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What Are We Preserving?

by tacogirl 04/11/2016
written by tacogirl 04/11/2016
Belize oil

Belize Oil Surveying

If you have been following the news this has been a hot topic in many respects – environmentally, politically and personally.

The Barrier Reef is extremely fragile and so many people agree seismic testing is risky business and would put the reef in danger. The process involves airguns to blast shock-waves to penetrate the sea bottom. This is not healthy for the marine ecosystem and can disrupt animal migration, communication and even cause deafness.

More than half of Belize’s population 366,942 people, are supported through tourism and fishing related income. It is not worth jeopardizing our most precious natural resource which provides the country with long range economic development and a thriving tourist based industry.

Last year (2015) Belize received 1.3 million travelers and overnight arrivals were up 6.2%. Southwest and COPA Airlines flights to Belize brought a 7% increase in airport arrivals. If we want to keep increasing our numbers, oil exploration and ultimately oil drilling in our jewel should not be done.

The following article was a submission I wrote for the BTIA Destination Belize Magazine. It is geared towards first time travelers and a great reminder of all the wonderful things we stand to lose by allowing oil drilling. We need to give people who have not seen our precious jewel yet the opportunity to do so and for those that have the chance to keep on loving it.

Ambergris Caye, Belize

Dreaming of the island life and endless sunsets? A place where walking, riding bikes and cruising around in golf carts are the main transportation? Are you ready to enjoy delicious food, incredible sights and savory experiences? If you answered yes to any of these, Ambergris Caye is the place for you.

Accessible by small plane and public or private water taxi, the incredible island of Ambergris Caye, and its welcoming residents, capture travelers hearts. Most people are instantly captivated with its rich Caribbean history, fabulous views and friendly people.

Rich Island History

The name dates back to the 1800’s and finding Ambergris, otherwise known as whale vomit, on the north end of the island. Today the Sperm Whale excretion is still used in making perfumes and can sell for a whopping $9070 per pound. In the United States and Australia, however, usage of Ambergris is banned, due to Sperm Whales being an endangered species.

The Maya people, originating in the Yucatan, found their home in Belize around 250 A.D. Many migrated to Ambergris Caye and most of their ruins are yet to be discovered. The Marco Gonzalez Maya Site is the only excavated ruin on Ambergris Caye and skeletons, pottery and jewelry of the Mayan people have been unearthed, further developing knowledge of the culture all over Belize.

What You Will See Today

Many folks have been coming here for years and have witnessed the changes from a quaint fishing village to a bustling island. With more growth comes the opportunity to see some amazing things and the island is fast becoming the place to go to see wonderful snorkeling spots, beautiful beaches, and relax in the crystal clear water.

Sight-seeing on Ambergris Caye is fantastic. The Belize barrier reef is the largest in the Western Hemisphere, starting up north with Bacalar Chico National Park and Marine Reserve, a designated World Heritage site at the north end of the island, and Hol Chan Marine Reserve, Shark Ray Alley to the south. Both sites are great places to see wildlife and are accessible by boat in roughly 20 minutes. The beach is close to everything and a great place for people watching or quietly sitting on a dock, enjoying the turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea.

Friendly People

The island is known for friendly people and is very community-oriented. There are many charitable organizations such as, SAGA Humane Society, San Pedro Foodbank and Belize Red Cross that always need extra hands, donations and love volunteer hours from all visitors. Often local businesses hold fun nights for charity, like Crazy Canuck’s Tuesday night crab races and Friday night Trivia. Lions Den Bingo also on Friday nights is a hit with tourists and locals. These fun events are a great way to make friends, and meet new people while contributing back to the community.

Delicious Food

Ambergris Caye has a wide variety of restaurants; you can experience everything from delicious budget-friendly local food to fine dining on the beach. Flaunts, tostadas and shrimp or beef tacos are some of the favorite inexpensive San Pedro treats that can be found around town and in the park at night.

By just wandering up and down the 3 main streets, Front, Middle, and Back (Barrier Reef Dr., Pescador Dr. and Angel Coral are their real names, but no one uses them) you can find tons of vendors selling a wide variety of things. If you’re feeling fancier, try one of the many mid-priced or fine dining options all over the island.

Island Grocery Pricing

Keep in mind that everything is brought in by air or sea and this can drive the prices up. Basic grocery pricing in Belize dollars, Bananas 5/$1.00, Eggs 3/$1.00, jar coffee $8.70, box milk $3.50, sugar $0.60 lb, boneless chicken breast $4.00 lb, snapper or grouper fillets $12 lb, Shrimp $17lb

Places To Stay

Ambergris Caye is 25 miles long and 4 miles wide at its widest point (but much narrower at its most populated points). With an island this big your options of where to stay range from budget hostels on the beach to high-end luxury resorts. You can stay north of town at one of the secluded resorts or right in the heart of San Pedro. No matter what part of the island you decide to stay, you’re bound to find somewhere incredible, no matter what your budget.

