Ambergris Caye.

Belize’s largest island is defined by its proximity to the Belize Barrier Reef, which sits just offshore and puts world-class diving and snorkeling only minutes away by boat. While the island serves as a launching pad for bucket-list trips to the Great Blue Hole, day-to-day life centers on the Hol Chan Marine Reserve and Shark Ray Alley. San Pedro, the island’s sole town, is a bustling, golf-cart-dominated hub filled with dive shops, beach bars, and restaurants serving fresh ceviche and grilled lobster. For a change of pace, the quieter northern reach of the island near Bacalar Chico National Park offers kayak-friendly mangrove channels and Mayan history, balancing the energetic beach-town spirit with untouched coastal wilderness.