The Ultimate Guide to Visiting Ambergris Caye

A lot goes into my decision on where to travel. There are only so many days in a year and dollars in the bank account, so when Belize popped onto my radar, I did a lot of research to see if it would be worthy of a visit. 

Belize is still a relatively hidden gem. I have been hearing about more people visiting or wanting to visit, but it definitely hasn’t become as popular a travel destination like Costa Rica or Mexico. 

After visiting this past October, I have realized that Belize should be on everyone’s travel list, especially if you are a couple that enjoys tropical heaven with plenty of adventure opportunities. 

If you are thinking about traveling to Belize and staying on Ambergris Caye or planning to in the near future, here are all my thoughts and tips in a guide to visiting Ambergris Caye.

Picking a Spot to Visit in Belize

There are many places to pick from when deciding where to stay when visiting Belize. You can go with a beautiful island like Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker to coastal havens like Placencia to a jungle retreat like Belmopan. With so many options, it can be hard to pick one spot. I am a beach girl through and through, so I knew I wanted to be on the coast or stay on an island. I heard a lot of great things about Ambergris Caye, so I decided that is where I would stay when visiting Belize.

Where is Ambergris Caye

Ambergris Caye is located on the northeast part of Belize. It is actually so close to Mexico that it looks like you could just hop over the little river dividing Ambergris Caye from Xcalak, Mexico!

How to Get to Ambergris Caye

There are two main ways to get to Ambergris Caye from the mainland of Belize. I chose to take the 15-minute plane ride from Belize City to San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. It is a beautiful ride flying over the crystal clear blue waters and coral reefs. There are two main airlines that fly to and from the island every hour, Maya Island Air and Tropic Air. 

The other option is to take the water taxi. This boat ride takes about 75 minutes. 

The taxi option is more affordable than the air option, but I highly recommend taking the air route at least once for the views and the experience of flying in a 14 seater plane!

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What to Pack When Traveling to Belize

I learned about some key packing items not to forget after traveling to Belize. Do not forget to pack these items when visiting Ambergris Caye!

• Bug Spray. The bugs do not mess around in Belize. Mosquitos will eat you alive, especially in the jungle. But even if you are staying on an island like Ambergris Caye near the water, dusk and nightfall still brings out the mosquitos. Do NOT forget bug spray! 
• Sunscreen. Like any tropical destination, do not forget sunscreen!
• Light and Airy Clothes. Belize is hot and humid day and night. The less clothes you wear and the lighter weight they are, the better. 
• Swimsuits. You’re in a tropical paradise with amazing beautiful blue water. Bring all the swimsuits! 
• Water Shoes or Hiking Shoes. A lot of the mainland excursions include some hiking and wading through streams or cave floating. Having proper shoes will go a long way if you plan on doing some excursions. 
• Go Pro. If you are a snorkeler or diver, do not forget your underwater camera. Belize has the best snorkeling I have ever done. The reef is the healthiest in the world and the amount of underwater life you see is unreal!

Where to Stay on Ambergris Caye

There are many accommodations to choose from when visiting Ambergris Caye. When I visited, I knew I wanted a small kitchen option to be able to make breakfasts and lunches and not have to eat out all the time. I chose Grand Caribe. This resort has more of a condo feel with full kitchens in their rooms. There is a large variety of room types from studio space to 5-bedrooms. There are six pools, a swim-up bar, plenty of water activities, grocery store on-site, and a dock. It is a great resort for families and couples! 

Where to Eat on Ambergris Caye

There are a lot of really good places to eat on Ambergris Caye. If you want delicious food at restaurants where the locals eat, stay off the beachfront areas. Most of the authentic, local cuisine is found in the heart of San Pedro away from the tourist spots.

Here are three of my favorite restaurants on Ambergris Caye. 

1. Neri’s Tacos

One of the locals recommended Neri’s Tacos to us for breakfast. It is located in San Pedro and is basically a hole in the wall shack. It was the best breakfast we had on the island! And it was cheap. We got a burrito, 5 tacos, two freshly squeezed watermelon juices, and a veggie fry jack all for $10 USD. I highly recommend stopping here at least once during your visit to Ambergris Caye for some delicious authentic Belizean food!

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2. Stella’s Sunset Wine Bar & Restaurant

This restaurant is very close to Grand Caribe and was our first dinner stop. We loved it so much we went back a second time. It is located on the western side of the island and has amazing sunsets. They have half-off bottles of wine during happy hour and live music on Fridays. Besides the bugs (remember bug spray! If you don’t, they have some you can use.), this was the perfect evening spot to hang out, drink some good wine, eat great food and relax.

3. The Hungry Grouper

The Hungry Group was another recommendation from a local. It is located in San Pedro. I’m pretty sure the chef is the guy who runs the place and takes your order. Very small place (maybe 5 tables) and a very cozy vibe. The menu is extensive, but we asked for the owner’s recommendation and he whipped us up his best ideas for that day. Very personalized service and delicious food.

What to Do on Ambergris Caye

There are many things to do while on Ambergris Caye, including all the beach and water activities to exploring beautiful local art. Here are some of my favorite things to do on Ambergris Caye:

• Relax on the beach or by the pool.

• Shop in San Pedro.

• Tour Art Galleries.
• Visit Secret Beach. (Not so secret anymore… If you want a party vibe and have a few drinks while cooling down in the ocean, check out Secret Beach.) 

• Scuba the Famous Blue Hole
  We snorkeled Blue Hole. It was fun but scuba diving would have been way better. On the way back from Blue Hole, we snorkeled Half Moon Caye, which was amazing! And we stopped for lunch on the island. This portion made the 4 hour round trip boat ride worth it. If you get motion or seasick, I wouldn’t recommend this activity. 

• Snorkel Hol Chan, Shark Alley, and Mexico Rocks
  I snorkeled Mexico Rocks and it was THE best snorkeling I have ever done. While snorkeling, I saw stingrays, eagle rays, starfish, pufferfish, lobsters, sharks, lionfish and so much more! If you could only choose one location to snorkel, I would highly recommend snorkeling Mexico Rocks. 
• Visit the Mayan Ruins on the Mainland – Lamanai Mayan Ruins
  I toured the Lamanai Mayan Ruins. There are plenty to choose from but this one included an hour boat ride to the Lamanai Mayan Ruins. I saw manatees, birds, iguana and a lot of wildlife. It was so calm and peaceful. A great start to the Lamanai Mayan Ruins.

Belize is a beautiful and fun country. The locals are so kind and I felt safe the entire time I was there. I was really glad I stayed on Ambergris Caye! Make sure to add Belize and Ambergris Caye to your travel list, you won’t regret it. You better Belize it!

If you need help planning and booking your Belize vacation, email hello@thekeystotravel.com.