14 Fun Things To Do In Ambergris Caye, Belize

Ambergris Caye is Belize’s largest island and most popular tourist destination. In addition to incredible views of the Caribbean Sea it’s known for island charm, abundant water activities, and excellent day trips.

Come see why Ambergris Caye is a must when visiting Belize!

San Pedro is the island’s largest city and where most visitors find themselves. Below are my favorite things to do in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. 

Heading to Caye Caulker as well? Be sure to check out the best things to do in Caye Caulker, Belize.

The Best Things To Do In Ambergris Caye, San Pedro

Snorkel The Hol Chan Marine Reserve

Ambergris Caye is the closest island to the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley, a portion of the Belize Barrier Reef known for excellent snorkeling and diving. This beautiful site is famous for crystal clear waters and plentiful sea life, including sharks, stingrays, and coral reefs.

This diverse underwater ecosystem is one of the country’s most popular attractions, and not surprisingly, one of the top things to do in Ambergris Caye.

Did You Know? The Belize Barrier Reef is the second largest reef in the world. Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is in the top spot.

The reef is about 45 minutes from Ambergris Caye by boat. Visiting requires a tour guide and most excursions are a full day experience. There are many reputable tour companies in Ambergris Caye, most of which do not need to be booked more than a few days in advance.

Book A Private Charter

For a truly special experience you can charter your own catamaran!

With a private charter your day of snorkeling is completely customizable and you can spend as much time in the water as you’d like. In addition to snorkeling, you’ll also stop by the nearby island of Caye Caulker and have unlimited access to food and drinks.

This private tour is a once in a lifetime experience, you can book your private catamaran here.  

The Truck Stop

The Truck Stop is a shipping container food park located a mile outside of San Pedro. In addition to food and drinks they provide live music, games, and a swimming pool with a swim-up bar.

The variety of food available makes this a great place to grab a bite if your group’s dining preferences vary, there’s something here for everyone!

Be sure to check out their event schedule, they have many popular game nights such as bingo, trivia, and corn hole competitions. 

Visit The Marco Gonzales Archaeological Reserve

The Marco Gonzalez Archeological reserve was an important Mayan hub with a thriving maritime trade system. This trading post, 5 miles south of San Pedro, is believed to have been active from 100 BC – 1500 AD and consisted of nearly 50 known structures, much of which is yet to be excavated.

The site is surrounded by dense jungle and explored on boardwalks. Don’t forget your bug spray!

Tip: This is also a great spot for bird watching!

Spend A Day At Secret Beach

Don’t be fooled by the name, Secret Beach is far from that. It’s actually one of the most popular beach destinations on Ambergris Caye — for locals and visitors alike. The beach is located in a once quiet area on the west side of the island and has great sandy beaches and calm, clear water. 

Here you’ll find a handful of bars and restaurants, loud music, and locals selling tourist necessities and renting out water toys. 

How To Get To Secret Beach

The beach is 13km (8 miles) from San Pedro, the drive is about 45 minutes. There is only one road to get there, it’s paved but a bit bumpy. You will have to pay a $5 toll to cross the bridge, cash only, be sure to keep your ticket for the return. Most people take a golf cart, but you can also take a taxi. 

Upon arrival you’ll be greeted with huge orange letters reading, “Secret Beach”.

If you’re looking for something a little quieter follow the beach north, the crowds will thin out. You’ll find there are no services available as you head this way, so be sure to pack in and pack out (e.g. pick up your trash).

Visit The Belize Chocolate Company

Belize Chocolate Company makes craft chocolate right in San Pedro. Everything is made is made from 100% Belizean ingredients including organic and fair trade cacao beans sourced from the country’s southern region. 

Fun Fact: Archaeologists believe chocolate was first cultivated around 900 AD by Mayans in Mesoamerica, a region which encompasses much of Central America’s core, including Belize. The Mayan’s called it Xocolatl.

The shop has a variety of unique souvenirs and delicious goodies, including milk shakes and hot chocolate.

If interested you can even join their chocolate making class Monday – Friday at 10:30 am. 

Enjoy Ambergris Caye’s Loud Music & Lively Bars

Belize has tons of beach bars overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Stop by anyone of the them to enjoy a tropical drink, loud music, even swimming and games! You’ll find Ambergris Caye loves to have a good time on the water.  

Tip: Many beach bars also offer water sports and inner tubes for floating. 

Join In On Ambergris Caye’s Many Nightly Events

Most watering holes have nightly events such as live music, bingo, and trivia, there’s even a hermit crab race and chicken drop game… I hope you like quirky entertainment, I do.  

