Place Archive

Ambergris Caye

Ambergris Caye is Belize’s largest island, situated along the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, the second-longest coral reef in the world, with San Pedro Town as its main settlement. The island’s western lagoon side, historically undeveloped scrubland and mangrove, saw rapid commercial growth after roughly 2015, when Secret Beach transformed from a little-known swimming spot into one of Belize’s most-visited destinations following attention from social media and travel media. That stretch of shallow, calm water on the northwest coast now supports a cluster of beach bars, restaurants, and pier-based businesses, with construction continuing along the lagoon’s edge. Resort development along the Caribbean-facing side has similarly expanded waterfront infrastructure, catering to guests arriving by boat.

103 photos

The "Blue House F. Food" stand in San Pedro, Belize, offers local dishes and beverages, with a menu board visible. — Blue House F. Food, a small roadside restaurant in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Belize, operates from a blue wooden building with menu boards posted on the front wall. The stand advertises Belizean dishes including fried chicken, fish, shrimp, soups, and chow mein, along with bottled soft drinks and beer.

Hand-painted menu board at a San Pedro, Ambergris Caye eatery lists Belizean dishes and prices. — A hand-painted menu board at a casual eatery in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize, lists fried chicken, chicken fingers, fried shrimp, fried fish fillet, chow mein, soups, burgers, and steak. Prices are written in Belizean dollars, with items such as fried chicken at $9, chow mein at $10, and fish soup at $9.

A "MAYOR" parking sign stands on a cobblestone street in San Pedro, Belize. — A reserved parking sign marked “MAYOR” stands on a cobblestone street in San Pedro, Belize. The sign appears to designate a parking space for the mayor’s vehicle near a building entrance.

The Alaia Hotel at night on Ambergris Caye, Belize, part of the Autograph Collection by Marriott. — The Alaia Hotel stands on Ambergris Caye, Belize, with its illuminated facade and entrance drive visible at night. The resort is part of the Autograph Collection by Marriott and occupies a beachfront area on the island’s northern end.

PUR Boutique Cabanas & Taco Bar at night in Ambergris Caye, Belize, illuminated by string lights. — PUR Boutique Cabanas & Taco Bar at night on Ambergris Caye, Belize, is illuminated by string lights. The establishment offers cabana-style accommodations and a taco bar, and its services include spa treatments such as massages and facials, as indicated by a visible chalkboard menu. The property features a tropical ambiance with lush vegetation and wooden structures.

The illuminated pool and bar area at PUR Boutique Cabanas & Taco Bar on Ambergris Caye, Belize, at night. — PUR Boutique Cabanas & Taco Bar on Ambergris Caye, Belize, features a pool and bar area illuminated at night. The resort includes a wooden cabana-style building, lounge chairs, and an open-air bar beside the pool.

The Blue Bayou Bar at Secret Beach, Belize, features thatched roofs and wooden structures over calm waters at dusk. — Blue Bayou Bar and Grill stands on the water at Secret Beach on Ambergris Caye, Belize. The open-air bar and restaurant is built with thatched roofs and wooden platforms extending over the shallow shoreline.

Submerged wooden structures and thatched umbrellas at Secret Beach, Ambergris Caye, Belize at dusk. — Secret Beach on Ambergris Caye, Belize, is shown at dusk with shallow water, small thatched shade structures, and wooden benches or tables standing in the lagoon. A low, distant sandbar or small island is visible on the horizon.

Palapas and picnic tables submerged in shallow water at Secret Beach, Ambergris Caye, Belize, during sunset. — Palapas and submerged picnic tables at Secret Beach on Ambergris Caye, Belize, stand in shallow water at the edge of Ambergris Bay. The open-sided shade structures and seating are part of a popular beach area on the island’s west coast.

Mangrove roots are visible in the shallow waters of San Pedro, Belize, on Ambergris Caye. — Mangrove trees grow in shallow coastal water near San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Belize. The exposed roots help anchor the trees in the tidal flats, where mangrove habitat supports marine life and helps stabilize shorelines.

Grand Caribe Resort beachfront facade on Ambergris Caye, Belize, with terracotta roofs and arched windows. — Grand Caribe Resort in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Belize, is a beachfront hotel complex with terracotta roof tiles, arched windows, and multi-story balconies. The resort sits on the island’s Caribbean coast and includes landscaped grounds, a pool terrace, and direct access from the beach.

