We arrived at Hatchett after hearing that it could be reached by boat. It has a great dock and were well received. The entrance is difficult because the docking facility is a bit shallow. We were going to dive and fish. The dive master was not upfront with us and not very professional. He never asked for our diving licenses. We had requested a dive on sat and 2 dives on Sunday. When Sunday came around we saw him washing the boat ( which by the way is new and great for diving) but when the time to take us came around he said there was too much wind. The waves were only about 3 ft and with diver's from "Hamanasi" we have dived in much choppier conditions. We accepted his decision and he told us we could go in the afternoon after he returned from an errand in Placencia. Well they never returned until 7 pm. We spent the entire day just hanging. It looks like they have only one boat to take you fishing, take you diving, pick up clients! The restaurant runs out of food on their menu and Belizean rum and beer are not good quality.. It has great potential... There are not many nice hotels near the reefs, the rooms are pretty and comfortable, but the rest needs improvent. Their ladder on the dock is broken and it is difficult to snorkel and go to shore because of sea urchins and coral". I also don' see why you can't fish from the dock if you are stuck there without a chance to go out fishing and diving. I hope the owners read this because we wish them the best and they get a lot of tourists from nearby Guatemala that could keep his hotel busy and successful

When our daughter suggested Hatchet Caye--a 3.8-acre island some 17-18 miles off the coast of Belize--I thought, "Cool! It will be like Outward Bound," while my wife thought, "Does it have electricity? What if someone gets sick or has an accident?"

Photos and further clarification from our daughter answered my wife's questions and corrected my misconception. Far from being an Outward Bound wilderness experience, Hatchet Caye is a very comfortable, yet close-to-nature luxury experience with many fun activities available. (See other good posts here on Trip Advisor.) In case of an emergency, there is always at least one motor boat available to take one to shore, usually more. There are also helicopter operators in Belize who will pick one up, too. A helicopter won't be cheap (it never is), but it will get you to medical help quickly.

Hatchet Caye is new, quite functional and has plenty for active (and inactive) people to do: sea kayaking, snorkeling and scuba near the barrier reef, sailing, swimming, fishing, sunning. Snorkeling off the Caye and at the barrier reef, we saw sea turtles, barracuda, dolphins, sting rays, eagle rays, countless other small fish and lots of coral.

HD tvs in our rooms had Wii, fun for kids and adults. Bring some board games to play, if that's your thing. Wi-fi was available, but a bit erratic in our rooms. We had to go to the outdoor restaurant to get a consistently good connection. What a hardship, sitting in a comfortable chair, looking out at the Caribbean Sea and checking e-mail!!! (I'm joking.)

Some activities are planned, but not yet available. For example, there was talk about offering "snuba diving," which I learned is a form of scuba diving in which your air tank is floating in a raft on the surface while you swim below, but it wasn't operational yet. And there is a plan to offer rides in a two-place amphibious sport plane (the hangar and ramp are already built), but this was not available yet either. (The island does not have a fitness center.)

The menu has a limited selection, but the food was consistently excellent. One eats well.

If you want night clubs, bars, discos and lounges, forget about it. Hatchet Caye is not your destination, though it does have a bar in the restaurant.

But if you want a great place to relax, enjoy nature, read a book, get some sun, take it easy, write, sleep, reconnect as a couple or family, Hatchet Caye will more than satisfy.

One last thing: the night sky on clear nights at Hatchet Caye is unforgettable. Get the "Planets" app for your iPad and you will find the stars and planets and the Milky Way (it is still up there!) that you'll have a hard time finding in light-polluted areas elsewhere.

As I looked at the amazing panoramic shots of Hatchet Caye on the internet before we booked our trip, the bright blue of the sky, the inviting swimming pool and the appealing architecture of the buildings and rooms all seemed too good to be true. But after staying there, I can assure you it is as beautiful as it appeared on my computer screen.

We were a three-generation family of tourists: grandparents, children and grandchildren. Our goal was to find a place where we could all be together in one dwelling, but still have privacy and space, too. A two-bedroom, two-bathroom cottage on Hatchet Caye was perfect for us.

On our arrival we were warmly greeted by staff members and then led to our immaculate first-class rooms with an amazing view of the Caribbean Sea just meters from our panoramic windows. We took full advantage of the beach and the swimming pool, as well as the small restaurant/bar by the pool, which served up a delicious menu. The first night there I ordered lobster tail and it was freshly caught from the sea. When my order arrived I received not one but three lobster tails (the best I ever ate) and I thought I had died and gone to heaven! Everything on the menu was absolutely delicious and I am a very fussy eater. The wonderful staff also delivered fresh coffee in thermos carafes to our door each morning. What a great start to a perfect day.

Now that we have returned to our home in the frozen Northeast of the United States, our new catchphrase is “remember the Caye.” We feel that we spent three days in a peaceful, idyllic and relaxing paradise at Hatchet Caye and highly recommend it. You will not be disappointed if you book your next vacation getaway at Hatchet Caye.

Wow! We spent 2 nights, including New Year's Eve at Hatchet Caye - We went snorkelling with Eagle Rays and a big crusty old Turtle and then had a great lunch at Silk Caye. There were 5 of us and we raced the Hobbie Cats around the Caye while others kayaked. The professionalism and sincere friendliness of the staff was only outdone by the ammenities of the resort itself. If you're travelling in Belize and don't make your way to Hatchet - you've missed out on something very very special. Regan Trethewey