Fun Things To Do In San Pedro and Ambergris Caye, Belize in 2024

Snorkeling Tours

One of the more exciting things to do in San Pedro for families who like to explore the underworld is to try a Snorkeling Tour. You will be thrilled with the amount of marine life you will watch as hundreds of tropical fish swim in their natural habitat of the Caribbean Sea. On these excursions you will have the opportunity to journey into the world's second largest reef system which is the Mesoamerican Reef where you will find brightly colored coral and shades of turquoise blue water that you might have thought never existed. You will be pleased as you snorkel around Hol Chan Marine Reserve and play with hundreds of six-foot nurse sharks and large stingrays. There are half and full-day options available that include a stunning sail boat cruise.

Belize Snuba Adventure

If you like to explore the underwater world of the Caribbean Sea then an ideal thing to do in San Pedro for explorers including families is to go on a Belize Snuba Adventure. This half-day excursion is perfect for people that want to experience the excitement of scuba diving or snorkeling and be able to view hundreds of tropical fish, brightly colored coral reefs as well as large beds of seagrass. Your adventure begins with complimentary hotel pick-up service where you will be taken to be outfitted with Snuba equipment that will allow you to reach depths of 20-feet in a safe and relaxing way. After a short safety lesson on the equipment you will be underwater exploring. There are two options for where you can Snuba that include a trip to Hol Chan Marine Reserve where you will watch hundreds of tropical fish swim in their natural environment or to Mexico Rocks where you will view brightly colored reefs and huge beds of seagrass. Your tour concludes with a short boat ride and drop-off service at your hotel.

Sailing Tours

One of the best family-friendly things to do in San Pedro that involves plenty of relaxing and viewing incredible marine life is to take a Sailing Tour. These excursions are ideal because you have time to lounge and sunbathe on the deck while captain and crew do all the work. While you are on your sail boat you can watch hundreds of marine animals such as stingrays, tropical fish, sharks and sea turtles play in their natural environment. You can sail to places such as the Hol Chan Marine Reserve where you will view incredible coral reefs and enter Shark Ray Alley or sail around Caulker Caye. You will enjoy the changing colors of the Caribbean Sea and the sunset sail brings a canvas of pastel colors to the sky. An added bonus is viewing the tropical landscape from a different perspective.

Ziplines and Tubing Tours

When you want to combine a bit of adrenaline and exploration into a fun packed day then a perfect thing to do in San Pedro is to try a Ziplines and Tubing Tour. These excursions will take you floating within cave systems such as Nohoch Che'en where you will learn about the mysterious underworld people named Xibalba that exist in Mayan mythology while view stalagmites and stalactites in an incredible natural environment. After floating in the caves you will be treated to an exhilarating zipline course which features seven platforms that will you traveling at high speeds for more than 1,000-feet above the jungle canopy. Other added bonuses on these tours include stops at Xunantunich and Altun Ha Mayan ruins where you will learn about the culture as well as history of the Mayan people or you can include a stop at the Belize Zoo.

Hol Chan Marine Reserve

One of the most popular things to do in San Pedro for underwater enthusiasts for snorkeling, scuba diving and just swimming is to visit the Hol Chan Marine Reserve. Located 4-niles southeast of Ambergris Caye, the Hol Chan Marine Reserve is situated within 3-square miles of the Caribbean Sea and is the oldest protected marine reserve in Belize. Hol Chan Marine Reserve is divided into four specific areas which are the reef, seagrass beds, mangroves and Shark Ray Alley. Hol Chan which is Mayan for small channel concentrates on a 30-foot wide channel that supports hundreds of marine life species from turtles to sharks to stingrays to hundreds of tropical fish as well as colorful coral reefs. When you visit Hol Chan Marine Reserve you can snorkel, scuba dive and swim in part of the Belizean Barrier Reef where you will find amazing places like Shark Ray Alley where you can swim with six-foot nurse sharks and stingrays with wingspans of four-feet. Snorkelers will enjoy waters with depths from five to eight-feet while scuba diving can range from 30 to 100-feet in depth.

Shark Ray Alley

When you want to swim, snorkel or scuba dive in an area that attracts hundreds of sharks and rays then an ideal thing to do in San Pedro is to take a trip to Shark Ray Alley. Located southeast of Ambergris Caye, Shark Ray Alley is situated within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and is the perfect place for interacting with harmless nurse sharks as well as stingrays. Shark Ray Alley is the result of fishermen coming to this location to clean out their catch nets and over the years the six-foot nurse sharks as well as stingrays with wingspans of four-feet could count on an easy meal. Fishermen eventually talked with the local dive masters who then continued the tradition of feeding the animals while taking scuba divers, snorkelers and swimmers into the area. Shark Ray Alley is only eight-feet in depth and serves as an exciting place for underwater enthusiasts that want to get up close and personal with these magnificent marine animals. In addition, there are numerous coral reefs in the area that make for a special day on and in the water.

Photo by Christine and John Fournier

Belizean Arts

If you like to view artwork that depicts the everyday lives of the Garifuna, Maya and Caribbean cultures, then a superb thing to do in San Pedro is to visit Belizean Arts. Located in the Fido's Courtyard in downtown San Pedro, Belizean Arts features original artworks, designer jewelry, carved Maya masks and numerous Garifuna drums. Belizean Arts was founded by ex-Londoner Lyndsey Hackston and has been doing business for more than 20 years on Ambergris Caye as well as one of the most well respected art galleries in the Caribbean. You will amazed at the craftsmanship and artistry from leading artists like Curvin Mitchell, Piva, Jorge Landero, Eduardo Garcia and Nelson Young just to name a few. As you stroll through the gallery the brightly colored artwork that includes seascapes, people, animals as well as natural sceneries will jump out and please your senses.

Marco Gonzalez Maya Site

If you are interested in Mayan culture and history then the best thing to do in San Pedro is to visit the Marco Gonzales Maya Site. Located 5-miles south of San Pedro on the Ambergris Caye, the Marco Gonzalez Maya Site is situated on 7.5-acres that contains 49 structures as well as walls and in 2011 the site became the first Maya Site National Park to be created on Ambergris Caye. The Marco Gonzalez Maya Site was occupied between 100 B.C.E. to 1,500 C.E. and boasts a tremendous opportunity for visitors to learn about the fascinating culture of the Mayan inhabitants. The Marco Gonzalez Maya Site sits just south of Laguna de Boca Chica and is surrounded by mangrove marshlands. While you are strolling through the site you will have the pleasure of viewing two major plazas and three smaller plazas that once were a center of trade for salt, obsidian, chert and pottery. Also within Marco Gonzalez Maya Site you will find a visitor's center where there are thousands of artifacts on exhibit as well as interactive exhibits explaining the eco-system of the area.

Water Sports

Water Sports with castawaycaye

Water Sports with belizeparasail

One of the more popular things to do in San Pedro is to try one of the many exciting and exhilarating water sports activities. There are several that you can enjoy whenever you wish such as jet skiing, water skiing or wake boarding and you can even take a banana boat ride. Other adrenaline filled adventures include parasailing 300-feet above the Caribbean Sea where you will have an incredible bird's eye view of the multiple shades of blue and turquoise water below as well as the surrounding jungle on land. There is opportunities to go tubing inside a cave, kayaking or standup paddleboarding. One of the newest crazes you won't want to miss to try the Sub Wing which allows you to glide underwater with ease. You will be delighted with the many choices and don't forget there is snorkeling, scuba diving and sailing.