Your San Pedro Belize Vacation
A San Pedro Belize vacation is a hidden gem! Ambergris Caye is about 21 miles off of the mainland of the Central American country of Belize. You might not find it on all of the “top 10” lists, but I promise you will want to put it on yours.
While mainland Belize is known for its lush tropical forests and mountain terrain, Ambergris Caye is mostly flatland. DO NOT let that detour you in any way.
This affordable tropical paradise is packed with adventure and excitement. San Pedro Town has a way of drawing you in, with its unique and inviting local culture.
Casual and relaxed
Sooooo many people have sold everything they owned for a permanent San Pedro Belize vacation. Every other person we talked to was an American who was living there teaching yoga, running a bar, or working remotely. And it didn’t take us long to figure out why!
The Flights (or Ferry)
San Pedro Town is in Ambergris Caye, a small island off of the mainland of Belize. To get there, you first fly into Belize Municipal International airport and, from there, take a short hopper flight to San Pedro.
The cost of the hopper flight with Tropic Air varies but averages about $90-$150 round trip. And the flight was quite an experience in and of itself!
The small aircraft gives you your first look at the dream-like blue-green water of the Caribbean, clear as glass and full of coral reefs and marine life. We even got an aerial view of the Great Blue Hole, one of the main attractions for divers worldwide.
If you aren’t feeling the hopper flight, you could also take a ferry across. This will take a 20-minute taxi ride from the airport and a 75-minute ferry trip. Expect to pay around $25 for each taxi ride and $38 for the round-trip ferry.
The resort
As I would most typically suggest finding an all-inclusive resort on a tropical island, that is NOT the case for your San Pedro Belize vacation. We took some advice and booked a room at Ramon’s Village Resort, and BOY WAS IT A TREAT!
The resort immediately immerses you into a jungle paradise. It offers large, bungalow-style rooms, covered and furnished with comfortable seating, each with a large attached deck.
Spend your evenings relaxing on the patio and listening to the ocean waves. The resort is right on the beach, and several tree-covered walking paths will lead you to the water.
There is a restaurant on-site that is the perfect introduction to Belize’s delicious cuisine. The atmosphere is incredible with patio seating and a lush overhand of tropical greenery: excellent service, friendly people, fresh food.
There is something about the fresh lime juice there that is unmatched. Order as much as you want to mix up your own drinks for the beach! **Money saver**
Getting Around San Pedro Town
RENT A GOLF CART! This is the most convenient way to get around the small island, which truly makes the trip fun and unique.
Prices vary, and you can rent for hours, days or weeks.
local cuisine
Food is surprisingly affordable for a tourist town. Many of the restaurants are located right on the beach and have beautiful views. Nothing beats a tropical beach breeze while enjoying a delicious meal! I highly recommend outdoor seating if the weather permits.
Some of the most popular spots are Estelles Dine by the Sea, Elvie’s Kitchen, Blue Water Grill, Palapas Bar and Grill, and Sandbar for a more casual meal. All of our meals were delicious!
To avoid the “where should we eat” dance, have a list of restaurants you want to eat at prepared before you go. It makes vacation life so much easier and more relaxing.
Currency in San Pedro Belize
You can spend your American dollars in Belize. You WILL need CASH. Don’t forget to come prepared because most places do not accept credit or debit cards.
Their official currency is the Belize Dollar (BZD or BZ$.) One U.S. dollar converts to 2 BZ$
Night Life
There is no shortage of night life in San Pedro Belize! There are several beachside bars and restaurants that host live music, specialty drinks, and fun crowds.Â
For some incredibly unique fun, find Crazy Cnucks. There, they host crab races! The races are a great way to unite a crowd of strangers and make some new friends! The entire venue is outdoors under the stars. There is a covered dance floor and a large bar area. Live music, DJ’s and lots of fun!
If you partake in recreational drugs, you won’t have any trouble finding them in San Pedro Belize. Expect to be surrounded by them in the downtown nightclubs, and avoid them if that’s not your scene. We went out innocently, but sober me eventually noticed the not so discrete dealers peddling on the dance floor.
Overall, we felt very safe in San Pedro, and even made lots of local friends!
Excursions in Ambergris Caye
We took a guided fishing trip in Ambergris Caye. Worth every penny! For this trip, plan to start early and be gone until dinner time. Most excursions provide lunch but, don’t forget to pack your drinks and snacks for the day!
In our case, we went fishing first, then snorkeling in Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. After that, the boat took us to a small uninhabited island for lunch, where the tour guides cooked the fish we caught in a makeshift grill in the sand.
The boat captains help catch fish that they prepare for a decadent lunch. The quality of the food they served us far exceeded my expectations—the flavors! Their authentic Belizean spices and cooking technique is *Chef’s Kiss*Â
The Beaches of Ambergris Caye
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Of course, in any tropical paradise, you will want to spend some time relaxing on the beach. There are miles of beaches with white sand and clear blue-green waters on Ambergris Caye. Most resorts have beach chairs set up and towels to offer (ours did.)
Many San Pedro restaurants have public beach access, set up with chairs and lounges. And some of them even offer beachside food and drink service!
Secret Beach
Ah, the famous Secret Beach. It’s about a 40-minute golf cart ride northwest of San Pedro Town, but don’t let the long trip detour you. That is a big part of the fun!
Stock your cart with some good tunes, drinks of your choice, and enjoy the experience! (You could also take a taxi if you really want to.)
Secret Beach has some of the most delicious food and fun drinks on Ambergris Caye! Once you arrive, you will find a restaurant, bar, and bathrooms to refresh after your long trip.
There are tables with umbrellas in the water, perfectly placed lounge chairs, covered and uncovered picnic tables, and LOTS of great spots for some unique and beautiful photo ops.
Pro Tip- DO NOT try to pee in or near the swamp areas on the way to Secret Beach. Alligators have a reputation for hanging out there!
Massages On The Beach
If you can find a massage spot on the beach, I highly recommend treating yourself to one! We came across one by chance, and it is one of my most memorable moments of all time.
The beach breeze passes through the canopy while the cascading white sheets offer privacy. The whole experience feels magical with the sheets flowing in the wind and aromatherapy body oils.
It was super affordable too. I think we each paid about $50 USD for a one-hour massage. My three friends and I were all able to get a massage at the same time, and the women there were all very professional and friendly.
Of course, I can’t promise you will find the same company, but I hope you do!
The Truck Stop
The Truck Stop is a shipping container food park covered in gardens and picture-perfect places to hang. And my favorite, ice cream! Cool Cone Ice Cream Shoppe has traditional and unique flavors to try, so be sure to get a cone to cool off while you relax in the gardens.
The Truck Stop also has a swimming pool with a swim-up bar and an extensive outdoor games area. They host a different fun event every night – including live music, game shows, multimedia trivia, and movie nights. You never know what kind of fun you might be walking into but be prepared to be entertained no matter what!