Water Activities

Snorkeling, Diving, Fishing. If It Involves Water, We Have It!

If you’re a fan of water activities, then this is the island for you. Our island runs parallel to the second largest Barrier Reef in the world and offers extraordinary fishing flats; attracting more than just your average fisherman. Sport fishermen and tourists alike travel to Ambergris Caye to experience saltwater fly-fishing for bonefish, tarpon, permit, and other prized fish. Also popular is deep-sea fishing for bluefish, wahoo, sailfish, mahi-mahi, tuna, swordfish, blue marlin, and other bill-fish. These waters have seen some big catches over the years and are home to many annual fishing tournaments. Anglers will also find barracuda, kingfish, tarpon, amber-jack, grouper, and snapper closer to shore.

If fishing isn’t your thing, don’t worry, the list goes on and on. Enjoy leisurely snorkeling trips to sites like Mexico Rocks and delightful dives like you’ve never imagined in the thousands of coral canyons that run along the reef. You can see coral reefs of all colors, sizes and shapes. Belize is home to an extensive list of fish, eels, conch, stingrays, sharks and much more!

Belize also has wonderful water sports options. Sunset catamaran trips where all you have to do is sit back and relax, or if you’re feeling more adventurous you can rent a 13 foot Hobie and set sail! Many places offer rentals and even if you don’t know how to sail, they will teach you. Kite-boarding and windsurfing are some other fun in the sun options. For slower-paced fun, try renting a kayak and some snorkeling gear and head out to find your own underwater oasis.

Looking to Island Hop?

There are many fun ways to go from Ambergris Caye to the nearby island of Caye Caulker. If you want to be in charge of your own adventure, then the water taxi is a good option. You can also fly over if you are feeling rich or do a combo for 2 different experiences with great pics.

Another great way to go is on a catamaran, this way you can get your snorkeling adventure in along the way!

Just Say No to Oil Exploration and Drilling in Belize

Of course, there is talk that even though so many people and environmental organizations have stepped up to halt the process that it could easily happen anyways.

If only the powers that be would understand No Means No. An oil spill can Belize’s waters would be catastrophic for residents and tourists who both depend on a healthy marine ecosystem.

There will be those who argue that oil spills are infrequent. The problem is, when they happen, they are catastrophic to marine life. For a country developing its tourism product, the long term risk is not worth it.

Do not let Oil Companies Drill and Explore in Barrier Reef.

Please click through on the following and help this most important cause.

  • WWF Belize: Save one of the world’s most endangered reefs.

Fishing in Belize

Local fisherman

Belize oil

Snorkeling

Belize oil

Relaxing day sail

Belize OIl

Nice stretch of beach 

Belize oil

Boy enjoying enjoying an island style cool off

Maya Ruin Belize

Marco Gonzalez tour with Jan Brown

San Pedro Belize

We need to love our country more and stop selling it short

Related

tacogirl

Laurie Norton grew up dyslexic and was very challenged by the school. She never dreamed she would move to Belize and become a writer. A year after her move to Ambergris Caye, Laurie became an entrepreneur and professional writer starting tacogirl blog in 2007. Since then she has helped many people plan their vacations or move. She also has been published in Great Destinations Belize Guidebook, Moon Guide to Living in Belize, Insight Guides, Island Magazine several times and USA Today. Currently Laurie resides in downtown San Pedro and enjoys being a "city girl" on a tropical island.

