4 Best Shopping in The Cayes and Atolls, Belize

The body creams here, made with Belizean coconut oil and cocoa butter (a by-product of chocolate-making), may be the best in the world. They're a bargain, too. Owner Lara Goldman (who makes the creams) also sells chic tote bags, soy candles, and other fashionable gifts, all made in Belize. You can even buy lionfish scale earrings. 

The country's first art gallery, established more than 30 years ago by Londoner Lyndsey Hackston, Belizean Arts today has the largest selection of art by Belizeans and Belize residents, including paintings by Walter Castillo, Pen Cayetano, Nelson Young, Leo Vasquez, Rene Guerra, and others. The gallery also carries ceramics, jewelry, and other crafts. Even if you don't intend to buy, it's worth a look.

At Graniel's Dreamland, the showroom for Armando Graniel's beautiful carpentry, you can find stunning tropical woodwork at affordable prices, like one-of-a-kind bowls of knotted wood, clam chairs, or cutting boards. The shop will package your items for shipping or for carrying back home.

Enter through the blue picket gate to discover curated goods and crafts all made in Belize. Paintings by local artists can be found here. The owner, Jessie Wigh (who also runs Namaste Café), writes the charming Caye Boy series, children's books about the joys of growing up on Caye Caulker.