Welcome to Ambergris Caye Hotels
With
a spectacular Caribbean coastline and a tropical climate, Belize is an
increasingly popular getaway spot for a blissful vacation enjoying the relaxing
haven of beaches and palm trees. Situated between Guatemala and Mexico, Belize
includes many cayes (islands) off its shore, the most well known one being
Ambergris Caye. A beautiful island populated by an easy-going, friendly people,
Ambergris Caye offers an indulgent vacation for all – whether you prefer
laying on the beach or diving into the warm, turquoise waters for some of the world's
best scuba diving and snorkeling.
Here, you can be pampered to your heart's content at one of the many friendly
Ambergris Caye hotels, experience the vibrant and buzzing nightlife in the
laid-back town of San Pedro, take organized dive trips or fishing excursions,
and enjoy world class cuisine at the island's great selection of restaurants.
The barrier reef here is the second largest in the world, and provides some of
the best snorkeling and diving opportunities found anywhere on earth. This makes
Ambergris Caye a top choice of vacation destinations for diving enthusiasts
where the vast and spectacular array of marine life never fails to impress. The
local people add to the Belize experience, friendly,
unhurried, and delighted to befriend visitors to their country. It all makes for
a relaxing, exciting, and unforgettable vacation !
Transportation
You can reach Ambergris Caye by using the regular ferry service from the mainland, or by taking a short flight from Belize City airport. Tropic Air is the largest and most experienced airline in Belize. Founded in 1979 by Johnny Greif III with just a single airplane and 2 employees, they now employ over 200 people and offer over 180 daily scheduled flights throughout Belize and Flores, Guatemala. With nine destinations throughout Belize, they can take you to see all of the fascinating sites and natural beauty that Belize has to offer. Due to the size of the aircraft there are certain limitations on the size and number of baggage. Tropic Air permits each passenger one (1) carry on and two (2) checked bags.
Visitors to the Caye can also take a water taxi or ferry from Belize City to San Pedro. The trip takes about 75 minutes usually on fast open boats with twin outboard engines seating 20 or 25 people. On a sunny, calm day, it's a great introduction to Belize; on a rainy, windy day the trip can be wet and rough. The water taxi terminal is in the heart of downtown, next to the famous Swing Bridge. More detailed information and alternative travel options
Ambergris Caye hotels
perfectly reflect the island's atmosphere. Relaxed and friendly, they provide an ideal home
away from home, with a
warm welcome and the trademark Belizean desire to help. You can often find
accommodation in Ambergris Caye hotels simply by showing up, but it's
advised to book in advance and be guaranteed a place to stay.
Many of the hotels in Ambergris Caye are located on the main street of San
Pedro, near (and sometimes right on) the beach, and the location is perfect
for access to both the water and the town. In the town of San Pedro, everything
is within walking distance, and you will find plenty of shops, a huge selection
of restaurants and bars, and a vibrant nightlife. At the same time, you'll
be close to the beach, perfect for a relaxing swim in clear warm waters! Most
hotels offer clean, quiet
accommodation with ocean view rooms and all modern conveniences, and prices are
quite reasonable. If you're on a budget, hotels like Conch Shell provide a
cheaper option without missing out on a comfortable stay, while others boast of
unique features – such as Xanadu Hotel, with its
tropical garden pool declared to be the best pool on the island.
For something different, many Ambergris Caye hotels provide resort-style
living in individual casitas. The Mata Chica Resort, for example (located on the
northern part of the island and reached by boat from San Pedro), provides fully
furnished thatched casitas situated right on the beach, for an idyllic tropical
island experience. See
local hotel availability.
Cayo Espanto
( Editors Choice )
Location. The Cayo Espanto Is A Private Island Located Off The Shore Of San Pedro, Belize. The Resort Is Five Kilometers From San Pedro And Six Kilometers From The Belize Barrier Reef. Hotel Features. The Cayo Espanto Features Five Oceanfront Private Cabanas And One Over-water Bungalow. The Resort's Spa Offers Massages, Skin And Nail Treatments, And Aromatherapy Services. The Hotel Offers Tour Assistance And Arranges Guided Snorkeling And Diving Excursions, Boating And Fishing Tours, And Private Picnics. Children Under 10 Years Old Are Not Permitted On The Property. Guestrooms. Guestrooms Feature Personal Housemen, Three Daily Meals, Snacks, All Drinks Except Champagne, Wine And Cordials, And Non-motorized Water Sports.cabanas Feature Private Alfresco Showers, Oceanfront Patios And Freshwater Plunge Pools. The Over-water Bungalow Offers 360-Degree Views Of The Ocean. Beds Are Swathed In Yves De Lormes Sheets And Turndown Service Is Performed Nightly. All Accommodations Feature Hardwood Floors And Tropical Motifs. Unique Design Elements Are Incorporated Throughout Each Unit, Such As Granite Countertops, Cabbage Bark Ceilings, And Zirocotte And Jobillo Wood Paneling. Expert Tip. Before You Arrive At Cayo Espanto, The Resort Provides A Culinary Survey For You To Complete. Based On Your Responses, Chefs Prepare Three Custom Meals Daily. Whether It's Breakfast In Bed Or A Candlelit Dinner On Your Personal Verandah, The Epicurean Cuisine Is Award-winning And Prepared Especially With Your Palette In Mind. 
