Ever wonder what activities the Belize island of Ambergris Caye has? Here are our top 10 activities from tropical hangouts, Palapas, to beaches, to spending time in San Pedro.
Don’t get me wrong – there are more Ambergris Caye tropical activities than this list of 10. These are the things that stick in my head a month later.
The list also includes things that were highly recommended that we didn’t have time to do, and things in the area of Ambergris Caye.
Also, it is important to note these Ambergris Caye activities aren’t ranked in any particular order.
For me, chocolate would probably rate higher than… well, almost anything. For Papa Joe, learning about the people is always #1.
Either way, Belize, Ambergris Caye, and San Pedro have a vibrant tropical culture. With the region’s strong cultural ties, it shouldn’t be any surprise food is high on our list.
What is the #1 Ambergris Caye activity?
Ice Cream at Manellys in San Pedro. Hands down THE BEST – don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
This place, with its homemade flavors, is such an icon, even Fodors has reviewed it.
Imagine this – warm tropical day, strolling down a crowded street. Little to no breeze, almost sweltering. And then to your surprise, you see ice cream cone-shaped chairs outside an ice cream shop.
You just have to go in, right? The selection isn’t huge, but it is homemade. And, for the experience to be even better, the flavors are influenced by the local flavors.
Yummy!!!
I recently changed my mind for favorite Ambergris Caye activity #2.
People watching has become our new second most favorite thing about Belize.
Whether it be watching folks playing on the beach, the endless parade of golf carts, or checking out the local craftsmen.
People-watching was definitely one of our favorite things to do on the island of Ambergris Caye.
Who loves local food?
I do! Now – this is only #3 because I want to talk about the places we enjoyed the most, and why. But really – OMG.
We discovered Briana’s Deli and My Secret Deli after asking our tour guide where he liked to eat. My Secret Deli was first on our list, and worth every minute of the long wait to get our food.
Word to the wise – food is made fresh at both destinations, which means you will wait for your meal, and liquor selection is limited.
Service is slow – you are on Belize time… but if you can wait and want to eat like a local, these are definitely on the list.
We found Gill-Es Pour House in much the same way, but the experience was a little different. While still serving local favorites, this restaurant on the beach was more used to serving tourists.
Which meant service was quicker, the staff was more friendly, but prices were still more affordable than the chain-type restaurants.
This place is highly recommended – we only had 2 regrets – first that we weren’t more hungry when we ate there, and second that we didn’t have time to go back.
The best advice about food at any destination – check out the local recommendations. San Pedro Scoop is a blog written by a San Pedro resident and includes numerous food recommendations, most of which we agreed with.
I love activities that have multiple purposes. Like #4…
This brings us to the water taxi.
Now, you may think this sounds weird but taking the water taxi was a great activity. It was both transportation and a great way to view the coastline.
Fare is paid based on your destination, and then riders sit back and enjoy the widely varied Ambergris Caye coastline. Resorts, private homes, groomed beaches, and deserted lots.
You may even be lucky enough to spot an eagle ray. Or not.
Either way, this was a relaxing way to get back and forth to San Pedro from our resort, especially after hanging out at Palapas for the day.
#5 Anybody up for a Croc sighting?
Stick with me here….. The road north out of San Pedro crosses a raised bridge, and just outside that bridge is a marshy area.
On our first day in Belize and San Pedro, heading out to our resort, our guide points to this area and shouts “Croc – Croc!” Yeah, maybe there was a croc there.
And maybe there wasn’t.
Our guide goes on to tell the story about the Grandaddy of them all, which must is the one he just pointed out to us. Sure – but believe me, we looked for that Grandaddy Croc every time we passed the bridge.
Papa Joe thinks he saw the croc… Either way, it was fun to play the game, and believable enough I didn’t go wading in the marshy area.
Seriously, the crocodile population on Ambergris Caye and San Pedro is dropping, which is why the American Crocodile Education Sanctuary (ACES) is on our list.
Not only are they actively working to preserve the population, but the sanctuary is also open for visitors. Located just south of San Pedro, if you have a croc lover in the family, this might be their best chance for a sighting.
Tubing at Palapas is an awesome #6 Ambergris Caye Activity.
