A GUIDE TO SAN PEDRO BELIZE

San Pedro is the only town on Belize’s largest island of Ambergris Caye. Many sun seekers flock to this picturesque island for beautiful beach resorts and stunning views of the Caribbean Sea. English is the primary language spoken in Belize; other widely spoken languages are Spanish and Creole. Belize was previously known as British Honduras.

San Pedro Town

San Pedro Town is very colorful and intimate. The houses are painted in different bold colors. Vendors stand in the streets selling their products and interacting with tourists. Many people come to the town center for a day from their resorts to shop and eat in small local restaurants and experience the Belizean culture. When in Ambergris Caye, make sure you visit San Pedro Town; your Belize cultural experience in the remote resorts will be very different from your cultural experience in San Pedro Town.

Most resorts in Ambergris Caye have been westernized as a result not portraying the true cultural reflection of Belize and its people. However, when you spend some time in San Pedro Town Center, you will be met with locals simply living their everyday lives. Also, San Pedro Town is where most tour companies have established their offices and consider the town as the starting point for many tours, for example, Maya Tours and Diving Tours.

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Beautiful Hotels and Resorts in San Pedro Belize

San Pedro has stunning hotels that will take your breath away. I stayed at El Secreto Belize just 11 miles north of San Pedro Town. The views were breathtaking and the atmosphere very relaxing and peaceful.

Things to do in San Pedro Belize

Scuba Diving and Snorkeling

The Barrier Reef is one of the most popular places to visit in Belize. People come from all over the world just to dive and snorkel at the reef. The Barrier Reef in Belize is the second largest coral reef system in the world; the largest in the Australian Great Barrier Reef. The Barrier Reef is only a few miles from Ambergris Caye Island and very close to San Pedro. Diving brings a beautiful experience in this area and Ambergris Caye is known as the diving destination. You can rent diving gear from local diving shops.

Tour companies offering diving tours to the Barrier Reef and local diving sites, during the day and night, are many. Ask your hotel for their recommended dive tours nearby. If you are interested in snorkeling, you will find more information on Hol Chan Reserve and Shark Ray Alley, which are well known as some of the best snorkeling sites in Belize. Belize waters offer beautiful and bright colored fish that you will appreciate and admire.

Sailing in Belize

Sailing is popular at the island of Ambergris and its neighboring island of Caye Caulkner.

Other Water Sports in San Pedro Belize

Jet skis and Wave runners (in front of the Spindrift Hotel)
Windsurfing (windy season is usually from October to March)
Parasailing at the Fido’s Dock
Kitesurfing
Canoeing
Kayaking
Catamarans and boats (ask your hotel or dive centers for rental boats)

Biking

Riding bicycles right on the coastline and through the little streets of San Pedro Town is common. It is also one of the best ways to move between places during the day. Ask your resort or hotel if they have bicycles. Some charge a small fee while others offer them for free as part of their complimentary services.

Other hotels have golf carts to rent out to their guests. This is also a great way to see different places in San Pedro and Ambergris Caye Island.

Wildlife and Bird Watching

Belize has beautiful species of animals and very colorful birds that will make you appreciate nature and its inhabitants. Spotty tigers, monkeys and bright colored big birds are all easily spotted throughout the forests, near the lagoon and cayes. So many tour companies offer these tours from San Pedro Town.

Ziplining

Zip lining is very popular in Belize as the forests are reachable and friendly. People take walks through the trails, zip line or visit caves such as the Maya Caves.

Golf in Belize 

Caye Chapel Golf Resort & Marina is a favorite place for golf lovers from all over the world especially Americans.

Watch Movies at Paradise Theater

The Paradise Movie Theater in San Pedro has two theatres, a bar, and a concession stand. To see what is showing at the cinema, visit their Facebook page.

Night Life in San Pedro Belize

Belize is lively at night as it is during the day. Fido’s Courtyard & Pier offers seafood, cocktails and live entertainment. For people who love going to nightclubs simply to dance the night away, Wet Willy might be the place for you.

Big Daddys, Barefoot Iguana and Jaguar Temple are other well known places for night entertainment for the millennial traveler. Ask your hotel for night events taking place in town.

Transportation in San Pedro Belize

Airports in Belize 

San Pedro Airport: The airport is located very close to San Pedro Town, a walking distance to the town center. Flights are scheduled to depart regularly.

Belize City Airport: If you opt to visit Belize City before going to San Pedro, you might find Belize City Airport as the best option. You can easily catch a boat or water taxi from Belize City to San Pedro Town.

Ferry and Water Taxi to Belize

Water Taxis and Ferries are very reliable means of transportation when connecting between the mainland and the islands in Belize.

Traveling from Chetumal, Mexico to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulkner

The San Pedro Water Jets Express will take you from Chetumal, Mexico to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye as well as Caye Caulkner. It has offices right at Chetumal Water Terminal, just a few doors away from the Mexican Immigration Office, where people get their passports stamped and cleared to exit Mexico. The departing time from Chetumal is 3 pm. If you are coming from Caye Caulker or San Pedro, Ambergris Caye to Chetumal, the departing times are 7 am and 8 am, respectively. It is a 2-hour journey to get to San Pedro and it costs USD 55. When the sea is choppy the ride can get bumpy but not too bad. From San Pedro, the Water Taxi proceeds to Caye Caulkner. Before entering San Pedro Belize, you will pass through the Belize Immigration Office for clearance.

Traveling Locally

People use water taxis, boats, golf carts, taxis, bicycles to commute from one place to another while in Belize. Your hotel might have a boat to transport you to San Pedro Town or other parts of Ambergris Caye at a fee or for free as part of a complimentary service.