Overview
** SAN PEDRO, BELIZE **
Read travel tips for San Pedro, Belize from our amazing community of BLACK AND BROWN TRAVELERS that will help you find some of the best places to visit San Pedro, Belize. Our variety of travel tips will definitely help you plan your next trip. Our tips range from best places to visit in San Pedro, Belize, affordability, nightlife, local food, where to stay and even what it is like Traveling While Black. Lastly, we are working diligently to create a comprehensive city guide for San Pedro, Belize. Stay tuned! But in the meantime, scroll down to read tips below!
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Me and the bestie visited Belize for a girls trip in June 2022. We decided to go only 30 days prior. I used my Marriott Points to stay at the Alaia Hotel. It was amazing, there is this cool rooftop pool with portals that overlook the hotel lobby. The only issue is that there is a seaweed problem during May – September and it smells like sulfur, so the beachfront is closed. We did not know this prior to, so if we were to visit again, we’d come in the fall. We flew into Belize City and took a Cessna plane for about $80 one way to San Pedro off the coast of the Belize mainland. The flight takes about 20 minutes. My friend actually sat next to the Pilot, which was pretty cool.
Upon arriving we were greeted with a refreshing beverage and upgraded to a suite. We had 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room and kitchen – which was a bit excessive for 4 days, but hey an upgrade, is an upgrade.
The valet that took us to our room, told us about the Garifuna people that are indigenous to Belize and made some recommendations. We got settled and then picked up our golf cart rental. Cars are rare on the island, so a golf cart is recommended. We drove to Black and White (https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g291962-d11915263-Reviews-Black_White_Garifuna_Restaurant-San_Pedro_Ambergris_Caye_Belize_Cayes.html) less than a mile from our hotel that served authentic Garifuna food. That night was a Thursday night, they had a special cultural night explaining the Garifuna people, live dancing and music and a buffet. We sampled everything, I recommend the hudut.
Our second day we ventured into the downtown part of San Pedro, we visited the Belize Soap company, we had fry jacks – which are a flat bread in Belize that you can add any topping too. They eat them for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a variety of toppings. We had them everyday! After walking around and doing some site seeing, we went for a 1 pm sailing excursion (Hol Chan Marine Reserve Snorkel Tour on the 40′ Sirena Azul Sailboat to the Barrier Reef), where we snorkeled and got to see manatees, sea turtles, puffer fish, etc. Then we sailed to Shark/Ray Alley and snorkeled with Nurse Sharks and Sting Rays. We headed back at sunset and got to witness the amazing sunset. We also met some new people, who we met with later for dinner.
Everyone told us to eat at Carambas, so that is where we went for night 2. You can choose your seafood, your seasoning and how you want it prepared. The drinks are amazing and the food is good. It’s a bit hyped up and commercialized, but the food was good. I got icecream around the corner when we were leaving.
Our next and final day, we went to Secret beach which is about a 45 minute golf cart ride to the other side of the island. We bounced from Blue Bayou, to Swing Bar, to Marumba. My two cents, they’re all kind of the same. It’s free to get a lounger, they all have food and drinks. For us it was the vibes and the music. The drinks are a bit pricey, but to be expected.
We did not plan ahead and ended up eating at the hotel that night, I do not recommend it. The food was not a good. Our last day it rained, so we just slept in and took a shuttle to the airport to take the Cessna back to Belize City.
Belize is amazing. It’s not too pricey. It’s diverse and the food (outside of our hotel restaurant), is really good.
Good food! BETA TEST
If you’re looking to chill and get away from the hustle and bustle of it all San Pedro is perfect. The island is intimate. You are just a quick golf cart (no cars here) or bike ride away from the local restaurants, bars and nightclubs. Our hotel bartender was very familiar with the guests as many return every year. We did have to leave the island and travel to do all excursions. But this beautiful little island, which is just a quick fairy ride from Belize City is one I look forward to returning to. If there’s a special person in your life I’d definitely suggest booking a trip together to San Pedro.
