San Pedro Belize Express Water Taxi Moves Out of Town Center to HUGE New Facility

The town center of San Pedro has become CROWDED – with people, taxis, golf carts, large trucks and traffic. And over the last year or so, there has been talk about moving some of our infrastructure outside San Pedro town – to help make space and to make the town more walkable, park-able, drive-able and just…accessible to all.

I’ve heard plans to move the largest elementary school – the Roman Catholic School – from the town center to about 1 mile south of town. (Read: Move the RC Primary School, Build Modern Vocational Training, Reroute Middle Street: Mind Blowing Plans (And Action!) for Ambergris Caye – I haven’t seen much physical progress on that plan yet)

I’ve heard there is a plan to move (and then expand) the entire airstrip to the north – on the north side of the road out to Secret Beach. See: Our Minister Meets with Stakeholders to Address the State of the Road

But the first big move to free up space in downtown San Pedro took place last week! The San Pedro Belize Express, the largest water taxi company that takes passengers from Belize City to Caye Caulker and San Pedro (and back) has relocated.

From the municipal dock in Central Park to about 1/3 mile south of town on a HUGE new cement dock. Between the old Sand Villas (on the south side of the Yacht Club) and the new construction for the Marriott Residences. Here’s the rendering I found..holy moly.

Yesterday, I went to check out the new water taxi location and the old one. And, of course, do a check on their water taxi guard cat, Taxi. To make sure he made the move successfully.

Plenty of room for cargo and packages – so you don’t have to wait in the same area as passengers waiting for tickets. Lots more wiggle room. I asked about Taxi, the package guard cat. And he is home with an employee now – safe and happy.

Plenty of room for boats at night.

As I’m typing, I’m realizing that I forgot to check out one of the most important parts – the BATHROOMS! The old dock had none and it was…no bueno.

Next time.

But overall? Wow. Is all I can say.

I next headed into town to take a look at the old dock – the municipal dock on the north side of Central Park. To see how it is without taxis and traffic waiting for the water taxi!

But…I had picked a bad time. The taxi drivers were all gathered in front of the mayor’s office for a protest. To speak out against this new water taxis set-up – they believe they are being shut out of deserved business. (There was quite a hullabaloo…here is the San Pedro Sun article about the demonstration – Island Taxi Drivers stage protest against Ongoing issues of Soliciting at Ports of Entry)

Sooo…there were taxis everywhere!

There you go. There are two water taxis that service the island – the San Pedro Belize Express and Caribbean Sprinter. The later is still located in the town center.

Will this new facility draw more tourists and, the other, more locals? If I am headed to Belize City for the day, will there be a parking place to leave my golf cart?

I need to test it for myself once the parking area is finished.