Happy Birthday QEII!

Posted on by

Being Queen does have its perks!  Most of us get to celebrate only one birthday a year (and sometimes, even that is one too many…) but Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Other Commonwealth Realms (of which Belize is one) has a choice. Despite her actual birth in April, the Queen’s Official birthday in the UK and elsewhere is celebrated in June.

In Belize we celebrate our differences. Belize is a Commonwealth country, member of that loosely held group of nations that recognizes Queen Elizabeth II as our sovereign ruler. So here, we celebrate Sovereign’s Day on May 24th. Why? Because despite her over 65 years on the throne, Elizabeth is not the Queen whose birthday we acknowledge — that privilege belongs to Queen Victoria.

Continue reading →

May 1st, Labour Day: Will you be at Secret Beach?

Posted on by

Holiday! Celebrate!

Like many other countries around the world, Belize celebrates Labour Day (also now known as International Worker’s Day) on May 1st.  People from the US and Canada are more familiar with this as a September holiday, but traditionally, a celebration of the workers of the world coincides with Spring. Labour Day in Belize is a bona-fide National Holiday, garnering workers who qualify time and half on their paychecks and celebrated country-wide with bar-b-ques, games, races, volleyball tourneys and just old-fashioned fun.

Secret Beach, Ambergris Caye, Belize

Secret Beach–waiting for you & Labour Day celebrations!

The big news for Labour Day in San Pedro is always the Bash at Secret Beach (okay, we all know this isn’t really a secret any longer). Secret Beach (and more about this another time…) started its annual Labour Day Bash a couple of years ago and it immediately became the go-to event for the day. May also sees a slow down in San Pedro from the fast-paced (for workers) tourist season to the more mellow vibes of early summer, so for the many men and women who sustain and maintain the infrastructure tourists rely on (groundskeepers, housekeepers, restaurant and town workers, pool cleaners and street cleaners, the people who keep the utilities running and pick up the trash) Labour Day is not only a day to kick back and relax, it is also a true celebration of their efforts and contributions to the island.

If May first finds you in San Pedro, come along and join the fun – food, music, sandy shores and sparkling water take the work out of celebrating!

For photos of a previous Secret Beach Labour Day bash, click here. 

-Post by Rosa LaRosa

Travel Tip created by Barbara Smalley, Belize & Colombia Vacation Rentals in association with Vacation Soup

Spend a couple of nights in a jungle lodge too!

Posted on by
Sunset Beach Resort, Ambergris Caye

Cabaña at Mariposa Jungle Lodge

For its relatively small size (about the same area as the US state of Massachusetts), Belize has a ton of diversity! Ambergris Caye is a very popular tourist destination, but it’s definitely worth visiting the jungle areas of the mainland as well to experience the different geography, flora and fauna. Many people like to stay in one place and so will spend a week on Ambergris Caye, taking a day trip or two to the mainland (any tour operator will pick you up at our dock & take you cave tubing, zip lining, and more!); but it’s also worth considering spending a few nights with us & a few nights in a jungle lodge!

Continue reading →

Excursion to neighboring Caye Caulker!

Posted on by
Sunset Beach Resort, Ambergris Caye, Belize
Caye Caulker & the Split from above

There are lots of ways you can visit our island neighbor, Caye Caulker, where “Go Slow” is taken very seriously! There are no paved streets on this small island (actually split in to two by Hurricane Hattie in 1961; that divide is now called the Split) and it is a great place to spend a couple of hours or a day (or a week?).

How do you get there? Many tour operators offer a stop on Caye Caulker as part of a full day excursion that might include another activity, such as snorkeling at Hol Chan Marine Reserve or manatee watching at Swallow Caye. You can also hop aboard a water taxi (either San Pedro/Belize Express or Caribbean Sprinter) and take the 25 minute trip over and wander at your leisure (just don’t miss the last water taxi back at 6:15 pm!).

There are a number of restaurants & small shops, and of course the iconic hang out spot is at the Split, where you can swim, sun, eat, drink….

Continue reading →

Plan on cooking in your condo? Shopping tips from a recent guest!

