The Best Place to Stay on Ambergris Caye
Belize is a great travel destination for couples and families that love the tropical feel but also want adventure and plenty of activities. Ambergris Caye, just a quick flight or boat ride from Belize City, is a perfect “home base” for your Belizian vacation. You get the laid back island feel with access to amazing snorkeling, diving, water activities and quick access to mainland adventures like exploring Mayan ruins.
When I traveled to Belize, I knew Ambergris Caye is where I wanted to stay. There are plenty of options for accommodations all over the island. I wanted to be a little farther away from the main city, but still with easy access. I wanted a nice pool, beach, and a room with a kitchen, so we didn’t have to eat all our meals out. Once I figured out everything I wanted and my budget, it wasn’t hard to find the perfect hotel!
After visiting Belize, I believe one of the best places to stay on Ambergris Caye is Grand Caribe.
Location of Grand Caribe on Ambergris Caye
Grand Caribe is located just outside the main town of San Pedro on Ambergis Caye, Belize. The resort is located 2 miles north of San Pedro. It is easily accessible by a paved road by golf cart (15 minutes) or by taxi (10 minutes).
How to Get to Grand Caribe
There are quite a few options on how to get to Grand Caribe:
- By Airplane
You can take a small plane from Belize City to San Pedro. It is about a 15-minute ride and I highly recommend it! The views are beautiful and it’s a very unique experience to sit on a 14-seater airplane! Once you arrive at the San Pedro Airport, Grand Caribe offers complimentary arrival and departure taxi rides to and from Grand Caribe. Just notify them of your arrival and departure times and they will be there to escort you. - Helicopter Transfer
You can take an even more unique experience to get to Grand Caribe and take a helicopter transfer. Grand Caribe partners with Astrum Helicopters to offer this experience. You can add in a tour of Belize Barrier Reef or the famous Great Blue Hole on your way. Work with the resort to arrange this transfer. - Water Taxi
The most affordable way to get to Grand Caribe is by water taxi. There are regular public water taxis from Belize City. This normally takes 1.5 hours and departs every hour. From the Belize City Airport, you will have to catch a taxi to the water taxi terminal.
Rooms at Grand Caribe
Grand Caribe is a luxury vacation home rental in Ambergris Caye, Belize. The rooms are labeled as condos because they include kitchens, which I liked because then you can cook some meals at home instead of going out for every meal. Some condos are owned by families and others you can rent like a regular hotel room.
Since this was my husband and my 3rd wedding anniversary trip, I wanted a nice room overlooking the ocean. We went with the One Bedroom Oceanfront room. It was very large with 1000 square feet of living space. There was a kitchen, living area, bedroom, bathroom with tub, a large walk-in closet, and a large balcony overlooking the ocean. I absolutely loved this room! We spent most of our time on the balcony. They also decorated our room for our anniversary. A very special treat!
There are a lot of different size condos on this property, from studios to 4 bedrooms to villas. This is a perfect resort for families of all sizes. One thing I really liked is that even though there are a lot of different room sizes and it is a larger property, it was still quiet and peaceful.
Amenities at Grand Caribe
- Dock – There is a dock on-site for easy transfers to excursions and San Pedro.
- Restaurants – Grand Caribe has two restaurants on-site, Rain and Aqua. Rain is a rooftop restaurant and bar. It is the perfect setting for a romantic sunset dinner or drink to end the evening. They have great food! Aqua is an Asian influenced restaurant. We didn’t get to try it but they do have sushi nights! There are also plenty of restaurants within golf cart driving distance of Grand Caribe. Make sure to definitely check out Stella’s Sunset Wine Bar and Restaurant for half off bottles of wine during happy hour!
- Spa
- Grocery Store – One very convenient piece of Grand Caribe is the onsite grocery store. Before your trip, you can have them stock your fridge with all the food you want, or you can walk down and pick up what you want throughout your vacation. The prices are very reasonable, too.
- Golf Cart Rentals
- Water Sports Rentals
- Gym on site. It is small but has all the necessities, like weights, machines, treadmill, elliptical and bikes.
- Beach
- Freshwater Pools – There are 6 freshwater pools onsite.
Travel Tips for Belize
- Make sure to bring bug spray! The mosquitos are vicious in the very early morning and at dusk.
- Get a golf cart rental when staying on one of the islands. That is their main mode of transportation.
- Bring USD. They widely accept the USD and the exchange rate is very easy. 2:1 (2 Belizian Dollars for 1 USD)
For a full travel guide on visiting Ambergris Caye, Belize, click here.
When you are ready to plan and book your vacation to Belize, email me at hello@thekeystotravel.com. I am here to help you travel more and stress less!
