San Pedro, La Isla Bonita : One way ticket to Paradise

“I fell in love with San Pedro
…

Tropical the island breeze
All of nature wild and free
This is where I long to be
La Isla Bonita
And when the samba played
The sun would set so high
Ring through my ears and sting my eyes
Your Spanish lullaby”

I did not fall in love with San Pedro like Madonna did. In fact, I cannot even say I liked San Pedro. But if the truth be told I didn’t like San Pedro at all. Just a charmless, unattractive and despite its 13.000 inhabitants (making San Pedro the second largest town in Belize) still provincial little town with not much to offer and no different from thousands of other charmless provincial little towns across Central America.

However, all the above is by no means a deal breaker. I didn’t come to the island to hang out in San Pedro town but La Isla Bonita’s (the beautiful island) beautiful beaches. Like the one in town center opposite the airstrip which is (supposed to be) one of the finest beaches in Belize.

Ah, the airstrip, what a surprise. It undoubtedly adds some character and hype to town. It was unexpected but so fascinating to stumble upon it and its bar along the runway (Runway Bar) from where you can watch the mini toy-like airplanes land and take off from/to Belize City the whole day long while sipping on your favorite cocktail.

Even though Ambergris Caye is the largest island in Belize, 40 kilometers (25 miles) long it is as wide/narrow as much smaller Caye Caulker – an astonishing one mile at its widest point. It takes, however, full 5 minutes (instead of three) to walk in the city from one side to the other.

Just like in Caye Caulker there are three main streets in San Pedro. And it is also the Back Street that takes the heavy toll of not only unloading/loading cargo vessels but also sea ferries carrying passengers traveling from/to Chetumal in Mexico.

Both islands are practically car-free. While you walk on Caye Caulker (or bike if you’re really in a hurry which you must not be on this laid-back island), golf cars are preferred means of transportation around Ambergris Caye.

…so how was La Isla Bonita?

It looked lovely from a deck of the water taxi. Never ending sandy beaches, tons of resorts, (and supposedly) lots of fun. Never ending party (apparently). The island’s nickname is ‘Party Island” as opposed to ‘Laid Back Island” which is a nickname of Caye Caulker. Diving, snorkeling, swimming and all other water sports are top-notch – “they say”. As is the Barrier Reef which btw is the second largest in the world.

Supposedly? Apparently? They say? I had a misfortune of coming to the island during the worst downpour that not only paralyzed the city and the beach life but also my visit. So I went to the Back Street and boarded one of those ferries going to Chetumal in Mexico.

Oh well. C’est la vie.

p.s. And no, I haven’t given up on Belize’s potential. I shall return,