For the island in the Turks and Caicos, see Ambergris Cay.
Ambergris Caye (/æmˈbɜːrɡrɪsˈkiː/am-BUR-gris KEE; Spanish: Cayo Ambergris), is the largest island of Belize, located northeast of the country's mainland, in the Caribbean Sea. It is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) long from north to south, and about 1.6 kilometres (1 mi) wide. Many parts of the island have been modified by human development since the arrival of coconut plantations in the 17th century, but it remains largely white coral sand with mangrove forest at its center. Its eastern coast runs parallel to the northernmost stretch of the Belize Barrier Reef, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ambergris Caye
Ambergris Caye photographed from the International Space Station
A Maya community lived on the island in Pre-Columbian times, leaving behind distinctive polished red ceramics.[1] It is widely believed that maritime trade motivated the Mayans themselves to excavate "Boca Bacalar Chico", the marine channel that separates the island from the Mexican mainland, but its origins could also have been natural (e.g. a hurricane).
San Pedro Town is the largest settlement and only town on Ambergris Caye. There are also a number of small villages and resorts that serve the island's growing tourism industry, especially ecotourism and scuba diving. Although administered as part of the Belize District, the closest point on the mainland is part of the Corozal District.
Ambergris, from the Old French "ambre gris" (literally "gray amber"), is a rare substance produced in the intestines of sperm whales, valuable historically and in some modern perfumes as a fixative. In the 17th century, whalers in the tropical Atlantic Ocean operated from many islands like Ambergris Caye, and although sperm whales are not considered residents of Belizean waters, the animals continue to pass through on a regular basis.
Tourism
Tourism development of Ambergris Caye began in the early 1970s and grew considerably in the later years of the 20th century. The main attractions are the Belize Barrier Reef and its beaches. That barrier reef is the second largest in the world, after the Great Barrier Reef of Australia. The caye has a small airstrip serviced by Tropic Air and Maya Island Air, and can be reached by plane from Belize City as well as by numerous fast sea ferries. Ambergris Caye can also be reached by ferry from Chetumal in Mexico.
Ambergris Caye is commonly referred to as the "Isla Bonita" (English translation: 'The Beautiful Island'), after Madonna's 1987 hit "La Isla Bonita" mentioned a place called San Pedro[2] (although Madonna has said the song does not refer to any particular place.[3]) Ambergris Caye is famous for the turquoise seascapes surrounding the island which matches the character and Caribbean charm of the destination. Because of the island's small size, the main form of powered transportation is by golf cart.[4]
San Pedro Day is celebrated annually on June 27.
Gallery
Beach at San Pedro
Azure water off the coast of Ambergris Caye
Dusk on Ambergris Caye
View of the Barrier Reef in the distance
Fishing off the coast of Ambergris Caye
Road near San Pedro
Houses in San Pedro and mangrove swamp
Manmade ponds
Secret Beach
The majority of Ambergris Caye is reserved for national park/wildlife preserve limiting the availability of real estate.[5] To the north of San Pedro Town is the destination of Belize Secret Beach, one of the more popular beach destinations in Belize. The Belize Secret Beach destination on Ambergris Caye is often called "San Pedro's worst kept secret",[6] as the Secret Beach area has yet to see substantial development, but has become an increasingly popular destination for tourists and locals, allowing the area to boast a remote atmosphere but still offer more developed amenities. Secret Beach also features remote cenotes, sinkholes, and caves.
In popular culture
Two resorts north of San Pedro played host to the first season of Fox's Temptation Island in 2000, aired in 2001.
^Valdez, Fred; Sullivan, Lauren A.; Guderjan, Thomas H. (1995). "5". In Thomas H. Guderjan and James F. Garber (ed.). Ceramics from Northern Ambergris Caye Sites. San Antonio: Maya Research Program. pp. 95–112. ISBN0-911437-21-5.
^"San Pedro, Belize – la Isla Bonita by Madonna - TRAVEL AND FILM - Blog de Voyages et Cinéma". travelandfilm.com. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 2018-09-24.
