Where To Stay In Ambergris Caye, Belize: 3 Resorts You’ll Love
If you’re planning your next vacation in Belize, you want to pick the perfect hotel. We tried 3 different hotels in Ambergris Caye, the largest island in Belize, so that you don’t have to. Where to stay in Ambergris Caye depends on what type of trip you want to have – so let’s find your travel type: resort edition.
Below we compare 3 of the best hotels in Ambergris Caye based on their best features and potential deal breakers.
Belizean Shores Resort
Coco Beach Resort
Mahogany Bay Resort
Affiliate notice: If you’re going to book one of these hotels, it would mean the world to us if you book through our links so that we can make a small commission off of the sale (at no additional cost to you!). This, in turn, helps us continue to travel and share our experiences on this blog.
First up, Belizean Shores Resort is our most budget-friendly option, and it has a little bit of everything.
This family-friendly resort is ideally located between San Pedro town and Secret Beach. The best feature of this resort is hands down the stunning pool, which includes a hot tub and swim up bar. Additionally, there is a beautiful pier with snorkel trips that leave daily right from the dock – along with free kayaks and paddle boards included with your stay. This hotel is oceanside, and you can see the barrier reef from the shore!
During our stay at Belizean Shores, we enjoyed taking a kayak out to one of the buoys near the barrier reef, tying off, and having our own private snorkel.
Price Point
This is the most budget-friendly option, averaging around $150 a night. What’s more, rooms comfortably fit 4-8 people (depending on which one you book), so this accommodation is considerably cheaper when split between a group of travelers.
Location
Belizean Shores is located 3.5 miles north of San Pedro town, in a quieter area of the island. There are a few cute cafes and restaurants walking distance from the resort, but you’ll want to rent a golf cart to get around the island. Ambergris Caye is big enough that most visitors will want a golf cart regardless of where you decide to stay. What’s more, Belizean Shores is ideally located between San Pedro town and Secret Beach, so you can reach both easily. It’s also near the Truck Stop, which is a popular shipping container food truck park.
Target Demographic
This is a family friendly resort designed with spacious rooms and ample amenities to please all age ranges. Belizean Shores prides itself on its homey atmosphere, offering suites complete with kitchens, private bedrooms, and living spaces. Plus, having a full kitchen is one of the best ways to save money on a family vacation, as you can cook some of your meals each day.
Additionally, this is also a fantastic resort for groups traveling together. Our poolside suite could sleep up to 8 people, with a king, 2 pull out couches, and 2 twin size beds. If split between just 6 travelers, this resort could be as cheap as $25 a night. That’s a hostel price for resort-style amenities and a truly unforgettable stay.
Hammocks on the beach at Belizean Shores
Poolside Suite at Belizean Shores
Amenities
Free Amenities
- Resort style pool
- Hot Tub
- Swim up bar
- Kayaks
- Paddle Boards
- Oceanside dock for tour departures
- Overwater hammocks
- Tennis court
- Volleyball court
- Ping Pong
- Lifesize chess
For a Fee
- Bike rentals
- Golf Cart rentals
- Room service and poolside meals from Coco Blanca Restaurant
Rooms
We recommend the Poolside Suite at Belizean Shores Resort. This room can sleep up to 8 people (woah)! Plus, it comes equipped with a full kitchen, and a nice balcony with pool and ocean views.
Room service breakfast at Belizean Shores on the balcony
Room service breakfast at Belizean Shores
2. Coco Beach Resort
Next up, if you’re trying to decide where to stay in Ambergris Caye for a family vacation – Coco Beach Resort is a dream come true.
This hotel is located right next to Belizean Shores, between San Pedro and Secret Beach. If we have to pick just one best feature here – it has to be the ocean views from the rooms. But the resort-style pools (yes, pools plural) a close second to the view. Coco Beach Resort is oceanside, with a beautiful pier where snorkel trips leave daily, right from the dock. Of course, free kayaks and paddle boards are also included with your stay!
During our stay at Coco Beach Resort, we enjoyed morning sunrises from our private oceanfront deck, sunny days by the pool, and evenings tasting the delicious menu at Coco Blanca Restaurant right onsite.
Price Point
This is a mid-range resort, averaging around $250 a night. However, it’s worth noting that the price can fluctuate depending on the season. Having flexibility with your travel dates is one of the best ways to find more affordable accommodation. The months of June-September appear to be most affordable with rooms at $200 per night.
Location
Coco Beach is located 3.5 miles north of San Pedro town, in a quieter area of the island. There are a few cute cafes and restaurants walking distance from the resort, but you’ll want to rent a golf cart to get around the island. Ambergris Caye is big enough that most visitors will want a golf cart regardless of where you decide to stay. What’s more, Coco Beach is ideally located between San Pedro town and Secret Beach, so you can reach both easily. It’s also near the Truck Stop, which is a popular shipping container food truck park.
Coco Beach and Belizean Shores are sister resorts located right next to each other. There are many similarities between these two resorts, including the amenities offered by each one (see below). Ultimately, Belizean Shores is more affordable and a bit less luxurious than Coco Beach. It has a more laid back island vibe, whereas Coco Beach feels a bit more extravagant.
