The beauty of traveling is not only visiting a new country or city but documenting its character, quirks, and experiences so you can share it with your friends and family. San Pedro, the island town found on Ambergris Caye in Belize, is very photogenic and has some of the best spots for that unique photo-op. Here, we share some of the most popular places to take out that camera and snap a shot in San Pedro.
Welcome to San Pedro sign
If you travel to the island via water taxi from Belize City, you’ll more than likely arrive at the municipal dock by Central Park. After a short stroll once picking up your luggage, it’s almost impossible to miss the recently built ‘SAN PEDRO’ sign on the beachfront. Before you head to your accommodation of choice, head over to the sign and snap that picture signaling your arrival to San Pedro, affectionately known as ‘La Isla Bonita.’ The sign is large enough to make it ideal for group pictures and even selfies.
I Love Belize sign at Blue Water Grill
Say ‘I heart Belize’ with Blue Water Grill, the onsite restaurant at SunBreeze Hotel. Image courtesy property.
This sign at one of San Pedro’s most popular beachfront restaurants will be the icing on your dessert, likely the first thing to see as you make your way to your dinner table. The sign is also known to change in color based on different times of the year (holidays). Do not leave the restaurant without posing next to this iconic sign loved by every visitor to La Isla Bonita.
Secret Beach
The eponymous sign at Secret Beach, Ambergris Caye. Photo by Meritt Thomas on Unsplash
After you have settled down for your time in San Pedro, take the drive 7 miles north to Secret Beach. This paradisiac hotspot isn’t much of a secret on the northwest coast of Ambergris Caye anymore, but it’s the perfect way to enjoy a sargassum-free sandy beach with shallow pristine water. Although the shallows are ideal for pictures, there is even a ‘SECRET BEACH’ sign that makes the perfect backdrop model and capture! Secret Beach is also another perfect place for sunset pictures.
Shark Ray Alley
Snorkeling with nurse sharks. Image by Josh Nunez
Fun places for your Instagram picture feed are not only on the island: the barrier reef flanking the island is another favorite spot as well. At the Shark Ray Alley in the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, swimming with nurse sharks is a must-do activity. I know the sound of sharks is not very inviting, but these nurse sharks are very docile, so don’t be afraid to jump in the water and get your best underwater images while enjoying snorkeling at this popular spot of the reef.
Murals
Find this fun photo op across the street from Caye Coffee Roasting Co. Ltd. on Ambergris Caye. Photo courtesy SanPedroScoop.com
San Pedro also attracts talented artists; thanks to them, there are several murals around town. In the south off Seagrape Drive across from the well-known Caye Coffee building, you will find the image of a girl painted onto a wall. The most interesting part of this mural is that the girl’s hair is the branches of a bougainvillea tree growing behind this creative work of art. In the north on Seagrape Drive just a few feet from Pedro’s Hotel and Inn, you will find the paintings of the late Tejano music queen Selena and famous rapper and actor 2Pac depicted Picasso-style on a wall of a warehouse building.
If you find yourself in the downtown area, not too far from the Maya Island Air terminal on Lion Street, the painting of reggae legend Bob Marley is found along the wall of Hope Haven Children’s Home & Community Center; this piece was recently done by Franky Cardona. Not too far from there on Barrier Reef Drive or Front Street, you will be amazed at the painting of Belize’s national bird, the keel-billed toucan, and the late iconic Belizean singer and cultural ambassador Andy Palacio; artist Ms. Sylvia aka DonkeeMom put her skills to Mr. Palacio, while Elizabeth Umanzor brought the natural scene of a toucan to life. The son of Ms. Sylvia also put his To cap off your photogenic adventure, head north to the Boca del Rio beach strip, where you can witness San Pedro’s history depicted on a panoramic painting on the exterior wall of the island’s high school facing the beach and the Caribbean Sea by local Belizean artists.
All images not captioned courtesy Dion Vansen. Featured Photo by Blue Water Grill. This article was published in June 2022.