Most Popular Bars in San Pedro, Belize:

Wayo’s and Sandy Toes are the most popular beach bars. Crocs Sunset Sports Bar is a popular sports bar and Jaguar’s Temple Night Club is where you’ll find everyone come late night. It is the island’s only bar open past midnight. 

Take A Day Trip From Ambergris Caye

Inland Belize has an abundance of activities outside of beach-going and water sports. The country is known for Mayan ruins, elaborate cave systems, and beautiful jungles. Spend a day on the mainland touring ruins, floating through cave rivers, or enjoying the country’s incredible wildlife.

Best Day Trips From Ambergris Caye

• ATM Cave Tour
• Cave Tubing & Ziplining
• Altun Ha Mayan Ruins
• Belize Zoo
• Xunantunich Mayan Ruins
• Lamanai River Tour
• Cave Rappeling Tour
• Caracol Mayan Ruins
• Rum Distillery Tour
• Caye Caulker
• See the manatees from Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary

There are so many great tours to choose from, you can book them in person while in Ambergris Caye or check options in advance on Viator which I’ve linked here: Ambergris Caye Excursions & Tours

Join A Sunset Cruise 

Sunset cruises are a popular way to spend an evening in Ambergris Caye. You’ll travel along the Belize Barrier Reef with spectacular views of the Caribbean and Ambergris Caye’s skyline.

This is a wonderful and relaxing way to spend an evening in Belize and one of my favorite Ambergris Caye activities. 

There are a number of popular companies on the island offering this service. The cost varies from about $60 – $100 USD / person. Most tours include free snacks and drinks. 

You can book the highly rated Sirena Azul Sailboat sunset cruise here: Sunset Sail Tour

Go Bowling On The Beach

TOAST (formerly Cozy Coconuts) is a bar and restaurant located right on the water. They have a small, 2 lane bowling alley set up on the beach, and best of all, it’s free! TOAST also offers great food and drinks, making it a fun stop!

Come for the bowling, stay for the karaoke, it’s easy to spend all day at TOAST while visiting Ambergris Caye!

Dive The Great Blue Hole

Also located in the Belize Barrier Reef is the The Great Blue Hole. This is one of the largest underwater sinkholes in the world and a highly popular dive site. The Blue Hole hosts a variety of marine species and is rich in biodiversity. 

This sinkhole is about 2.5 hours from Ambergris Caye by boat. There are a number of reputable dive companies on the island. 

If you’d rather not dive, you can still see this spectacular site from above, through a helicopter tour. There’s options to snorkel the Great Blue Hole as well, but this isn’t recommended. It’s hard to get a proper scope of the sinkhole while snorkeling.

Yoga Classes

Looking to find your flow while visiting Ambergris Caye? Consider a yoga class. Some of the best spots on the island for yoga include:

• Victoria House Resort & Spa
• Mangata Villas
• Ramons Village Resort

This is a great way to enjoy a gentle work out or perhaps try something new during your vacation.

Explore The Island By Golf Cart 

Golf carts are the main source of transportation around Ambergris Caye. Grab a coffee from Rum+Bean then check out the town’s shopping, restaurants, and bars, or find your own quiet section of beach.

No matter how the day’s spent, you’ll find there’s a simple satisfaction that comes from driving a golf cart.  

Golf carts cost about $50 – $75 USD a day depending on how long you rent. Longer rentals result in a cheaper daily rate. Whether or not you need a cart every day depends on your resort’s location.

Tip: Be sure to hang something colorful from your cart’s mirror in order to easily find it when it’s parked. There are 1,000’s of carts on the island and they all look similar. 

Also consider exploring the island by bike, this will help avoid parking issues and cart traffic. Most hotels and resorts offer bike rentals or you can easily find a company around town.

Water Sports

If you’re looking for a fun adventure without venturing too far from your hotel consider one of the many water sports available on Ambergris Caye! Some popular options include:

• Kayaking
• Stand Up Paddle Boarding
• Kitesurfing
• Parasailing

Some resorts offer rentals, otherwise check out vendors in town, there are many companies available!

Tour The San Pedro Lagoon & Crocodile Sanctuary 

Located in Ambergris Caye, is the American Crocodile Education Sanctuary. This is a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of Belize’s wetland habitats and protected species, specifically crocodiles. They offer Nighttime Crocodile Safaris where you’ll cruise through mangrove swamps in search of crocodiles, birds, and other nocturnal wildlife.

Tip: If you love jungle exploration, you’ll love inland Belize. Check out my San Ignacio, Belize Guide for the best of this region.

El Diablo Bar & Aqua Park

For a really fun day on the water head to El Diablo Aqua Park at the Caribbean Villas Resort. The park has hammocks, swimming areas, a towering water slide, and lots of inflatable water toys. They also have a small bar overlooking the water for refreshments between fun.

