Ambergris Caye With Kids
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Are you planning a trip to Ambergris Caye with kids and wondering what to do in Ambergris Caye with kids? Belize is one of our favorite places to visit and one of the best beach vacations with kids. It’s rare that we go to the same place twice, but we loved Ambergris Caye so much that we have been 3 times so far!. We stayed at X’Tan Ha resort each time, and had a blast! Belize, specifically Ambergris Caye, is a very kid friendly destination.
From Los Angeles, we took a 5 hour flight to Belize City, then a short 15 minute flight on a 11 passenger plane to San Pedro, and finally a 15 minute boat ride to the resort. Sounds tiring, but it’s really not so bad! The resort is beautiful. Alternatively, you can take a boat to San Pedro however that takes hours and is not worth it given how quickly you will arrive by the plane.
We visited this location in April, June and August and had awesome weather each time (rained maybe one day while there) so I’d say any of those months are great to visit! Be sure to pack some family beach essentials to make your trip a success! We especially recommend having a set of packable beach toys that you can bring on all of your beach vacations vs. buying at destination and leaving plastic behind.
Before making your way to the resort, many people recommend stopping at the local grocery store in San Pedro (before boarding the boat to the hotel) to stock up on some food items. The hotel only has one restaurant, and getting from one resort to another (or back to San Pedro) requires some planning and time on your part, since you’re literally in the middle of nowhere! Each room comes with a full-size fridge, and a giant jug of drinking water that they replenish throughout your stay. We preferred to just either go in to town to get what we needed, but some people prefer to just stay at the resort their entire time.
Here’s what to do in Ambergris Caye Belize with kids.
Where to stay in Ambergris Caye with kids
Wondering what the best hotel in Ambergris Caye is? As I mentioned, we stayed at X’Tan Ha, the best family friendly resort in Ambergris Caye. Our room was ocean front, and literally 10 steps to the very calm, warm turquoise water! It was a child’s dream come true. We had a hammock on our patio and the resort provided free use of water equipment (paddle boats, paddle boards, kayaks, etc.) There was also a large trampoline in the ocean, which kids (and adults!) seemed to really enjoy.
We had a 600 square foot seafront villa, which had a separate bedroom with a king size bed and a full kitchen with a full size fridge, microwave and electric cooktop.
As I mentioned, the beach is very calm with no waves, basically zero entry if you have little ones. The water was also very warm, it’s the best beach for toddlers and young kids! It’s the only resort on the island where sargassum (the seaweed littering beaches from Texas to pretty much all of the Caribbean and even Mexico) is not an issue because the staff cleans the shoreline all day long, making their beach one of the most popular ones in the area! I’ve heard the don’t allow outsiders to use the beach or pools anymore, which is great news for paying guests! A lot of the “beachfront” resorts we drove our golf cart by had beach views but no actual beach, it was a huge drop right to the water so be careful when selecting a resort!
There was only one pool on our first visit, however by the second time we went, the other pool was finished. The main pool has a shallow area where you can sit and relax and the kids can play without having to fully go into the pool. The pool was definitely a huge hit with Milana!
A video of 2 year old Milana swimming at the pool:
Next to the beach, is the bar which serves drinks (Milana loved the pina coladas!) and limited food. You can then take your food and eat it on one of the tables in the water.
How to get around Ambergris Caye with kids
Getting to San Pedro used to only be done via water taxi (Coastal Express) because the road behind the hotel was pretty bad and unfinished. However since our first visit, they almost completed the paving of the entire 7 mile stretch and it is now fully done. We rented a golf cart on our last trip at the hotel, the desired form of transportation, and made the 7 mile drive to San Pedro. Half of it was still unpaved, but it was totally fine and Milana loved the golf cart so much, she asked to go on it every day!
Alternatively, you can take the water taxi to San Pedro, and then rent a golf cart in town to explore the town area. The resort also had bikes, but with a small child, that wasn’t feasible so we didn’t use them.
What to do in Ambergris Caye with kids
The main reason we came here was to have a relaxing beach vacation after a year filled with active travel. But if you’re looking for something more active, there are lots of activities you can do here. This area is famous for snorkeling and diving, so if that’s your thing, be sure to book a tour! On the mainland, you can visit Mayan ruins.
San Pedro itself is a really cute, small town. There are lots of local shops and restaurants to explore and the locals are really friendly. Take your time driving the golf cart around and stopping to explore the various shops and restaurants.
