9 Things to Do in San Pedro Belize

You’ll find endless adventures in San Pedro, from snorkeling Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley to renting golf carts for island exploration. Spend days at Secret Beach’s turquoise waters, then bar hop along the beachfront strip visiting Palapa and Fido’s Courtyard. Take scenic flights over the Great Blue Hole, explore Mexico Rocks’ calm reefs, and browse local art galleries showcasing Maya traditions. Day trips to mainland ruins complete your Belizean experience, revealing deeper cultural treasures.

Snorkel Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley

Why settle for ordinary snorkeling when you can explore Belize’s first marine reserve? Hol Chan Marine Reserve, located just 4 miles south of San Pedro, offers you access to pristine coral reefs within the Mesoamerican Reef system.

You’ll snorkel through the natural Hol Chan Channel, where near-vertical walls drop 10 meters and teem with reef fish schools, groupers, snappers, and moray eels.

Your tour typically combines two stops: Zone A’s protected coral reef where fishing’s prohibited, and the famous Shark Ray Alley.

At this former fishing cleaning site, you’ll encounter large numbers of nurse sharks and southern stingrays in shallow, clear water.

Half-day boat tours from San Pedro provide easy access to this 103,058-acre reserve supporting over 500 fish species across interconnected reef, seagrass, and mangrove habitats. The reserve protects critical habitats for endangered species like sea turtles and manatees that rely on these diverse marine ecosystems.

Rent a Golf Cart and Cruise Around Town

After exploring Belize’s underwater treasures, you’ll want an efficient way to navigate San Pedro’s streets and discover the island’s land-based attractions. Renting a golf cart provides the perfect solution, with daily rates around US$30–40 for 4-seaters and US$60 for 6-seaters. Weekly rentals offer better value at approximately US$175–185.

Most rental companies deliver carts directly to your hotel or the water taxi terminal, often ready upon arrival when booked in advance. The vehicle bridge connecting north and south Ambergris Caye enables full-island exploration, though you’ll encounter a toll booth (some rentals include bridge passes). All rental carts come with insurance included, providing peace of mind during your island adventures.

These street-legal, gas-powered carts feature proper safety equipment and insurance. They’re more cost-effective than repeated taxi rides and provide on-demand flexibility for accessing restaurants, shops, and beaches throughout San Pedro.

Spend the Day at Secret Beach

While most visitors flock to San Pedro’s reef-side beaches, Secret Beach on Ambergris Caye’s west coast offers an entirely different Caribbean experience. Located roughly 7 miles northwest of downtown, you’ll find crystal-clear, turquoise water with firm sandy bottoms perfect for wading and swimming.

The lagoon-side location means calm conditions with minimal wind and virtually no sargassum seaweed.

You’ll discover numerous beach bars and restaurants like Blue Bayou and Happy Island, operating from 10:00 a.m. to sunset. Most venues offer free sun loungers and in-water seating with food purchases.

The 35-45 minute golf cart journey includes scenic mangrove views along unpaved roads. What was once a secluded coastline has transformed into a booming tourism destination since its initial development began in 2016.

Arrive early to secure preferred spots, as this former “secret” location now attracts significant crowds, especially weekends and holidays.

Bar Hop Along the Beachfront Strip

San Pedro’s beachfront strip transforms into the island’s premier nightlife destination once the sun sets, offering an unbeatable combination of Caribbean Sea views, cold drinks, and live music just steps from the sand.

You’ll find the main action concentrated along Barrier Reef Drive, where bars like Palapa Bar & Grill, Wayo’s Beach Bar, and Sandy Toes create the perfect crawl within walking distance.

Start at Palapa for their famous “Panty Ripper” cocktails and sunset views, then move to Wayo’s for sports broadcasts and Sunday live music.

Sandy Toes offers DJ sets that heat up on weekends, while Fido’s Courtyard delivers classic San Pedro nightlife with live performances.

Most venues feature over-water docks, casual flip-flop dress codes, and a welcoming mix of travelers, expats, and locals. Getting between venues is effortless since most visitors use golf carts as their primary transportation around the island.

Take a Scenic Flight Over the Great Blue Hole

Once you’ve experienced San Pedro’s nightlife scene, nothing compares to witnessing the Great Blue Hole from above—a breathtaking geological marvel that reveals its true magnificence only through aerial perspective.

This 300-meter-diameter limestone formation, approximately 400 feet deep, sits within Lighthouse Reef Atoll about 45 miles offshore.

Maya Island Air operates scheduled tours from San Pedro on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 9:00 am, while Tropic Air offers mid-day flights with ideal lighting conditions. Certified pilots holding Tour Guide Licenses provide expert insights throughout the journey.

