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• 01- Chow Down on Some of the Best Jerk Chicken Ever
• 02- Snorkel with Sharks at Hol Chan Marine Reserve
• 03- Grab a Bite & Chill Out to Music at The Truck Stop
• 04- Eat a Freshly Baked Cinnamon Bun at The Baker
• 05- Spend a Lazy Day in the Lagoon Water at Secret Beach  
• 06- Float in an Inner Tube + On-Demand Drinks at Palapa Bar
• 07- Check out the Low-Key Sister Island, Caye Caulker
• 08- Rent a Golf Cart and Drive Around the Island
• 09- Enjoy a Delicious Authentic Belizean Meal at El Fogon
• 10- Go Off-the-Beaten-Path and Try Some Pupusas
• Final thoughts

Owner Robin grilling jerk chicken at Robin’s Kitchen in Ambergris Caye, Belize

Robin’s Kitchen is one of the many reasons we decided to stay on the south side of San Pedro, Belize. We stayed in what is now called the Alaia Belize Autograph Collection, which was only minutes away from this incredible gem of a place.  

Located right next to a fruit stand, this small, unassuming roadside restaurant will blow your taste buds away. The owner John Harvey (aka Robin) and his wife are so friendly and welcoming. Robin can be seen cooking up his specialty on the pimento wood-fired barrel grill as you walk up to this modest establishment.  

I understand if you bring Robin your catch of the day while out fishing, he will also cook up your fish. Wow, that’s service. 

Order the chicken, which usually comes with a side of rice, red beans, and cole slaw, and sit down at one of the picnic tables. Incredible flavor marrying Jamaican and Belizean influences. Wash this delicious meal down with a cold local Belikin beer, which can be purchased next door.

Robin cooks the chicken in batches as he anticipates the demand from his customers, so your meal is being served fresh and hot off the grill. 

This is not fast food. 

Be patient, and you will be rewarded with one exceptional authentic meal from the kindest family who clearly takes pride in their culinary craft. 

I think Anthony Bourdain would approve. 

Snorkeling with nurse sharks at Shark Ray Alley in Belize

My husband and I are avid snorkelers and purposely seek out destinations with top-notch snorkeling. Some of our favorite places have been Maldives, Bora Bora, St. John USVI, and the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. Belize is also on that list!  

Home to the world’s second-largest coral reef system, the protected Hol Chan Marine Reserve consists of seagrass beds, coral reefs, and mangrove forests. Within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve is Shark Ray Alley. 

It is not as scary as it sounds. This incredible spot is where you can snorkel among schools of nurse sharks. Nurse sharks are known as the puppy dogs of the sea. Don’t get me wrong. You still need to respect them, but they are not the scary “girthy toothy” sharks like a tiger shark or great white shark. 

We did great white shark cage diving while in South Africa, which had our adrenaline pumping. This adventure was much tamer in comparison.  

In addition to nurse sharks, we saw gorgeous coral, many tropical fish, and stingrays. 

THIS EXPERIENCE IS NOT TO BE MISSED.

Make sure this snorkeling adventure is at the top of your list of things to do in San Pedro Belize. Check out my personal snorkeling trip report below. 

No, this is not like the truck rest stops you encounter driving down the interstate in the U.S. 

Think Austin, Texas meets the Caribbean. 

Food trucks. Picnic tables. Laid-back vibe. Live music. Gourmet high-quality food. Refreshing cocktails. Cornhole tournaments. Trivia games. Outdoor movie nights. Swimming pool. All in an island setting. 

Located in the north part of Ambergris Caye, this unique food park is the brainchild of expat comedian filmmakers Ben and Joanna Popik. Along with restauranteurs Adam and Jackie Feldman, they have created this little food and entertainment oasis.  

The food park is made up of repurposed shipping containers. Expect some incredible food all sourced from local ingredients. Pick from Malaysian and Southeast Asian options like chicken satay and Malaysian curry. Or choose from Latin American favorites like mole chicken and parilla steak with Chimichurri sauce. Don’t forget dessert, and finish out the meal with a mango-coconut sorbet from the Ice Cream Shoppe. 

We enjoyed a wood-fired pizza and a mango island cocktail all while watching the sunset and listening to live music.

