Added: 12/16/2005 |
Ambergris caye weekend -Getting Impressions During WeekendAmbergris Caye is the largest of several hundred cayes (islands) located in the northern most waters of Belize, Central America. This narrow strip of paradise surrounded by the azure Caribbean is approximately 36 miles long and was once a part of the Yucatan Peninsula. It is believed that the Mayans occupied the area over 1500 years ago and dug a narrow channel to separate Ambergris Caye from Mexico.
East of the caye lies the Belize Barrier Reef which continues some 190 miles along the length of the country of Belize. On the far north tip of Ambergris Caye at a place called Mexico Rocks the reef almost touches land. On the west lies the San Pedro Lagoon which is connected to the Caribbean Sea by a small saltwater river running east to west about two miles from the center of San Pedro town.
Early this century, the fishing industry was the island's number one income earner. Beginning in the 1970's the fishing industry gradually slipped on the backburner when the islanders realized that their isla bonita (beautiful island) was attracting a steady flow of visitors who came to enjoy sandy beaches, breathtaking waters and the unique hospitality of its inhabitants. With a present day population of approximately 7,000 in the town of San Pedro plus the island's enchanting combination of mangrove forests, tropical savannahs, lagoons, and sparkling white beaches, it is no wonder that this island has become Belize's most popular tourist destination.
August is not boring for ambergris caye weekend. The San Pedro Town Board puts on an international cultural and music show when other parts of Belize are in the summer doldrums. The Costa Maya Festival is a week-long celebration that brings musical groups, artists and beauty queens from the neighboring countries of Guatemala, Mexico, Honduras, El Salvador and Costa Rica. Ambergris caye weekend there in this time may turn up to be a complete feast.
Scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, fishing or guided eco-tours to the rain forest jungle or Mayan ruins can be arranged through our full service tour desk during ambergris caye weekend. The dive and tour boats collect and return guests to some private piers. The coral reef, just offshore Ambergris Caye, Belize is the most splendid in the western hemisphere with 250 species of fish and colorful coral, incomparable diving, snorkeling and fishing.
Belize is squarely on the map as one of the leading eco-tourism destinations with vast areas of untouched rain forest containing a great variety of animal habitats - a haven for bird watchers. More than 900 Mayan ruins are scattered around the country. With a population of only 220,000, Belize remains relaxed, intimate and cosmopolitan.
If you don't want to waste your ambergris caye weekend time and to get impressions as much as possible there are San Pedro Town located near the southern end of Ambergris Caye and which has a variety of restaurants, dive and gift shops and all the amenities one requires. Yet Ambergris Caye is still small and off the beaten track. Once you leave San Pedro, the island's only town, which has no paved road and where most people walk or ride golf carts, there is nothing more than a path that leads from one end of the atoll to the other. Generally people travel from one part of Ambergris Caye to another by water.
There are many resorts on an inviting palm lined beaches, overlooking the Caribbean and the Barrier Reef. Make a short walk to San Pedro Town and there you can enjoy the restaurants and other amenities of town, yet far enough from the hustle and bustle to be quiet and relaxed during ambergris caye weekend vacations.
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