Lyla Lindsey
San Pedro Town is located on Ambergris Caye, the largest island in Belize. The island is 25 miles long and about 1-2 miles wide. San Pedro is the largest settlement and only town on Ambergris Caye, with a population of about 16,444 people. The town is known for its fishing and diving industry, as well as its vibrant tourism scene.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population | 10,000+ year-round inhabitants, with many newcomers from the mainland and abroad. The 2015 mid-year estimates put the population at 16,444. |
| Population Demographics | Predominantly Mestizo, with Maya, Creole, and Garifuna communities also present. Expats also make up a small percentage of the population. |
| Language | Most inhabitants speak both Spanish and English fluently. An intermediate form between the two, known as "Kitchen Spanish", is also commonly spoken. |
| Main Industries | Tourism, fishing, and diving. |
| Location | Southern part of Ambergris Caye, Belize. |
| Geography | 25 miles long and about 1-2 miles wide. |
| Transport | Golf carts and bicycles are the principal mode of transportation. |
What You'll Learn
San Pedro Town is the largest settlement on Ambergris Caye
San Pedro's inhabitants are known as San Pedranos, and most of them originally came from Mexico. The original San Pedranos (from the 1800s until the 1970s) are Mestizo and speak both Spanish and English. However, Spanish is spoken a little more than English in San Pedro, and most people on Ambergris Caye speak both languages fluently. The town is known for its friendly and tolerant locals, who are used to the presence of tourists.
San Pedro has a picturesque setting beside the clear turquoise sea. The town is clustered with wooden homes, some with Mexican or Caribbean decor, while others retain their English colonial architecture. The streets are lined with gift shops, boutiques, bars, cafes, and restaurants. There are also plenty of charter boats, fishing and diving facilities, and some of the country's best cooks who take pride in their seafood specialties.
One of the primary industries in San Pedro is tourism, with scuba diving being a particular draw. The town's proximity to the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, makes it a top spot for diving, snorkelling, sailing, and fishing. The Belize Barrier Reef is less than a mile offshore, providing countless dive sites and snorkelling spots within a short boat ride. In addition to water activities, visitors to San Pedro can enjoy golf cart and bicycle rentals, bar-hopping, and world-class restaurants.
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The town is a popular tourist destination
San Pedro Town is a popular tourist destination. It is the main settlement on Ambergris Caye, Belize's largest island, and is located in the southern part of the island. San Pedro is a popular destination due to its proximity to the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The reef makes it an ideal spot for diving, snorkelling, sailing, and fishing.
The town has a population of about 16,444 and is known for its friendly and tolerant locals, who mostly go about barefoot, in t-shirts and shorts, the typical island dress code. The original "San Pedranos" are Mestizo and speak both Spanish and English. The town has a mix of wooden homes with Mexican, Caribbean, and English colonial architecture. It has a variety of shops, boutiques, bars, cafes, and restaurants.
San Pedro is known for its excellent seafood and cold beer. It offers a comfortable, seaside vacation with moderate prices. The town has a laid-back vibe and is not overly commercialised or overrun with tourists. It is a great place to relax and enjoy the sun, sand, and sea. The warm, clear Caribbean Sea is protected by the reef and is ideal for swimming. The water temperature averages about 82 degrees Fahrenheit year-round.
San Pedro has a range of accommodation options, from low-rise hotels and guest houses to boutique-style resorts and condos, catering to different budgets. It is also a popular spot for golf cart and bicycle rentals, with these being the principal modes of transportation on the island. The town is easily accessible, with hourly flights from the international airport and ferry services also available.
San Pedro is also known for its festivals, such as the San Pedro Lobsterfest and the Holiday-lighted Boat Parade. It offers a unique cultural experience, with a mix of modern conveniences and a vibrant local culture.
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It has a population of about 16,444
San Pedro, Belize, is a town on the southern part of Ambergris Caye, an island in the Belize District of Central America. With a population of about 16,444, it is the second-largest town in the Belize District and the largest in the Belize Rural South constituency.
The town's inhabitants, known as San Pedranos, are predominantly of Mestizo ethnicity, with Mayan, Creole, and Garifuna communities also present. Most San Pedranos originally came from Mexico and speak both Spanish and English fluently. The town also has a significant expat community, predominantly from the US.