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Delvin Kelly
Delvin Kelly
18:38 22 Jun 22
I just returned from my trip to Belize in mid-June 2022. I had been planning the trip weeks / months in advance and... Laurie (taco girl) wasextremely helpful in preparation for my trip. Her intimate knowledge as an expat who was ONCE a tourist, really helps because she is able to share first hand knowledge of how a tourist can explore Ambergis Caye like a "temporary local". An example of this, was she recommended 2 yoga classes for my wife to enjoy while on vacation that we would not have known about otherwise and the class was far better than a class arranged by a hotel, as you get the local experience not a staged one. In addition, she was helpful in providing recommendations for dinner and sharing some discounts she has arranged with local retailers. Reviewing the taco girl blog and reaching out to Laurie is like having a tour guide, but more important a tour guide that KNOWS Belize.read more
G
G
22:52 16 Jun 22
From the perspective of a couple preparing for a permanent move to Belize, Laurie has been enthusiastically helpful in... both answering our questions and connecting us with local resources for our move. Highly recommend you contact her and make use of her valuable services!!!read more
Darrell Moore
Darrell Moore
13:15 18 Apr 22
Laurie was super helpful in providing places to eat, things to do and best yet had ongoing blogs that allowed us to... look back on other places that she pointed out. A fantastic resource for both first time and return visitors of Ambergris Caye!read more
B W
B W
18:01 08 Feb 22
Fantastic service .I needed to find a place where I could buy a local sim card as my UK sim doesnt work in belize and... Tacogirl put me on the right path .Decided to walk across town and discovered so much more in beautiful San Pedro.Many thanks.BWread more
Kristi Palm
Kristi Palm
20:40 12 Oct 21
We have been using TacoGirl for what feels like decades when planning our trips to Belize! It has only been a few... years but she is the first place we stop to see what is happening in our favorite vacation spot. She knows all the best spots to get away and do so many fun things - whether it is relaxing or exploring! We are planning our next trip with our twins and she was the first person I reached out to. Knowing we have a resource like her, makes trip planning a breeze!read more
D Zep
D Zep
12:39 01 Oct 21
Found tacogirl while doing some research on an upcoming trip to Belize. This is the place for all the information you... need to plan your vacation. Incredibly helpful and responsive. I sent an email with lots of questions and received a very quick and detailed response that helped us finalize our plans.read more
Kelley Adams
Kelley Adams
20:19 21 Sep 21
We have been following TacoGirl for years now and before booking any trip to San Pedro we check to see what is... currently happening. We love the emails to let us know when a new blog has been posted. Keep up the great work Laurie, we feel like we know you.read more
Pamela Nixon
Pamela Nixon
18:36 20 Sep 21
I first got my Passport in 2012 and Taco Girl was my first connection back then Great then and Marvelous Now! She's... blossomed and developed into a wonderful contact for any and all information Belize. She goes above & beyond to respond with information that you need whether visiting Belize or relocating! I wasn't able to fund the move then but now that I have much more equity I am doing it.This time she was the 1st person I reached out to! Now I am selling and moving to Belize. She responds immediately! Like I do in my Pet Sitting Business! I was so impressed I followed her all this time. And was not disappointed!Pamela Nixonread more
Chris S
Chris S
17:12 17 Sep 21
Wanted to give a shout-out to tacogirl belize for helping us! She is a plethora of knowledge and was super helpful and... responsive in helping us find longer term stay on the island. Thank you so much for your help!read more
Ty Willingham
Ty Willingham
01:47 20 Aug 21
I've spent the last month exploring Belize. I'm retired & seriously considering moving down to Belize permanently from... the US. I contacted the local San Pedro expert "Taco Girl" to help me get started in finding an apartment to rent. With her help, I've located several places that meet my needs & budget requirements. Thank you Laurie!read more
Greg Cox
Greg Cox
18:58 04 Aug 21
I am very glad I found you and asked you a question about a spice in Belize. You helped me figure out the name of it... and where i could buy it. You went above and beyond to help. Thanks again.read more
Katherine Jones
Katherine Jones
18:41 02 Aug 21
I am so grateful for the time and energy Laurie has taken to share about her experiences traveling to and living in... Belize as well as provide thorough recommendations for planning a trip there. I was so thankful (and honestly surprised) that Laurie took the time to respond to several of my questions via email. I highly recommend reading Laurie's blogs and helping to support her business. Thank you Laurie!!read more
Greg R
Greg R
02:12 29 Jun 21
tacogirl was very nice to share her knowledge with us and assisted with planning our trip to Belize; thank you for the... help and info, it was helpful and allowed us to plan utilize our time accordingly while both on the mainland and islands of this great country.read more
Katherine Carlson
Katherine Carlson
18:46 02 Jun 21
As a Canadian—tired of long winters—I cannot wait to spend some time in Belize. I haven't set foot yet, but I am... yearning for lots of Caribbean adventure. Thanks so much to tacogirl for her endless enthusiasm and generosity of spirit. She is a constant stream of up-to-date information. Her knowledge and love of the area is priceless, and I will need her expertise for future endeavours!read more
Kathleen Ward
Kathleen Ward
18:29 02 Jun 21
We started coming to Ambergis Caye in 2014 and stumble on to Tacogirls blog, so glad we did! We used her 15% discount... at The Premier Duty-Free shop in the airport! It worked great all we did was let them know we read it on her blog . She has great information awesome pictures, we have tried several places she has recommended, all were amazing. Highly recommend reading her blog. Kathleenread more