San Pedro, Belize is such a beautiful place to visit. I stayed in a very quiet and private area with an amazing view of the Caribbean Sea. I found the AirBnBs to be more clean and nicer than some of the hotel options. I would recommend Belize to adventure seekers and to those who just want a peaceful getaway.
I came to Belize for my birthday, this is probably one of the best places to relax in the entire world. It’s extremely quiet and the weather is amazing with the slight breeze from the beautiful ocean. I recommend this island if you’re looking for a good isolation for relaxation or for time with you significant other.
San Pedro is certainly one of my most favorite places to travel. I have been there quite a few times in the past 2 years. It is a great place to chill relax and a great hub to get to other cayes such as Caye Caulker which is great for a Sunday funday with music, drinks, and sun. But in San Pedro you can rent a golf cart and travel all around the island my favorite place on the island by far is Secret Beach which isn’t such a secret but if you take a walk a little ways past the bar Blue Bayou you can have your own secluded beach with breathtaking views and well worth-It relaxation.
I had the great pleasure of traveling to San Pedro Belize with 50 black professionals. We flew into Belize, and took a hour and a half ferry ride to the beautiful island of San Pedro. The ferry ride wasn’t bad at all and offered great views of Belize. I highly suggest eating at the restaurant in the Belize airport. The stewed chicken with rice was amazing. There also was an abundance of food options outside the airport. Once we reached San Pedro, we ate local food from the moment we arrived at the pier. You can get a whole grilled lobster with rice and salad for 15 usd. The fried fish and ceviche on San Pedro some of the best I’ve ever had. So I would highly suggest. I would definitely visit this place again.
San Pedro, Belize was my first solo trip so this experience had a lot of meaning for me. I chose this location after a family member shared her experience with me on a solo trip she had taken there and it helped me to feel very comfortable in doing the same. I booked my trip 1 week prior around July and it was relatively inexpensive as I had miles from work travel to put towards the flight. I also chose San Pedro because the reviews offered a lot of things to do which is also helpful when traveling alone. I landed in Belize City and took a quick smaller plane (got to sit up front with the pilot, which was super dope!) to San Pedro. I stayed at the Caribbean Villas Hotel, which was perfection. The room was so nice and cozy and the staff was amazing!! They made me feel so welcomed and comfortable. Getting around the island was easy as well, there were golf cart vehicles that took you into the busier town area for food and shopping. Also, a lot of people get around on bikes, which was cool and a great way to sight-see. I took a day trip to Caye Caulker which was a very inexpensive boat ride about 45 mins away. It was BEAUTIFUL! Caye Caulker is definitely to go-to-place if you’re looking for a fun day with good music, drinks and beautiful people, it is literally and island of fun! I met some really cool people there that I am still friends with to this day! I highly recommend San Pedro, Belize for a solo trip of even couple/group trip!!
San Pedro is the perfect destination for a long, weekend getaway. I visited this past Labor Day, and was able to obtain the perfect balance of adventure and relaxation. The town is very cute, and the ability to rent a golf cart to get around only adds to the charm and chill, island vibe. There are many shops, restaurants, and food stalls to explore, as well as docks to take in the view. If you are in the mood for an actual beach with sand, Secret Beach is only 30 minutes away in the golf cart. You could literally spend all day lazing in the turquoise water; at least I did! I also had my best snorkeling experience at Hol Chan Marine Reserve. The tour will pick you up right from your hotel’s dock. I saw various species of marine life, including nurse sharks! If you’re in the mood to explore another island, simply hop on the ferry to Caye Caulker. But be warned, Caye Caulker is VERY slow. San Pedro was the perfect pace!
Belize is the only country that I have returned to more than once. I’m in love with the country because of the nature of the vibe. Livin’ is easy in Belize, the pace of life is not rushed or fast. Both times I’ve gone, I’ve stayed at the Costa Blu Adults Only Resort, which is a couple miles away from San Pedro. Rent a golf cart from in town and you can head to the city on your own time. We headed to Secret beach which is about 3-5 miles away from the resort and absolutely magical with a bar on the beach, jet skiing, and locals making coconut water right in front of you. In San Pedro, you can stop at any of the docks and choose to do snorkeling, diving, fishing, rent a bike, or just stroll the island and do some shopping. Food is everywhere and for a low price. If going to San Pedro Belize, don’t plan too much…just enjoy the island. I’ll always go back for more.
