measurable rain. That points to a month with showers passing through rather than a long gray spell, and it is a reason to keep a light rain layer within reach.
Evenings on the island are pleasant for eating outside, and a light long-sleeved shirt is enough if a breeze comes off the water. Midday sun on the sand streets is strong, so hats and sunscreen matter more than any jacket. After dark, the lights along the strip give the island a festive look.
Can you swim in Caye Caulker in December?
Yes, the sea is warm enough for a long swim, at about 82°F, and snorkeling and diving trips are part of the island’s rhythm this month.
The Caye Caulker Marine and Forest Reserve was established in April 1998 and covers more than 9,000 acres of the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. It is the protected water that wraps around the island, and it is where boat outings for snorkeling and diving are focused.
Farther out, the reef system includes three atolls: Turneffe Atoll, Glover’s Reef and Lighthouse Reef. Lighthouse Reef is the most easterly diving area in Belize and is home to the Great Blue Hole, made famous by Jacques Cousteau in 1970.
What to do in Caye Caulker in December
December on Caye Caulker is about the reef, the sea and the slow rhythm of the island. The month comes just after the Atlantic hurricane season, which ends on November 30, and the island settles into a calmer routine of boat trips by day and dinners by the water at night.
The island is five miles long, and the main village sits along a few sand streets lined with small restaurants, bars, guesthouses and dive shops. Walking and cycling are the natural ways to see it, and the whole place feels like a single long conversation between neighbors. Christmas lights and holiday decorations give the streets a warm glow after dark.
The marine reserve by boat
The Caye Caulker Marine Reserve is the main reason to get on the water. It protects over 9,000 acres of the barrier reef system, and boat trips head out to snorkel along the reef edge, where you may see coral formations and tropical fish. Many outings also stop at spots in the reserve known for rays and nurse sharks.
With the sea at a comfortable temperature this month, time in the water feels relaxed. Bring a rash guard if you tend to feel cool after a long swim, and reef-safe sunscreen to protect the coral you came to see. Sailing trips pair well with the late-afternoon light, when the island turns gold from the water.
Diving farther out
Divers use Caye Caulker as a base for the atolls and the reef beyond. They are outings that fill a day of their own, so plan them around your other time on the island.
Those who prefer to stay near the island can dive and snorkel inside the reserve and along the reef. Dive shops in the village arrange trips, and the evenings are for comparing what everyone saw over a plate of grilled fish or lobster-style dishes when in season.
Eating and wandering the village
Food on the island leans on the sea: grilled fish, shrimp, rice and beans, fry jacks in the morning, and rum punch at sunset. Roadside grills send smoke into the evening air, and small cafés serve coffee and baked goods to cyclists and snorkelers heading out. Garifuna and Creole flavors show up in coconut-based dishes and stews across Belize.
Between meals, the village is made for wandering. Murals, hand-painted signs, hammocks and little shops selling crafts line the main streets. The mood in December is relaxed and friendly, and the holiday lights make a simple evening stroll feel festive.
If a shower passes, there is no need to change plans for long. Cafés, shops and covered porches along the strip are good places to wait it out, and the sea is warm enough that getting wet is rarely a problem.
A two-day itinerary for Caye Caulker in December
Day 1 is for the water. Start with a fry jack breakfast in the village, then join a snorkeling trip into the Caye Caulker Marine Reserve for the reef and its marine life. The sea is still warm, so time in the water feels easy. Return for a late lunch of grilled fish or shrimp at a casual spot along the strip.
In the afternoon, walk or cycle the sand streets, browse the small craft shops and stop for a fresh juice. With about eleven hours of daylight, the sun sets early, so plan to be at the western edge of the island for the color. Dinner is a sit-down meal at one of the seafood restaurants, with the holiday lights glowing along the main street.
Day 2 is for the longer outing. A dive or snorkel trip farther along the barrier reef, or a day toward the atolls, fills the morning and part of the day. Lighthouse Reef and the Great Blue Hole are the famous names for divers, and other atolls such as Turneffe and Glover’s Reef are further options.
If rain moves in, trade the boat for a slow day in the village: a long breakfast, a few hours in a café, a wander through the shops and an early dinner. The evening can end with a drink on a dock and the lights of the island behind you.
Is Caye Caulker busy in December?
December brings holiday travelers to the island, and the village feels lively, especially around Christmas and the turn of the year.
