Ambergris Caye's Best Adventures: Snorkeling, the Blue Hole, and Beyond
By: Dawn Writes Co.
San Pedro is the main town on Ambergris Caye, and it sits right on the edge of the Belize Barrier Reef — the second-largest in the world. Start here if you'd rather spend your vacation in the water than next to it; it's a natural place to begin with the reef itself.
Snorkeling Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley
Start with a half-day trip out to Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. Hol Chan is shallow coral channels packed with parrotfish, eels, and sea turtles. Shark Ray Alley is exactly what it sounds like — nurse sharks and stingrays swimming close, with a guide right there. Tours run daily, and gear is included.
Visiting the Great Blue Hole
Then there is the Great Blue Hole that drops over 400 feet into Lighthouse Reef Atoll. Many excursion operators offer a full-day trip that includes a visit to the Great Blue Hole, a quick stop on Half Moon Caye to see the red-footed boobies and iguanas, and then finally to the shallow waters of the Aquarium. The visibility and array of fish calling the area home are amazing. It makes for a long day out on the boat, but you will not be disappointed.
Best Time to Visit San Pedro
Dry season is late November through May — less humidity, flatter seas, and water clear enough that you can see past 100 feet on a good day. Wet season runs June through November. You'll still get plenty of sun, but the afternoon showers roll in fast, and the boat rides out to the reef get bumpier, so timing helps shape the experience.
Beyond the Water
San Pedro isn't only about what's underwater. Golf carts are bumping along the beach roads, ceviche served at tables close enough to the sand you can feel it under your chair, and sunsets off the pier once the day-trip crowds head home. A tiny island wrapped around a massive reef — that's really what it comes down to. The tough part of visiting isn't finding something to do. It's narrowing down which tour to book first.