Frequently Asked Questions:
- What should I know about traveling to Caye Chapel?
- Where is Caye Chapel and how do I get there?
- I want to visit, but what time of year is best?
- Are children welcome on the island?
- Where and what will I eat while on the island?
- What exactly is the Meal Plan and how do I decide if it is best for me?
- Let’s talk about golf! Will I need a tee-time? What about the crocodiles?
- Do you have rental clubs that I may use, or should I bring my own?
- Can I visit Caye Chapel and pay to play golf even if I am not staying overnight?
- How many guests are normally on property?
- How many restaurants, bars, and nightclubs are on the island?
- What activities are available on & off the island?
- What about trips to the mainland and excursions?
- What about contact with the "real" world while I'm in paradise?
- What about taxes & tipping?
- Okay, I'm convinced that Caye Chapel is perfect! What do I do now?
1. What should I know about traveling to Caye Chapel?
A valid US Passport is required to travel to Belize. There are no exceptions or use of a Birth Certificate. The primary language in Belize is English. The US Dollar to Belizean Dollar conversion rate is 1:2. The electrical outlets are 110V/60Hz, the same as you will find in the United States. Caye Chapel operates on Central Time (CST), although we do not observe daylight saving time. /\ top
2. Where is Caye Chapel and how do I get there?
Caye Chapel is located approximately 12 miles off the coast of Belize, in Central America. Multiple flights service Belize daily including Continental (Houston), American Airlines (Dallas & Miami), Delta (Atlanta) and USAir (Charlotte). Once you have confirmed your international travel itinerary you simply alert the resort via email or phone call and your local transfer flight is arranged. This flight departs every hour for Caye Chapel and takes approximately 10 minutes. The round trip cost of this flight is $110 USD and is placed on your resort bill. There are alternate methods of arriving at Caye Chapel including helicopter service, charter flights, private aircraft, and water taxi. Please email for more information. /\ top
3. I want to visit, but what time of year is best?
Belize has been blessed with 350 days of sunshine per year. As is the case in much of the Caribbean and Central America, the four traditional seasons of spring, summer, autumn, and winter are less distinct in Belize. Temperatures do not tend to vary as greatly here as in other parts of the world.
What is considered the "wet season" lasts from June through December. During this time rain showers frequently occur in violent bursts in the afternoon hours. January to May is known as the dry season, and the percentage of days that experience rain is significantly lower. Any showers that do occur during this time are generally mild and short-lived.
Hurricane season for the most part coincides with the rainy season, in particular September to November. Instances of severe weather are not entirely infrequent although the likelihood of a major storm center directly hitting Belize is not high. Winds and rain are the most common effects of nearby hurricanes in the Yucatan Peninsula.
The important factor to note is that even with the best planning intentions; we are located in the tropics. Meaning you could visit during dry season and still experience a shower. Subsequently, a visit during wet season could offer you a glorious, dry 10-day vacation in paradise. Luckily, as mentioned above; our rains come quickly, produce a great deal of nourishment for our golf course and island vegetation, and leave just as quickly as they arrived. /\ top
4. Are children welcome on the island?
Absolutely! Many of our guests include large families with small children. The concept of a private island is perfect for small children, as the property has the safety & intimacy that is rarely found on Caribbean vacations. We do offer cribs, strollers and other amenities to make life easier with a small one, but please let us know what you will be requiring prior to arrival. /\ top
5. Where and what will I eat while on the island?
You may see photos of our Villa Units with full kitchens. While the refrigerator, microwave, and dishwasher are fully operational for your convenience, the unit is not a self cooking accommodation. Meals are prepared in our Clubhouse by several on-site Chefs. These meals are enjoyed either within our Clubhouse Dining Room (Open during all three meal times), our poolside café, or delivered to your unit, our pier, beachfront, golf course... wherever you choose! There is a great deal of variety on the menus, which you can view by following the links below.
