August 2025: What to Expect and Special Events

Morning all – some noticed (and messaged me) that I hadn’t updated this post for July and then August. Until now. But there’s a real reason! Getting this information is HARD. I scour Facebook and Instagram but it’s still woefully deficient. And I’m not getting information from businesses. With some exceptions like Somewhere South, Truck Stop, and Moon Bar. Thank you guys! So rather than give you a list filled with holes and misinformation. I’m going to amend this to the BIG events of the month. Unless I can find a better way to do things – can ChatGPT be far from doing it for us? I hope this works 🙂 Let’s talk about August in Belize.

This is a list of the big AUGUST 2025 holidays, events and activities around Ambergris Caye. It’s also an overview of what you can expect with weather, sargassum, seafood, food, crowds (or lack of them) and more.

All the photos I’m sharing in this post are from August 2024.

Let’s start with the big-picture questions.

Note: If it is your first time on the island, see Your Guide to Ambergris Caye. AND The 13 Things I Think Every Visitor Should Do on Her First Trip

Belize’s “High Season” has ended (Christmas to Easter, generally), and the island slows down a bit in May, June and July and then even more in August, September and October. It’s the end of summer for our most frequent visitors (Americans and Canadians), and folks are enjoying the great weather at home and starting to prepare for getting back to school.

Don’t worry – it can be a good thing! There are no crowds, less traffic and you can get good deals on hotels and airfare. It’s a GREAT time to visit if you are thinking about moving down to Belize and/or buying a business here. Easier to chat with local folks (who are less busy) and see what life is like when tourism slows.

But before that, let’s discuss the hot August weather…and I mean HOT!

Weather in AUGUST on Ambergris Caye

Weather in August is generally quite hot – with temperatures in the high 80s and low 90s. Maybe you are thinking that’s “not THAT hot”. But the humidity is very very very high and the sun, very strong. Low 90s can feel like 110 or more on a hot, humid still day. Temperatures at night are very warm as well.

The wind and sea can be very calm in August and that makes it a really good time for diving, snorkeling and fishing. But keep your eyes peeled…

The “heart” of storm season is here and the Western Caribbean tends to be more active late in the season – late August, September, October and even early November. Rain tends to be more frequent now – a few times a week? but it’s still, generally, at night or in the early morning or a few passover showers.

There can be a tropical storm system in the area – so it’s important to check the NHC site for information during this time.

As of today, it’s August 12th, and it has been a quiet season so far with just 4 tropical storms (no where near Belize). Just yesterday, Erin – way out in the eastern Atlantic – has been named a storm.

For weather forecasts over the near term, I use Windfinder.com. (1-3 days is generally quite reliable but it’s the tropics and it’s the storm season, so weather can be quite changeable)

Here are the names for storms for 2025: Andrea, Barry, Chantal, Dexter, Erin, Fernand, Gabrielle, Humberto, Imelda, Jerry, Karen, Lorenzo, Melissa, Nestor, Olga, Pablo, Rebekah, Sebastien, Tanya, Van and Wendy.

(I don’t know about you but to me Karen, Rebekah – that old Testament spelling! – and Pablo all sound menacing. But I’m hoping we don’t even get up to K)

Note: Because we are in the “wet season” – you can encounter mosquitos – primarily in the early morning and the late afternoon especially on low wind days. I can not recommend picardin enough – it WORKS, it’s not greasy and gross…it has changed my life. Literally. I LOVE Sawyers brand lotion and spray and buy it every single time it is on sale. Bring it with you – I only see DEET for sale in Belize. And while DEET does work, it is so greasy and melts paint and nail polish. Better than nothing but not great.

I don’t mess with natural stuff…I find that it doesn’t work.

Sargassum in August

Sargassum is a yellowish-brown algae/seaweed that floats in big mats atop the ocean and has lots of positive benefits…until it reaches the shore. Asea, it’s a nursery and safe zone for young sea life and turtles.

But…especially since 2015 in Belize…amounts have increased and huge piles of this stuff have washed up on shores around the Caribbean and Mexico and southern USA (and all over the world)

2025 is the worst year so far…and beaches across the Caribbean and Yucatan have been inundated. Belize is no exception.

I have always estimated (based on the last decade) that Sargassum Season, in my estimation, is LOOSELY February to August.

Last year (2024), it did not come in until the end of February – our beaches were mostly clear until then – and cleared up in July.

In 2025, we had some come in during the third week of January, and then there were periods of on and off activity. We had a bunch come in this first week of March and then, mid-March, it REALLY started coming in. It’s now mid-August and it is still coming in.

I am hoping- that with the shifting winds during the later storm season – we will see that change. Hoping.

This seaweed affects ONLY the EAST or reef side of the island while the west side (and the Secret Beach area) stays seaweed-free.

If you are staying at a resort or a hotel, most have staff who work very hard to clean up the area…but it can still pile up.

Seafood in August

Lobster is IN SEASON – the season opened July 1st and closes at the end of February next year.

Conch season (my favorite seafood in Belize) is closed until October 1st.

Now…

Holiday and Special events In August 2025

Keep in mind that August is a relatively quiet month as we ease into the slowest months of the year tourism-wise – September and October. And then a short preview for September (one of my FAVORITE times of the year)

August 1: National Holiday in Belize: Many local businesses will be closed. Banks and government buildings are closed. In general, larger supermarkets are open. Emancipation Day in Belize remembers and honors The Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 that officially outlawed the practice of slavery throughout the British Empire. It took effect on August 1, 1834. (The US abolished slavery almost 30 years later)

August 14-16: The Second San Pedro Classic Flyfishing Tournament and MORE! I mentioned above that the winds can die down in August and the sea can be…perfect for fishing. The perfect time for this flyfishing tournament that is that…but so much more! Casting competitions, a pop-up market, auctions, games…check out all the information on the website.

August 17, Sunday: ACES (a fantastic wildlife rescue group on the island) and MESA Catina are hosting a fundraiser for ACES from 11am to 5pm. Check out ACES Facebook page for more info.

Highlights: @paintnsplash – are kindly donating a portion of each painting entry fee to support ACES, Raffle – Win an original artwork (100% of raffle proceeds go to ACES), Tickets are $10 Face Painting and Pinata – Fun for all ages, Ukulele Jam with Chelsea Castro – Music & movement for the kids

August 28th, Thursday: Horror at Homecoming Night at NautiCrab (For more information, see their flyer here)

August 30th, Saturday: Miss San Pedro Competition 2025 – the Miss San Pedro competition has a long, storied history on our island. And it’s a BIG DEAL! The young ladies appear all over the island during August and then the big competition is a huge event. It’s the official start of September celebrations.

For photos, information and details of the event (it’s at night…and can go quite late) – see the Miss San Pedro Pageant Page. Also note…Facebook will be alive with discussion and argument the next day with accusations of a “rigged pageant” and someone getting robbed…

Please message me if you have a event for the list!

September Preview

And now September – the entire month is called “September celebrations” and it’s about Belizean pride.

There are two big national holidays in September both celebrating Belize’s independence. September 10th honors the Battle of St Georges Caye when the British Baymen and their slaves fought off the Spanish in 1798.

September 21 celebrates our independence day. The month is filled with parades and pageants, parties and music and lots of red, white and blue. My favorite event is the Jump Up Parade held on Independence Day thru the streets of San Pedro.