San Pedro

Day Trips

Touch down in San Pedro and settle into your beachfront accommodation. A gentle Caribbean breeze carries the scent of salt and palm fronds as you step onto the white-sand shore. Sip on a fresh tropical juice as you watch fishing boats drift by in the turquoise sea.

Head to a waterside restaurant for a plate of local ceviche and fry jacks while basking under a palm-thatched palapa. Spend the afternoon strolling the vibrant town streets lined with colorful murals and artisanal shops. Cool off with a swim in the crystal-clear lagoon just steps from your door.

Toast to your first night with rum punch as the sun sets in a blaze of orange over the horizon. Dine on grilled lobster and fresh catch at an open-air seafood shack overlooking the water. After dinner, check out live reggae tunes at an intimate beach bar and dance barefoot in the sand.

Board a boat to Hol Chan Marine Reserve at first light. Glide above vibrant coral gardens teeming with parrotfish, angelfish and turtles. Feel weightless as you drift through underwater canyons with a guide pointing out hidden marine life.

Cruise to Shark Ray Alley for up-close encounters with gentle nurse sharks and southern stingrays feeding in shallow water. Jump off the boat to snorkel alongside these graceful creatures, capturing unforgettable underwater photos. Relax on deck with fresh fruit and chilled coconut water as the boat glides back to town.

Return to shore for a sunset stroll along the pier while pelicans glide overhead. Feast on blackened snapper tacos at a local beachfront shack. Cap the night with a refreshing Belizean beer and live steel drum music by firelight.

Set out before sunrise for a scuba diving excursion on the Belize Barrier Reef. Descend into a world of towering elkhorn coral, swirling schools of snapper and curious reef sharks. Your dive master points out seahorses hiding among the fronds and spiny lobsters tucked into crevices.

Surface for a beachfront picnic of fresh fruit, jerk chicken and fish tacos under a shady casita. Warm up in the sun before gearing up for a second dive or guided snorkeling session on a nearby patch reef. Return to the boat to sip tropical smoothies and swap stories with fellow divers.

Back on San Pedro, head to a local palapa for an open-air dinner featuring conch chowder and coconut rice. Watch dancers perform Punta beats on a stage lit by lanterns swaying in the breeze. End the evening with a moonlit walk on the quiet shore.

Take a scenic ride into the Belizean jungle for an adrenaline-pumping cave tubing adventure. Float on an inner tube through winding waterways and into ancient limestone caves dripping with stalactites. Listen to the echo of dripping water as you drift in the dim glow of your headlamp.

Stop at a riverside clearing for a picnic lunch of tamales and fresh tropical fruit. Continue inland to explore Maya ruins nestled in the rainforest canopy, climbing stone temples for a panoramic view of the jungle. Learn about Maya history and customs from your knowledgeable guide.

Return to San Pedro in time for a relaxed twilight dinner at a beachside bistro. Savor grilled red snapper alongside passion fruit margaritas with the sound of waves lapping at your feet. Sip a nightcap at a rooftop bar while gazing at a sky full of stars.

Catch the morning ferry to neighboring Caye Caulker, a laid-back island with no cars. Rent a bicycle or golf cart to explore the sandy streets lined with colorful wooden cottages. Pause at a floating bar for a midmorning slice of key lime pie and a chilled coconut.

Head to The Split for swimming and paddleboarding in the clear channel waters. Grab a local lobster or fish sandwich from a beachside shack and dine with your toes in the sand. Kayak through mangrove tunnels teeming with birdlife and small reef fish.

Return to San Pedro and freshen up before indulging in a sunset dinner cruise. Enjoy Caribbean-infused tapas while the skipper sails you along the coast as the sun dips into the sea. Dance under the stars to live island music on the aft deck.

Rent a golf cart and venture north to Secret Beach, a secluded stretch known for its soft sand and azure water. Stop at roadside stalls to sample Belizean fry jacks and freshly brewed coffee. Take a refreshing morning swim in calm, shallow waters.

Lounge under a palapa while sipping a frozen rum cocktail and nibbling on conch fritters. Snorkel around nearby coral bommies that attract colorful fish and occasional eagle rays. Explore tide pools at low tide to find hermit crabs and tiny sea stars.

Return to San Pedro via coastal backroads, passing through mangrove forests at sunset. Dine at a gourmet beachfront restaurant with a menu featuring local catch and tropical salads. Finish the night with a Belizean chocolate tasting paired with craft beer.

Join a hands-on cooking class led by a local Belizean chef in a traditional family home. Learn to prepare staples like cassava tortilla, coconut rundown and spicy recado stew. Taste each dish paired with fresh herb-infused agua fresca.

Embark on a craft tour through San Pedro’s artisan community to meet woodcarvers, glass blowers and coconut palm weavers. Try your hand at carving a small souvenir or weaving a palm-leaf pouch under expert guidance. Enjoy a light snack of geko bread and cheese in a local studio.

Return to your accommodation to relax before an authentic Maya blessing ceremony at sunset. Witness a traditional fire ceremony and sample ceremonial cacao mixed with local honey. Savor a quiet dinner of roasted chicken with habanero sauce under flickering lanterns.

Board a chartered fishing boat for a day on the shimmering Caribbean Sea. Learn reef and flats fishing techniques from an experienced captain and deckhand. Reel in snapper, grouper and barracuda while scanning the horizon for migrating dolphins.

Grill your morning catch on-board for a fresh fish lunch accompanied by avocado salad and coconut rice. Drift lazily on a sandbar, take a midday nap under the sun, or snorkel in the shallow flats. Enjoy cold beverages as the boat anchors in a quiet cove.

As the sky turns golden, embark on a romantic sunset sail complete with champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Watch the sun sink beneath the silhouette of distant cays while pelicans wheel overhead. Return to shore for a beach bonfire where you can toast marshmallows and stargaze.

Drive or golf cart over to the northern tip of Ambergris Caye for a guided snorkel at Mexico Rocks. Rise early to catch calm sea conditions and spot turtles grazing on seagrass. Float amidst coral reefs bustling with angelfish, parrotfish and occasional nurse sharks.

Enjoy a beachside picnic of jerk chicken, tropical slaw and guava pastries. Take a guided stand-up paddleboard tour through nearby mangrove channels alive with juvenile fish and herons. Cool off with a dip in the cerulean shallows before heading back into town.

Freshen up and head to a waterside restaurant for a Creole-inspired dinner of curried shrimp and coconut plantain mash. Sample local craft brews on tap while listening to the gentle clink of boat masts against the docks. Wander back under lamplit streets for a nightcap at a cozy rum bar.

Treat yourself to a luxurious spa treatment featuring volcanic clay wraps and local coconut oil massage. Relax in a hammock garden with white noise of the sea and fresh lime-infused water. Feel rejuvenated as you prepare for the journey home.

Enjoy a light beachfront lunch of ceviche tostadas and green papaya salad. Take one last swim in the warm Caribbean waters or stroll the pixel-blue shoreline collecting shells. Pack souvenirs and share a final round of Belizean sweets with new friends at a street market.

Catch your water taxi or flight back to Belize City under a pastel sky. Savor a farewell cocktail at San Pedro’s dock bar while reflecting on island memories. As lights of the town fade behind you, dream of returning to this tropical paradise.