Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
crest, dramatically separating the vivid blue of the open sea from the turquoise
water on its leeward side.
During the daytime, for those not shopping, relaxing or enjoying some other
land-based activity, the
water
is the focus of entertainment, from sunbathing on the
docks to
windsurfing
,
sailing
,
kayaking
,
diving
and
snorkelling
,
fishing
and even
peering through the floor of a glass-bottomed boat. And you don't have to go far to
find a tour company eager to take you out on the sparkling sea - the island is saturated
with tour companies offering a huge range of trips, from a half-day sailing excursion
with reggae and rum onboard to multi-day reef diving.
If you plan on
swimming
, note that the
beaches
on Ambergris Caye are narrow
and the sea immediately offshore is shallow, with a lot of seagrass - meaning
you'll usually need to jump off the end of a dock or take a boat trip to the reef if
you want a proper dip.
San Pedro
The island's chief atraction and point of arrival is the former fishing village of
SAN PEDRO
, facing the reef about a mile from the caye's southern end. Though not a
large town - you're never more than a shell's throw from the sea - its population of
over five thousand is the highest in all the cayes. San Pedro is the main destination for
more than half of all visitors to Belize. Some of the country's most exclusive
hotels
and
restaurants
are here, though the island is also packed with mid-range and budget
places, particularly in the “original” (pre-tourism expansion) village of San Pedro,
which is also where most of the action takes place.
Every inch of the half-dozen blocks that comprise San Pedro's main streets is leisurely
devoted to tourist pleasure, so you're always within easy reach of a bar, restaurant, gift
shop, tour agency or the Caribbean Sea. Through all its development, though, the town
manages to retain lazy elements of its
Caribbean charm
with a smattering of clapboard
buildings in the centre. However, lofty, concrete structures continue to rise - as does
the tra
c.
3
Around San Pedro
North of the town centre, the
Boca del Rio
(usually referred to simply as “the river” or
“the cut”) is a narrow but widening erosion channel crossed by a toll bridge (bikes
Bz$2, vehicles Bz$10). On the northern side of the river, a rudimentary dirt road
ISLAND FIESTAS
San Pedro often exudes a festive atmosphere, from the free-flowing tropical cocktails to the
informal jam sessions at beachfront bars, but there are certain times of year when the partying
spikes. Top among them is the
San Pedro Lobster Fest
(
W
sanpedrolobsterfest.com) in
mid-June, which celebrates the island's most famous crustacean. Marking the of
cial start of
lobster season, the San Pedro event is the first in a trio of lobster festivals - the other two are
on Caye Caulker (see p.106) and in Placencia (see p.196 ). Feast on lobster served every which
way - grilled, barbecued, in tangy
ceviche
, skewered on a stick and stuffed into omelettes.
Rounding out the festival are boisterous block parties (steel drums and all) and, yes, many
renditions of the B-52s'
Rock Lobster
.
Another great time to visit is during August's
Costa Maya Festival
(
W
costamayafestival
.com), a week-long celebration featuring cultural and musical presentations from the five
Mundo Maya countries (Belize, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador). And, in the
summer (generally June or July), check out the
Lagoon Reef Eco-Challenge
(
W
ecochallengebelize.com). This sixty-mile kayak race, which draws entrants from around
the world, is held to raise awareness of the coral reef, and is topped off with a blow-out
beach party.