Target Demographic
This is yet another family friendly resort that is perfect for families with young children. Here you will find pool amenities including a waterslide and a volleyball net. What’s more, this resort is designed with the whole family in mind – including a swim-up pool bar for adults and a nicer restaurant and spa.
Certain rooms can accommodate up to six guests, making this another great destination for groups traveling together. If you’re trying to decide between Belizean Shores and Coco Beach Resort, you’ll want to ask yourself if you’re looking for luxury (Coco Beach) or a home away from home (Belizean Shores).
2 Bedroom Seaview Suite at Coco Beach Resort
Balcony on the 2 Bedroom Seaview Suite at Coco Beach Resort
Amenities
Free Amenities
- 2 Resort style pools
- Hot Tub
- Slide for the kids
- Swim up bar
- Poolside service (have your drinks and food brought to you)
- Kayaks
- Paddle Boards
- Oceanside dock for tour departures
- Ping Pong
- Lifesize chess
For a Fee
- Onsite restaurant
- Onsite spa
- Bike rentals
- Golf Cart rentals
- Room service and poolside meals from Coco Blanca Restaurant
Rooms
We recommend the 2 bedroom Seaview Suite at Coco Beach resort. This room offers ocean views you’ll fall in love with. Its best feature is definitely the expansive balcony that includes lounge chairs and a dining table. From here, you can enjoy room service with the best view on the entire property.
First pool at Coco Beach Resort
Second pool at Coco Beach Resort
3. Mahogony Bay Resort
When it comes to where to stay in Belize, Mahogany Bay Resort is one of the most popular hotels – and for good reason. This resort is a true oasis, and you’ll have everything you need right onsite.
The best feature of Mahogany Bay is hands down the private beach club. Unfortunately, this resort is not oceanside, so you won’t have the stunning views that Coco Beach and Belizean Shores offer.
But, what it lacks in views it makes up for with the most amazing beach. Boats shuttle guests to and from on a short 15-minute boat ride. When you arrive, you can enjoy kayaks, paddle boards, hammocks in the water, and complimentary lounge chairs. You can also rent a canopy bed over the water for a fee. Plus, this beach club includes a full bar and a restaurant, so you don’t have to worry about anything but relaxation.
Price Point
This resort is our most luxurious, but smaller rooms can still be quite affordable – ranging from $150-200 per night. Again, the months of June-September appear to be the best time to travel to Belize on a budget.
Location
Mahogany Bay Resort is located on the opposite end of the island from Belizean Shores and Coco Beach, just 1.5 miles south of the town of San Pedro. It also happens to be just 3.5 miles from Hol Chan Marine Reserve, making it the perfect place to depart for a snorkel or dive trip.
Mahogany Bay feels like a compound, where you don’t have to leave if you don’t want to. There are a few little food shacks where you can grab lunch, there’s a poolside bar, a gym, a yoga studio, and a great sushi restaurant. But we do recommend a golf cart for days where you want to get off the resort and explore the town of San Pedro. You’ll be just a short 15 minute ride into town! You can rent one right onsite, or check out this company that we used.
Target Demographic
This resort feels like it’s made for couples and honeymooners. This would also be an amazing place to host a bachelorette party, and it’s quite family-friendly as well. Rooms here range from 1 bedroom cottages to 4 bedroom villas with private pools.
Full kitchen in the 3 Bedroom Townhouse at Mahogany Bay
Master bedroom in the 3 Bedroom Townhouse at Mahogany Bay
Amenities
This hotel is visually one of the most stunning properties we’ve stayed at. It has a very southern feel, with white buildings, plantation style shutters, and dark wood. It’s giving modern luxury, with a touch of bright beach aesthetic.
Free Amenities:
- Private Beach Club
- Pool
- Gym
- Kayaks
- Paddle Boards
For a Fee
- Overwater cabanas
- Poolside bar
- Caribbean poolside restaurant
- Coffee shop
- Sushi restaurant
- Yoga Studio
- Bar
- A few shops
- Golf Cart rentals
- Organized tour service
Rooms
Which room you choose will depend heavily on how many guests you’re traveling with. For large families, we recommend the 3 Bedroom Townhouse. This accommodation includes two screened in porches, AND an upstairs sunroom attached to the master bedroom. Plus, our family enjoyed having a full kitchen to cook some meals in, during our stay.
Dealbreakers
If you’re considering staying at Mahogany Bay, we want to mention that this property is in the process of expanding. Real estate in this area is booming, and that means there’s a fair amount of construction happening across the property. While the resort is beautiful, the construction does affect your serene experience just slightly. We’re hopeful that this frequent construction will slow down in the next few years.
Wrap It Up
Hopefully by now you’ve found the answer to your question of where to stay on Ambergris Caye! If none of these hotels felt like the perfect match to you, or if you’re looking for a more affordable vibe, consider looking into Caye Caulker – Ambergris Caye’s sister island. We have a full post on Ambergris Caye vs. Caye Caulker to help you decide which of these two islands is right for you.
Once you’ve got your accommodation selected, it’s time to start considering what you want to do during your vacation in Belize. Our Complete Belize Travel Guide covers everything you need to know, from which tours to take, to which restaurants to try in San Pedro, to how to get to Secret Beach.
When it comes to accommodation while traveling, our goal is to make sure you never have to settle.
