The noseeums are definitely there, just take precautions. Deep Woods Off worked for me, after I had been bitten. The places to be careful are outdoor patios next to the beach. The deep red blotches are caused by an allergic reaction to the saliva and not everybody is allergic. I am also led to believe that some people develop an immunity over time.

There is plain old Skin So Soft (the oil) and there is Skin So Soft with added ingredients for bugs. It's called Bug Guard Plus/Picaridin. I've found that Picaridin works much better than any deet based product and it doesn't smell as bad or melt things. Cutter Advanced (with picaridin) is another one that works well.

Hello -- thought I should report back that we loved Ambergris and didn't have any problems with bugs. Just problems with leaving and feeling like I was going to cry as the plane took off.

I went armed with bottles of Skin So Soft Bug Guard, Off, Deet 90%, ready to buy hemp oil, etc. -- I might have applied Avon stuff twice but i don't think i was bitten once by a no-see-um and pretty much forgot about it. We stayed on the water, had an outdoor patio connected to sandy area & we were out there at dusk and in evenings, left our doors open so we could see water and let breeze in, etc.

It was freakin great. Ran into a few mosquitoes but the breeze was steady enough to keep everything away. We were on the lagoon side once and I thought I could see mosquitoes swarming so they might be more of an issue there where air/water is more stagnant.

This is easily our new favorite spot in the Caribbean. Thanks so much for everyone's responses.

We were in AC just a couple of weeks ago and none of us ever got bit by any bugs at all!! We were outside at night but we did use Sawyers Controlled release but repellent at all times. The only time any of us were bothered by any bugs was at Caves Branch. Our last two night, when the rain started, there were fleas everywhere but if you put on Sawyers you did not get bit. One evening my oldest son used nothing and sat at the bar for a while and he ended up getting bitten horribly, but only where his legs hung down on the bar stool.

In Jamaica, the bugs are much, much worse!!!!

This is the most common problem people have with Ambergris Caye.

Did that work on time-share salesmen??

LOL KC, actually we were only approached once and my son told the guy that we were there to pick up the remains of a family member, as he patted his back pack, and take them home. He left us alone really quickly! LOL.

and I meant to say "Sawyers Controlled release BUG repellent".

I was wondering about the "but" repellent.... lol.