^"Madonna's 50 Greatest Songs". Rolling Stone. July 27, 2016. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
AmbergrisCaye.com—San Pedro is the only town on Ambergris Caye. Travel tips, large photo galleries, very active message board
The San Pedro Sun newspaper—Local Ambergris Caye newspaper
April 28, 2023
ambergris, caye, island, turks, caicos, ambergris, ɜːr, gris, spanish, cayo, ambergris, largest, island, belize, located, northeast, country, mainland, caribbean, about, kilometres, long, from, north, south, about, kilometres, wide, many, parts, island, have, . For the island in the Turks and Caicos see Ambergris Cay Ambergris Caye ae m ˈ b ɜːr ɡ r ɪ s ˈ k iː am BUR gris KEE Spanish Cayo Ambergris is the largest island of Belize located northeast of the country s mainland in the Caribbean Sea It is about 40 kilometres 25 mi long from north to south and about 1 6 kilometres 1 mi wide Many parts of the island have been modified by human development since the arrival of coconut plantations in the 17th century but it remains largely white coral sand with mangrove forest at its center Its eastern coast runs parallel to the northernmost stretch of the Belize Barrier Reef a UNESCO World Heritage Site Ambergris CayeAmbergris Caye photographed from the International Space StationAmbergris CayeGeographyLocationCaribbean SeaCoordinates18 0 50 21 N 87 55 51 74 W 18 0139472 N 87 9310389 W 18 0139472 87 9310389 Coordinates 18 0 50 21 N 87 55 51 74 W 18 0139472 N 87 9310389 W 18 0139472 87 9310389AdministrationBelizeDistrictBelize DistrictLargest settlementSan Pedro Town pop 13 381 A Maya community lived on the island in Pre Columbian times leaving behind distinctive polished red ceramics 1 It is widely believed that maritime trade motivated the Mayans themselves to excavate Boca Bacalar Chico the marine channel that separates the island from the Mexican mainland but its origins could also have been natural e g a hurricane San Pedro Town is the largest settlement and only town on Ambergris Caye There are also a number of small villages and resorts that serve the island s growing tourism industry especially ecotourism and scuba diving Although administered as part of the Belize District the closest point on the mainland is part of the Corozal District Contents 1 Etymology 2 Tourism 3 Gallery 4 Secret Beach 5 In popular culture 6 References 7 External linksEtymology EditAmbergris from the Old French ambre gris literally gray amber is a rare substance produced in the intestines of sperm whales valuable historically and in some modern perfumes as a fixative In the 17th century whalers in the tropical Atlantic Ocean operated from many islands like Ambergris Caye and although sperm whales are not considered residents of Belizean waters the animals continue to pass through on a regular basis Tourism EditTourism development of Ambergris Caye began in the early 1970s and grew considerably in the later years of the 20th century The main attractions are the Belize Barrier Reef and its beaches That barrier reef is the second largest in the world after the Great Barrier Reef of Australia The caye has a small airstrip serviced by Tropic Air and Maya Island Air and can be reached by plane from Belize City as well as by numerous fast sea ferries Ambergris Caye can also be reached by ferry from Chetumal in Mexico Ambergris Caye is commonly referred to as the Isla Bonita English translation The Beautiful Island after Madonna s 1987 hit La Isla Bonita mentioned a place called San Pedro 2 although Madonna has said the song does not refer to any particular place 3 Ambergris Caye is famous for the turquoise seascapes surrounding the island which matches the character and Caribbean charm of the destination Because of the island s small size the main form of powered transportation is by golf cart 4 San Pedro Day is celebrated annually on June 27 Gallery Edit Beach at San Pedro Azure water off the coast of Ambergris Caye Dusk on Ambergris Caye View of the Barrier Reef in the distance Fishing off the coast of Ambergris Caye Road near San Pedro Houses in San Pedro and mangrove swamp Manmade pondsSecret Beach EditThe majority of Ambergris Caye is reserved for national park wildlife preserve limiting the availability of real estate 5 To the north of San Pedro Town is the destination of Belize Secret Beach one of the more popular beach destinations in Belize The Belize Secret Beach destination on Ambergris Caye is often called San Pedro s worst kept secret 6 as the Secret Beach area has yet to see substantial development but has become an increasingly popular destination for tourists and locals allowing the area to boast a remote atmosphere but still offer more developed amenities Secret Beach also features remote cenotes sinkholes and caves In popular culture EditTwo resorts north of San Pedro played host to the first season of Fox s Temptation Island in 2000 aired in 2001 References Edit Islands portal Valdez Fred Sullivan Lauren A Guderjan Thomas H 1995 5 In Thomas H Guderjan and James F Garber ed Ceramics from Northern Ambergris Caye Sites San Antonio Maya Research Program pp 95 112 ISBN 0 911437 21 5 San Pedro Belize la Isla Bonita by Madonna TRAVEL AND FILM Blog de Voyages et Cinema travelandfilm com 12 February 2013 Retrieved 2018 09 24 Madonna s 50 Greatest Songs Rolling Stone July 27 2016 Retrieved August 8 2017 Golf Cart Rentals In San Pedro Belize Facts About Ambergris Caye Belize Secret Beach Retrieved 2018 09 24 The Secret Beach in Belize How to Get There amp Why You Need to Go ASAP History Fangirl History Fangirl 2018 08 03 Retrieved 2018 09 24 External links Edit Media related to Ambergris Caye at Wikimedia Commons Ambergris Caye travel guide from Wikivoyage San Pedro and Ambergris Cay sic at NASA Earth Observatory May 15 2022 AmbergrisCaye com San Pedro is the only town on Ambergris Caye Travel tips large photo galleries very active message board The San Pedro Sun newspaper Local Ambergris Caye newspaper Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ambergris Caye amp oldid 1144877259, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
