Things to Do in San Pedro, Belize: The Local Guide

San Pedro, Ambergris Caye — Your Activity Guide

San Pedro is Belize's most visited town and the gateway to Ambergris Caye's 26 miles of coastline, reef, and mangrove channels. Here's what to do.

On the Water

Snorkel Hol Chan Marine Reserve Hol Chan is a cut in the reef with jaw-dropping biodiversity — nurse sharks, rays, sea turtles, and hundreds of tropical fish species. Boat tours depart from San Pedro's piers multiple times daily. Ask Lina Point's concierge to arrange a private guide. Swim with Sharks at Shark Ray Alley Just south of Hol Chan, Shark Ray Alley is a shallow sandbar where nurse sharks and southern stingrays have gathered for decades — conditioned by fish-cleaning boats. It sounds terrifying; it's actually magical. Kayak the Mangroves The back lagoon is laced with mangrove channels. Paddle early morning and you'll see crocodiles, manatees, roseate spoonbills, and the occasional jaguar footprint in the mud. The Great Blue Hole (Day Trip) A 45-minute flight or full-day boat trip, the Great Blue Hole is a 1,000-foot-wide, 300-foot-deep sinkhole — Jacques Cousteau's 1971 dive site. The stalactites at depth are otherworldly. Liveaboard dive trips depart San Pedro weekly.

On Land

Secret Beach The west side of the island has calm, shallow turquoise water unlike the choppier reef side. The beach has grown a social scene — beach bars, hammocks over the water, and families wading in knee-deep flats. A 30-minute golf cart ride from San Pedro. San Pedro Town Walk Front Street for souvenir shops, local restaurants, and the town pier. Try Elvi's Kitchen for Belizean classics, or Bird's Isle for open-air waterfront dining. Mayan Ruins Day Trips Lamanai and Xunantunich are accessible by charter plane or river boat from the mainland (2–3 hours each way). Lamanai is particularly impressive — excavated temples rise from the jungle beside a crocodile-filled lagoon.

Dining Highlights

Restaurant

Style

Must-Order

The Mayan at Lina Point	Overwater, Maya-inspired	Fry Jacks Brunch, Xibalbá Mezcalita
Elvi's Kitchen	Local institution	Rice & Beans, Whole Fried Snapper
Wild Mangos	Beach casual	Blackened Fish Tacos, Mango Margs
Palmilla	Upscale	Lionfish Ceviche, Lobster

Practical Tips

• Golf carts are the primary transport — rent from $50/day
• San Pedro operates on Belize time (CST, UTC-6)
• ATMs available on Front Street; US dollars accepted everywhere
• Reef-safe sunscreen only (zinc oxide or mineral)

Stay at Lina Point and experience it all →