One block from the airport on Front Street are some of the best tacos you will ever have. They eat tacos for breakfast, so this place stops serving them pretty early but is so worth the visit! It was the first place we went to when we landed, and the last place we went to before heading back home. 6 tacos for $1, you can’t beat the price! We stopped here on all of our trips and can’t wait to go back!
Just south of the toll bridge is a small playground, right on the beach. We stopped there so Milana can play and a local girl took to her right away and they played together. The kids here are so friendly and inclusive!
Ambergris Caye is the kind of trip you go on if you want to relax and not have a huge itinerary of things to do. It’s not often we go on trips like this, so this is definitely our relaxing destination! Something to keep in mind if you are coming with young kids/babies: the streets aren’t very stroller friendly (even the huge jogger type) so leave the strollers at home and bring a carrier for the younger ones.
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57 Comments
MummyTravels
Wow this looks amazing – somewhere I’d love to go if it was a bit closer!
ourfamilytraveladventures
Ambergris Caye is one of my favorite places! I miss that beautiful water!
Katie
Looks like an amazing place, definitely adding it to my bucket list!
tangledandblurry
Wow! Now I really wanna go. The raspados look amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Karla at GlobalETA
Looks like quite a place! And how cute is Milana?! Oh my goodness, she looked like she had it made π So my sone is grown now and so if I went there, it would probablly just be me and my partner; so are there some romantic restaurants or bars around? What about snorkeling? Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Milana's Travels
Lots of romantic restaurants! This is a huge honeymoon destination, so they cater to couples.
Julie
I’ve never been before! Love the photos! Definitely need to check it out with the baby π
StΓ©phanie Langlet
Definitely, this is a place where everything is done for relaxing!!! It’s really a little paradise.
travelwiththegreens
Looks simply amazing. Not a place I had thought to visit. The water is stunning and all those drinks!
Rebecca
Never been there before. Looks so relaxing! Love the beautiful photos, especially the one of your daughter jumping into the water. Great timing!
Cristina
Never been to this part of the world. I probably should :). Looks great!
aberkholtz
I love all the pictures, what a little diva you have! π And the colors are soooo Caribbean….makes me want to join your daughter and husband at that awesome picnic table in the water! PINA COLADA TIME!
journalofnomads
What a beautiful resort and town!! It looks like the perfect place for a very relaxed holiday with (or without) kids on a dreamy beach!!
Cat
beautiful place! certainly a great place for families π
Eva Casey
What a beautiful place! I love the picnic table in the water, how fun! This looks like a really nice place to go on vacation as a family.
Sarah - Exploring Kiwis
Ahhh those colours! We decided to go to Caye Caulker instead – have you been there? If so, I’d love to hear how they compare to one another π
Milana's Travels
Haven’t been there yet, but it’s on my list!
Karlaroundtheworld | Karla
I really enjoyed your post here, it really puts a smile on me every time I scroll down and see you guys enjoying the place. The water is just so beautiful up there, I think it’s both good shots and the place itself.
Lottie Reeves
This looks like a beautiful resort! Your photos are awesome, such great colours. Thanks for sharing π
eatingcoventgarden
What a truly spectacular place, you have now made me add Belize to my ever-growing travel list. Your daughter is very beautiful!
Milana's Travels
Thank you!
vickikozel
Thank you for sharing! I am always on a lookout for great beaches, and this place looks like it’s worth checking out. Completely agree with previous commenters – your daughter is a beauty!
travelerettenyc
Milana is so cute and good for you for traveling to places like Belize with her. I’ve never been but I’d love to go. That food looks delicious!
A Pair of Passports (@apairofpassport)
This sounds like such a great trip, and the resort sounds like they really have great service. Love Milanaβs swimming outfit as well!
Two Small Potatoes
Belize definitely has some stunning beaches. I could certainly go for one of those mango mojitos right about now!
tourdelust
Belize is on my list!! Your photos are amazing and your daughter is the cutest little thing! She is going to grow up to be world traveler!
Pinay Flying High
I know you’re talking about a place but I can’t help but look forward to Milana’s next photo! She is so adorable! I envy her lifestyle of being able to travel in such a young age!
Bethan
Heard of so many people going here recently! These photos have totally sold me!!!
The Thought Card
Milana sounds like such a thrill seeker. The fact that she loves the golf carts even on unpaved roads is a great sign! I also loved the picture of her with the pina colada in her hands.