Breakfast Menu
Lunch Menu
Dinner Menu
As seen, Breakfast & Lunch are set menus, while dinner will be a 3-entrée option each evening. Local seafood will be a staple during your stay, but you will also be offered an array of choices. All preferences & allergies are considered and meals will be tailored to your preference as much as possible. Our dining room has no formal dress code. We do attempt to adhere to meal times as follows: Breakfast 7:30 - 10:00, Lunch 12:00 - 2:00pm, Dinner begins with cocktails & hors d'oeuvres at 7:00pm, although you need not arrive at any certain time. We are quite flexible with these times, but do ask that you assist us as much as possible. /\ top
6. What exactly is the Meal Plan and how do I decide if it is best for me?
The meal plan is offered at $75 USD daily for adults. Children 16 and under are prorated depending on age, children under 6 are complimentary. The meal plan includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as all snacks and non-alcoholic beverages. This means all beverages during meals, on the golf course, at the pool, and even within your in-room fridge are included! In the afternoon should you wish to have a plate of chips & salsa delivered, just phone the front desk! Ice cream at 10am? Simply ask! These types of requests (reasonably) are accommodated within the meal plan. Additionally, chips & candy bars are stocked daily. These may also be removed prior to arrival if you prefer.
Alternatively, you may select to enjoy your meals a la carte. The prices of the meals are $12.50 / $15 / $45 respectively, which total $72.50 USD if you enjoy all 3 meals. Non-alcoholic beverages on the island are between $1 - $2 each. While the meal plan may seem like the way to go, some guests may skip breakfast, or prefer a muffin in the morning and a light green salad for lunch. These guests may not drink many sodas and would prefer to skip the afternoon snacks. In this case, choosing to enjoy meals a la carte would be a wise decision. Should you have questions concerning the meal plan, please contact us directly at golf@cayechapel.com or toll free at 1-800-901-8938 /\ top
7. Let's talk about golf! Will I need a tee-time? What about the crocodiles?
Of course not! As guests of Caye Chapel Island Resort you will not need to book any tee-times. There are no round limits on your play. Want to start on Hole #11 and play it 6 times? Great! Want to teach your 3-year old son how to make that Birdie shot? Go for it! Prefer to feel the soft Bermuda grass under bare feet? Not a problem! Lovers of the game of golf find an escape that simply cannot be compared to any other course in the world. You may even find yourself through all 18 holes never coming in contact with another player! Your own private golf course!
However, you may catch sight of a few crocodiles! The lakes of the golf course have several inhabitants that have been here longer than we have... enjoying paradise and causing absolutely no safety issues. We do ask that you do not feed the crocodiles, or initiate contact. They are still wild creatures, although they keep to themselves and are much more afraid of humans than we should be of them.
There is no dress code on the golf course. Please bring and wear only soft-spikes. /\ top
8. Do you have rental clubs that I may use, or should I bring my own?
We do offer our guests complimentary use of our rental clubs. They are kept in great condition and are standard rental sets. However, our course is quite challenging. We recommend that if you are a serious, avid golfer; please make arrangements to bring your own clubs, you will be thankful you did. There are no issues with taking your clubs on the local transfer flight to the island. /\ top
9. Can I visit Caye Chapel and pay to play golf even if I am not staying overnight?
Yes, of course! Our guests do take priority of the course. Meaning, if there is a high guest count (during holidays, celebrity visits, golf tournaments, weddings, etc) we may not have availability for day guests. Please email us directly at golf@cayechapel.com regarding your interest and we will offer additional information as soon as possible. /\ top
10. How many guests are normally on property?
During holiday season (December 15 to January 5th and Easter Week) the resort will always be at capacity. This number ranges from 45 to 60 depending on the number of children, couples, and singles. During high season (January 6th to April 15th) you can expect there to be approximately 30-40 guests on property. During low season we fluctuate quite dramatically. The resort never officially "closes" in low season (many resorts in Belize do) so it could even be possible that your group would be the only guests on property! /\ top
