Thatch Caye is an all-inclusive, private island paradise with cozy Caribbean overwater bungalows 25 minutes by speedboat from mainland Belize.
It is eco-friendly and has a kind of rustic, barefoot-chic vibe.
It caters to no more than 30 people at any one time too and so feels relatively intimate and exclusive, but with a friendly, communal atmosphere.
Numerous activities are offered at Thatch Caye and your days can be as busy or as peaceful and relaxed as you may wish.
Overwater Bungalows & On-Land Penthouses: Barefoot Luxury
We have a choice of beach cabanas and overwater bungalows here. The latter are divided between Standard and Premium with the standard units being three bungalows sitting practically right beside each other just off the shore.
Thus they’re really not ideal if privacy is what you’re after. But for a group of friends, if booked together, they could be perfect.
We think the premium overwater bungalows on the other hand offer a huge amount of privacy.
Though they are pretty much the same internally as the standard bungalows they have their own private walkway so feel very secluded.
They don’t cost all that much more so we believe an upgrade to these premium bungalows will make sense to most people, especially those seeking a romantic getaway.
Both have 320 sq. ft of nicely furnished and very comfortable space, including an outside terrace, so they’re not enormous but are certainly cozy and romantic.
On shore, we have a choice of beach cabanas, divided into Standard, Premier, and Penthouse, with the Penthouse being the most desirable and most expensive. It is the largest at 441 sq ft and offers views over the open ocean from the terrace.
In line with the island’s back-to-nature, modern-life detox philosophy none of the accommodations has Wi-Fi (or TV) but you can find both in the common areas – The Grove and Coco Lounge – described below.
All-Inclusive Rates & Current Availability
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Communal Dining: Farm-to-Table Belizean Cuisine
Between its three all-inclusive restaurants/cafes/bars, the food at Thatch Caye is well received by guests, with much of the ingredients coming from their own organic gardens.
We start every day with a made-to-order breakfast where you’ll find international staples alongside more Belizean choices, plenty of tropical fruits and juices, and good coffee.
The breakfast is served in Coco Lounge, with one of the resort’s other venues, The Grove, then opening for lunch – full meals and various smaller bites, with much wonderful fresh seafood are all there, and they can also arrange food for you to take away on excursions, boat trips, picnic food, etc.
In the evening The Grove is also the place to enjoy multi-course meals with plenty of Belizean and Caribbean flavor. There’s generally a communal atmosphere at dinner and it’s an easy time to get to know your fellow guests.
Drinks and snacks can be enjoyed late into the evening at The Starfish Bar or Coco Lounge. You’ll not find any riotous partying but the atmosphere is good-natured, friendly, and sociable.
We feel the resort really likes to look after its guests and dietary restrictions or preferences will always happily be taken care of by the chefs.
Private Island Activities: Snorkeling the Barrier Reef
You can spend many happy hours wandering around the island or even, lounging blissfully in your hammock or by the resort’s natural saltwater pool.
The island is narrow and small – you can walk from one end of it and back in less than an hour – and has forest trails where you can look out for some of the local wildlife, and at least three small, cute beaches.
There is a small fitness center at the resort and there are regular fitness classes, yoga, pilates, etc. Snorkeling is of course a popular activity around the island, as is kayaking and paddle boarding and you can arrange scuba diving amongst other excursions.
The island sits at the edge of the second-largest barrier reef in the world so there is an incredible amount of exotic sea life to be encountered – sharks, starfish, manta rays, manatee, turtles, and much more.
The all-inclusive package at Thatch Caye includes at least the following as standard:
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Three meals per day
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Local alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages
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Roundtrip boat transfer to and from Dangriga Airport
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Marine reserve access fee
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Exclusive use of kayaks, paddle boards, snorkel gear, fishing poles, and other non-motorized water sports equipment.
Getting to Thatch Caye: Speedboat Transfers from Dangriga
To get there we should first fly into Belize International, Belize City, which has direct flights from many US cities. From there we can catch a 20-minute domestic flight to Dangriga to the south (via Tropic Air).
Once there you will be met by a resort representative who will escort you to the speedboat shuttle and the, pretty exciting, 25-minute ride to the island.
Guest Reviews: Off-Grid Relaxation
“Boat transfer to the island was incredibly easy. The resort is beautiful. Easy snorkeling right off the beach in crystal clear waters with an abundance of ocean life, as well as kayaks and SUP boards to use. Many other day trip options to choose from both on the ocean and if you want to travel in on the mainland. Meals were very well prepared, fresh, and varied. Bungalow above the water was an experience like no other!….”
“The island was like something imagined from a TV show or movie. It’s small, with 30 guests at capacity and meals are served at set times in a community setting amongst the guests. Snacks and drinks as well as big spray, beach equipment, and most things you might need are available and included in the price of the stay. Staff was very attentive and accommodating, but not overbearing in any way. Excursions are available for signup, however we did not partake. There are various sections of the island that serve different purposes, although it’s only 1 mile long, and wi-fi can only be found in the central community room. The beach is small, but nice and things were pretty quiet during the day because most people did excursions. We stayed for only a couple of days, but got exactly what we wanted out of it. No worries and complete relaxation while being taken care of by excellent staff! Thank you for the wonderful weekend!…..”
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