Ambergris Caye, located in the southern part of the Belize Barrier Reef, is one of the most popular destinations in Central America, and its main town,
San Pedro, offers a variety of activities for visitors.
Travelers often arrive via the international airport in Belize City and then take a scenic water taxi to reach Ambergris Caye.
Once on the island, many choose to rent a golf cart to explore the local sites,
from the charming streets of San Pedro to the pristine beaches and natural wonders nearby.
Renting a golf cart provides the freedom to navigate the island at your own pace,
making it an ideal way to experience everything that this beautiful part of Belize has to offer.
San Pedro is a vibrant town located on Ambergris Caye, Belize, in the heart of Central America.
Known for its stunning location along the Belize Barrier Reef,
the second-largest reef system in the world, it attracts visitors from around the globe.
San Pedro offers a variety of activities, from snorkeling and diving adventures to exploring its lively streets filled with local shops, restaurants, and bars. Access to the island is easy, with regular flights from the Philip S.W. Goldson International Airport in Belize City or a scenic trip via water taxi.
Once on the island, many tourists choose to rent a golf cart for convenient and fun transportation,
allowing them to explore the southern part of the island at their leisure.
The town’s unique mix of natural beauty, vibrant culture,
and warm hospitality make San Pedro a must-visit destination in Central America. For more information on planning your trip to Ambergris Caye, visit the official tourism website.
For other places with the same name, see San Pedro.
| San Pedro Town | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
| Town of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye | |
| San Pedro Collage | |
| Nickname: La Isla Bonita | |
 San Pedro TownMap of San Pedro metropolitan area | |
Coordinates:  17°55′17″N 87°57′40″W | |
| Country | Belize |
| District | Belize |
| Constituency | Belize Rural South |
| San Pedro | 1848[1][2] |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Gualberto ‘Wally’ Nuñez |
| Area | |
| • Total | 71 km2 (27.5 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 2 m (7 ft) |
| Population (2010)[3] | |
| • Total | 11,767 |
| • Estimate (2016)[4] | 17,429 |
| • Density | 170/km2 (430/sq mi) |
| Demonym | San Pedrano(a)[2] |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central) |
| Climate | Aw |
San Pedro is a town on the southern part of the island of Ambergris Caye in the Belize District of the nation of Belize, in Central America. According to the 2015 mid-year estimates, the town has a population of about 16,444.[4] It is the second-largest town in the Belize District and largest in the Belize Rural South constituency. The once sleepy fishing village was granted the status of a town in 1984.[5]
San Pedro’s inhabitants are known as San Pedranos and most of them originally came from Mexico. Most speak both Spanish and English fluently.[citation needed] Due to the influence of English-based Kriol, most San Pedranos can speak English, as well as an intermediate form between English and Spanish that is known as “Kitchen Spanish”.[2] It is said one is not a true San Pedrano if one doesn’t know how to fish.
In Madonna’s early 2000’s interview with the New York Times, she stated that the inspiration for the name of San Pedro in her song “La Isla Bonita” was likely her reading of an exit ramp on the way to the music studio. She wasn’t a traveler then and had no knowledge of San Pedro.
The town is said to be the inspiration for the song “La Isla Bonita” (which begins with the line “last night I dreamt of San Pedro”), written by Madonna, Patrick Leonard and Bruce Gaitsch.[6][7] Manuel Heredia, minister of tourism in Belize commented Madonna’s musical theme has helped to attract tourists to land.[8]
History
The refugees from the “Guerra de Castas” fled mainly south to the sanctuary of northern Belize where the British authorities gave them protection and encouraged them to settle.
This was done in the hope that the refugees would eventually establish an agricultural settlement in Corozal and provide the lumber camps with an alternative source of foodstuffs now that the supplies through Bacalar in Mexico were no longer available.[2]
This migration was the principal factor in the settling of northern Belize.
The population grew from less than 200 in 1846 to 4,500 inhabitants by 1857, to 8,000 in 1858, in the Corozal District alone.
According to the official census in 1861, the population of the northern section of the country was almost twice that of Belize City and the surrounding areas.[1][9]
The first permanent settlers of San Pedro arrived between 1848 and 1849. These probably consisted of the relatives of fishermen who had previously built fishing camps on the cayes and moved their families over to the safety of the island when the Santa Cruz Maya revolted.
Initially, there were four families, soon joined by others from Bacalar.
The settlement quickly expanded to a village with around 30 houses and over 50 inhabitants. The settling of Ambergris Caye was typical of this general pattern. The refugees who came to live here had been farmers and fishers in Yucatán who continued these activities in San Pedro.[10]
On November 27, 1984, San Pedro officially gained township status in a ceremony attended by Governor-General Elmira Minita Gordon, Area Representative Louis Sylvestre, and local residents. Gilberto Chico Gomez was the town’s first mayor.[11]
Gallery
- Downtown San Pedro
- Main Street in San Pedro, Belize, looking south
- Main Street in San Pedro, Belize, looking north
- Central Park, San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, Belize
- Golfcart parking lot, Main Street
- Houses in San Pedro
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Panoramic view from Amigos del Mar Diving shop
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Panoramic view of Banana Beach Resort from dock