While the park isn’t huge, there’s really nothing quite like it in Ambergris Caye!

Resort guests have free access to the park, visitors pay a small daily fee.

How To Get To Ambergris Caye 

Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport is the nearest major airport, located in Belize City.

From here Ambergris Caye is accessible by air via Tropic Air and Maya Island Air. The flight is only a few minutes on a small seaplane from Belize City and costs about $100 – 150 USD each way.

Otherwise, plan to arrive on boat through Ocean Ferry Belize or the Belize Water Taxi. The boat takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes and is roughly $25 USD each way. 

Where To Stay In Ambergris Caye

There are a variety of hotels and resorts available on this small island. If you’d like to be within close proximity of bars and restaurants, you will need to stay somewhere in San Pedro. If a quieter experience sounds better, consider resorts to the north of town.   

We stayed at the Hotel Del Rio. It’s on the northern side of San Pedro but was within walking distance of many popular attractions. It was a great mid-range option, budget wise, plus the staff and amenities were lovely.

Looking for more hotel options? Check out Where To Stay In Belize.

How Big Is Ambergris Caye?

The island is 25 miles long and no wider than a mile. San Pedro is the largest (and only) city, with over 15,000 residents.  

Trying to choose between Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker? Be sure to check out my guide: Ambergris Caye or Caye Caulker? Which Should You Choose.

How To Get Around Ambergris Caye?

There are few cars on the island, instead you’ll notice golf carts are the most efficient way to get around. If your hotel is centrally located, getting around by foot is very reasonable. Conversely, if your hotel isn’t in the heart of San Pedro the carts will be very helpful.

Also consider utilizing taxis and bike rentals.

Ambergris Caye, Belize Packing List 

Wondering what to wear in Ambergris Caye? Below was my packing list for our 2 day visit in February:

• 2 Waterproof Sandals
• 2 Cotton or Athletic Shorts
• 2 Tank Tops
• 1 Lightweight Jacket (the island gets very windy, making it cooler at night. Lightweight pants would’ve been nice to have this time of year.)
• 1 T-shirt
• 2 Swimsuits
• Sunglasses 
• Microfiber Beach Towel 
• Waterproof Phone Case
• Swimsuit Cover
• Sunscreen
• Bug spray (It was too windy during our visit, we didn’t need it, but that’s not always the case.)

While most of Ambergris Caye is very laid back, there are some upscale restaurants, so a nice shirt and pants or casual dress could be utilized here. 

For a more comprehensive guide, including what to pack for excursions, check out: What To Wear In Belize.

Ambergris Caye Weather

Winter and spring tend to be the driest time of year. Summer and fall can see heavy precipitation, although, it’s rare to experience a full day of rain. Keep in mind, Belize is very humid and the sun here is intense, which will make temperatures, especially in summer, feel even warmer than the thermometer indicates.

Average Temperatures:

• January – 83° / 68° (Average High / Low F°)
• February – 84° / 70°
• March – 86° / 71°
• April – 88° / 75°
• May – 90° / 77°
• June – 89° / 77°
• July – 89° / 77°
• August – 89° / 77°
• September – 89° / 76°
• October – 87° / 74°
• November – 85° / 71°
• December – 83° / 69°

Additional Things To Know About Ambergris Caye

What Currency Does Belize Use?

The Belize Dollar, which is pegged to the US Dollar at 1:2. US currency is widely accepted across the country, it’s not necessary for US travelers to convert currency before visiting Belize.

What Language Is Spoken In Belize?

English is the official first language. Spanish, Mayan, and Creole are also widely spoken.

Did You Know? Many Belizeans are trilingual? Check out these Things You Didn’t Know About Belize.

How To Pronounce Ambergris Caye?

Ambergris “amber-griss” Caye “key”, or just call it AC for short. 

This is excellent place to enjoy your Belize vacation, as you can see there are a wide variety of things to do in Ambergris Caye! Have you been? Did I miss anything good? Please leave a comment below.

If you’d like to follow along with my travels in real time, check out @seen.by.amy on Instagram or @seenbyamy on TikTok!

Looking for more ideas? Check out my Belize guides below!

More Information For Your Trip To Ambergris Caye:

• Caye Caulker Vs. Ambergris Caye: Where Should You Stay?

More Information For Your Belize Vacation:

• Belize: The Ultimate 7-Day Itinerary
• Belize: What To Wear + Packing List
• Where To Stay In Belize?
• What Is Belize Known For? Things You Didn’t Know About Belize
• San Ignacio Guides
• Caye Caulker Guides