Ambergris Caye Travel Guide

Travel to Ambergris Caye - Last Night I Dreamt of San Pedro …

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Ambergris Caye is the name of Belize's largest island and, reputedly, the inspiration for Madonna’s ‘La Isla Bonita’, as well as the setting for US reality show Temptation Island. As this suggests, Ambergris is a well-marketed symbol of the ideal of a Caribbean paradise, and many tourists come straight here from overseas, only seeing the rest of Belize on day trips. 

While Ambergris Caye is certainly busier and more ‘built-up’ than Belize’s other Caribbean islands, the island still maintains a laidback atmosphere with no hotel above three stories, roads made of sand and a dress code that encourages shoes not to be worn! The focus of activity here is, not surprisingly, the UNESCO-rated Barrier Reef, which is only half a mile (0.8km) offshore at its closest point, but holiday-makers can combine superb water sports during the day, with excellent restaurants and nightlife in the evening.

Attractions in Ambergris Caye

San Pedro, the main centre in Ambergris, has great restaurants, bars and discos and is close to beautiful beaches that are ideal for sunbathing. For the keen archaeologist, a visit to the Marco Gonzalez Maya site is well worth the effort and there are other Mayan ruins on the island, including Chac Balam in Bacalar Chico Marine and Wildlife Reserve. 

The raison d’etre of Ambergris Caye is the UNESCO-rated barrier reef and the island is a starting point for trips to Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Bacalar Chico Marine and Wildlife Reserve, as well as all the other diving, snorkelling and fishing destinations on the 190-mile reef system.

If you are interested in other wildlife, you can visit Little Iguana and Rosario Caye, two small mangrove island reserves just off of Ambergris that are great places to spot blue herons, roseate spoonbills, frigate birds, reddish egrets and other coastal zone birds. The San Pedro Lagoon is a good place to spot crocodiles, raccoons and countless magnificent bird species. And the small Lalas Bird Sanctuary, located just a few miles south of San Pedro, is a great place to see several native bird species.

Activities in Ambergris Caye

Ambergris Caye is fringed to the east by Belize's outstanding Barrier Reef, making diving and snorkelling popular past times. Other water sports include parasailing, jet skiing and fishing. A recent adventure sport addition has been sky-diving.

Other activities include bird watching, beach combing, and of course, relaxing on the white sandy beaches, soaking up the Caribbean rays.
 

Relaxing

Sunbathe on the beach then dance the night away at one of San Pedro’s discos.

Getting Around

There is an airstrip with flights to Belize City (15 mins) and Corozal.

Launches to and from Belize City (via Ambergris Caye) leave regularly and take an hour. There is a daily boat service to Corozal.

The roads are all sand, so the best way to get around is by golf cart, or on foot. A walk into town from the airstrip takes 10 mins.

There are also water taxis to locations on the Caye.

NB. Nobody is in a hurry here!!

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