I came to Belize for a 30th birthday trip and didn’t know what to expect but had a great time! Although Belize city is the capital, San Pedro, on the island of Ambergris Caye, is one of the main tourist destinations in the country and where we flew into directly. From the Belize City airport, San Pedro is a mere 15 minute flight and you can take one of two local airlines, Tropic air and Maya Island air. As an alternative, there is also a water taxi that heads out from within the city and is about 2 hours if you want to catch some water views on the way there.
We spent our first night at the Mahogany Bay Village Resort. The resort was gorgeous and had a stunning private beach with hammocks and beds in the water. The beach is definitely the resort’s major selling point. The food however, was pretty bad. If the beautiful resort decor and fantastic beach are enough to make up for the lack of food options, go for it, however if this is not the case for you, you may want to stay elsewhere.
For the next 2 nights, we stayed at the Diamond Lodge which I preferred a lot more. Although this is more of a bed and breakfast without its own beach, it was clean, cosy, intimate and the staff were excellent. They provided great recommendations and were very accommodating. Breakfast was prepared daily by the Lodge’s Chef and was very delicious. We also took advantage of the Spa facilities and got massages. I highly recommend!
The great thing about Belize is that you can pack in a variety of different activities in one trip. From snorkeling, going to the beach, Mayan ruins etc. The island has a lot of activities to offer. Ours was more of a chill trip so we mainly went to the beach, did a sunset cruise and just explored, however, if I came back I would probably spend a week and do more activities while also having time to relax.
As far as food, Belize also has a lot of great options. For our final night, we ate at a French restaurant called “French Touch.” I wasn’t expecting much since I didn’t come to Belize for French food, however I was truly astonished by how incredible the food was. The Diamond Lodge owner recommended the place to us and it didn’t disappoint. It’s definitely worth a visit if you’re in San Pedro.
Finally, the people in Belize were very warm and welcoming. As a black person, you blend in with the local population so we never felt out of place. Although we were warned by our hosts about local nightlife spots such as “Big Daddy’s,” we soon realized that these places were simply filled with local black people and while this could instill fear for white tourists, it was nothing to worry about for us. Like any city, don’t be stupid, but don’t be afraid to explore.
I definitely recommend Belize for your next trip!
Belize was awesome. My second favorite international trip I’ve been on. The locals are great, activities great, food great and affordable.
While there we went scuba diving, cave tubing, Maya ruins, swam with sharks, visited Caye Caulker, partied with locals, ate great food for cheap prices, stayed right on the beach, traveled via puddle jumpers (they small planes), water taxi, private boat and golf carts.
Total we were there 4 days. 4 jammed packed days. It was the perfect mix of relaxation, luxury and adventure. Would definitely visit again after knocking out a few more places on my list of places to go. Missed an opportunity to see the Great Blue Hole but that doesn’t lessen the trip experience. Highly recommended.
Central and South America are really starting to grow on me. I visited Belize May 2018 after I went to Costa Rica November 2017 and fell in love.
Place to stay: I booked an airbnb in San Pedro which wasn’t too expensive (in my opinion). It was nice staying in a place owned by locals that could really provide a good tour of the city, give good guides on where to eat and what to do.
Places to eat: Briannas was good and cheap for local food. My airbnb owners own Iguana Juans (good for non traditional food). The city center (where the water taxis dock) was amazing for local foods too, I spent almost every night there).
Things to do: Secret beach (a beach that runs on solar power so it shuts down at sundown) is a must do. THey have activities like snorkerling and jet skiing there and the water is so shallow even non swimmers like myself can go out far.
If you plan to stay on the cayes, a water taxi or local plane are your only options. Water taxi runs you about $38 US RT and the airfare can be anywhere from $70-90 US. By air its 15 mins by water taxi 1.5 hours. I liked the ride on the water taxi but it can be long and uncomfortable. Belize is very humid so you have been warned.