ksniegoc1
ksniegoc1
17:45 02 Jun 21
It was my first time visiting Belize and San Pedro so naturally I had a ton of questions when it came time to planning... the travel. Taco Gril's blog was an invaluable source of information for all the travel questions in Ambergris Caye. I was able to learn a lot of basic information, as well as many tips and tricks. In addition when I reached out to Taco Girl for advice on finding a local photographer and a restaurant recommendation, she was very quick to respond and gave me many helpful suggestions. She also provided a lot more information from a local's point of view, which was much for valuable than than a typical guidebook. Thanks to her helpful suggestions we were able to celebrate my daughter's birthday at a nice restaurant, and had a great photo family session with a local photographer. I'm very thankful for all her resources and knowledge.read more
Myra F
Myra F
01:30 25 Mar 21
I started coming to San Pedro Belize in 2007 and that is when I met the online presence of Taco Girl. Her blogs on the... island and area are very personable and informative. She gives out promo codes from time to time so watch out for those. You cannot go wrong with someone who was a tourist and now lives here for quality info. Thanks Taco Girl for helping make my trips memorable!read more
Corey Holm
Corey Holm
04:38 25 Feb 20
I take the seniors from our academy to Belize every year for their senior trip. One of the first people I contact when... I start planning the trip is Laurie with TacoGirl Belize. She knows the island of San Pedro better than anyone else out there. Trust me, I have looked. If you are looking for the best restaurants, hang outs and shops then Laurie help plan your vacation.read more
Carol Taylor
Carol Taylor
15:53 24 Feb 20
Love Taco Girl Blog @LaurieNorton!I've been reading this blog since I started visiting Ambergris Caye in Belize almost... 10 years ago. It is filled with helpful up-to-date information and recommendations that I wouldn't necessarily find on my own. Laurie Norton's knowledge and extensive network on the island provides her with the ability to share perks/discounts/coupons with her readers, which come in handy year after year. Things on the island change daily - new businesses pop up constantly and LaurieNortonstays on top of these developments. Whenever I plan my return trip to the island, I always check her blog first - and I recommend you do the same. Trip Advisor ain't got nuttin' on Taco Girl!read more
Heidi
Heidi
20:01 20 Feb 20
Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice... to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. There is so much information it's amazing! Thank you Laurie!!!read more
Nick Goodman
Nick Goodman
21:23 30 Nov 19
I am considering a move to Belize and I have serendipitously found tacogirl.....what a treasure! She is full of great... advice, helpful hints.....knows everybody on Ambergris Caye and has a thousand useful recommendations and suggestions. Whether you are planning a vacation or relocating, you should make use of the many services she has to offer…..read more
KellyDivePhotography
KellyDivePhotography
20:58 30 Nov 19
I’m so pleased to see tacogirl's blog on Google. Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local... information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. I especially enjoy her guest articles, providing a different perspective of all things San Pedro. Her tipping quide is a classic, and don’t forget her Tropic Air flight code and on-island discounts. You’re not up-to-date with what’s going on in San Pedro if you’re not regularly reading tacogirl's blog.read more
Sandra Godfrey
Sandra Godfrey
15:58 23 Nov 19
I have known Laurie (Taco Girl) for several years. She has been a wealth of good information for me in all of my... pursuits in Belize. I highly recommend her for any services you may require.read more
William Jones
William Jones
13:39 06 May 19
Do yourself a favor. Read this BEFORE any trip to San Pedro - Ambergris Caye or Belize in general. Not saying “do what... everyone else says”, but Laurie has frank and honest info which will make your stay in country a little more fun, a little more informative, and often at a great cost savings. Best thing: it’s unbiased, honest, and factual. Personal note: thank you for your personal tailored help in answering mine (and my wife’s) questions.read more
Kimberly Robinson
Kimberly Robinson
18:28 03 May 19
Taco Girl (Laurie) is amazing. She has so much knowledge about Belize and has great connections with many of the... businesses in Belize. Because of her connections she is able to offer many perks and discounts that you wouldn't have been able to find otherwise. She is super responsive and I always go to her for all my travel needs. From golf cart rentals, to spas, to places to eat. She's got the inside scoop on all!read more
Michael Rieck
Michael Rieck
20:22 21 Apr 19
Since 2003, my wife and I have been to Ambergris at least once a year to experience the fantastic diving. About twelve... years ago we me Tacogirl on a blog giving us discounts on golf carts, local airfares, and restaurants. Over the years we have grown a friendship and I look forward to her weekly blogs about he changes on my favorite home away from home. The island changes every year, and she always shows you what to see, do, and eat.read more
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Belize Blog Est. 2007

belize travel specialist

ABOUT ME

I took the plunge and moved to San Pedro Town on the Island of Ambergris Caye, off the coast of Belize, Central America. Originally from Canada, I made the life-changing move to escape winter for good (in 2006) after one three week vacation. If you have any questions or want Belize help planning and booking, please feel free to contact me.

SPARKING MY DESIRE

A few childhood memories that shaped my desire to move to Belize from a young age. Sailing in the Virgin Islands, seeing a rainbow out the window of an island hopper as we flew from Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico, Christmas in Hawaii and many trips to Florida.

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