THESE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITES!
PLACES TO DINE:
While Sailing in Belize with us you have to eat!
There are SEVERAL FAVORITES HERE and as a Local Belize Tour Operator on the Island of Ambergris Caye/San Pedro these are our Recommendations and we frequent often!
We are happy to share them with you.
We hope you have a chance to visit all of them at some point while here.
If you have questions on any of our recommendations, please let us know. We are happy to share our "slice of paradise" with you.
*Blue Water Grill*
They have FRESH SUSHI on Tuesday and Friday Nights starting at 3:00 in the afternoon and a Great Menu otherwise with something for everyone, including PIZZA! Located in the Sun Breeze Hotel across the street from Tropic Air in town. Sun Breeze Hotel is a GREAT spot to stay! We highly recommend it!
Open for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
*Gillies Pour House*
ON THE BEACH in town at the foot of our pier and a place we spend ALOT of time at! This is more "local local" too! Great Food! They have everything from Awesome Wings to Delicious Homemade Ceviche and an AMAZING Seafood Platter! *Ceviche is prepared fresh before serving. It contains shrimp or conch (seasonal), onions, sweet peppers, tomatoes and cilantro. Shrimp is marinated in lime juice and a mix of spices. This is served with locally-made tortilla chips.*
Open for Lunch and Dinner - Closed Tuesday's
*El Fogons*
Delicious Fire Hearth Cooking! Everything on the menu is delicious. Chips and Salsa and all time favorite we crave. Whole fried fish, Salbutes, Rice and Beans with Stewed Beef or Chicken. YUM! Located a block from Tropic Air on the side street. Worth the find!
Open for Lunch and Dinner - Closed on Sunday's.
*Elvies*
One of the "Oldest Spots" on the island and a GREAT Friday Night for Dinner. Mayan Buffet is a delicious way to experience the Mayan Cuisine and Culture.
Located on Middle Street ~ Turn Left before Clock Tower and it's right on the corner. Reservations are strongly suggested.
Open for Lunch and Dinner - Closed Sundays
*Frenchys*
All we can say is DELICIOUS!! Frech Cuisine that you can't get anywhere else! Mussels, Escargot, Steak Tartar. Reservations strongly suggested.
Open for Dinners - Closed Sunday and Monday
*Waraguma*
This is a Local and Tourist favorite alike. They serve HUGE portions FYI. The Seafood Platter is our FAVORITE! We share! Here is where you can also get Papusas, which is a delicious treat in the evenings! They serve rotisserie chickens To Go for Lunch! Half, Whole or Quarter Chickens with some yummy sides. We typically get a whole and have it as a snack later. They are located on Back Street on the North end. Worth the search!
Open for Lunch TO GO and Dinners Daily.
*Crocs*
BEST SPOT TO WATCH SPORTS! Lots of TV's, Good Munchies and Good Company here! Located North of the bridge just at the "bend". Upstairs and GORGEOUS SUNSETS!
Tell Ivan we sent ya!
Open for Lunch and Dinner / 7 Days a week
*Juvienne's Cevicheria*
A "local spot" in town on Back Street by the football field. The Mixed Ceviche is our FAVORITE there! Great spot to hang out eat some good food and sing Karaoke on a Sunday Night! (we don't sing...we watch everyone else sing)
Open for Dinners and Late Lunches
*Palapa Bar*
This is a Tourist Spot FOR SURE! Located over the water in Boca Del Rio right at the "round about", head towards the sea. Can't miss it! They have inner tubes in the water for swimming, buckets of beer and good food. They have a HUMOUNGOUS BURGER and good BBQ. This place is open 7 days a week and they serve "Brunch, Lunch and Dinner Daily. Definitely a stop tourist want make.
*Truck Stop*
This is a Sunday Favorite for us. The Asian Dish with Noodles and Shrimp is what Nef orders and Tammy gets the Chicken. This is a "Food Court" if you will, with Pizza, Ice Cream, Taco's with a "twist" and Asian Fusion. This is a "Toss Up" between where to eat and where to visit as there is ALWAYS something going on here. Movie Night, Family Feud, Bingo, Trivia, Corn Hole Tournaments, a Swimming Pool for Guests, Ping Pong to name a few.
Open for Lunch and Dinner - Open 7 Days a week
*Brooklyn Bagels*
These are AMAZING! This is the ONLY Bagel factory in Central America and it is here on the island! Fresh Home Made Bagels with different flavors to choose from. Great to pick up and take a dozen with you for your time here for Breakfast, Lunch or a Snack. The "smears" served with them are YUMMY! They are located upstairs at Tropic Air. Ask for AJ, tell them Tammy and Nef sent you and receive a 10% discount. They also do a Special now and again. If you have FB friend them and keep up! Her homemade Lasagna is fabulous.