The swim-up bar at Grand Caribe Resort on Ambergris Caye, Belize, overlooks the main pool complex. — The swim-up bar at Grand Caribe Resort on Ambergris Caye, Belize, looks out over the main pool complex. The resort’s low-rise buildings and palm-lined pool area frame the bar, which is set within one of the property’s water features.

The central pool area of Grand Caribe Resort on Ambergris Caye, Belize, features Mediterranean-inspired architecture. — The central pool courtyard at Grand Caribe Resort on Ambergris Caye, Belize, is surrounded by multi-story guest buildings with Mediterranean-style architecture. The resort’s apartment-style units overlook the landscaped pool area, which includes lounge chairs, a hot tub, and seating beneath umbrellas.

Hammocks suspended over shallow water at Ambergris Caye, Belize, with a wooden pier in the background. — Hammocks are strung over shallow water at a beachfront property on Ambergris Caye, Belize. A wooden pier extends into the Caribbean Sea behind them, with a palm tree and rocky shoreline at left.

Abandoned hut and thatched shelter on Ambergris Caye, Belize, showing signs of neglect and damage. — An abandoned hut and a dilapidated thatched shelter stand on Ambergris Caye, Belize. These structures likely served as former tourist accommodations or residences, reflecting a past phase of the island's resort development. The thatched roof of the shelter is severely damaged, and the main building exhibits signs of neglect, including peeling paint and caution tape across its porch.

The poolside area of Coco Beach Resort on Ambergris Caye, Belize, features lounge chairs and umbrellas. — Coco Beach Resort on Ambergris Caye, Belize, has a poolside area with lounge chairs and umbrellas set among tropical landscaping. The resort’s Mediterranean-style architecture is visible in the multi-story buildings behind the pool.

Wyndham Grand Hotel construction on Ambergris Caye, Belize, January 2022. — Construction continues on the Wyndham Grand hotel on Ambergris Caye, Belize. Scaffolding surrounds the unfinished building, with palm trees and a beachfront walkway in front of the site.

Beach house architecture on Ambergris Caye, Belize, with decorative concrete screens and striped chairs. — A two-story beach house on Ambergris Caye, Belize, is set among tropical landscaping with palm trees and low shrubs in the foreground. The building has a pastel blue exterior, decorative concrete screen balustrades, and an exterior stairway leading to an upper-level veranda.

Weathered Las Terrazas Belize sign partially submerged in shallow water off San Pedro, Belize. — A weathered wooden Las Terrazas Belize sign stands in shallow water off San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize. The hand-painted structure marks the beachfront resort property on the Caribbean coast.

Palm trees and lounge chairs on the sandy beach at Las Terrazas Resort in San Pedro, Belize. — The beach area at Las Terrazas Resort in San Pedro, Belize, features rows of palm trees, lounge chairs, and shaded cabanas on the sand. The resort is on Ambergris Caye, a Caribbean island known for its tourism and beachfront accommodations.

Las Terrazas Resort on Ambergris Caye, Belize, features beachfront accommodations with palm trees and lounge chairs. — Las Terrazas Resort on Ambergris Caye near San Pedro, Belize, includes beachfront guest areas bordered by palm trees and sand. The resort is a tourism property on the island off Belize’s Caribbean coast.

The White Sands Dive Shop in San Pedro, Belize, is a stilted building on Ambergris Caye offering PADI courses. — White Sands Dive Shop stands on the waterfront in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Belize. The small building is raised on stilts above the shoreline and is linked to the water by wooden walkways and a dock, with PADI signage on the facade.

Palm-lined pathway at Las Terrazas Resort leads toward Caribbean Sea on Ambergris Caye, Belize. — The pier at Las Terrazas Resort on Ambergris Caye, Belize, extends into the Caribbean Sea. A path lined with palm trees leads from the resort grounds to the waterfront, where the pier provides access to the sea for guests.

Colorful condominiums line a street in San Pedro, Belize, on Ambergris Caye. — Colorful condominium buildings stand along a street in San Pedro on Ambergris Caye, Belize. The three-story structures have covered ground-level parking or entry bays, wood doors, and small shaded windows, features common in tropical coastal construction.

Minneapolis Photographer