Ambergris Caye (/æmˈbɜːrɡrɪs ˈkiː/ am-BUR-gris KEE; Spanish: Cayo Ambergris), is the largest island of Belize, located northeast of the country’s mainland, in the Caribbean Sea. It is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) long from north to south, and about 1.6 kilometres (1 mi) wide. Many parts of the island have been modified by human development since the arrival of coconut plantations in the 17th century, but it remains largely white coral sand with mangrove forest at its center. Its eastern coast runs parallel to the northernmost stretch of the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A Maya community lived on the island in Pre-Columbian times, leaving behind distinctive polished red ceramics.  It is widely believed that maritime trade motivated the Mayans themselves to excavate “Boca Bacalar Chico”, the marine channel that separates the island from the Mexican mainland, but its origins could also have been natural (e.g. a hurricane).

San Pedro Town is the largest settlement and only town on Ambergris Caye. There are also a number of small villages and resorts that serve the island’s growing tourism industry, especially ecotourism and scuba diving. Although administered as part of the Belize District, the closest point on the mainland is part of the Corozal District.

The majority of Ambergris Caye is reserved for national park/wildlife preserve limiting the availability of real estate.  To the north of San Pedro Town is the destination of Belize Secret Beach, one of the more popular beach destinations in Belize. The Belize Secret Beach destination on Ambergris Caye is often called “San Pedro’s worst kept secret”, as the Secret Beach area has yet to see substantial development, but has become an increasingly popular destination for tourists and locals, allowing the area to boast a remote atmosphere but still offer more developed amenities. Secret Beach also features cenotes, sinkholes, and caves.

COST:   

• Diver ——–$1689USD
• Non diver—$989USD
• Single diver-$2519USD