It doesn’t get much better than that. Definitely put The Truck Stop on your top things to do in San Pedro Belize! 

I judge a dessert based on the question … is this worth the calories?

And the freshly baked, absolutely delicious cinnamon buns at The Baker are worth every calorie. My photo above does not do this amazing pastry justice. 

Having daily easy access to this incredible little bakery is yet another reason to stay on the southern part of Ambergris Caye. It is the perfect location to some of the best local foodie stops. 

Although the cinnamon buns are clearly the star of the show, The Baker also offers other scrumptious gourmet goods including flaky croissants and freshly baked breads. You can also pick up more savory items like a sausage and cheese biscuit or a chicken pesto sandwich. Great breakfast and lunch spot. 

The creators of this gem are the incredibly welcoming Irish couple, Ken and Emily. 

Skip breakfast at your hotel and come here instead. You’ll thank me later. 

Ok, so Secret Beach is not-so-secret anymore but is still totally worth a day trip. It is located on the northwestern part of Ambergris Caye and does require a little effort to get to … aka a bumpy fun golf cart ride! 

What is there to do at Secret Beach? 

Eating. Drinking. Swimming. Relaxing. Repeat. 

Your biggest choice is which bar to set up shop at. There are several choices to pick from along the beach. All have different vibes from South Beach flair to laid-back, reggae crowds. 

Make sure this Ambergris Caye institution is on your list of things to do in San Pedro Belize! Palapa Bar and Grill has been around for decades. The open-air bar has a unique location, directly situated on the water right in downtown San Pedro. 

Scott (retired firefighter) and Jodie (emergency trauma nurse) are the beautiful, friendly faces behind this well-loved bar. Grab a seat in the palapa or opt to plop down in an inner tube. The staff will even have a bucket of ice cold local Belikin beers dropped down to you in the water via zipline.

The bartenders at Palapa Bar and Grill whip up some fun tropical drinks like the Panty Ripper. This popular Belizean cocktail is made with pineapple juice and coconut rum.

As tempting as that sounded, we went with Scotty’s Palapa Punch. A delicious tropical cocktail made of three rums, Tripple Sec, mango, pineapple, and fresh lime. 

There’s something about that fruity boozy concoction that instantly makes you feel you are on vacation! 

You can also order food, which is your standard bar fare like chicken wings, hamburgers, and tacos. We didn’t try their food, but their drinks hit the spot.

Caye Caulker is the less visited sister island to Ambergris Caye. With an island motto of “Go Slow,”  Caye Caulker takes the concept of island time to a whole different level. Locals want you to keep this in mind as you will see signs stating, “we have 2 cemeteries but no hospital.”

There are no cars. You get from Point A to Point B along the roads by foot or bike. Occasionally, you’ll see a golf cart.

This former fishing community has a relaxed hippie vibe and is popular with the younger backpacking crowd. No shirt, no shoes, no problem. You will pass many signs boasting this theme as you wander the sandy streets in your bathing suit.

The best way to get there is by a quick 30-minute water taxi. The current water taxi schedule can be found here. Multiple departure times are offered from San Pedro, Ambergris Caye. 

There are several budget-friendly accommodations to choose from if you decide to stay overnight. We did not spend the night (Ambergris Caye is more of our speed), but we still enjoyed visiting Cay Caulker as a fun day trip. 

Ok, so what do you do on this small 5-mile long island? 

Remember, you are vacationing right next to the world’s second largest barrier reef! Since we were staying in Ambergris Caye, we snorkeled with a company that was based there for convenience. Shark Ray Alley is a must-do expeirence!

The Split is where Caye Caulker is divided into two sections. Many stories circulate how this occurred. Supposedly fisherman initially dug a channel here to get their boats through. Then that channel was further widened by Hurricane Hattie in 1961. Now, The Split has become the heart of the island. 

You can swim, rent a kayak or paddle board, listen to reggae music, or sip on a tropical cocktail at the iconic Lazy Lizard Bar.

The drink to try is the famous Lazy Lizard Juice, which is a sweet, bright green, frozen concoction. Supposedly it can sneak up on you like a Long Island Iced Tea. I did not try it but would love to hear from those who have! 

I am fascinated by seahorses. I had heard these cute little creatures were a common sighting at the Frederiksted Pier in St. Croix. USVI. Unfortunately, we did not see any when we snorkeled there. 

