Simply put, San Pedro is the most crucial town in one of the most beautiful countries in Central America because of its history. Whether you want to relax, go diving or scuba diving, spend some time at the spa, go fishing, golfing, and even watch a boxing match, you will find endless things to do in San Pedro, Belize, and have the time of your life.
There are many hotels and resorts in San Pedro Belize where you can stay in all price ranges. And electric golf carts (rather than cars) rule the road here because it’s too hot for vehicles. As a result, the pace is relaxed, and even dining out offers the opportunity to meet locals.
Make sure to try the local food, like coco bread, conch fritters, coconut shrimp, and even shark tacos. The seafood on Ambergris Caye is incredibly fresh and ranges from lobster and shrimp to fish and conch. A lot of people from around the world come to fish in this area.
San Pedro has all the attractions that make it an excellent place for an eco-friendly adventure.
Table of Contents
14 Best Things To Do In San Pedro Belize
Swim with Sharks at Shark Ray Alley
The Shark Ray Alley is located in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and is accessible by boat or kayak. At the entrance, you need to pay a symbolic fee. But beware, taking selfies and videos with the sharks is not permitted. The best time to visit is during the morning when the weather is cooler (so you don’t overheat).
A small note that this tour may not be for everyone, with some people getting just as much excitement from watching others brave enough to dive in.
This reserve is a protected coral reef system and one of Belize’s most popular beach destinations. Most visitors stay only for a couple of hours, but there is so much more to this place.
Dive in the Great Blue Hole
Belize has several great spots for scuba diving and snorkeling, but one of the best is the Great Blue Hole. People describe it as “one of the best-kept secrets in the Caribbean.”
This hole is located at the center of the Lighthouse Reef off the coast of Belize. It was created from the erosion of a limestone cave during the last ice age. The depth of this sinkhole is unknown because water shifts with the tides, but it is more than 300 meters deep—or 1/3 of a mile. The hole is basically in the shape of an ear canal, which makes for interesting photos.
I suggest you visit it towards the end of the dry season, between April and May, for favorable weather conditions.
Visit Bacalar Chico National Park
Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve are one of Belize’s most important natural habitats for birds and small mammals and a nesting ground for the endangered green sea turtle. Along the shoreline, manatees can be seen in the shallow waters.
When I arrived at Bacalar Chico, I was blown away by the coastal paradise of calm waters, white sand beaches, and picturesque views. A well-maintained parking area with public bathrooms greeted me at the lagoon entrance. You can see local Belizeans and tourists fishing, boating, and swimming. The marine reserve ends where the white sand beaches begin.
It is possible to see jaguars and pumas as well as ocelots. Also, snorkeling in the marine reserve will bring you up close to colorful corals, fish, turtles, and manatees.
Visit the “Secret” Beach
7 Mls North // +5016655794
The Secret Beach used to be a local’s secret but is now less “secretive.” It’s located in the hills above San Pedro Belize, just past Rock House. Most taxi drivers know it as well as tour companies that offer tours around the island.
You can reach Secret Beach by golf cart or pay around $20 USD to take a daily shuttle, but I recommend getting a golf cart and doing it yourself. It’s more fun.
{image} Secret Beach {image}
There are a few little beach bars on the beach and a restaurant with piers out into the water for a great dining experience.
Plus, you get the best of both worlds with part of the beach shaded by trees and part out in the open to soak up some sun!
{image} Secret Beach {image}
The spot is so popular; it’s actually generating enough buzz to make Belize a travel destination unlike no other. It is more than just a beautiful beach for sure! As you can see, the list of things to do in San Pedro, Belize is extensive, wait till you reach the end of this page.
Bring Your Kids To Boca del Rio Park
Boca del Rio (Beachfront) // +5012262286
If you are bringing your juniors with you, there are fun and engaging things to do in San Pedro, Belize, even for the pickiest ones. Boca del Rio Park caters mainly to children but recently has become a favorite for the local teens as well. This is a popular place for kids, parents, and teenagers because of its ideal location; one minute you are in the busy downtown of San Pedro, and the next minute you are relaxed on one of Boca del Rio’s beaches. Who says you can’t have it all?
Boca del Rio has two sandy beaches and is located in the northeastern part of the island. This beach area is also a great place to drop a hook and go snorkeling.
The nearby coral reef is home to many tropical fish, including angelfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, angelfish, sergeant majors, and many others that you will encounter on your never-ending snorkel tour.
Visit The Marco Gonzalez Archaeological Reserve
One of the best things to do in San Pedro Belize is to visit Marco Gonzalez Archaeological Reserve. The place is located at the tip of Ambergris Caye and is surrounded by a dense jungle and red and black mangroves. It was officially discovered archaeologically in 1984, although locals knew about it long before that.
The Mayan village will catch your eye immediately. Here you can walk on raised walkways through the jungle, with views of canals and mangroves below, and wander through a reconstructed Mayan city. The sights are simply wonderful.
Reaching it is simple, just take a short boat ride from San Pedro and enjoy the sea breeze.
I find it very educational that an excellent archeologist guides you and explains everything. They are a little bit more expensive than most, but it’s totally worth it!
Ride the Streets on a Golf Cart
You are going to get used to seeing golf carts everywhere you go as you begin exploring San Pedro Belize. You’ll likely spot them wholly packed with people on their way to dinner or getting milk at the store!
There is nothing like exploring this town from an open-air vehicle that you can control and take you places that a car can’t.
