12:00p
Philip SW Goldson International Airport > Water Taxi Dock
If you’ve read the 13-day overview of our Belize trip, you’ll know that we had a crappy time just trying to get to Belize due to flight problems, and then to add insult to injury, we got our tuna confiscated at the airport.
12:00p
Philip SW Goldson International Airport > Water Taxi Dock
If you’ve read the 13-day overview of our Belize trip, you’ll know that we had a crappy time just trying to get to Belize due to flight problems, and then to add insult to injury, we got our tuna confiscated at the airport.
But all unpleasantness aside, we finally arrived at the airport – tired, but in high spirits to finally start our vacation proper.
We had reserved an Airbnb in San Pedro, and our awesome hosts arranged our airport pickup and water taxi. Our driver rushed us to the dock to catch the next boat, which we just made with minutes to spare. The water taxi was booked through San Pedro Belize Express (which you can book yourself online but might be cheaper through your Airbnb host, as it was in our case).
1:00p
Taking the Water Taxi to San Pedro
The water taxi experience during high tourist season is your chance to roleplay as a canned sardine: no air conditioning and packed in to the teeth until you’re rubbing shoulders with your neighbor. They do at least keep the windows open. Bring snacks/water with you, or you can purchase edibles from the gentleman selling pork rinds and other snacks if he’s on board.
1:00p
Taking the Water Taxi to San Pedro
The water taxi experience during high tourist season is your chance to roleplay a canned sardine: no air conditioning and packed in to the teeth until you’re rubbing shoulders with your neighbor. They do at least keep the windows open. Bring snacks/water with you, or you can purchase edibles from the gentleman selling pork rinds and other snacks if he’s on board.
3:00p
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
We disembarked at the town’s main square and were greeted by our Airbnb hosts, Ashley and Mario, who gave us a quick tour of the town in their golf cart (the main form of transportation in San Pedro). They were also kind enough to take us to a local market to stock up on our depleted supply of tuna.
3:00p
San Pedro, Ambergris Caye
We disembarked at the town’s main square and were greeted by our Airbnb hosts, Ashley and Mario, who gave us a quick tour of the town in their golf cart (the main form of transportation in San Pedro). They were also kind enough to take us to a local market to stock up on our depleted supply of tuna.
San Pedro is like a typical beach town – but without the beaches. What? Doesn’t make sense? I explain more about the town in the Sights of San Pedro post.
5:00p
Walking the San Pedro Waterfront
As we strolled through the main square en route to dinner, we were able to stop and enjoy the sights and holiday décor that we were too bladder-stressed to appreciate when earlier disembarking from the water taxi.
5:00p
Walking the San Pedro Waterfront
As we strolled through the main square en route to dinner, we were able to stop and enjoy the sights and holiday décor that we were too bladder-stressed to appreciate when earlier disembarking from the water taxi.
6:00p
Dinner at Nook
There are many restaurants lining the coast, so it wasn’t hard to find our waterfront dinner destination: Nook, a casual and funky joint that offers fresh local Belizean seafood and interesting fusions of cuisines ranging from Caribbean to European to Asian.
6:00p
Dinner at Nook
There are many restaurants lining the coast, so it wasn’t hard to find our waterfront dinner destination: Nook, a casual and funky joint that offers fresh local Belizean seafood and interesting fusions of cuisines ranging from Caribbean to European to Asian.
As we were finishing up dinner, we received unexpected word that Mario was bringing the rest of his Airbnb guests to the restaurant for dinner. This led to a merry evening of laughs and good times, and as you’ll see in our Day 2 post, we became friends with one of the guests, Nicolas from Colombia, with whom we shared a bit of our Belize adventure the following day.
Sand Fly Warning
A word of advice to folks strolling the beach, waterfront, or dining at any of the waterfront restaurants – bust out that bug spray or baby oil! The cayes and beaches may have fewer mosquitoes than the jungle; but they’ve got their own brand of annoying biters: practically invisible tiny sand flies that apparently like to come out at sunrise and sunset. Since they’re tiny, wind tends to keep them away, but watch out for them if you’re in still weather with no breeze.
People have different reactions to their bites, ranging from tiny little red dots that are insanely itchy for a few hours and then disappear (my experience) to giant welts that take weeks to stop itching. Some folks swear by DEET while others claim it’s not useful. One remedy that is messy yet apparently effective is baby oil because the little critters can’t get through the layer of oil to your skin, but since it’s not a repellent, any little spot of skin you miss with the oil is fair game. I haven’t personally tried this method yet, so let me know if it really worked for you if you give it a go.
9:00p
DandE's Frozen Custard and Sorbet
Post dinner plans called for dessert, and most of the group opted for a local homemade frozen custard shop called DandE’s (as in D and E’s – or perhaps dandy’s – I guess both work). Quirky décor and a very friendly atmosphere make this a great little mom & pop shop to visit. And since they serve sorbet as well, all my fellow lactose intolerant gassy squirrels can feel secure in having dessert.
9:00p
DandE's Frozen Custard and Sorbet
Post dinner plans called for dessert, and most of the group opted for a local homemade frozen custard shop called DandE’s (as in D and E’s – or perhaps dandy’s – I guess both work). Quirky décor and a very friendly atmosphere make this a great little mom & pop shop to visit. And since they serve sorbet as well, all my fellow lactose intolerant gassy squirrels can feel secure in having dessert.
10:00p
Casa Ashley Airbnb
We were fortunate to find Casa Ashley on Airbnb. Moderately priced between hostel and fancy resort, Ashley and Mario’s lodgings are clean and comfortable. We were bummed we couldn’t stay longer, but you know…best laid plans and all that. If you’re interested in more Belize accommodation ideas, we invite you to check out the list of lodgings from our trip.
10:00p
Casa Ashley Airbnb
We were fortunate to find Casa Ashley on Airbnb. Moderately priced between hostel and fancy resort, Ashley and Mario’s lodgings are clean and comfortable. We were bummed we couldn’t stay longer, but you know…best laid plans and all that. If you’re interested in more Belize accommodation ideas, we invite you to check out the list of lodgings from our trip.
And here ends day 1. Exhausted but thrilled to finally be in Belize, we passed out early to start our Day 2 at 6a for breakfast and the water taxi back to the mainland.
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