*Pop Up Chef Service*
Want to have Dinner on arrival when you get to you place or a Special Treat one night for a Special Occasion while on vacation or heck, every night because "you can"... Send us a quick message and our Chef can whip you up a fabulous Dinner, a great Brunch in the morning or nice appetizers to share with friends. She can do everything from Whole Fish to Sushi to Soups and Salads. She is awesome! Ask us about Miss Mir.
There are just some "things" we feel Guests should do while here, or at least "know" to do. Being a Belize Tour Operator here we offer Sailing in Belize along with other Trips and Tours, however we like to "share" and "show" Guests EVERYTHING there is to see while here on their vacation.
So we have "added" to our website some of those things and will "add more" as we go along but here are the TOP FAVORITES!
*Secret Beach for the Day*
This is the "latest craze" as of now here on the island. It is located on the Bayside/Westside and about 7 miles North from town. We offer this as a "Day Trip Service" by boat but some like to take a golf cart for the day and go explore. Ask for a cooler from where you are staying and make a day of it! We go directly to the Main Pier when we go and spend the afternoon. There are several bars and restaurants. Check out Privates or the Water Park.
*Golf Cart Rental*
SPEAKING OF: Golf Carts ~ We recommend Rocks Golf Cart to use when you come to the island. Located on Middle Street/Across from Atlantic Bank. Email wiamharmouch@hotmail.com to save your dates! They will also bring the cart to you when you get in. Hotels do make a commission on carts so you do pay a premium if you reserve through your resort.
Tell them Xsite sent you so you get "Our Discount"
*Spa Day*
We LOVE a day spent at Sol Spa. Massages with Carrie or Jean or Pedicures with Angie 011-501-226-2410. Make an appointment in advance as they are good and typically get full. Tell them Xsite sent you!
*Artisan Market in San Pedro*
We have an Artisian Gallery in the back on Back Street across from the Football field. It is where all the local folks get to display their beautiful art vs on our beaches. Paintings, shells, hammocks to name a few. We strongly suggest a stop here when you come and SEE what there is there and then visit before you go home to buy.
*Wine De Vine*
We go here often to just sit and catch up on the weeks events with each other and friends. Typically a great spot to sit down and relax and have a glass of wine with a fabulous cheese and meat tray! See you on Fridays! 011-501-226-3430
Open 11:00 - 8:00 Monday thru Saturday
*12 Belize Boutique*
Unique and Beautiful Gifts ALL MADE IN BELIZE! Hand Made Bags, Ornaments, Jewelry. Lara's shop is located on Tarpon Street in the BIG Purple Building upstairs. This is a FOR SURE STOP as it not only is unique but supports many women in villages around the Country.
Open 9:00 to 5:00 Monday - Saturday or check out her website http://www.12belize.com
*Gerry's Cardio Dance Class*
Have to say I personally do this class Daily... okay maybe not daily but! Super fun! Monday through Friday and FOUR CLASSES DAILY! 6:00 am / 8:30 am / 6:00 pm / 7:15 pm. (I don't do four classes a day just one!) If you are interested, please let us know. This is more a "local thing" but Gerry is always happy to have Guests for a weeks vacation.
*Chocolate Shop*
This is a favorite stop for visitors as there is ALWAYS a type of Chocolate for everyone. There are also Chocolate Classes to learn to make Chocolate.
All Made here in Belize. Located on the corner where you turn to Front Street from Tarpon Street by the RC School.
Open Monday thru Saturday
*Havana Cigar Shop*
Located on Front Street by the Alley way to our Pier which is the 2nd Alley way to the beach. Carlos is a wealth of information. Voted one of the TOP Cigar Shops in the WORLD
Good to Stop in and ask when a good time is to come in and chat.
*Smelly People Wanted Soap Shop*
Smells YUMMY just driving by! It is located next to Holiday Hotel and has a sign outside saying "Smelly People Wanted". Check them out for Home made soaps.
Open Monday thru Saturday from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
We have a few places that we like to recommend and all depends on your budget and what you want to spend.
Sun Breeze Hotel
For Ease and Comfort we highly recommend. They are located right across the street from the airstrip. (No it isn't noisy either! The planes land at the other end) We have guests that come to Sail with us & stay here often. It is close to our Pier and has a great pool and restaurant attached. Nice spot close to everything. Well worth the value.
****
Victoria House
Victoria House is amazing! Great Spot South of town on the beach. Superb Serve, Superb Staff, Great Restaurant and Bar. Nothing more to say.
*****
The Phoenix
The Phoenix is located in town but feels like it is more remote. It also has a great restaurant attached to it. Pool is amazing and the view unbeatable. Located at the very end of Front Street / Barrier Reef Drive. Great spot!
*****
Coco Beach
Coco Beach is located about 3 Miles North of town and is great for adults and kids alike. The owner has a thing for pools and it shows. Kids love the slide! There is water volleyball as well. It also a restaurant and bar on site.
****
The Sand Bar
The Sand Bar is located in town on the beach in Boca Del Rio. It is a Hostile type setting and priced accordingly, but not as you would imagine of a typical Hostile. Clean, well taken care of and good food. I believe they are rated #1 in the Caribbean for hostiles. So if you are looking for a bed and a clean place to stay, this is a great spot.
