Why You Should Book Belize Food Tours Your First Day in San Pedro… Plus An Amazing Place to Stay

When my friend from New Jersey visits each summer, she’s got one big request: Let’s do the Belize Food Tour! We did the lunch tour a few years back and she’s been talking about it ever since. Raving about it to anyone who will listen. If she was on your Tropic Air flight to the island…you definitely heard about it!

So this year, I thought it would be a great time to do the evening tour AND…as a special treat, we decided to stay overnight at place I’ve always want to check out in the town center…right on the beach. Because no one wants to stumble home after eating and drinking at six different spots…at least not at my age.

We had SO much fun. And it re-enforced to me that Belize Food Tours MUST be your first move when you land in Ambergris Caye. It’s such a perfect way to get oriented to the town’s layout (a combination of simple but confusing)…it helps you get a feel for the hidden gems that you want to go back to later on your trip – places you might walk right by normally…and it gives you a great history of the town – food history and history of tourism.

We booked for 2 people and got a confirmation email – and then another with all the details…what to expect, what to bring, how to get there.

We met Melva – our friendly, knowledgeable, super cute guide at Central Park at 5pm sharp – her enthusiasm is contagious. There were 8 other folks joining us. A couple from Maine, a group of siblings and in-laws from Colorado and two friends from California. We got a little island history and we got walking…

Stories…personal touches from Melva’s childhood…and LOTS AND LOTS OF FOOD. AND DRINKS. Amazing food.

We went to 6 different spots – three of which are already on my FAVORITES short-list…ones I eat at quite a bit. But my favorite dish (and I loved them ALL) was at a place that I’ve never eaten before. An incredible coconut-creamy seafood soup…that I’ve already told Jeff I’m bringing him back for it.

We ate Maya food – we had Mestizo…all San Pedrano classics. All so delicious. And drinks at every single spot! Fresh juices…beer selections…rum and cokes…or…I’d suggest the fun drinks offered at each spot. Maybe what you wouldn’t normally order but that’s what this is about!

One was a San Pedro Margarita – lime juice and rum. Or the Panty Ripper – a Belize classic of pineapple juice and coconut rum. Or the Rum-Chata – horchata with rum. Or fresh watermelon juice and rum…

When in Belize, try the rum! It’s not all the super sweet stuff you might expect. Rum can be all different flavors and profiles. And even Chocolate Rum Cream. You’ll be tasting that at one of the stops.

SO fun. SO delicious. You are going to be very full. Snacks, meals, dessert…drinks. You are going to learn about so many different spots…

I really planned to take a group photo at our last spot – for dessert…but I was so stuffed and sleepy (I’m usually preparing for bed around 8pm!) that I totally forgot…

The bigger group on our tour was staying across the San Pedro Lagoon, and they said that they walked past two of the spots all week…and never even noticed them. They put them on their list to return the next day.

The tour ended just before 8pm….so about 2 hours and 45 minutes in total. And we were so glad to return to our spot right in town.

So good. Do not miss. LOVE IT. Belize Food Tours does very popular lunch tours and dinner/evening tours. I love love both of them. But I will admit…in the heat of the Belize summer…the night tour made a ton of sense. Especially since we were staying in town!!!!

Did I already say that? 🙂

Let me back up just a little bit. I’ve ALWAYS wanted to live in town. Always. But instead…over my 19+ years on Ambergris Caye, I keep moving farther away. Ahhhh life.

My first rented spot in San Pedro (2007-maybe 2009 or 10) was less than 1/2 mile south of town….then I rented for 6 years at a spot 1 mile south of town….and then I met Jeff and he built a house…and I was 8 miles north! (in 2017 I think).

But I LOVE the idea of being right in the center of things…you never have to put together a long shopping list…or worry about forgetting something…you can just pop outside for a snack or some cut fruit or a latte. You’ll never miss a random parade…or an event…or a nighttime invite. NEVER.

Here’s our spot – on AirBnb and it was pretty much perfect. Great location, great layout…cool and clean and safe and…quiet. Yes, quiet. It was a Monday night in San Pedro.

We checked in during the afternoon – right on the beach in town.

And then in the morning…the dream of all my dreams….I could wake up…put on my glasses and go get a delicious latte from my very favorite spot. Right across the street…

And then back in my “cottage” a few minutes later…

Watching the folks at the dive shop get ready…and just enjoying. At least for a few more hours…before I hit the dusty roads back home…

So…the bottom line: Book the Belize Food Tours…if you are visiting…if you live here and have friends visiting…it’s such a good way to learn about our island, the country and to eat some AMAZING food. ALOT of amazing food.

I loved it. I know you will love it. And just ask the internet (my internet is named Claude) what they think. The reviews…100s…1000s…of them…don’t lie.

There’s a reason I started my book with the Belize Food Tour as #1.

Here’s the fantastic website that will tell you everything.