But … when my husband and I went to Caye Caulker we finally had the chance to see one in person! 

The Seahorse Ranch Reserve is located on the beach beside the dock area outside the Iguana Reef Inn. A quick 5-minute walk from the water taxi will get you there. 

Now finding the seahorses is really tough because they are tiny and camouflage so well into their surroundings. An incredibly kind local told me I could find one if I looked under the pier. 

Luckily, my petite frame came in handy for once as I wiggled my body underneath the wooden boards. Once my eyes adjusted, I finally saw this adorable little creature hanging on to a rope with its tail as it bobbed up and down with the current! 

Who doesn’t like fried dough? 

Every country seems to have its own version. We had koesisters in Cape Town, South Africa, funnel cakes at local fairs in the United States, and picarones in Peru. 

You must try this popular Belizean food, and the place to sample it is Errolyn’s House on Caye Caulker. Order it stuffed with your favorite combination of fillings, with options such as ham, cheese, egg, beans, or chicken. 

Cheap (1.50-5.50 BZD depending on the filling). Delicious. Super filling. Advise only 1 per person (they are huge!). Grab a fresh juice from the fruit stand next door to wash it down. 

This local food made with tortilla dough is typically consumed at breakfast but is also popular as a lunch item or snack. It’s half moon shape kinda reminded me of the empanadas we had in Argentina. To truly appreciate its deliciousness, consume them while they are hot! 

I believe they are still closed on Mondays, so check their hours to make sure before heading over. 

There are only a few tables situated on the sandy floors at this small unassuming restaurant. It is a 1-man shop. Elvis was our bartender, our waiter, and our chef! We have had a few incredible meals run by 1 person including Sawada in Japan and Gostilna Theodosius in Slovenia when touring the wine country. This was yet another great culinary experience due to the intimate interaction.

Friendly service. Food options listed on the chalkboard menu included ceviche, chicken (BBQ, curry, garlic, or mango) and shrimp dishes (garlic, curry, or shrimp creole). 

Simple. Fresh. Flavorful. Good value. Food just tastes different when you can clearly see the pride and love a chef puts into the meal.

We did not have the chance to try them, but the restaurant is also known for their delicious meat pies. They sell out quickly, so come early in the morning if you want to try one.

Whipping around in a golf cart with the sea breeze blasting away your hair is definitely one of the top things to do in San Pedro Belize. Ambergris Caye is only 25 miles long. San Pedro is the main town. The best way to get around and discover fun places like Secret Beach and The Truck Stop is by golf cart. 

We rented our golf cart directly through our hotel for convenience. But you can shop around to find the best price. Carts Belize is a popular local company that offers a daily rate for $65 USD or a weekly rate for $266 USD. 

This local family restaurant has been around for decades. El Fogon translates to “fire hearth.” The family keeps with the old tradition of preparing meals by using an open fire to cook all of their meats, stews, and soups.

We enjoyed some delicious margaritas and fresh, flavorful ceviche. Although we did not try it, the thing to order is chicken salbutes (small crispy tortillas piled with shredded chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, and pepper).

Strongly recommend this local establishment! 

No, you are not in El Salvador, but you might as well be. Go right outside the town of San Pedro to taste these delicious stuffed corn cakes at La Divina Providencia Store & Restaurant.

Pupusas are their specialty and are made fresh to order by hand right on the griddle in front of you. They can be stuffed with loroco (edible flowers from a flowering vine in Central America), meat (chicharron (pork), chicken, shrimp, lobster), veggies (squash, cauliflower), beans, or cheese. 

THIS IS IMPORTANT. Do not forget to top your pupusa with curtido (pickled cabbage slaw) and pureed tomato salsa for the ultimate authentic experience. Wash it all down with a freshly made juice (watermelon was great!).

Ambergris Caye is not for everyone. If you love super pristine beaches, turquoise water, with fine dining and all inclusive experiences, this is not for you.

But if you love adventure, DIY travel, world class snorkeling, and discovering authentic local food, then these top things to do in San Pedro will be right up your alley. I loved it and can’t wait to come back! 

Questions about my favorite things to do in San Pedro Belize?

Let me know in the comments below!