Driving a golf cart is one of the most fun things to do in San Pedro. But the calmer and more pleasant way of getting around town any time of the day is on foot. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, bars, and places to visit, all within walking distance.
There are also several beaches and other attractions that can be reached on foot as well. But if you really want to see and experience the island to the fullest, you’ll want to rent a golf cart.
Dine at the Truck Stop
1 Mile North, San Pedro, Belize // +5012263663
If you reach here, it means your thirst for fun things to do in San Pedro Belize is not over yet! Make sure you reserve a night to dine at The Truck Stop, THE place to be in San Pedro. It is a collection of shipping containers that have been turned into a mini entertainment center with a restaurant, private washrooms, beach chairs, and umbrellas for public use and entertainment venues (like the 17.7 feet movie screen) to host everything from live music to full-length movies.
{image} The Truck Stop {image}
Try the New Haven-style pizza and Asian and Latin food, all made from local ingredients, and cool off with some ice cream.
The best part about visiting here is that you can crawl from bar to bar, visit each food stall, pop some beads for a ride on the Ferris wheel, and then catch the sunset with Batson’s view over your shoulder.
Sail to Caye Caulker
Caye Caulker is located a ferry ride away from San Pedro and is a much more relaxed alternative, full of seaside eateries, boutique stores, gorgeous beaches, and plenty of fun at the Split.
If you’re going in a bigger group, I suggest chartering a catamaran boat from SEAduced by Belize for a day full of underwater activities at Hol Chan Marine Reserve and a stop for lunch in Caye Caulker.
But be aware that there are no hotels there, just seafront eateries, boutique stores, gorgeous beaches and a small fishing village which I recommend visiting.
Snorkel Hol Chan Marine Reserve
2 Barrier Reef Dr, San Pedro, Belize
Hol Chan Marine Reserve is one of the finest marine reserves in Belize. Like all of the country’s marine reserves, Hol Chan has been protected from fishing and other extractive activities since 1993.
Allowing for the replenishment of natural reefs, Hol Chan offers impressive coral formations in shallow water, fish sanctuaries, and underwater caves just outside San Pedro, which are only accessible by boat.
This site is one of the few marine parks in Belize where you can snorkel amongst a diverse array of creatures. You’ll see coral reefs and clear waters that are home to southern rays, parrotfish, nurse sharks, and much more.
And don’t worry if you have never snorkeled before; you can still experience the underwater world with help from a knowledgeable guide.
Tour The Belize Chocolate Company
Barrier Reef Drive, San Pedro, Belize // +5012263015
Add a flavor to your list of things to do in San Pedro Belize and take a tour in the Choco-World. Chocolate was a precious commodity and thus considered a drink of royalty. It was so revered that a beverage with cacao beans was the first thing to be sacrificed when human blood was needed for rituals.
So if you’re wondering what to do in San Pedro Belize — you should definitely visit the San Pedro Chocolate Company and experience their chocolate culture for yourself!
{image} Chocolate {image}
On a Belize private chocolate tour, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes tour of the facility and learn precisely how their 100 percent Belizean chocolate is made, from picking the cacao fruit to roasting and packaging the final product. You’ll even see the harvesting machines used in the cacao plantations.
While you’re there, I suggest buying some of their other products, such as caramel and jams, or check out their gift shop for more unique finds.
Shop At The Artisan Market
If you are headed to San Pedro Belize, it is highly advised that you make time to visit the artisan market. The market is packed within a small space, and many of the vendors have had their wares for decades.
This means that visiting this market will give you insight into the culture and traditions of the Ketchie People who sell their crafts in the area.
The market was a short walk from my hotel, and I ended up going back there twice. The first time I visited the market, I bought some incredible handmade rugs. The second time I went to the market, I purchased a spectacular wood carving.
There were plenty of things to buy in the market, and I definitely left with a few bags of souvenirs for my friends back home!
Painting Workshop at Melody Art Gallery
3103, San Pedro, Belize // +5012262787
If you like art, mark this place for your Things to do in San Pedro Belize List. Belizean Melody Art Gallery is a unique experience that hooks you up with a professional artist. You’ll get a step-by-step tour through drawing and painting, watercolor or acrylics, and let your inner artist admire.
{image} Belize Art Melody {image}
Water Taxis & Ferry
Water taxis are small, 10-15 passenger boats that serve the coasts of Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker, taking passengers to and from the mainland of Belize City. In addition, they can be chartered, often with live music, for excursions along the coast.
There are two leading companies operating water taxis: Coastal Xpress, based in San Pedro Town, and Caye Caulker Water Taxi. Not your usual water taxi, if you board on while the live music plays.
Last Words
Ultimately, you can use all these tips and create your tailored list of things to do in San Pedro Belize. Whether you’re here for the best beachside lodgings in the area or diving into the Blue Hole, sailing to Caye Caulker, San Pedro will quench the thirst of any traveler, particularly a foodie with a side of fun activities to do!
Visiting other destinations in Belize? Check out our other delicious guides:
Igor Jovanovski is an aspiring digital nomad, travel blogger and graphic designer who really loves food. He also has a creative side, and he works as a freelance graphic designer in his spare time. He has traveled across Europe quite a few times since he was young and recently started his mission to visit every country in the world! Igor’s favorite thing about traveling is the way he gets to know new people, food, places and cultures.
This exciting experience helps him create his own stories and make memories that will last forever