Happy Monday Everyone! Brad and I just got back from a relaxing, week-long vacation. We stayed with my family in Ocean Lakes in Myrtle Beach, SC. I have some new goals for the blog, but took the time to really focus on rest for the week. I am working to collaborate with a few folks and cannot wait to share those posts later this week and throughout July. This is my last post on Belize. Be sure to check out my other posts on it HERE Part 1, HERE Part 2, HERE Part 3, HERE Part 4, HERE Part 5, HERE Part 6, and HERE Part 7. Have a great 4th of July week!
Unbeknownst to me, the food in Belize would be one of my favorite things about our trip! I thought I would share where and what we ate on our trip in case you ever visit Ambergris Caye or are looking for something to eat in San Pedro, Belize. Read on or check out what to eat in Ambergris Caye, and to see the flavorful dishes we tried!
Day 1: (Thursday, exploring)
Breakfast: THOMAS CREEK BAR in GSP Airport – Breakfast Burritos with potato fingers
Lunch: PALAPAS BAR – Ceviche, and the best Jalepeno Poppers we have ever had. We both had our first Belikin and I carried on my ketogenic diet with a “Teeny Bikini” zero-carb delicious pink drinks.
Dinner: BLUEWATER GRILL on Sushi night – Blue water Grill is the restaurant where we stayed. Read more about our hotel HERE. The sushi was fresh from the ocean, but the price was twice what we would pay in the US (after the BZD conversion). Apparently sushi night is hyper popular, so the customer service was terrible. We saw our waiter twice all night.
Day 2: (Friday, Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave Tour)
On our second day, we took the 6 AM water taxi back to Belize City and a transfer to San Ignacio to join a bus tour of the ATM cave. It is very well-known throughout the country and entire area as it was considered the primary entrance to the land of the Gods within Mayan culture. Cameras were not allowed on tour, but this attraction is an absolute MUST see in Belize. The guides were phenomenal, we met some amazing people, hiked through the jungle, swam into a cave with crystal clear flourescent-aqua-colored water with tiny fish, and splunked, or swam, crawled, squeezed, and tromped through a water-filled cave with just our headlamps and a super-fun guide. About 1 mile in there are thousands of Mayan relics and pottery, including 10+ sacrificed skeletons. We walked right by and were essentially standing on top of and walking right by these skeletons. The finale is a young sacrificed skeleton permanently calcified into the rock. Among several other structures, stalagmites and stalactites fill the cave. Several deeper open caves are literally littered with signs of ancient activity and worship. It was truly an indescribable experience to see rich museum pieces still lying in their actual place of discovery. Rock sliding into holes, walking down extremely narrow corridors, climbing stalactites, swimming in pure darkness with only lead of your tour-mates’ hands, bats, and spiders larger than my hands were also included in the tour. This experience is the closest to Indiana Jones one can experience. Learn more at Mayawalk’s website HERE.
Breakfast: Protein bars, hotel coffee
Lunch: MAYAWALK-provided, after our ATM cave adventure: they are confused and provide a vegetarian meal with “Gluten-free” across the top. I end up eating a regular plate of chicken, pasta salad, banana bread, watermelon, and tortilla. I scarfed it down before I could take a picture, as you can see. Ancient Mayan ruin cave splunking and exploring is exhausting!
Dinner: EL FOGON, after a fellow traveler’s recommendation. – Quickly seated, great price, and amazing traditional Belizean food. Brad and I eat off eachother’s plates. We tried our neighbors (seating was limited so they sat us with another couple) ceviche which was also superb. I had a Mango Daiquiri and a Belikin and we split a Creole Fish, Rice & Beans, and Veggies. We eat under a palm tree-thatched roof with a fan and cool breeze, on picnic tables with white linens, and sanded flooring. A creole electric pianist is playing and singing Ed Sheeran songs in a Jamaican accent and reggae beat. It is my second favorite place of the trip!