Darling Escapes
How cute is your daughter?!?! Seriously, can’t get over it!
eatlivetraveldrink
Your photos are amazing! You should submit these to the tourism board
Milana's Travels
Thank you!
theluvaviatrix
I’m just curious because it’s a great post about where you stayed, but I didn’t see a cost what it was to stay there. I love to plan trips (and my airline flies to Belize) but I usually need to estimate the cost of the trip. π Great post
Milana's Travels
It depends on time of year. They have 50% off sales several times a year as well, where a seafront room will cost around $130 USD. The ones in the back are even cheaper!
erikastravels
Beautiful! I, too, don’t generally go to the same place twice, but I’d return to Belize in a heartbeat! It seems like resort you stayed at was perfect place for soaking in some sun and sand. Milana looks like she is having a great time! Good tip about the stroller for those traveling with small children.
saraessop
I’ve never been to Belize but now it’s on my bucket list. My kids would love this resort too. And I’m craving that raspado – it sounds amazing π
Brenda
San Pedro in fact looks like an amazing place, and all that food just made me hungry! I’m glad Milana enjoyed it! π
blondemoments
those pics look like sooooo much fun! Milana must have loved it soooo much!
Bryony Clapperton (travelsandmore)
Absolutely stunning photos! I love that island vibe, it reminds me of my time on Utila in Honduras.
It’s so inspiring to read about families exploring and travelling. Keep up the amazing writing!
RosiEscapes
i love Belize. This resort looks like every kids dream. Cool pics π
natalietanner
What an amazing place! Love the trampoline in the ocean. I have two water bugs who would think that is the coolest thing ever!!! What sort of tours are available? I see the ‘no worries tours’ in the background. Your kiddo is adorable!
Milana's Travels
They had all sorts of tours! Diving (super popular in Belize), fishing, jet skiing, snorkeling and many more. I know they started using a different tour company recently but I’m not sure of the name since we haven’t been there since.
Melissa - Parenthood and Passports
Oh, how I love Belize! We went for the first time this summer with our toddler. Good info on the seaweed. I was disappointed in the beaches in front of our hotel. We will keep this hotel in mind the next time we visit. I love family friendly reviews! Your daughter is absolutely adorable by the way!
Milana's Travels
Thank you! I’m going to check out your blog π
authenticfoodquest
Love the beautiful beaches…amazing! I’ve heard a lot about Belize, but have never seen or read such an in-depth review. I do think it is worth visiting!! The food looks amazing and you can’t beat those prices. Thank you for helping me reconsider Belize. Adorable little girl by the way π
christie sultemeier (@ckanani)
This pics are gorgeous!! What a wonderful place to visit – your trip looked divine. Such good info too, thanks for sharing!
Sydney Fashion Hunter
Belize look amazing! I can see why you keep going back! The water looks incredible. It’s probably a little trickier to get there from Sydney but I’ll keep it on my radar.
Caitlin
Trampolines, tables, lounge chairs ALL in the water. I’m sold. Sign me up! This place looks epic for a little relaxing getaway!
Upasna | Life On My Plate
Wow this looks amazing! Your pictures are all stunning and gosh, the colour of that water !!!
Cass
This looks like an amazing trip – I LOVE going back to places a second, third, even fourth, time! I find you always discover something new π I loved your daughter’s matching suit and bonnet – looked liked she enjoyed the trip too π
Christina Guan
So many lovely photos! That looks like an awesome place for a family vacation. And yum those food/drink photos are making me drool.
Diana Chen
This looks like such a relaxing trip! I have only been to Belize once for one day and really wish I was able to stay longer. We went on a cave tubing expedition, and our van broke down on the way back! We were stopped there for a day as part of a cruise, so we were worried we weren’t going to make it back to our boat on time and get left behind in Belize! It was an exciting day, but I may need to go back for a more relaxing trip like yours. (:
Milana's Travels
I can think of worse things than getting left behind in Belize! π But I’m glad you guys made it back in time!
Claire coverley
Beautiful photographs. Thank you for sharing. I am sitting in work now on Booking.com! It might seem like an odd question, but based on your article it looks like the majority of the food would contain milk. Do you think this would be a region that someone with a dairy allergy would be able to travel to? More specifically, a child who would have to miss out on all the lovely ice-cream .
Thanks in advance.
Right, back to booking.com
Milana's Travels
I honestly didnβt pay attention but there is a site for their supermarket that delivers to hotels so maybe you can see what the options are! Those are just the things we ate out, since Town is so far we ate in a lot too. And the restaurant at this resort is very accommodating to allergies.
Tina
Hey there! This is a lovely article on Belize. I’ve never been but it’s definitely high on my list and your pictures look AH-MAZING! Thanks so much for including my beach essentials article in the write-up π
Chelsae Lund
We are always looking for new places to go with our little girl and this looks perfect! Pinning to my travel bucket list!