A Walk Down Front Street, San Pedro

Front Street, or “The Front Street,” is officially named Barrier Reef Drive, though it is rarely called that in conversation. It is one of the three main north-south avenues in San Pedro town and runs along the oceanfront. One the front. The three streets, as you might imagine, are Front (Barrier Reef), Middle (Pescador Drive) and Back (Angel Coral St).

I had to look that last one up – I would NOT have been able to come up with Angel Coral Street on Final Jeopardy. The final jeopardy category today is Belize Geography. Here’s the clue: What IS the official name of San Pedro Back Street?

I haven’t walked the length of Front Street in ages…and I haven’t written about it and shared pictures since 2017! (Part One and Part Two)

So here is my walk earlier this week. Things have CHANGED! It’s primarily a boulevard of real estate offices, golf cart rentals and gift shops. But there’s more…

Here are the photos – starting from the south side.

One of San Pedro favorite restaurants – Wild Mango’s – closed a few years back and is still empty.

The Belize Chocolate Boutique – and the old Wild Mangos
Love the old welcome sign

One of the MUST STOP IN spots in San Pedro – for some of the world’s best chocolate. (I do not exaggerate)

Chocolate Boutique

Across the street, a new structure is going up.

A pretty new porch/veranda

And across the street, one of the older hotels in town – Ruby’s – was sold and totally converted from wood to cement and has only just reopened…

Here is a VERY cool picture my friend Norma shared on Facebook yesterday – San Pedro and Ruby’s Hotel…probably 20 years ago.

Ruby's Hotel 20 years ago and the sand street
Ruby’s Hotel 20 years ago and the sand street

Now it is a hotel called The Caye, owned by the same folks who own the San Pedro Belize Water Taxi and that huge new terminal!

The Caye Hotel

They don’t have a website yet – and they are open 24/7! We are now “the city that never sleeps!

The Caye Hotel, open 24/7
Inside the lobby
The oldest hotel in San Pedro – the Holiday Hotel
Melody’s great gallery – a must stop for local crafts and art
There are two shops tucked in the Alijua building that I would never know were there…

Both were locked…but one is a new framing business. We could use that in San Pedro!

Across the street from the park…
Parham Plaza – though I’ve heard its been sold recently…we shall see!

Across the street, the Christmas decorations were JUST starting to come down in Central Park…

Tree in Central Park

Across the street to the OLD Jaguar’s Temple night club – recently knocked down.

Old lot for Jaguars Temple

If this wall will be here for a while…maybe a mural to brighten up the town center? Or a pretty color coat of paint.

Here’s a picture of Jaguar’s in 2023.

Jaguars in 2023
Jaguars before…
It IS nice to see all this empty space and parking!
The entrance to the RC Church

And across the street.

The old Fido’s Palapa houses quite a few businesses.

Under the Fido’s Palapa
501 Gallery
Another favorite – 501 Art Gallery
A gift/everything store – I’m not sure I’ve seen a shop so closely packed with stuff!
Manelly has been here for decades!

And then the best cup of coffee in town – Lavish Habit.

Lavish Habit
This WAS the old Translyvania Tech and is now…a…everything? An internet cafe! I didn’t know those were still a thing!
This area is JAMMED with rental offices and their carts taking up all the parking spots…

On the next corner, I popped into this cool looking building…

Tiburon Rum – they have a new product coming in the next few weeks. And they had a bottle to show me.

Fin Tequila made in Jalisco Mexico

It’s a very cool shop where you can arrange a tasting for $25bzd – 4 or 5 shots of alcohol – types of rum and infusions and a shot glass to take home.

I didn’t go much farther but I DID pop into this hidden but very cute little boutique on the other side of Belize Bank.

Everglow
It’s called Everyglow

Clothing and a great selection of earrings and jewelry. I’m glad I found it.

Errings at Everglow

I headed back to my golf cart…stopping only at my favorite Pacas.

