Shaka Caye Private Island Resort — Hotel in Shaka Caye

This resort is nowhere near as advertised. I’ve travelled to plenty of all inclusive resorts and I can easily tell that this is not even close to that. When I originally booked, they were kind enough to give me a small discount as I felt that the prices listed were outside of my budget. The small discount that was offered was still overpriced for our overall experience. They advertise a welcome drink - it was warm and had no alcohol. You’re stranded on the island with nothing to do all day and it costs $150 to go anywhere else. They told me this cost would be split between boat passengers but when we checked out, they charged me and my boyfriend the full $150. They advertised that there was a shop at the island to buy sunscreen and bug spray and there was not one. The kayaks and paddle boards were old. There was seaweed/grass growing all around the island making it virtually impossible to swim. Half of the cabana is not air conditioned and the other half that is, I was told, there was no key to lock my belongings up. I later found one in the room…

The snacks in the mini fridge were expired and the fridge did not keep anything cold. The island bar was uncomfortable to sit at as the wooden high top chairs did not have any cushion. The bar drinks were watered down/not really alcoholic.

The staff is cordial and friendly but it seemed that most of them did not want to actually attend to us. I’m also concerned about their living conditions as they all seem to stay in one cabana, which like another reviewer mentioned is inhumane.

They tacked on a free snorkeling trip with my stay, which was kind but I had to remind them of it when I arrived because they tried to charge me. During the snorkeling, the equipment was old and dirty and no instructions were provided for first timers like my boyfriend. The snorkel guide just so happened to be our boat captain as well. He took us into heavily current waters and my boyfriend cut himself on a coral reef as a result.

During our $150 transfer to Caye Calker, the same boat captain got drunk and on our way back, he swerved the boat so hard that a couple who was also on the boat fell into us and hurt my ankle. Although the staff offered ice and a band aid for me and my boyfriend, we felt that this all was extremely careless on their part.

When I requested a partial refund through my credit card company, they refused.

Do NOT spend your money here! Go to a real all inclusive resort.

It’s a shame that this was our experience because I travel frequently and could have referred plenty of new people to come here.

Did I mention we came home with random bites all over our body as well?

Yeah,...

We loved that Shaka Caye is a very small island providing privacy with the amenities of an all-inclusive resort. |The food and drinks were very good and we were given several options for each meal. We enjoyed how they provided us a description of our options several hours before each meal. The staff was also very accommodating for any food preferences. They also provided a generous snack around 4:30 each afternoon that always satisfied any afternoon hunger. |There were activity options on the island provided by the resort as well and many options for off island excursions that can be booked directly with the resort for an additional fee. We went troll fishing and caught barracuda. The staff then did an excellent job preparing it to eat that night. We used the resorts kayaks and snorkeling gear to explore the surrounding islands and marine life. The surrounding water is very shallow with many sandbars making it easy and fun to explore. We also had several relaxing days on their beach area. |In many areas in the Caribbean the seaweed/seagrass has become a problem but it was minimal on this island. When it did accumulate some, the staff quickly cleaned it up and it was never a problem during our stay which we really appreciated.|The rooms were nice, comfortable and cleaned daily. They also stocked the refrigerator with soda and water daily. The suites had wonderful views from inside and I enjoyed the hammock on the front deck overlooking the ocean.|All of the staff were very friendly and accommodating. We had excellent service during our stay.| I would give the resort 5 stars if not for some very small issues that occurred during our stay. The sink faucet in the master bathroom was leaking so we could only use one sink during our stay. I think they delayed repairing it to avoid bothering us during the stay(which we appreciate). Once daily they shut off the generators for maintenance for 30 minutes to 1 hour. The staff does a good job of communicating when this outage will occur but during this time period you are without power, internet or running water. It was usually not an issue but was an inconvenience on a few occasions including 2 unplanned outages during one evening of our stay. Lastly, the grounds crew could do a little better job of cleaning up the debris and trash that washes on to the shore of the island. |Overall we had a great vacation and would definitely return to this resort if we...

This place is such a gem! I cannot wait to return. We booked on the tail end of our vacation to avoid the feeling of needing a vacation from our vacation once we returned home. We flew into BZE from San Pedro and the taxi driver met us at the airport and even stopped us at the store to pick up a few items. We had to wait a few moments for the boat to go to the island but they have a boathouse with a restroom so by the time we used the restroom we were ready to go.

The boat ride over is about 30 minutes and so beautiful and serene. Once we arrived our luggage was taken to our room and we were welcomed at the bar with beverages. The check in process and tour took 5-10 minutes and they had taken our lunch order on the ride over which was promptly served on our balcony when we got to our rooms.

The rooms appear to have been updated from photos I have seen online and we were pleased. You can control the temperature from the air conditioner and we didn't experience any problems with bugs or critters. Not even one mosquito bite! Im not sure how they treat the property but whatever they are doing it is working because that was a big concern of mine.

We did the sunset cruise and dinner on the beach which was amazing. The next day we booked the tour of the Mayan Ruins and it was a private tour with a private guide which we loved. Our third day was spent on the beach and getting massages. Their massage therapist, Claire, is superb!! Next time I stay i will book with her every other day!!

We were a couple staying on the island but there was also a group of women on their annual girls trip as well as a mother daughter duo.

Just for further reference, I am a physician by profession and my friends refer to me as the “hotel snob.” This is not The Langham or the St Regis as far as furnishings are concerned (there are no heated marble floors), but there is nothing wrong with this place at all. The bed and bedding were comfy. I slept like a baby. The towels and linens were nice. I loved the hammock on the porch. The staff was attentive. This is a remote, private, and tropical oasis where you can completely “turn off.” With that being said, to me, this place is pure magic and I will not hesitate to book again….as a matter of fact I am looking for excuses to book again. I cant...