With the Belize Barrier Reef being less than a mile away, Ambergris Caye offers some of the best snorkeling and diving in the world. However, what visitors also discover is a low-key, laid-back island with friendly locals, unique beach resorts, and a vibrant restaurant and bar scene.
And unlike other island destinations, visitors to Ambergris Caye are not restricted to their all-inclusive resorts and on-site amenities/tours. Instead, they vacation within a community and can participate in everyday life. Impromptu bar crawls with tour guides and bumping into resort staff and their kids in downtown San Pedro are common. All of Belize is like this, but on the small island of Ambergris Caye, it happens more easily.
Make the most of three days in Ambergris Caye |
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Day 1 – Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Explore San Pedro |
Day 2 – Great Blue Hole Flyover and Sunset Sailing |
Day 3 – Breakfast at Estel’s and Secret Beach Day Trip |
Where to Stay |
3-Day itinerary for Ambergris Caye
In 2020, I spent three days in Ambergris Caye and I had an incredible vacation. Using Pelican Reef Villas in quiet South Ambergris Caye as my base, my itinerary included amazing tours, leisurely exploring the island, and meeting many wonderful locals. Based on this experience, here are some of the best things to do in Ambergris Caye in 3 days.
Day 1 – Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Explore Downtown San Pedro
Morning
Head to Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. This is perhaps the most popular snorkeling tour in Belize and you can easily see tons of corals, fishes, sea turtles, sting rays and nurse sharks on a good day. I went with Tuff E Nuff Tours and had an excellent time.
Afternoon
Explore San Pedro, the main settlement and only town in Ambergris Caye. I recommend biking to El Fogon for lunch and then strolling the downtown streets, maybe visiting the many colourful shops, and lastly walking along the beach. Stop at Maria’s Fruits & Vegetables on your bike ride back to Pelican Reef Villas.
Evening
Finish the day by visiting one or two of the many beach bars in Ambergris Caye. Order Belizean rice and beans for dinner, have a few Belikin beers or rum punches and dance to live music. I went to Wayos Beach Bar, the Palapa Bar, and Sandy Toes.
Day 2 – Great Blue Hole Flyover and Sunset Sailing
Morning
Sleep in, have breakfast at your resort and relax by the beach. After taking in a lot on your first day, it’s good to relax a bit before having a very active afternoon. Fortunately, Pelican Reef Villas offers free breakfast to guests and they had both a pool, dock and private beach to relax at.
Afternoon
Diving the Blue Hole may be on every diver’s bucket list but what is less known is that you can also go on an aerial tour of the Blue Hole with Tropic Air. The scenic flight lasts about an hour and along with getting up-close views of the Blue Hole, you’re also treated to beautiful views of the barrier reef.
Evening
Go Sunset sailing. There’s something really magical about watching the sunset from a boat, lazily sailing while fresh ceviche and delicious rum punches are being served. And as the sun sets, you’re treated to the beautiful starry night sky — something that you have to see to truly appreciate. I did this tour with Tuff E Nuff Tours and I consider it to be one of the top things to do in Ambergris Caye.
Day 3 – Breakfast at Estel’s and Secret Beach Day Trip
Morning
Visit Estel’s Dine by the Sea for the perfect breakfast treat. This involves ordering fry jacks, refried beans, eggs and bacon. This place isn’t a secret so expect it to be busy and you might have to wait a bit for your food.
Afternoon
Rent a golf cart and drive to Secret Beach. Secret Beach is about 4.5 miles north of downtown San Pedro but it’s totally worth it. You’ll be able to relax, swim, and enjoy good beats while having delicious food and drinks. Alternatively, drive about 1 mile north to The Truck Stop, a shipping container food truck park where there’s always something happening.
Evening
On your last night, wrap up your stay in Ambergris Caye by splurging at one of San Pedro’s top restaurants. I personally prefer Elvi’s Kitchen but there are many others such as Blue Water Grill, Wild Mangos, Hidden Treasure, Caliente, Caramba, etc.
Where to stay
Pelican Reef Villas
Located in South Ambergris Caye, about 15 minutes away from the bustling San Pedro downtown, Pelican Reef Villas served as the perfect base and refuge during my time in Ambergris Caye. Before or after a day of fun activities, I enjoyed being able to have some peace and quiet while I lounged by their pool, dock and private beach.
I stayed in a modern beachfront condo where I had a large bedroom, full kitchen, living room, and in-suite laundry, which I used a couple of times before I left! The resort staff are extremely friendly and I really enjoyed our conversations. Santos, the porter at the resort — whom I hung out with a couple of times after running into him in downtown San Pedro — was my favourite.
During my stay, guests included a good mix of families and groups of friends. For transportation, I primarily used the free bikes provided but since downtown San Pedro is about 30 minutes away by bike, I recommend that you rent a golf cart or take taxis if you want to be less active or will be going on frequent trips. For tours, you can easily request to be picked up at the resort dock. Tristan, the concierge, can help coordinate this.
Jen says
Are there any air bnb or VRBOs to rent that you’d recommend???