Really, anything at Palapas, which is why Palapas isn’t on the restaurant list, even though the food was pretty good. Palapas isn’t locally owned, but man do they know how to throw down a party.
From the “Conch in a conch shell”, to the floating inner tube off the dock. Palapas is really is a one-stop shop.
Palapas is where we enjoyed the Christmas Boat Parade. And live music.
You name it – they do it here. And Palapas does it well!
Truck Stop Anyone?
The Truck Stop – games, food, sunset. You name it – this place does it. We enjoyed a fun-filled evening here, playing trivia, sipping a local specialty beverage, and eating some of the most delicious affordable food on the island.
The Truck Stop is owned and managed by a couple of self-described ex-pats, and they know how to take care of tourists.
Regardless of who the owners are, they do it right. Really eclectic, including food courts made out of shipping containers.
The Truck Stop is a great spot to catch the perfect tropical sunset. Parlor games are enjoyed most nights of the week. Entertainment for adults and teens. What more could you want???
We were told by everyone to go there, and we were right to go. Just do it!
Favorite Ambergris Caye activities include buying souvenirs.
Buy souvenirs in shops or on the street. Get the item’s story – like the guy we bought our wooden bowl from, and have him show us his battle scars from carving and polishing his wooden treasures. Or this little guy with Ms. K.
Now, if you are one of my faithful readers, you know I don’t usually post pictures of children, but this is the exception. This little guy was so charming, selling our traveling companion Ms. K bracelets his grandmother had made.
Ms. K couldn’t help but measure every other vendor up against him – and sadly, nobody else measured up.
The point is – to take time to talk to people while buying their goods. Meeting people is one of the things Papa Joe and I enjoy most about traveling, and what better way to hear about everyday life.
Favorite Ambergris Activity #9 might surprise you.
Hang out on the beach. The surprise is that the beach is #9.
Again – if you read my stories you know how much I love the beach, which tells you how great the first 8 activities are!
The things we enjoyed most on the beach were food vendors, selling empanadas and burritos from coolers balanced on bicycle handlebars, tables of brightly colored fabric bags, and hand-carved wooden items.
No “made in China” souvenirs here.
Watching the youngest generation playing under a table loaded with souvenirs for sale. Man – can I go back?
If you get a chance to sit at a local restaurant like Estel’s and Gill-Es Pour House and relax while watching local life pass by – DO IT.
The locals like this place called Secret Beach, which was no secret.
Blue Bayou was our favorite spot at Secret Beach, a little off the beaten path but more than worth the trek.
We made it – here is #10.
The Chocolate Company may not sound like anything special, but you are missing a treasure if you don’t check it out.
Not to mention how amazing the chocolate itself was. Both after we got home from Belize and while we wandered down the San Pedro streets.
With a typical counter demonstrating delicacies that are truly works of art, hot and cold chocolate drinks, and all the paraphernalia for cooking with chocolate, this place really knows how to do it up.
I enjoyed the cocoa butter for a long time, and the memories of our chocolate-making class are priceless.
Why did I only list Ambergris Caye’s activities?
There are tons of things to do off the island – snorkeling, fishing, diving – you get it. But the intent of this story is to describe things that are actually located on the island.
I wanted to include things we experienced ourselves. Anyone can read an article and pass on the info, but I wanted to give you the stories. Feel the cold ice cream on a hot tropical day.
Understand why buying local matters.
But you are right….. there is MORE!
We were in San Pedro and Ambergris Caye for a week. There was lots more we could have done if there were only more time (insert a heavy sigh here…)
I could have tried a dozen more restaurants. Explored the local markets more. Soaked up more of the tropical sunshine. Shopped the stores up and down San Pedro’s streets. Spent more time at Secret Beach – it may have made the top 10 activities if we spent more time there.
The offshore activities are incredible.
Try parasailing, windsurfing, snorkeling, scuba, and kayaking. We did snorkel and kayak, and both were amazing.
If there is one thing that is certain, it is that tropical destinations offer a wealth of activities.
Belize is known for its water sports, for good reason. For more information on our fun time in Belize, check out the full Belize story here.
I challenge you to come up with your own Top 10 Ambergris Caye activities list.
Live on the wild side. Be daring. Try something nobody else has written about.
Enjoy every minute, every breath of your time on the amazing tropical island paradise that Ambergris Caye is widely known to be!
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