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mbergris Caye is the name of Belize's largest island. The history of the
island goes back to the days of the Maya, European Pirates, and Mexican Refugees
who fled during the Caste War. The descendants from Mexico make up most of
the island's population today. The economy of the island was once dependent
on the coconut industry, followed by the fishing industry and presently it
depends on tourism.
S
an Pedro Town is the only inhabited area on the island. It's atmosphere
is that of a small bustling fishing village. The town is clustered with wooden
houses, some with Mexican decor, others Caribbean, and some still remain
with the English colonial architecture. Gift shops, boutiques, bars, cafes,
and restaurants adorn Front And Middle streets (now named Barrier Reef
Drive/Pescador Drive). A short walk in town will make you feel the friendliness
of the people and enjoy their lifestyles as they go around doing their daily
chores. Barefeet, tee-shirts, and shorts is the typical island dress code.
The people of the island are called "Sanpedranos" and speak English, Spanish,
Creole, and Maya all at the same time, making it their own island dialect.
They are proud of their heritage and are willing to share it with the tourists.
Before tourism picked up in the eighties, the islanders wer mostly Mestizos
(Maya-Spanish). Today they share their island with the Creole, Maya, Central
American refugees, and Americans that have made San Pedro their new home.
The island's biggest tourist attraction is the Belize Barrier Reef that runs
parallel along the entire coast of Belize. The reef is only a quarter mile
from the beach of Ambergris Caye making diving easily accessible. The island's
seaside is jammed with jetties and dive shops which offer trips to the different
dive sites and to the Great Blue Hole. The also offer certified scuba lessons
in NAUI, PADI, and SSI. One of the most popular dive sites is the Hol Chan
Marine Reserve, which is only a ten minute boat ride from town. The reef's
beauty and richness has put Belize among the top ten dive destinations in
the world.
The evenings on the island are a social event. You will find tourists and
islanders at the different bars and restaurants listening to reggae and latin
music and sharing the day's adventures. For those that like to take a day
off from diving, the travel agencies in town arrange day tours
(click here) to the Maya ruins and
rain forest. For those who just want to relax, a day on the sandy beach will
certainly do.
Gach Guerrero, Amigo Travel
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The Barefoot Executive - Walking down the beach with a friend
one day (an island dog in tow), both on our way to our respective jobs, (we
do have those, even in paradise), he remarked: "Great Commute, Huh!!!"
Copyright 1997 by Advantage Information Management |
channel that separates Mexico and Belize was dug by the Mayan
to provide a trade route from the bay of Chetumal to the Caribbean.
Following the Maya came the whalers and buccaneers
and the ancestors of present day residents who were fishermen
and workers in the coconut plantations. Today tourism has replaced
fishing as the major source of income for the islanders
although the mahogany skiffs are still in service for charter fishing and
diving.
When planning your next vacation to one of those exotic islands that offer
everything but crowds, remember my name is . . . . . Ambergris Caye!