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Attractions
Ambergris Caye hotels are well situated to provide easy
access to all of the island's main attractions. Of course, most of those
attractions are in warm, clear waters – you'll find numerous dive trips and fishing excursions to choose
from, with visits to the barrier reef, the Great Blue Hole, Hol Chan, and other
spectacular natural attractions. There's certainly no shortage of things to do!
Belize barrier reef
Belize barrier reef is the second longest in the world, and the longest
in the Western Hemisphere. It is Ambergris Caye's pride and joy, with its
limitless snorkeling and diving spots making it a truly spectacular natural
attraction.
Seen from the air, Belize barrier reef looks like a golden dividing line between
the deep, royal blue water outside the reef itself, and the shallower, pale
turquoise water inside. A vast natural aquarium filled with breathtaking
tropical marine life, the reef is one of the most awe-inspiring natural
structures on earth. It serves as a protective barrier between the caye and the
sea, shielding the island from wave erosion, and forming a truly remarkable
underwater structure.
Visibility is excellent underwater at Belize barrier Reef. Divers can see for up
to 165 feet, the maximum underwater visibility anywhere in the world. And
there's plenty to see! The coral provides a colorful living landscape, which is
populated by an incredible variety of tropical marine life. Shoals of brightly
colored fish create a constantly moving kaleidoscope, and divers are often
treated to the sight of bigger underwater companions, too, like various species
of sharks, and Loggerhead Turtles.
Most Ambergris Caye hotels can help you to find a dive trip that suits your
expectations and level of experience, and there are plenty of dive operators and
scuba instructors to choose from. Try some snorkeling in the shallower waters of
the reef, check out the awesome Great Blue Hole, or go on a special “wreck
dive”. It would be a shame not to experience the underwater delights that
Ambergris Caye has to offer.
Hol Chan
Hol Chan is a popular attraction of Ambergris Caye, a marine reserve not far
from San Pedro (about 4 miles). It became a protected sanctuary in the 1980s,
and since then has experienced the fascinating return of all kinds of fish no
longer seen in the rest of the reef.
A “cut” in the barrier reef, Hol Chan was once a rather depleted fishing zone,
and is now swarming with a more plentiful marine life than any other part of
these waters. The name is Mayan for “little channel”, and the water here is only
20 to 35 feet deep. It's perfect for snorkeling and diving, and well worth a
visit to see the thriving underwater life it has to offer.
You can only dive or snorkel in Hol Chan by signing up for an
officially-run trip. Most Ambergris Caye hotels will be pleased to help you
organize this, and hiring a boat with a guide should only
cost around $12.50US (basic fare per person).
Great Blue Hole
The Great Blue Hole is one of the best known natural attractions that Belize has
to offer. About 60 miles from Belize mainland, there is a large, almost
perfectly circular hole in the Lighthouse Reef. It measures about a quarter of a
mile in diameter, and viewed from the air looks like a dark blue circle in the
midst of paler waters – this is due to the fact that the water in the “hole” is
145 meters deep!
The Great Blue Hole was once the entrance to a huge system of caves and
passageways, which were all high above sea level many aeons ago, before the end
of the last Ice Age. The sea level rose when the ice melted, and as a result the
caves were flooded, meaning that what was once a land structure is now a
fascinating underground cave network. The further down
into the hole you dive, the more limestone structures and interesting
stalactites you will see, and there's a beautiful array of corals that
flourish here.
Marine life inside the Great Blue Hole is minimal because the
reduced water circulation does not provide an ideal habitat for the
creatures that live in abundance elsewhere on the reef. As a result, the hole is
like a still, silent bottomless pit, marked by intriguing underground
structures, and is a favorite dive spot for experienced and passionate divers.
Daily trips leave from Ambergris Caye early in the morning, and are popular with
enthusiasts – it's known as one of the most unusual diving experiences anywhere
in the world. Learn more about the
Great
Blue Hole
Fishing
The warm waters surrounding Ambergris Caye are full of game fish, because of the
number of rivers which empty out into the Caribbean Sea. Fishing is a year round
sport here, and you will find a great number of fishing
trips to choose from. Some take you out to open waters for deep sea
fishing, where masses of sailfish and bonito reside. Others will let you
experience fishing in and around the coral reefs, for an abundance of snapper,
jacks, grouper and barracuda.
