The cayes off the coast are attractive, relaxing, slow and very ‘Caribbean’, an excellent place for diving, sea fishing or just lazing about. There are some 212 sq miles of cayes. The Maya built the site of Marco Gonzalez on the southwestern tip of Ambergris Caye, the largest and most populated of the islands. Nearby Caye Caulker is a popular destination for the more budget-minded visitor, while serious divers head for the Turneffe Islands. Other, smaller cayes are home to exclusive resorts or remain uninhabited, many being little more than mangrove swamps. Ambergris Caye stands out from its snorkelling on the nearby barrier reef and Hol Chan Marine Park as well as for the fine scuba-diving, sailing, fishing and board sailing. On Caye Caulker, a thin line of White Sandy beach falls to a sea of turquoise blue and green, while the reef can be seen a mile and a half from the shore. By day on this laid-back island, it is diving and snorkelling, sea and sand; at dusk everyone heads up to the ‘split’ to watch the sunset; and by night it is eating, drinking and dancing.