Belize
Ambergris Caye
March 2023. We were there for 2 weeks.
Laid back but at the same time chaotic many many golf carts buzzing around non stop. Definitely more spread out and downtown area more densely populated with restaurants and bars than other areas we have been in-Belize.
Only bummer when we were there was sargassum seaweed so couldn’t use beach (except Secret Beach, on the lagoon side), and depending on how the wind blew you may have smelled it -not a great thing to go with a wonderful beachside meal.
We stayed at Alia. Pool was incredible. 1 bedroom was very spacious.
Favorites
Meals
Breakfast: Cool beans, Blue water grill (cinnamon French toast)
Lunch: Big Taste (awesome tacos)
Dinner:
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North: Aji Tapa (food and beautiful simple ambiance), Stella’s (sunset and chill vibe),
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In town: Purple Pelican (for a celebration, beautiful decor, wonderful staff, food and sunset),
Bar: Palapa (over the water), Island Jungle for cool vibe
Activity: Ho Chan Reserve and Shark Alley snorkeling
Must Try: Dirty banana, coconut mojitos
Don’t miss: Secret beach
Tips:
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You need a golf cart to get around if aren’t staying downtown and want to check out different dining and bar options as well as Secret Beach (not to be missed)
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Has something for all visitors (e.g., can stay at more isolated resorts outside of downtown or closer to the hub bin)
Activities
Snorkeling/Diving
Ho Chan reserve and shark alley. Great half day tour. Every dive shop offers it. We were told afternoons are less crowded than mornings. We definitely saw a fair amount of boats at site in the pm so not sure if that is accurate or not. 15 minute boat ride to site. Snorkeled/ dove (27ft max) and saw a turtle, several eagle rays, large schools of fish. Than a 5/10 minute boat tide to shark alley. Where they pour some food in the water and 5 nurse sharks ad a bunch of fish hung out on one side of the boat. Amazing to see it so close up. After 5-10 minutes sharks/fish moved on.
Blue Hole Dive. Good but not a must do if you have limited time or funds. 5:30am - 4:30pm. 3 hr boat ride, can be a bit rough. Deep Envy boat with Belize Pro Dive Center. Great dive guides and service. Cool site, but better to get aerial view from web. Dive drops to shelf at 60 feet, then over the edge and down wall to about 135, keeps going, so watch your depth and guide. Cool part was swimming under overhang around and through stalactites and pillars like you see in a terrestrial cave, which it used to be. Not much marine life. Great visibility. Probably not really worth it for me, but iconic site, so I’m glad I did it. Second dive was Half Moon Wall at 60 feet. Third was the Aquarium at 50 feet. These were very good dives with beautiful coral, very good visibility and lots of cool marine life. Reef shark circled and escorted us. Spotted eagle rays. Huge turtle. Swimming 6 foot moray eel. Big lobster. Had lunch on large island between second and third dive. Supposedly Red Footed Boobies are there, but don’t think we saw them. Rum was flowing freely for long ride back.
Mexico rocks - good half day snorkeling trip. About 20 min boat ride. Saw some beautiful fish, barracuda, ray. We didn’t like it as much as Ho Chan Reserve.
Food tour - come hungry. 7 stops and 10 tastes. All stops except the first one include alcohol beverages. Food was good. There are 2 places we think we will go back too. Guide very friendly. We had 16 people in our group and felt it would have been better with just 12 people
Secret Beach- Must do particularly if there is a lot of segrum when you come to visit as there is none there. Beach and water are clear. Water is shallow with the ability to walk for what seems like several football Fields. Road to get there does have pot holes in certain sections but not as bad as we thought to get there (solid 45 minutes from downtown). Lots of different establishments luring you in with offers of free lounge chairs, WiFi, use of kayaks, paddle boards. Every place is different and offers booze of course, as well as food. We checked out 3 places. All had tables in the water and waiters bringing you whatever you wanted which we thought was super cool. Sunset Palace - furthest to get to was our favorite. Less crowded. Better sitting / hang out area.
Go early can stake out an area with lounge chairs and a table Bamboo Fence swing bar - had a great chill vibe. Loved the hammocks over the water. Not a ton of lounge chairs. Best food of the three we visited. Pirates - crowded. Seemed like where the party was. Three rows of lounge chairs
Sunset Palace
Bamboo Fence
Pirates
Restaurants
Aji Tapa - 👍 wonderful Spanish tapas restaurant halfway between Alia and Secret beach. Not only was the food super tasty but wonderful ambiance as well. Bonus many of the entrees came with grilled vegetables rather than steamed veggies. We went here twice.
Big Taste - 👍 whole in the wall in downtown San Pedro with the best tacos we have ever had tacos. My favorite fish, pork… but we didn’t try the meat or chicken tacos. $10 for 4 tacos
Blue Water Grill-👍great breakfast spot on beach downtown San Pedro. Big portions. Favorite was cinnamon French toast and Belize breakfast which included fry jacks
Caramba - 👌 Good fish options. Can select your own if you choose or order some pre priced options off the menu. Mostly indoor. Although food is good we like other places better
Caliente - 👍 large open air deck on lagoon side where you can catch the sunset. Fajita salad was very good. Fish was good but small thin portions. Burritos looked huge. Good live music.
Cool beans - 👍 lovely outdoor restaurant on a dock. Recently opened up. Word is getting out. Food was very good (waffles, fruit bowl with yogurt and granola, fry Jack and eggs). Bonus they give you complimentary water and wood chairs have cushions.
Deck - 👍 primarily out door restaurant at the Alia. Nice setting but unfortunately get whifts if the seaweed. Got the pizza. Fairly large pies. Most affordable option at the Alia. Would only go there if u are staying at the Alia.
El Fagon - 👌 Maybe it was what we ordered - Grilled fish and vegetable curry. Food and ambiance underwhelmed us.
El Patio - 👍 Nice sand, fountain ambiance. Probably very pretty at night with lighting. had tacos good but not as good as Big Taste. Mayan chicken tostadas very good.
Elvi’s- 👍 request a reservation in the room with the tree. Seafood dishes very good. Our favorite was the fish curry. This was our most expensive meal. Other places where you can get better value.
Fry Jack - cash only. Shrimp fry jacks were great! Also like the chocolate fry Jack
La Fonda - good option if you are staying south and want some Italian. Good pizza and fresh pasta.
Purple Pelican - our favorite. It has it all ambiance, caring staff, and good food. Beautiful restaurant with purple and orange cushions, lovely lighting in a palapa on the lagoon side so we were able to get seated on their patio and experience yet another beautiful sunset. Told restaurant In reservations comment it was our daughter’s bday. Surprised her with balloons on her chair and entire waiting staff singing her happy birthday. Food was good (pork chop, pasta, tuna, chocolate lava cake). Would highly recommend for a celebration
Tres Cocos waffles and smokehouse- 👌 good place to stop for breakfast on way to secret beach. Big fry Jack portions. Yummy waffles. Only downside flies that joined us when our food was served. Cash only. $30
Stella’s Sunset-👍 make a reservation for the deck to experience a wonderful sunset. This place has an incredibly relaxing chill vibe. Food good. Staff friendly. Bonus had $25 drinkable bottle of wine special