Pacas are the used clothing shops that you’ll see all over town. It’s my understand that HUGE bails of used clothes are flown to Belize – and you can purchase them in Belize City by the paca (or pack)

If you are someone who likes to sift thru used clothing in search of a gem, these are your spots. I am NOT that someone…but once in a while, something on display outside the store catches my eye. For the basics – tee shirts, sports bras, cotton shorts…these places can’t be beat.

I bought a baseball style – 3/4 sleeve t shirt for $7bzd.

There is no parking here – that’s why I stopped in by foot
Plenty of room to sift thru the stuff

That’s it for today – it’s a GORGEOUS Sunday and I’m heading out. Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone.

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15 Comments

  1. Brian Lindsey on January 19th, 2025 at 12:59 pm

    Thanks for the tour!

  2. Peter S. on January 19th, 2025 at 2:25 pm

    Thanks for the update. Next time do the town beach walk, would be cool. It’s been awhile since we’ve been there.

  3. Linda Merrill on January 19th, 2025 at 2:27 pm

    So many memories! Thank You!
    Finally making it back in March!
    I remember our golf cart loaded with fishing gear and found Secret Beach when it was still secret! 🐠😁🐟

  4. Greg Maas on January 19th, 2025 at 2:54 pm

    Great post Rebecca, it’s been so long since we waked that route!

  5. mysteryboy on January 19th, 2025 at 4:07 pm

    kinda wish you here in ’92 and woulda done this 😉

  6. Debee Graham on January 19th, 2025 at 5:27 pm

    We moved to the mainland three years ago. Lots of changes in San Pedro since then. Nice to see everything. Thank you.

  7. LP on January 19th, 2025 at 10:00 pm

    Hi you forgot both of the Smelly People Wanted aka Belizean Breezes Soap Co. LOL 😆

  8. David Martin on January 20th, 2025 at 9:21 pm

    Is Pacas where Jeff buys his once a year pair of shorts? But seriously, Rebecca – internet cafes will remain “a thing” as long as there are:
    hackers
    drug deals
    cyber crime
    identity theft
    illegal firearms
    & murder for hire…

    • San Pedro Scoop on January 22nd, 2025 at 11:24 am

      They are like crypto currency?! No…Jeff buys shorts every 5 years from…it’s some German sounding brand like KUHL.

      • David Martin on January 22nd, 2025 at 9:40 pm

        Yes, internet/cyber cafes often incorporate crypto currency into their flow of revenue. But hey, I’m happy to hear Jeff isn’t spending his yearly allowance frivolously on used shorts!

  9. Kris B on January 21st, 2025 at 11:26 pm

    I love the Chicago Blackhawks logo image towards the end! What a fun place to find a hockey team symbol!

    • San Pedro Scoop on January 22nd, 2025 at 11:26 am

      Now I need to go look for that! I didn’t see a thing 🙂 But then…I’ve never heard of that team (I don’t know hockey AT ALL) so I guess I can’t beat myself up about it 🙂

  10. Emily Smith on January 26th, 2025 at 5:39 pm

    Yep, it’s definitely changed since we were there; I don’t recognize many/any of these businesses. I’m sorry about Wild Mangos; that was one of our favorite spots. I remember seeing you in there eating lunch one day when we were doing the same!

    • Jim Blackburn on February 5th, 2025 at 9:21 am

      Right on. That was one of Phoebe’s favorite also. I’m so happy Rebecca did this tour and posted it. What memories. I think of San Pedro often.

  11. Jeffrey Matern on February 5th, 2025 at 8:49 am

    I have not been back for 3 years but the previous 20 did not miss any as Jan 2, 2002 was our first time down for JJW and Camp Belize. Love when you go for your walks and show San Pedro because I can remember what it was like when we first arrived We went North before the bridge was built. really rough road after the rains thank for all your insight I hope we will make it back, but getting old is not easy

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