After three nights in Belize City, I took a water taxi to San Pedro Town, on Ambergris Caye, Belize's largest island. Yes, this is the island that Madonna sang of so many years ago. It's absolutely lovely. There are really no beaches to speak of in Belize City, so I was happy to see sugary white sand and clear blue waters all along the coast as we approached the island. The Lonely Planet guide book had warned that San Pedro was something of a Cancun/spring break tourist destination, but as it is low season right now, it feels practically empty. I originally intended to only stay three days but enjoyed my stay so much I have extended it for another 3 days (for now anyway!).
Apparently, there has been a lot of recent development to the town, new condos, resorts, and businesses. People who visited San Pedro before 2009 may not recognize it. That said, it is still pretty quiet, there are few cars here, people mostly rent golf carts to get around. Most buildings are new and brightly painted. English is the main language, but it's not uncommon to hear Spanish or creole. All of the beaches are open to the public. There are plenty of activities and tours to sign up for including: snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, parasailing, hiring a sailboat to visit other islands, go manatee watching, swimming with sharks, visit popular dive spots and wildlife reserves, or head to the mainland and go cave-tubing, zip-lining in the jungle, and visit more ruins. There is also a small airport with daily flights to destinations throughout the country.
A continuous sea breeze enhances the island's serene atmosphere. The days are hot and sunny, and I try to get my swims in the morning or the evening. The beaches are usually empty, but you have to walk a while to find one that is not overrun with sea grass. At night, the temperature is mild, and there are occasional sudden rain showers that only last a few minutes. People are very friendly here, the local children are especially curious and like to strike up conversations. One of them showed me a massive red starfish they had found before he released it back into the ocean.
I have gone out for dinner and breakfast at some of the nicer resorts' restaurants overlooking the ocean, and they are also pretty empty. I stayed in Pedro's Inn, which is about a block away from the beach, and both a hotel and a hostel. They have a small pool, a bar, and serve fantastic pizza. A portion of the proceeds from the pizza sales go towards the San Pedro Animal Hospital, also located on the premises.
It's been nice taking it easy and I may extend my stay a bit longer. Tomorrow, snorkeling, a visit to Caye Caulker, a BBQ on the beach, and sea cows.
Pedro's Inn
The walk to get to the beach
Fried jacks, a local breakfast favorite (sweet fried dough).
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
No comments:
Post a Comment