*** Only because it is a Hostile!
Though it is now a haven for travelers from around the world, Ambergris Caye is also steeped in history.
Ambergris Caye’s position on the Southen tip of the Yucatan Peninsula meant that it began life as an important trading post for the Maya people who once ruled the region. Indeed, about 1,500 years ago, they decided to create a more optimal trading route between the Yucatan coast and Belize by creating the Bacalar Chico channel which now separates Ambergris Caye from Mexico.
The Ambergris Caye area continued to be used primarily for trading purposes until around the 16th or 17th century. By this time, the Maya people had begun to retreat further and further inland in an effort to avoid making too much contact with the European settlers who were now arriving more frequently.
In the absence of the Maya, the Europeans took ownership of Ambergris Caye. Indeed, according to local lore, pirates from the Netherlands, France, and Great Britain would regularly use the region’s many coves as hiding spots when ambushing rival Spanish ships. This story is given more credence by the fact that a number of small treasure collections have been discovered on the island – potentially left behind by those European pirates.
By the 19th century, the European pirates had left Ambergris Caye, but the region was beset by the War of the Castes. This conflict in the Yucatan drove the Mestizo and Maya people across the Bacalar Chico channel and on to the island. In 1848, these new residents formed the town of San Pedro – which is still the largest settlement on the island.
In 1869, a wealthy Briton named James Hume Blake purchased the ownership rights to Ambergris Caye for the princely sum of $625. Mr. Blake and his wife, Antonia Andrade, transformed the island into a coconut plantation and conscripted many of the island’s residents to work for them.
Though the coconut business was a successful source of income for the island for almost a century, it was eventually destroyed by a series of devastating hurricanes in the 1950s. Soon after, the Belizean government purchased Ambergris Caye from its private owners and redistributed its ownership rights to the people who called the island home.
Many of the islanders then turned to the fishing business in search of an income for their families. Lobster, in particular, proved to be a popular catch. Before long, the people of San Pedro had formed a lobster cooperative and even built a freezer plant on the island.
Though the island’s lobster industry has gone through some ups and downs over the past five decades or so, it remains one of the largest sources of income for the people of Ambergris Caye. It coupled with tourism and real estate are some of the main drivers behind the ongoing success of the island today.
Sailing in Belize is our focus as a Belize Tour Operator but we want to share as much information about Belize as possible.
Hol Chan is Mayan - for "Little Channel" and is a natural break in the reef, which has always been a very productive fishing area with abundances of marine life. It is open to the deep sea beyond the reef, so allows marine creatures to travel in and out of the reef with very little effort. Hol Chan became the first Marine Reserve in the entire country back in 1987. This has led certain species of fish able to re-generate along with the corals growing unharmed. This snorkeling area has the greatest variety of marine life and coral in the country. Being compared to an "underwater zoo".
Shark & Ray Alley's history is that due to its position close to the channel to go outside the barrier reef for fishing, it was the point where the local fishermen came in at the end of their day with their catch and started cleaning it. Throwing the heads and bones in the water while coming back to shore. This converted Shark & Ray Alley to it's own natural habit for the marine life such as nurse sharks and sting-rays that associate the sound of a boat engine to food. The water is shallow and you can see the nurse-sharks and sting-rays on the surface, meaning that even if you don't get in to the water you can enjoy it from the boat.
Sailing in Belize is AMAZING!
We are a Belize Tour Operator, based here in San Pedro. While we may "seem to be" a bit more expensive than some. We are a Fully Licensed Tour Operation here on the Island and we don't "over book" our boats and we don't "skimp".
*There are some folks around town offering trips and tours trying to undercut prices to try to get Visitors to book with them instead of Licensed Operators .*
We as a WHOLE in the Tourism Industry here on Ambergris Caye are asking that you as Guests visiting us, please ONLY use a Licensed Tour Operations while you are here and not the guys on the streets or by the water taxi or hustling on the beach offering trips for less money.
*First you get what you pay for in Quality & Service ~They do not have the Training that Licensed Tour Guides have.
*Second their equipment is not guaranteed to be safe or within regulations ~ Are Equipment is serviced often.
*Third they typically do not have the Advanced Training is Water Safety or Rescue ~ We require it.
*Forth, they are typically NOT insured ~ We are
So please make informed decisions while on your vacation here in Belize and choose wisely.
This is not to "scare" anyone away from coming to Belize as Belize is BEAUTIFUL, the people are Amazing and the Culture is Wonderful and Diverse, but to be in full disclosure to Guests coming that WE are Safe, WE are Insured and WE are a Licensed Tour Operation and employ Licensed Tour Guides.
With that said ~ We look forward to meeting you soon!
Thank you and enjoy Belize
Owners of Xsite Belize Sailing & Adventures
Nef & Tammy Lemus
Belize Sailing Vacations
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