Posted on by

The following is from a May 2017 TripAdvisor review and posted with permission by guests who stayed in Sunset Beach Condo B1, aka “Carolina Blue”. Don’t get too hungry while reading! 🙂 If available/found, links to more information on the businesses mentioned have been added.

The condo is large and has a kitchen stocked with any appliance or tools you would need….We cooked most of our meals at the condo rather than eating in town at restaurants. Finding all the food we needed was challenging, but fun if you like to shop around…we called it “foraging for food.” U.S. Dollars (usd) are accepted in Belize…(1) US Dollar equals two (2) Belize Dollars (bzd)…all change is given in Belize coins. Our recommendations for various items:

GENERAL GROCERIES / PAPER PRODUCTS / MISC.
*Island City Supermarket: We had read that this grocery store was 10-15% higher than others in San Pedro, but learned from a local source that the store was under new management. We found their prices very reasonable and most items had not expired yet. (Tip: check all expiration dates [in all grocery stores on the island].) Ask them about their VIP Discount Card (10% discount off purchase of $20.00bzd or more, restrictions apply on certain items). Cost of various products: box of oatmeal($3.50bzd, small bottle of olive oil $3.95bzd, half gallon of 2% milk $10.95bzd, one pound of sharp cheddar cheese $19.95bzd, small bottle of soy sauce $3.50bzd, one dozen eggs in carton $4.50bzd; eggs are 3 for $1.00bzd and carton is $0.50bzd; tip: take carton with you each time you go to the store for eggs.
Continue reading →

Hol Chan/Shark Ray Alley: a must do!

Posted on by

Even if you want to spend your entire Ambergris Caye trip doing nothing but lounge on a hammock—a perfectly acceptable way to spend your vacation!!—consider taking a half day Hol Chan Reserve/Shark Ray snorkel or dive trip. The Belize Barrier Reef is the largest in the western hemisphere and the second largest in the world; it has an abundance of gorgeous sea life that you don’t want to miss. Continue reading →

Check out Belize’s Great Blue Hole!

Posted on by
The Great Blue Hole Belize aerial shot

The gorgeous Great Blue Hole is essentially a giant sinkhole (like a “cenote” on the Yucatan) which is part of the Lighthouse Reef Atoll. It is 980 feet (300 m) across & 400 feet (120 m) deep, in the middle of a shallow section of the Belizean Great Barrier Reef system and is a popular scuba destination made famous by Jacques Cousteau in the 70s.

Those wanting to visit the Blue Hole to dive or snorkel can do so by day trip through any of the popular dive shops on the island such as Belize Pro Dive or Ramon’s. It’s an all day excursion involving about a 2 hour boat trip out to where you will dive/snorkel at three different locations (Blue Hole, Half Moon Caye, and the Aquarium at Long Caye), plus get breakfast, lunch & an opportunity to see red footed boobies on Half Moon Caye!

Continue reading →

Could your time on Ambergris Caye be this much fun? Yes, yes, yes!

Posted on by

The following was received from a guest shortly after she & her family got back home from their 5 night stay at Sunset Beach. Posted here with permission of course, and links to places mentioned added in case you want to find out more!

[Time flew} by but we had an excellent time. Judy took such great care of us and Chapin was wonderful! We absolutely fell in love with San Pedro and my husband is already looking for property there. The condo was just what we needed and my mother was so pleased with everything. I am sure you already know how great Judy is but I have to tell you she was a life saver for us. She was so patient and kind and answered all of our newbie questions. We just feel in love with her and wish we had more time to just hang out and visit with her. She is a keeper for sure! Guess that means we need to come back huh? Lol Continue reading →

What’s happening in Belize while you’re there?

Posted on by

Belize loves a holiday & there is seldom an excuse needed to have fun…from Carnaval (February) to Lobster Fest (June) to the Holiday Lighted Boat Parade (December) and more, San Pedro is no slacker when it comes to celebrating!

Popular island blogger San Pedro Scoop has compiled a list of annual events with links to information on them; check it out here!  Continue reading →