Hotels near San Pedro Airport - SPR, San Pedro

As a fly fisherman, I have always read raving reviews of how good the fishing was at Ambergris Caye, the permit capital. After 40 years of anticipation, I was disappointed. The wind blew excessively all 4 days and we didn't catch a single permit. San Pedro, the capital, is one of those places you should visit at least once in your lifetime but that might be enough. It is definitely the biggest tourist city in Belize and it's great to people watch. I thought the famous and unique golf cart mode of transport would be electric, but unfortunately, they are gas powered making the sound, traffic and air pollution similar to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam or Seminyak, Bali. The food was good, but expensive and the more popular places required reservations. Speaking of costs, neither Mexicans or Belizeans could explain why costs in Belize are almost double that of Mexico, yet they are neighbors. The best aspect of San Pedro and Belize, in general, is that it is the only English speaking country in Central America.

San Pedro was interesting. The good: I liked the fact we had to drive golf carts everywhere, however the roads are atrocious. There are amazing places to eat and drink every where. The bad: Every beach we seen was covered in seaweed and garbage, it was quite disgusting. Everything is expensive, especially the excursions. I guess that's what happens when you're on an island. The ugly: Every where we went either by golf cart, bicycle or walking there was garbage. Quite dis-heartening to go to a destination so beautiful and see trash every where. Summary: Unless you're a serious scuba diver don't waste your time and money. I hear the diving is amazing but my wife and I are not divers.

When you are in town, you need to check the store windows, the shops are small, you could miss great souveniors. Secret Beach was a lot of fun. We bought a raft on the way and one of the staff members at the beach blew it up for us. The people on the island are so nice and helpful without asking, they could sense you needed help. There was a constant breeze which made the visit so enjoyable. If you like snorkeling, diving and fishing, you will love it here. The food in San Pedro was the best food I've had from any island and we have visited most islands. A few restaurants we visited, Karumba's, Anglers, Elvi's, and Secret Beach had excellent food. There's a French Bakery near Ramon's. Try the island's chocolate, it was very good.

We loved exploring Secret Beach and all the different bars Truck Stop for lunch/dinner Palapa Bar and Grill for dinner/drinks on the water at sun set Coco Beach made it easy to book tours through them - Tuff N Nuff Tours I'd recommend renting a golf cart for your stay, try and ask around for best prices

Ya GOTTA LOVE the tropical weather, you can't beat the longest barrier reef in the Northern Hemisphere, and that's the best diving I've experienced in several decades. This was my first visit to Ambergris Caye, & San Pedro - what was initially surprising to me very quickly became one of my favorite things about the location. Many oceanview beachfront houses are not resorts, isolated from local residents. You are right in the mix with neighbors: locals going about their daily business (non-tourist and tourist alike), schoolkids walking by, deliveries, construction happening, etc. I enjoy living like a local (sorta), although some folks might not. San Pedro beaches skew commercial/industrial: numerous docks; dock-restaurants; beach cafe; van, taxi and golf-cart traffic on the beach; sand parking lots; powerlines; & sargasso weed extending out up to 50 yds out from shore - it takes a moment to get used to, this ain't Zona Hotel in Cancun. Many hotels & resorts loom over off-beach buildings behind it, which mostly are the typical tropical unfinished, mildewy concrete buildings with rusty rebar poking out, lots of laundry lines, and rusted car parts and tools in the yard. I found this familiar and charming but some may not.

What I liked most was its secret island, the only place where you can go to the beach in all of Belize. What I liked least was the people, they are not very friendly, they are rather unpleasant and not very communicative when it comes to helping travelers.