Fishing enthusiasts flock to Belize to indulge in this popular local pastime,
and as a result there are plenty of organized fishing trips to make sure that
you get the most from your stay. All guides speak English, so you'll know where
you're going and what you're fishing for! The price of a fishing trip in
Ambergris Caye varies, as there are so many different types of excursions. Check with individual trip operators, and let them help you plan an outing
that includes everything you want, whether that's coral reef fishing, deep sea
fishing, or a combination of the two with lunch and drinks thrown in!
Featured Tours
Dining
Dining opportunities are plentiful on Ambergris Caye.
At least a few visits to restaurants serving local cuisine are recommended,
because the Belizeans love to share
their national foods with visitors! The staple meal of the country is a rice and
beans mixture, sometimes served with chicken. The red beans and rice mixture is
filling, comforting, satisfying, and inexpensive, and you'll probably find
several variations of it. It's usually flavored with spices and coconut milk,
and served with stewed pinto beans on the side.
And of course, we can't mention Belizean cuisine without talking about seafood!
The busy fishing industry on Ambergris Caye means that fish is always on the
menu, and it's worth trying. Usually caught only a few hours prior to serving,
this is fresh seafood at its finest! If you're there during lobster season, even better – it starts on June 15th, and the fresh, locally caught lobster
is a real treat.
Mexican and pasta style dishes are also popular in Ambergris Caye restaurants,
and there are a number of eateries serving familiar US fare too.
Belizeans pride themselves on their fresh produce, and you'll find lots of
little markets and vendors selling fresh grapefruits and oranges, thanks to
Belize's citrus fruit plantations. The locally grown habanero pepper is also
popular with locals – if you're a fan of all things hot and spicy, be sure to
sample one of the sauces made from this potent vegetable! Marie Sharp's sauces
are great to taste and take a bottle home.
The local beer is Belkin, and the locally distilled rum is called One Barrel
Rum. They can be found almost everywhere on the island. Belizeans are also fond
of wine, and varieties like blackberry, ginger and sorrel are widely available.
Featured Restaurants
Nightlife
For
a night out in Ambergris Caye, San Pedro is the place to be. In
terms of nightclubs, there are several to choose from, including Jaguar, Wet
Willy's, and the loud and buzzing Big Daddy's. These establishments are
generally packed with young, party-seeking crowds, and there's always loud
music, dancing, and late-night fun going on.
If you prefer live music, there are plenty of options for that, too. Lots of
restaurants and bars provide live entertainment, with bands and solo artists,
and often some local music, which is known as Punta, and involves lots of
drumming! Fans of live music also enjoy great acts at Fido's, or a local
cultural event or concert if it's a national holiday. Don't forget that many
Ambergris Caye hotels will also have their own entertainment arranged – many
offer live music, games, DJs, or just cool lounges and beach bars where guests
can hang out and relax.
Gaming fans will love the opportunity to play in a Vegas-style casino on
Ambergris Caye, while the quiet romantics will enjoy a sunset cruise on a
catamaran, complete with romantic music, cocktails, and a spectacular Caribbean
sunset. Alternatively, take yourself off to one of the island's “viewing points”
and enjoy an unspoiled view of the clear night sky – or even sign up to go on a
moonlit night diving trip to the waters of the Lighthouse Reef!
Shopping
From handicrafts and souvenirs to local spices and sauces, you're sure to find
just what you're looking for during
an afternoon's shopping on Ambergris Caye. There are no vast mall complexes
here, just colorful, individual shops with bags of character and plenty of
bargains to be found lurking on the packed shelves. Specialist shops stock
handicrafts from Guatemala and Mexico as well as from Belize, and there are lots
of categories to choose from – jewelry, paintings, clothing, and all sort of
ornaments and decorations.
Ambergris Caye hotels are mostly located within easy walking distance of San
Pedro's cobbled streets, so it's easy to take a short stroll into the lively
shopping areas for a bit of a browse or some souvenir shopping. Street vendors
are frequent, many selling tasty local snacks and fruit. Some shops give you a
chance to continue enjoying Belizean cuisine even after you return home, with
good selections of local spices, sauces, and cookbooks to choose from.
Weather
Ambergris Caye enjoys a tropical climate, and is in the happy
position of seeing much less rain than mainland Belize during the rainy season
from May to February. There are normally only 40 inches of rainfall per year on
Ambergris Caye, in contrast with the mainland's 140 inches!
Most tourists tend to visit in the dry season, which lasts from February to May.
The weather is warm and tropical, but prevented from being stifling or hot by
soothing cool breezes that blow in from the Caribbean Sea. Temperatures
throughout the year range from 75°F to 95°F, and the water remains at a perfect
bathing temperature of 82°F all year round, with very little variation.
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