These hour-long excursions use small aircraft ensuring every passenger gets a window seat.

You’ll experience multiple 360-degree circuits around the Blue Hole, plus flyovers of Turneffe Atoll, Shark Ray Alley, and Half Moon Caye.

The stark color contrast between the deep blue sinkhole and surrounding turquoise reef creates unforgettable photographic opportunities.

Snorkel Mexico Rocks for Calmer Waters

After experiencing the adrenaline of aerial views, you’ll find Mexico Rocks offers the perfect contrast with its remarkably calm, sheltered waters ideal for relaxed snorkeling. Located six miles north of San Pedro within the Hol Chan Marine Reserve expansion, this patch reef sits well inside the barrier reef, providing natural protection from ocean swells.

At depths of 8-12 feet, you’ll easily observe vibrant star coral, brain coral, and staghorn formations while swimming above sandy bottoms. The calm conditions make this site perfect for beginners and families. The coral heads create a maze-like underwater landscape that adds intrigue to your exploration.

You’ll encounter schools of snappers, parrotfish, angelfish, and occasionally sea turtles and nurse sharks.

Protected since 2016, the area maintains strict no-fishing and no-anchoring regulations, ensuring healthy marine life. Most operators offer half-day guided trips from San Pedro.

Sample Local Flavors at The Truck Stop Food Court

When hunger strikes after your underwater adventures, head to The Truck Stop Food Court, Belize’s first shipping container food park that’s revolutionized dining on Ambergris Caye. Located one mile north of San Pedro Town bridge, this outdoor beer garden combines Latin American, Belizean, Southeast Asian, and New Haven-style pizza under one industrial-chic roof.

You’ll find signature trucks like Rasa (Southeast Asian), Arepa (South American), and Slice of Haven (pizza) arranged around communal courtyard seating. The food-court format encourages progressive tasting—grab appetizers at one truck, mains at another, then finish with tropical ice cream.

Arrive in late afternoon to avoid crowds and catch sunset views from the lagoon-side pool area. Beyond dining, the venue transforms into an entertainment hub with movie nights, trivia competitions, and live music that create a vibrant community atmosphere. Expect mid-range pricing around BZD $90 for meals plus drinks.

Browse San Pedro’s Art Galleries and Craft Markets

Since San Pedro doubles as both a beach destination and Belize’s unofficial art capital, you’ll discover an impressive concentration of galleries and craft markets within walking distance of each other along Barrier Reef Drive.

Start at The Gallery of San Pedro Ltd., which houses over 2,500 pieces by more than 120 artists—the largest collection in Belize.

Browse Belizean Arts in Fido’s Courtyard for work by leading Caribbean artists, or visit Gallery 501 for curated contemporary pieces.

Look for paintings by signature artists like Walter Castillo, Pen Cayetano, and Leo Vasquez featuring reef scenes, Garifuna village life, and tropical landscapes. For a more intimate experience, visit the C. Emmanuel Gallery at SunBreeze Hotel by appointment, which specializes in paintings depicting Maya and Garifuna life.

Complete your cultural exploration at craft shops like Belizean Thingz for hand-beaded jewelry, carved hardwood masks, and embroidered textiles reflecting regional patterns.

Join a Day Trip to Mainland Maya Ruins

While San Pedro’s galleries showcase Maya artistic traditions, you can explore the ancient civilizations that created these cultural foundations by taking a day trip to Belize’s spectacular mainland ruins. You’ll start with a water taxi or short flight to Belize City, then transfer inland by van or boat.

Choose from Altun Ha‘s 52-foot Temple of Masonry Altars, where the famous jade head of sun god Kinich Ahau was discovered.

Lamanai offers the most dramatic experience—you’ll boat upriver through crocodile habitat to reach the “Submerged Crocodile” site and climb the 112-foot High Temple. This remarkable site represents one of the longest continuously occupied Maya cities in the Americas.

Xunantunich requires crossing the Mopan River by hand-cranked ferry before ascending El Castillo for views into Guatemala.

Tours include transfers, guides, entrance fees, and often combine with cave tubing or zip-lining.

The Sum Up

You’ve got endless adventures waiting in San Pedro, from world-class snorkeling at Hol Chan to exploring ancient Maya ruins on the mainland. Don’t miss the stunning aerial views of the Blue Hole or the laid-back vibes at Secret Beach. Whether you’re bar hopping downtown, sampling local cuisine, or browsing art galleries, you’ll discover why this Caribbean paradise captivates every visitor. Pack your sense of adventure—San Pedro’s unforgettable experiences are calling your name.