Thatch Caye Resort, a Muy'Ono Resort
Thatch Caye is a 12-acre private island about nine miles off Dangriga in southern Belize, inside the South Water Marine Reserve and roughly 4 miles from the Belize Barrier Reef. The resort opened in 2015 and keeps things small on purpose: 15 villas split between overwater bungalows and oceanfront cabanas, a cap of 30 guests, and a staff that runs close to one per guest. Days revolve around the water, with snorkeling from shore, kayaks, paddleboards and a Hobie Cat included, and the island's on-site PADI dive shop running reef trips 15 minutes away. It holds one MICHELIN Key in the 2026 selection and is part of the Muy'Ono collection of Belize resorts.
Things to Know
- Max 3 per Room
Traveler Insights
Pros
- +Genuine private island exclusivity with a cap of 30 guests at a time across 15 villas, so the sense of having a Caribbean island almost to yourself is a structural fact of the property, not a marketing line
- +Snorkeling straight from shore is the daily highlight: the resort lists rays, nurse sharks, tarpon, starfish and the occasional manatee around the island, and the Belize Barrier Reef is about 4 miles and a 15-minute boat ride away for guided trips
- +Kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, a Hobie Cat, snorkel gear, bikes, a 1 km island trail, beach games and an open-air gym are all included, so you can fill whole days without paying for a single excursion
- +Three chef-prepared meals a day plus a daily happy hour with snacks, cooked with produce from the group's own Muy'Ono Farms and served with no set menu, which keeps the food more interesting than a typical all-inclusive rotation
- +The Overwater Starfish Bar has stairs straight down into a natural swimming cove with a water swing and trampoline, and staff bring drinks to you in the water
- +A 5-Star PADI dive shop on the island runs Discover SCUBA, two-tank Barrier Reef dives, night dives and open-water referral checkouts, and the flats nearby are fished with an Orvis-endorsed outfitter for permit, bonefish and tarpon (all paid add-ons)
- +Service that guests describe as like family: the resort runs roughly one staff member per guest, staff learn names and excursion plans fast, and the communal dinners make it easy to meet other travelers
- +Recognized with one MICHELIN Key in the 2026 MICHELIN Key hotel selection, plus TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best, both of which the resort lists on its own awards page
Cons
- −Getting there takes three legs: fly into Belize City, take a roughly 15-minute commuter flight or a van transfer to Dangriga, then a 35-minute boat from Pelican Beach Resort. The boat is included but the Dangriga leg is not, and boats leave only around 2:30pm and 4:30pm, so late international arrivals miss the day's crossing
- −The included bar pours Belizean spirits only (several local rums, a local vodka and similar); imported tequila and whiskey cost extra, which surprises guests used to premium-brand all-inclusives
- −Diving, fishing, Barrier Reef snorkel trips and land tours are all extra-cost excursions, so a diver or angler's real bill runs well above the nightly rate
- −No Wi-Fi, TVs or phones in the rooms: Wi-Fi is limited to the Coco Lounge, Starfish Bar and Barefoot Beach, in-room extenders cost extra per night, and cell service is inconsistent
- −Dining is communal by design, at shared tables in the Coco Lounge and The Grove at fixed times (breakfast 7 to 8:30am, lunch 12:30 to 1:30pm, dinner at 7pm), which some couples love and others find limiting
- −Rooms are air-conditioned and comfortable but simple, hot-water heaters are small, there is no laundry service and no traditional room service, so it reads as barefoot island living rather than a luxury hotel
- −Evenings are quiet: happy hour, communal dinner and the occasional karaoke night or beach BBQ are about it, with no shows, club or nightlife
- −Sand flies come out when the wind drops, and weather can cancel boat excursions, which the resort reschedules or refunds
The all-inclusive package comes with every booking and covers three chef-prepared meals, a daily happy hour with snacks, unlimited local drinks, the round-trip boat from Dangriga and the marine reserve fee. Meals are served communally with no set menu, using produce from Muy'Ono Farms; breakfast is in the Coco Lounge, lunch and dinner at The Grove, and happy hour at the Overwater Starfish Bar above the swimming cove. There are five room types (Premier Overwater Bungalow, Overwater Bungalow, Premier Oceanfront Cabana, Penthouse Oceanfront Cabana and Oceanfront Cabana), all air-conditioned with private bathrooms but no TV, phone or in-room Wi-Fi. There is no full-service spa; massages happen at Serenity Point, the massage palapa or in your bungalow, for a fee.
Thatch Caye suits couples, honeymooners, divers, anglers and small groups who want a reef-first, unplugged island rather than resort polish. It welcomes all ages, with children 5 and under eating free and ages 6 to 12 at a discounted rate, and families are pointed toward the Penthouse or adjoining overwater bungalows. Budget for extras: dive trips, Orvis-guided flats fishing, deep-sea charters, Barrier Reef snorkel tours and mainland jungle or Maya-site excursions are all paid add-ons. The Muy'Ono Beach and Jungle packages pair a stay here with one of the group's mainland lodges.
Common Questions
How do you get to Thatch Caye and what transfers are included?
Is the all-inclusive package optional, and what does it cover?
How good is the snorkeling and diving?
Is Thatch Caye good for fishing?
What is the dining like, and can they handle dietary restrictions?
Can you stay connected at Thatch Caye?
Amenities
Style & Rooms
Atmosphere
Room upgrades
Seaweed & sargassum
Belize gets sargassum, typically worst June through August, with heavy conditions often extending April through October.See the month-by-month guide →Google Reviews★ 4.6 · 160 reviews
“Thatch Caye is a serene, peaceful paradise that truly feels like home—even though you’re far away. From the moment we arrived, the staff treated us like family, and that feeling never faded. The food was outstanding, the atmosphere relaxing, and the...”
“My stay at Thatch Caye was everything I expected and so much more. The island has an intimate, exclusive feel—with only about 16 rooms and roughly 30 guests at a time—which made the experience incredibly peaceful and personal. During my visit, there...”
“Paradise exemplified. This tiny island taps out on capacity around 30 people. But the adventures are endless. Paddle-boards, kayaks, and snorkel gear allow endless exploration of the surrounding fish filled waters. Catch some seafood and the excellen...”
