San Pedro ready for ram jam weekend
Year round, it is Belize’s number one tourist destination and come this weekend the town of San Pedro and Ambergris Caye will be rocking like never before. This morning we sent News 5’s Jacqueline Woods on a scouting trip…and she didn’t want to come back.
Patty Arceo, Area Rep, Belize Rural South
“We would like to welcome everybody to San Pedro and to Caye Caulker. Our motto this Easter is “Vamos a la playa”, and there is sufficient beach for everybody to come and enjoy.”
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
This year Easter has come a little bit earlier…in fact the holiday is occurring in the height of our tourist season. This means that favourite destinations like the island of San Pedro, will be teeming with vacationers from home and abroad.
At this time, you will have difficulty getting a room at any of the hotels here on the island. But that does not mean you still cannot come out here to the caye and have a wonderful time. Preparations are well underway to make sure that this Easter there will be many activities for you to enjoy.
Patty Arceo
“Everything is fully booked. Nonetheless, we’re telling people to still come, even if they come for the day. They could either take one of the planes or the Water Taxi Association. They could come in the morning, bring your own coolers if you want. The beach is very big, we have palapas, we have picnic tables that you and your family can come and enjoy.”
On Thursday, large numbers of Belizeans are booked to go to San Pedro. But since Monday, tourists have been arriving on the island. We caught up with the Marroquin family as they were getting ready to go out on one of the many available dive trips.
Ricky Marroquin, Tourist
“We live in Guatemala and we usually make a trip in the Easter vacation. Last year we went to Roatan and we liked the Atlantic Ocean and we usually go to the cayes a lot because it’s very near our country.”
Jacqueline Woods
“I noticed the family is big on diving, how long have you guys been diving?”
Ricky Marroquin
“For about five years.”
Jacqueline Woods
“And did you hear about the diving sites here?”
Ricky Marroquin
“We heard that some places like the Blue Hole and all the fishing, coral reefs and spectacular diving that we can find, so we decided to come here.”
There is equal fun on top of the water. Whether you fancy snorkelling, windsurfing, parasailing or jet skiing, the possibilities are endless on La Isla Bonita.
Throughout the day and night you can relax and socialise at any number of favourite beachfront spots like BC’s Bar and Grill.
Charlene Johnson, Owner, BC’s
“You can come alone, you make friends at BC’s. And then they usually take off from here and go visit all the other bars that are in San Pedro. San Pedro is very fortunate because I think we have a bunch of great places that people can go and enjoy themselves. So let’s meet at BC’s and go and enjoy ourselves everywhere else.”
There will be musical entertainment both on the beach and in the nightclubs. Area representative for Belize Rural South, Patty Arceo says there will also be special activities taking place.
Patty Arceo
“In the more spiritual side, we’ll be having our processions and local mass that will be going. So there’s a lot of activities happening here on the island throughout the Easter season and it will be activities that will be involving the whole family.”
One hotspot visitors will find attractive is Boca Del Rio. The white sandy beach located on the north end of the town, has become a popular site for bathers of all ages. This weekend, it will be filled with entertainment as Love FM hosts its Easter special from the beach. One thing you can be assured of is that once you’re on the island, you won’t need to wonder what to do or where to go.
Three months ago as part of the San Pedro Town Council’s efforts to boost tourism, an information booth was erected in the centre of town.
Karen Gillett, Ambergris Information Centre
“Some people come up and ask about tours, and dive shops and different places, resorts and so on, accommodations to stay. So whatever information they’re looking for, we can give it to them, that’s what we do.”
Jacqueline Woods
“And it’s at no cost?”
Karen Gillett
“No cost, it’s for free. We try to help out everybody, tourists, Belizeans. As it says, it’s an information centre, you can get to know about the island more, different resorts, we’re here to help everybody.”
At San Pedro you will not only have the pleasure of leaving the island with fond memories, but there are plenty of local souvenirs for sale on the beach.
William Mai, Woodcarver
“We are inviting all the tourists to buy Belizean products and to check us out all on the beach.”
A lot of work has been done to welcome you to San Pedro. The only thing being asked is to leave the island looking as clean and beautiful as you found it. Jacqueline Woods, Reporting for News 5.
