San Pedro on Ambergris Caye is one of the most expensive places in Central America, and it’s more expensive than nearby Caye Caulker, but compared to many Caribbean islands it’s a bit of a bargain. Backpackers and other low budget travelers should probably head to Caye Caulker instead, though a few cheap and basic one-star hotels do exist in San Pedro city. Other hotels range from pleasant to resort villas, with prices to match.
The main activity seems to be relaxing, so if you don’t plan on renting boats or other water sports equipment then you can get by without spending a fortune here.
Population | 8,400 |
Area | 15,000 |
Timezone | UTC-6 |
Currency | Belize dollar |
Airports | Philip S. W. Goldson International Airport (BZE) |
Food and drink isn’t as pricey as the high end Caribbean destinations, but it’s not exactly cheap either, unless you head to the simple restaurants where locals go. Belikin beer is fairly cheap most places, but mixed drinks and wine tend to be pricey.
Budget breakfast | By far the cheapest options are at the places that cater to locals. | $5.47 - $8.96 |
Budget lunch | There are restaurants and bars that line the beach, open for lunch and dinner. | $8.96 - $13.93 |
Budget dinner | Local seafood can be pricey, but there are good deals around if you look, including at some beach places. | $11.94 - $18.91 |
Beer (.33L) | Belikin is the local Belize lager and it's served ice cold at nearly every bar and restaurant. | $3.98 - $5.97 |
Month | High F | Low F | PRECIP (inches) |
---|---|---|---|
January | 75 | 70 | 4.5 |
February | 76 | 71 | 2.6 |
March | 79 | 74 | 1.9 |
April | 81 | 76 | 1.7 |
May | 83 | 79 | 4.0 |
June | 83 | 79 | 8.6 |
July | 83 | 79 | 8.1 |
August | 83 | 78 | 7 |
September | 82 | 77 | 9.5 |
October | 80 | 75 | 10 |
November | 78 | 73 | 7 |
December | 76 | 71 | 6.7 |
The temperature data above is for Belize City, which is on the coast and about 40 miles away, so San Pedro is similar, though maybe a bit cooler by a degree or two. Still, as you can see, the temperature range doesn’t vary much from one month to the next, so really the main thing to know about here is the dry season vs. the rainy season.
This whole area is fairly dry from January through late May, and the rest of the year is considered the wet season. The island tends to get heavy rainfall in short bursts rather than steady drizzles all day, so it’s usually simple enough to take cover for an hour or so. Much of the rain falls overnight as well so it’s not really as bad as it might look, though it does get quite humid during summer so make sure you book a hotel with A/C if you want to sleep.
21 Mar | 5:55am | 6:03pm |
21 Jun | 5:17am | 6:29pm |
21 Sep | 5:40am | 5:50pm |
21 Dec | 6:18am | 5:21pm |
San Pedro, and all of Belize, is on the Caribbean resort season schedule, which means the absolute peak time for everything is the winter holidays around Christmas. The normal high season lasts from mid January through April, though by the end of March the crowds start to thin out so deals are possible in April.
The low season is the rest of the year, and the lowest prices are during the rainy season from June through November. This can be a good time for fishing and also for scuba diving, so your money can go a long way if you come outside of the main high season.
Rating | Price(USD) |
---|---|
18.00 - 42.00 | |
66.00 - 145.00 | |
85.00 - 166.00 | |
201.00 - 312.00 | |
211.00 - 389.00 |
Type | Price(USD) |
---|---|
Hostel Bed | - |