As a small island with a limited number of rooms, Caye Caulker rewards early planning for the holiday weeks. Booking early for the days around December 25 and New Year is a good habit, while the first weeks of the month and early January leave more room to decide later. Restaurants fill with a mix of travelers and residents, and a table at a favorite dinner spot is easier to find at the start of the month.
Boat trips into the reserve and out to the reef are the activities most worth arranging ahead in busy weeks, since they set the shape of your days. The village itself stays easygoing, with the same sandy streets and unhurried pace even when the guesthouses are full.
What to pack for Caye Caulker in December
Pack light and for the water, with a few items for evenings and showers.
- Swimsuits and a rash guard, for time in the reserve and on the boat
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat, since the sun is strong on the sand streets
- A light rain jacket, because showers pass through in December
- Sandals and a pair of closed shoes for the dock and the boat
- A light long-sleeved shirt for breezy evenings
- A dry bag for phones and cameras on boat trips
Good to know before you go
The U.S. State Department rates Belize Level 2, “Exercise increased caution”, because of crime, and says the south side of Belize City has historically had the highest concentration of violent crime.
December comes right after the Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. The island is small, five miles long, and most things are within walking or cycling distance. The San Pedro Belize Express ferry from Belize City takes approximately 45 minutes, and the ferry from San Pedro takes about 30 minutes. Plan your boat trips and holiday-week rooms first, since they shape the rest of the stay.
Caye Caulker in December vs November and January
Moving the trip to November means a slightly warmer sea and a little more daylight, but also a wetter month in Belize City, with more rain days. The island is quieter before the holiday weeks begin, and the hurricane season is still in its final weeks, ending on November 30.
January brings a slightly cooler sea and daylight close to December’s. George Price Day on January 15 is a public holiday in Belize, and the island relaxes into a calmer pace once the holiday weeks pass. Rain is similar to December in Belize City. Choose November if you want a warmer sea and fewer holiday crowds, December if you want the festive lights and the start of the dry-season feel, and January if you prefer the island after the holidays have settled.
Is December a good time to visit Caye Caulker?
Yes, December is a good time for travelers who want a warm sea, a reef close by and a relaxed island with a festive touch.
It suits snorkelers, divers and anyone who likes to spend days on a boat and evenings on a dock. Those who want a quiet, empty island may prefer a month outside the holiday weeks, and anyone who dislikes passing showers should keep a flexible plan.
On arrival, settle into the village, walk the main street and book your first boat trip into the marine reserve.
Sources
- Open-Meteo Marine API, average 2015-2024, checked October 11, 2026
- sunrise-sunset.org, sunrise and sunset calculated for the 15th of the month, checked October 11, 2026
- NOAA NCEI, GHCN-Daily station BHM00078583 (Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport, Belize City), normals 1991-2020 computed from the daily record (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=daily-summaries&stations=BHM00078583), checked October 11, 2026
- Wikipedia, Public holidays in Belize (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_holidays_in_Belize), checked October 11, 2026
- Wikipedia, Belize Barrier Reef (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belize_Barrier_Reef), checked October 11, 2026
- Belize Fisheries Department, Caye Caulker Marine Reserve (https://fisheries.gov.bz/ccmr/), checked October 11, 2026
- Caye Caulker Village Council, Traffic (https://www.cayecaulkervillagecouncil.org/traffic), checked October 11, 2026
- Caye Caulker Village Council, About (https://www.cayecaulkervillagecouncil.org/about), checked October 11, 2026
- San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi, Caye Caulker (https://belizewatertaxi.com/destinations/caye-caulker/), checked October 11, 2026
- Wikipedia, Climate of Belize (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Belize), checked October 11, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Belize Travel Information, Entry and exit requirements (https://travel.state.gov/), checked October 11, 2026
- U.S. Department of State, Belize Travel Advisory, Level 2, March 11, 2026 (https://travel.state.gov/), checked October 11, 2026
- NOAA National Hurricane Center, Climatology (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/), checked October 11, 2026
To plan your stay
- Things to Do in Caye Caulker: The Split, Reef Snorkeling, Manatees and Fresh Lobster
- Where to Stay in Caye Caulker: Village Center, the Split, the North Side and the Lagoon Shore
- Caye Caulker from Belize City: Water Taxi, Small Plane and What to Do on Arrival
- Know Before You Go to Caye Caulker: Entry Rules, Money, Water Taxis and Health