Ambergris caye (pronounced Am-BUR-Grease key) is the largest of some 200 cayes that dot the coastline of Belize. Ambergris is 25 miles long and a little over a mile wide in some places, and is located in the clear shallow waters of the Caribbean Sea just off the tip of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula. Here the coastline is protected by the 190 miles along the Barrier Reef, the second largest living coral reef in the world. In Mayan times, Ambergris caye was a trading post. The Marco Gonzalez ruins at the southern tip of the Caye and the Basil Jones site to the North, as well as the many recently excavated " home sites" in the heart of San Pedro Town give evidence to a former Mayan population of 10,000. the narrow Channel that separates Mexico and Belize was dug by the Maya to provide a trade route from the Bay of Chetumal to the Caribbean. Following the Maya came the Whalers and Buccaneers and the ancestors of present day residents who were fishermen and workers in the coconut plantations. Today tourism has replaced fishing as the major source of income for the islanders although the mahogany skiffs are still in service for charter fishing and diving.
       San Pedro Town is the only inhabited area on the island. It's atmosphere is that of a small bustling fishing village. The town is clustered with wooden houses, some with Mexican décor, other Caribbean, and some still remain with the English Colonial architecture. Gift shops, boutiques, bars, cafes, and reataurants adorn front and Middle streets (now named barrier Reef Drive/Pescador Drive). A short walk in town will make you feel the friendliness of the people and enjoy their lifestyles as they go around doing their daily chores. Barefeet, tee shirts, and shorts is the typical island dress code. The people of the island are called "Sanpedranos" and speak English, Spanish, Creole, and Maya all at the same time, making it their own island dialect. They are proud of their heritage and are willing to share it with the tourists. Before tourism picked up in the eighties, the islanders were mostly Mestizos (Mayan Spanish). Today they share their island with the Creole, maya, Central American refugees, and Americans that have made San Pedro their new home.
      The island's biggest tourist's attraction is the Belize Barrier Reef that runs parallel along the entire coast of Belize. The reef is only a quarter mile from the beach at Ambergris Caye making diving easily accessible. The island's seaside is jammed with jetties and dive shops which offers trips the different dive sites and to the Great Blue Hole. The reef's beauty and richness has put Belize among the top ten dive destinations in the world.
Things to Do:
. Biking - Bicycles are available through your hotel or rental centers located throughout town. . Golfcarts - Numerous businesses offer hourly and daily . Bird Watching - Wildlife watching is fast becoming a rage on this Caye. . Crocodiles, raccoons and a vast array of birds can be seen along the lagoon or along small mangrove cayes scattered in the north of the island. . Diving (day, night and overnight trips) - Ambergris Caye's biggest claim to fame comes as a dive destination. .Snorkeling - One of the greats experiance is at Hol Chan Marina Park were you can swim with the sharks d enjoy some of the best snorkeling Belize has to offer.

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