San Pedro de Atacama

San Pedro sits on the southern tip of Ambergris Caye, Belize's biggest island. It was founded around 1848 by Mestizo families who fled the Caste War in the Yucatán. They named it after St. Peter, the patron saint of fishermen. That fishing village heritage is still present, even if you have to squint a little past the beach bars and resort signage to see it. Locals are called San Pedranos. And look, they're genuinely warm. But San Pedro has also become what mainlanders call "Little America," a fast-growing tourist enclave with a large expat community of mostly Americans and Canadians. Development has moved fast. The island is evolving constantly, and not everyone is thrilled about the pace. Still, ride out on a golf cart past the bridge on a Tuesday morning and you'll find quiet stretches, locals going about their day, and a real sense that this place has roots. The town's three main streets, Front Street (Barrier Reef Drive), Middle Street (Pescador Drive), and Back Street (Angel Coral Drive), each have their own personality. Front Street is bars and tourist restaurants facing the sea. Back Street is where you eat rice and beans for under $10 and run into more locals than tourists. Locals speak a fluid mix of Spanish, English, and Kriol depending on who they're talking to. It's entirely possible to hear all three in a single conversation.

San Pedro is considered one of the safest areas in Belize for tourists, and the US State Department's Level 2 advisory for Belize is the same rating given to France, Germany, and the UK. Keep perspective. The island has dedicated tourism police who patrol specifically for visitor safety, and long-term residents (including many solo women who moved there from the US) consistently describe it as comfortable and welcoming. That said, petty theft happens. Don't leave valuables on the beach unattended, don't flash expensive gear, and lock your golf cart every single time you leave it. Golf carts have universal keys and cost BZ$30,000–40,000. Thieves know this. The golf cart issue is the number one thing locals flag. Also: don't drink the tap water. Stick to bottled or filtered. Mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and Zika are present, especially in rainy season (June–November), so pack DEET repellent. Sandflies at dusk are annoying and real. Credit card fraud rings are active in the region, so use ATMs at banks (Belize Bank, Atlantic Bank) rather than standalone machines. The actual violent crime situation in Belize is almost entirely concentrated in Southside Belize City, which is not somewhere tourists typically go. If you're transiting through Belize City, get to the ferry terminal and move on. Solo women may encounter catcalling; a firm and polite response works fine. Medical care on the island is limited, so get travel insurance that covers evacuation before you go.

There are no regular cars on Ambergris Caye. Golf carts are how everyone gets around. Rent one from any of the cart companies near the ferry docks or through your hotel. Expect to pay $40–80 USD per day depending on season. Book in advance during Lobster Fest or December–April peak season or you'll find nothing available. For short distances in downtown, walking or biking is fine. Many hotels provide free bikes. Getting to San Pedro: the two options are a 15-minute domestic flight or a 1.5-hour water taxi from Belize City. Tropic Air and Maya Island Air run the flights from both Philip Goldson International Airport and the Municipal Airport. Round trips run $55–90 USD. Water taxis depart hourly from 8am to 5:30pm from Belize City's marine terminal. Cost is around $31 USD one-way. The boat is scenic and cheaper; the plane is faster and gives you a stunning view of the reef on approach. Getting between islands: water taxis connect San Pedro to Caye Caulker regularly ($10–15 USD one-way). The Thunderbolt Water Taxi runs daily to Corozal, departing San Pedro at 3pm, taking 2 hours, and costing BZ$52 one-way. Road quality on the island gets rougher the further you go from downtown, especially heading out toward Secret Beach. Expect dirt roads, potholes, and speed bumps. Drive the golf cart slowly at night. There are no streetlights outside of town.