Ambergris Caye, pronounced “am-BER-gris”, is the largest island of Belize located northeast of the country in the Caribbean Sea. Though administered as part of the Belize District, the closest point on the mainland is part of the Corozal District.
The Caye (pronounced as “key”, meaning an island, derived from Spanish: cayo) is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) long from north to south, and about 1.6 kilometres (1 mi) wide. It was named after large lumps of ambergris which washed ashore here.
The Belizean island, where it has not been modified by man, is mostly a ring of white sand beach around mangrove swamp in the centre.
A Maya community lived on the island in Pre-Columbian times, and made distinctive polished red ceramics, most notably small well molded figurines of animals.
San Pedro Town is only town on Ambergris Cate. There are also a number of small villages and resorts. Captain Morgan’s and Mata Chica resorts north of San Pedro played host to the first season of Fox’s Temptation Island in 2000, aired in 2001. More recently, the availability of skydiving during the winter has become a draw for tourists so inclined.
Tourism development of Ambergris Caye began in the early 1970s and grew considerably in the later years of the 20th century. The main attractions are the Belize Barrier Reef and its beaches. That barrier reef is the second largest in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. The caye has a small airstrip serviced by Tropic Air and Maya Island Air, and can be reached by plane from Belize City as well as by numerous fast sea ferries. In the meantime Ambergris Caye can also be reached by ferry from Chetumal in Mexico.
Being my home, time to time I’ll add photos from this island :) More photos under my website under Belize Best.
Enjoy!
Ambergris Caye, San Pedro town, Belize - aerial view
Ambergris Caye, Belize after rain
Full Moon at Ramon Village Doc - Ambergris Caye, Belize
Fido's Bar - Ambergris Caye, Belize
Golf Carts on Ambergris Caye - Independence Day
Independence Day - San Pedro, Belize
Wild Life on Ambergris Caye, Belize
D-Sea - beach gift shop - San Pedro town, Ambergris Caye, Belize
Grand Caribe, Ambergris Caye, Belize
Elvi's Kitchen - a must in San Pedro
Rain on Ambergris Caye is FUN!
Romantic dinner at Matachica, North Ambergris Caye, Belize
Rojo Lounge is a MUST on Ambergris Caye.
This is not a commercial. This was my food when I was there.
One of our (my family) favorite places for breakfast in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, is at Estel’s. Located on the beach, right on the center of the town (near Central Park), Estel’s offer one of the best morning coffee’s and awesome breakfast. No matter if you wake up early, or late, they serve breakfast from 6 am until 4:30 pm… how cool is that?
Estel's - Dine by the Sea
Best beach breakfast
Estel's - Dine by the Sea
Cutest bartenders at Estel's!
Unusual Menu!
The Schedule at Estel's
Ambergris Caye, Belize, Estel's in December
More photos from Ambergris Caye, soon!
