Sitting on the edge of the speed boat with feet dangling near the surface, you contemplate jumping into the warm iridescent waters just out of reach. With the sun high in the sky, the midday heat sets in, and your skin begins to bronze. The water is so clear you could look through it like glass. Below, the transparent ocean teems with fish. Enormous sea turtles graze on the seagrass that sways back and forth with the tide. A number of nurse sharks dance through the waters, while stingrays and spotted eagle rays soar as effortlessly as the birds above. The water is active and alive. Anyone would have their breath taken away by watching the scene unfold before them. A short helicopter or boat ride from the nearby village of Placencia, Hatchet Caye is an oasis of relaxation – an ideal balance of rest and activity. Paradise found.
Editor’s Note: Hatchet Caye was rebranded in early 2020 to Ray Caye Island Resort. More info here.
Anchoring at the dock you are warmly greeted and offered freshly made fruit juice. The island’s caretaker, Dasha, warmly welcomes you to a beachside cabana, filling you in on all the details of life on this beautiful island and activities you could take part in nearby.
Dining On The Island
Nestled on a small beach, the Lionfish Grill is the perfect place to watch the sunset. Shades of pink and hints of violet mingle in the watercolor sky as the orange sun slowly changes to copper and sinks lower on the horizon. As it slips from sight, a new painting of violet, indigo, and midnight takes shape.
Mouthwatering specials like conch fritters with mango mint salsa, grilled lobster smothered in herbed butter, lamb chops with sweet potato mash, with carrot cake or caramel flan for dessert make choosing what to eat a challenge! The food is presented with true artistic flair, outdone only by the flavor profiles that fill your mouth with each exquisite bite.
Why Hatchet Caye is a special place
The number of days you stay at Hatchet Caye will decide how much you’re able to see and do. We suggest at least booking an all-inclusive 3-day, 2-night package, though more time on the island is always better.
By the way, if you’re a sport or fly fisherman, Hatchet Caye is an ideal spot for casting a reel straight from the island. You can catch snook, tuna, wahoo, snapper, tarpon, permit, and bonefish nearly effortlessly. A serious fisherman comes to catch a Grand Slam–a bonefish, tarpon, and permit in a single day. That’s the height of fishing in Belize. The fish that make up the Grand Slam are protected, so you can’t keep them. Those species are only catch-and-release. There are world-class dive sites and great snorkeling close by.
Hatchet Caye is an island oasis perfect for those seeking a true getaway.
Written by: Stephanie Weeks.
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