Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
check-in,
complim
entary breakfast and free bikes for
exploring.
US$145
Victoria House
On the beach, around 2 miles south of
town
T
226 2067,
W
victoria-house.com; map p.93.
Gorgeous, award-winning resort with a range of upscale
accommodation in a splendid location. Luxurious, colonial-
style hotel rooms, thatched
cabañas
, suites and villas are
set in spacious grounds - not surprisingly, it's one of the
most popular wedding hotels on the island. Excellent
service and wonderfully relaxing; you can sun yourself near
the beachfront pool and enjoy cocktails in your bathing suit
or feast on fresh fish
at the e
xcellent res
taurant
Palmilla
(see p.1
05).
Rooms
US$250
,
cabañas
US$400
, suites
US$455
, villas
US$1000
★
private patio with hammock. A bonus is the Jade Spa,
where you can indulge in treatments that employ local
ingred
ients, su
ch as the Maya coffee scrub and a papaya
facial.
US$485
El Pescador
On the beach, about 2.5 miles north of
town
T
226 2398,
W
elpescador.com; map p.93.
With a
choice of several rooms in a colonial-style house rich with
hardwood furnishings, or one-, two- or three-bed villas,
there's plenty of choice at this family-run establishment,
where fishing and diving are the most popular activities.
Complim
entary bik
es and k
ayaks are available. Rooms
US$275
, villas from
US$500
Portofino Beach Resort
On the beach, 5.5 miles north
of town
T
220 5096,
W
portofinobelize.com; map p.93.
A mix of breezy
cabañas
and suites amid swaying palms,
arranged to one side of a large pool and all with ocean
views. There are colourful, Mexican-tiled bathrooms and
hardwood floors, and modern amenities galore, including
flatscreen TV. Service is
wonder
fully friendly and the
on-site restaurant is good.
US$225
El Secreto
11 miles north of San Pedro
T
236 5111,
W
elsecretobelize.com; map p.93.
The name says it all:
this upscale, couples-friendly resort is all about
seclusion. Accessible via complimentary boat from San
Pedro, it features thirteen thatched-roof villas decked
out with all the amenities, from an outdoor shower to a
plunge pool. Splurge at the Ikal Spa, followed by
Belizean cuisine a
t the re
staurant, straight from Miss
Miguela's kitchen.
US$450
Las Terrazas
3.5 miles north of San Pedro
T
800 447
1553 in US,
W
lasterrazaresort.com; map p.93.
Get away
from it all at this lovely resort, comprised of elegant town
houses overlooking the white sand beach, with lots of
deluxe amenities and services, from the fragrant spa to the
restaura
nt,
O
, wh
ich serves international cuisine and fresh
seafood.
US$485
Tranquility Bay Resort
On the beach, 12.5 miles
north of San Pedro
T
236 5880,
W
tranquilitybaryresort
.com; map p.93.
Looking to commune with nature? You're
in the right place. The aptly named
Tranquility Bay Resort
unfolds on twelve acres of beachfront property, within the
Bacalar Chico National Park. The breeze-cooled
cabañas
,
with Mexican-painted tiles, are just steps from the
sparkling Caribbean. The
Tackle Box Sea Bar
sits right over
the water, where you can watch what they call “one of
Mother Nature's best shows” - tarpon, rays and other sea
creatures swimming in direct view, below and around you.
Breakfast and boat tr
ansfer i
is complimentary, as is
unlimited use of kayaks.
US$275
Xanadu Island Resort
On the beach, about 1.5
miles south of town
T
226 2814,
W
xanaduisland
resort.com; map p.93.
Xanadu
more than lives up to its
name, with lovely condominium suites, all built in
environmentally friendly monolithic domes that are
grouped around a palm-shaded pool, with the beach
just a few lazy paces away. All suites have a full kitchen
and wooden decks, and the staff are delightful. They also
run
Carts Bel
ize (see p.98), with a top fleet of carts to
rent.
US$230
3
NORTH ISLAND
Ak'bol
On the beach, about 1 mile north of town
T
226
2073,
W
akbol.com; map p.93.
One of Belize's first yoga
resorts invites you to “renew your spirit” with yoga and
wellness classes and retreats. You can stay in breezy
thatched
cabañas
amid a meditation garden, or go for the
budget option and bed down in the yoga “barracks”, which
has comfy single rooms and shared bathrooms with carved
mahogany sinks. The on-site
Soul Kitchen
has fre
sh juice
s
and a g
ood arra
y of vegetarian dishes. Barracks
US$50
,
cabañas
US$165
Capricorn Resort
On the beach, about 3 miles north
of town
T
226 2809,
W
capricornresort.net; map
p.93.
Most people come here for the incredibly good food
(see p.105), but there are also delightful, secluded
wooden cabins with porches overlooking a pristine
beach; a
ll make perfect hideaways. Breakfast is included.
US$185
Matachica
5 miles north of San Pedro
T
223 0002,
W
matachica.com; map p.93.
Secluded and sophisticated,
Matachica
epitomizes the Belizean penchant for blending
laidback and luxury. Beachfront
casitas
are cooled off with
sea breezes, and are outfitted with beds piled with high-
thread-count sheets and a feather duvet, plus there's a
EATING
San Pedro features some of the best
restaurants
in the country, and an island highlight is, naturally,
seafood
, including
excellent lobster and conch.
Prices
are generally higher than elsewhere in Belize, but you can also find plenty of local
places, usually in the town centre, that offer excellent value, especially at lunch time.