San Pedro's population has grown substantially over time. In 1846, the population of what would become modern-day San Pedro was less than 200. By 1857, the population had increased to 4,500, and by 1858, it had reached 8,000. This growth was largely due to refugees fleeing the "Guerra de Castas" and settling in northern Belize.
The first permanent settlers of San Pedro arrived between 1848 and 1849, consisting of fishermen and their families. By the time San Pedro was granted township status in 1984, the population had grown significantly, and the town continued to develop its infrastructure and tourism industry.
Today, San Pedro is a bustling town, known for its friendly atmosphere and vibrant culture. It attracts visitors from all over the world with its beautiful beaches, world-class diving and snorkelling spots, and unique festivals. The town's population continues to grow, reflecting its popularity as a tourist destination and a great place to live.
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San Pedro is located in the southern part of Ambergris Caye
The town's inhabitants, known as "San Pedranos," mainly originate from Mexico and speak both Spanish and English fluently. San Pedro has a laid-back, barefoot and shorts island dress code. The town is easily navigable by foot, golf cart, bicycle, or taxi, with only ten streets and no pavement. The main street, Barrier Reef Drive (formerly Front Street), runs north-south and is home to many shops, restaurants, and bars.
San Pedro is the main gateway to Ambergris Caye, with an airport and the largest concentration of shops, hotels, and restaurants. The town has a vibrant atmosphere, with a mix of wooden homes in Mexican, Caribbean, and English colonial styles. It is a popular tourist destination, known for its friendly locals, excellent seafood, and laid-back vibe. The town also hosts several festivals throughout the year, such as the San Pedro Lobsterfest and the Holiday-Lighted Boat Parade.
Ambergris Caye itself is a 25-mile-long island, located in the clear shallow waters of the Caribbean Sea, just off the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. The island features mangrove swamps, lagoons, and sandy beaches, with a narrow channel separating it from Mexico. It is a popular destination for diving, snorkelling, sailing, and fishing, as well as for its luxury beach resorts and vibrant nightlife.
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The town is known for its fishing and diving facilities
San Pedro, Belize, is a town on the southern part of Ambergris Caye, the largest of Belize's 200-plus islands. The town was once a small fishing village and fishing remains central to its culture and economy. San Pedro's inhabitants, the San Pedranos, are known for their fishing expertise, with the saying going that "one is not a true San Pedrano if one doesn't know how to fish".
San Pedro is a popular destination for fishing trips, with companies like GoFish Belize offering guided tours. The Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is less than a mile offshore, providing a unique opportunity for reef fishing. The reef is the second-largest in the world and is home to a diverse array of marine life. The crystal-clear waters and endless flats also make it an ideal spot for fly-fishing and light-tackle fishing.
In addition to fishing, San Pedro is also known for its diving facilities. The town's proximity to the Belize Barrier Reef and other top diving sites makes it a top choice for scuba diving and snorkelling. The Hol Chan Marine Reserve, the first of its kind on Ambergris Caye, is a popular spot for divers to explore the coral reef and experience the rich marine life. The Belize Pro Dive Center, a 5-star PADI Dive Resort, offers scuba diving courses for beginners and advanced divers, as well as snorkelling tours.
Other notable diving sites near San Pedro include the Great Blue Hole, a massive underwater sinkhole located near Lighthouse Reef Atoll; Turneffe Atoll, the largest of Belize's three atolls with over 400 islets; and Half Moon Caye Wall and Long Caye Aquarium. With so many diving options, it's no wonder that San Pedro is a favourite destination for diving enthusiasts from around the world.
The town of San Pedro has grown from its fishing village roots to become a bustling centre of activity, with wooden homes, gift shops, boutiques, bars, cafes, and restaurants. The friendly locals, beautiful beaches, and vibrant culture continue to attract visitors year after year, making tourism one of the primary industries in the town.
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Frequently asked questions
San Pedro is a town on the southern part of Ambergris Caye, the largest island in Belize. The island is 25 miles long and about 1-2 miles wide.
You can get to San Pedro by plane or ferry. It is a 15-20-minute flight from Belize City. Alternatively, you can take a water taxi from Belize City harbour. Boats leave hourly from 8 am to 5:30 pm and the journey takes 1.5 hours.
San Pedro is a popular destination for water activities such as kayaking, windsurfing, parasailing, and jet skiing. It is also known for its excellent scuba diving and snorkelling. There are also golf carts and bicycles available to rent, as well as plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars to explore.