Day 3: (Saturday, fishing)
Breakfast: Protein bars, hotel coffee
Lunch: TRES PESCADOS home prepared- A ham and cheese sandwich, an apple, banana bread, Fanta, Coke, and Water. We snack on Emperador cookies and melted protein bars we bought/brought as we chase permit. Read about the chase HERE.
Dinner: ALBERTINAS taco stand, in the City Plaza, on recommendation- I got a chicken taco, beef taco, and shrimp taco. Brad got an “everything” burger including a beef patty, bacon, and sliced hot dogs. We pair it with a Belizean brand of Fritos, Emperador cookies, and Bourbon & Coke. We pass out shortly after!
Day 4: ( Sunday- Secret beach and exploring island since the ocean is to rough to dive)
Breakfast: ESTEL’S, on the Beach- A waiter directs us to the menu, takes our order there, then moves a table inside so our plates won’t get blown away on the beach (without our asking- he knew we wanted an ocean view). We both ordered Mimosas. Brad orders the Mayan Special (ham and cheese eggs with a fry jack). I order the Shrimp and Chorizo Special- also with a fry jack. This is another favorite meal and the service is impeccable! Topped off with the beachside view for the perfect brunch spot. As we were leaving we talked to a guy cooking 2 huge grills of barbecue, island style. We had plans to go to Secret Beach this day, but we highly recommend trying their barbecue on Sunday. We learned that everyone on the island barbecues on Sunday. Read more about our adventure to Secret Beach HERE.
Snack: THE SANDBAR, a restaurant on the main floor of the hostel- A giant strawberry and lemon lime ice.
♠ SHOP THIS LOOK: ♠
♠ LOVERS + FRIENDS CARMELLA ROMPER ♠ SANDALS ♠ ERIKA SUNNIES ♠
Late Lunch: A homemade fundraiser selling boxes of BBQ, rice, and slaw plate for $5 ($10 BZD). We bought it on our golf cart and ate it once we got to Secret Beach. It was more than enough to split.
Dinner: HIDDEN TREASURES, on several recommendations. This place deserved its own blog post so be sure to check it out HERE. Hidden treasures is an absolute MUST if you are ever in San Pedro.
Day 5: (Monday, Scuba Diving)
Breakfast: BELIZE COFFEE SHOP- 2 Iced Coffees.
Lunch: BLUEWATER GRILL, our hotel restaurant. We did not want to venture too far before our scuba trip, so we decided to eat by the pool. Brad had a quesadilla, and I had barbecue chicken salad. Service was great the second time around and the food was pretty, unique, and delicious.
Evening Snack: We went to the grocery store and got more snacks as we hung by the pool and watched the sunset.
Dinner: PALAPAS… again- We could not leave the island without getting more Jalepeno Poppers! In addition, Brad gets a quesadilla and I order fish tacos. It is nearly the only place open as May 1st is Labor Day in Belize. This place never disappoints!
Day 6: (Tuesday, Traveling Home)
Breakfast: Protein bar, hotel coffee
Lunch: THE LAST DROP, a cafe in the water taxi port in Belize City- Brad gets the Mayan Breakfast and I get a ham and cheese tortilla. We both order iced coffees.
Snack: Samuel Adams airport bar – Split chips & salsa and a beer. At this point we are back in the US, but we made sure to grab some Emperador cookies, plaintain chips, and ginger cookies in the Belize City airport.
Dinner: Tuna pasta and grapes at my parents, where we pick up our dog!
My favorites: Creole anything, shrimp, Emperador cookies, Mango drinks, and the awesome BANANA bread (I am in a mad search of a recipe!). They do not put nuts in banana bread.
Brad’s favorites: Stuffed grouper at Hidden treasures and Belikin
Be sure to check out my other posts about our trip to Belize: HERE Part 1, HERE Part 2, HERE Part 3, HERE Part 4, HERE Part 5, HERE Part 6, and HERE Part 7
I hope this helps you decide where to eat on Ambergris Caye or where to eat in San Pedro, Belize.
Cheers to a wonderful trip!
With Joy,
Audrey
