Overview
Take a trip to Ambergris Caye on your Belize Vacation
Ambergris Caye is the largest of several hundred islands located northeast of Belize in the Caribbean Sea. Only around 40 km (25 mi) long from north to south and about 1.6 km (1 mi) wide, the main form of transportation on Ambergris Caye is golf carts, perfect for a Belize vacation.
The history of Ambergris Caye dates back to the Maya with a possible population of around 10,000 people in pre-Columbian times (the time before Europeans appeared in the Americas). Next to arrive on the island were whalers and then European pirates before Mexican refugees arrived during the Caste War in the second half of the nineteenth century. Today, the descendants of these refugees make up a great deal of the island’s population today.
Recent decades have witnessed a shift from fishing being the island’s main industry to eco-tourism which has become increasingly popular thanks to the Belize Barrier Reef, the second largest in the world after Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. British naturalist Charles Darwin described it as “the most remarkable reef in the West Indies” in 1842. Hosting one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, it is renowned for the snorkelling and scuba diving sites available making it one of the country's top tourist destinations on a trip to Belize.
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The Garifuna Settlement Day (November 19) is a powerful celebration of music, dance, and drumming that honors the Garifuna people’s arrival to Belize. It’s one of the most vibrant cultural events in the country.
Belize combines the Caribbean’s laid-back vibe with Central America’s cultural richness. You can snorkel the second-largest barrier reef in the world in the morning and explore ancient Mayan temples in the afternoon. Few destinations offer that contrast so seamlessly.
Globetrotters should look to visit Hopkins Village — a coastal community with strong Garifuna roots. It’s less touristy than Ambergris Caye but offers beautiful beaches, authentic culture, and easy access to both reef and rainforest.
Many assume Belize is only about the beach and reef. In reality, its inland adventures are just as extraordinary — lush jungles, hidden caves with Mayan artifacts, and wildlife encounters rival Costa Rica.
The Ambergris caye is always a popular photo op...
Multicolored sealife of the caribbean
The jetty
Home on the ocean in Ambergris caye, Belize
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