11. How many restaurants, bars, and nightclubs are on the island?
There is one main restaurant within the Clubhouse. Dining is also offered at the pool as well as delivery to many locations on the island. The pool bar is open from 10:00am - 6:30pm and the Clubhouse Bar is open from 6:30pm - 12:00am. There are no nightclubs on the island. As a resort that emphasizes guest satisfaction above all else, we do highly recommend that if you are the type of traveler who prefers a more "social" vacation of restaurant hopping, dancing until the sun rises, meeting singles, and shopping every afternoon; Caye Chapel may not be your ideal destination. We certainly offer evening trips to Ambergris Caye as an excursion for shopping, dinner, drinks, and dancing; but the goal & concept behind our private island is that of the EXACT OPPOSITE of what most of the Caribbean has evolved into. We focus on privacy, serenity, the reconnection of couples & families, fabulous dining, and impressive service by unforgettable staff members. /\ top
12. What activities are available on & off the island?
While on the private island of Caye Chapel you can enjoy tennis, a fitness center, swimming, coconut bowling, spa treatments, kayaking, paddleboats, fishing from the pier & lakes, bone-fishing from the flats, bicycle riding, walk-out snorkeling, basketball, sand volleyball, horseshoes and of course, golf! Should you choose to leave your private island for a few hours you may enjoy snorkeling, diving, deep sea fishing, reef trolling, Cave Tubing, Mayan Ruins, Zip lining, River Tours and much, much more! For prices & details on any of the tours, please contact the resort directly.
Download our Excursions Package below:
Island Excursions
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13. What about trips to the mainland and excursions?
Not at all! Our mainland tours are priced with airfare included and are very reasonable. For example, a full day tour of Xunantunich Mayan Ruins & Cave tubing through the jungle is offered for $175 per person, with air! The flight is a beautiful 9-minutes to the Belize City airport where our licensed tour guide will greet you to begin your unforgettable exploration of Belize. You may also hop on a water taxi for just a few bucks if you want to explore Ambergris Caye (San Pedro) or Belize City on your own. The water taxi runs only during the daytime hours, on a set schedule. Please contact the resort for more information regarding the water taxi service. /\ top
14. What about contact with the "real" world while I'm in paradise?
While we cannot understand why you would WANT to contact the "real" world, we understand that our clients are busy professionals that require cellular service, fax service, and (of course) internet service. Telephones are available in each Villa & Casita. Long distance & local charges apply, which are placed on your resort bill. Many cell phones DO work on the island, although it depends solely on your carriers capabilities in the region. A guest services computer is available complimentary within our Clubhouse for your convenience. Currently our wireless service also reaches to the Casita units and an upgrade is planned in the next 6-8 months that will connect our Villa units to the wireless system. /\ top
15. What about taxes & tipping?
As you may have seen on the rate page, there is a mandatory 25% surcharge applied to your final bill. This includes 10% Sales Tax paid to the Government of Belize, 5% Resort Fees and 10% Gratuities divided between all of the superb staff members that will make your stay unforgettable. There is absolutely no tipping expected (or accepted) during your stay outside of this 10%. Upon checkout if you wish to adjust this gratuity to a higher amount, as many of our guests do, you may certainly advise us. /\ top
16. Okay, I'm convinced that Caye Chapel is perfect! What do I do now?
Should you have any additional questions, or wish to proceed with booking a visit to paradise, please phone our office toll-free at 1-800-901-8938. You may also request a reservation via email, but we will need a credit card to secure the reservation, which we prefer to accomplish via phone for obvious security reasons. There is no deposit required to secure your dates. No amount will be charged on your card when you confirm your reservation. The full amount of your stay will be due upon departure. Methods of payment include Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Travelers Checks, Direct Bank Transfer (arranged prior to arrival) and personal/business checks (by approval prior to arrival). /\ top
The following will explain further our cancellation policy:
90+ days prior: No penalty
60-89 days prior: One night charge penalty
30-59 days prior: Two night charge penalty
Less than 30 days: Full charge of room rate for all nights booked
We are certain that you will have questions that we haven't listed. Please do not hesitate to phone us toll-free at 800-901-8938. You will be speaking to a "Paradise Specialist" that is ON-PROPERTY, NOT a reservations center in the United States. We thoroughly enjoy speaking with interested guests concerning a potential trip to the island and make ourselves available to answer your questions 7 days a week. For our online Contact Form please click here.