Secret Beach

The popular recreational area northwest of San Pedro Town, Secret Beach, is seeing fewer visitors as the tourism low season sets in. During peak months, the beach is usually bustling with activity almost daily. Still, in recent weeks, the crowds have dwindled, forcing local businesses to adapt while continuing to cater to those seeking a quieter experience.

The Department of Transport is reinforcing road safety regulations and has announced new rules for moving houses and other oversized structures by road. On Wednesday, August 27th, the department stated that such movements will now only be permitted between 9PM and 5AM on any given day. All holders of valid wide load permits must visit the department’s headquarters in Belmopan to amend their existing licenses.

The Secret Beach area, located on the northwest side of San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, is one of the most popular recreational areas on the island, attracting investment from the private sector and adding to the island’s tourism product. However, the area lacks proper infrastructure, including electricity, running water, and drainage, among other essential services. Minister of Tourism, the Honorable Anthony Mahler, stated that this much-needed infrastructure is planned for this area of Ambergris Caye.

Entrepreneurs in downtown San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, have observed that the popular Easter celebrations on the island are changing. According to some business owners who spoke about the recent Easter weekend, the once-crowded downtown and beach parties along the eastern coast seem to be fading. They noted that more visitors are now gravitating toward the popular Secret Beach on the island's northwest side or other destinations in the country.

Daniel Gregorio and Brian Bradley of Team Maxi took first place in this year's fourth annual Kayak Race on Easter Sunday. In this highly anticipated competition, nineteen teams paddled from downtown San Pedro to the Secret Beach area, located northwest of the island.

During the long Easter weekend, from Friday, April 18th, to Monday, April 21st, locals and tourists in San Pedro Town, Ambergris Caye, celebrated the much-anticipated annual occasion with religious events and beach activities. Easter was observed in various locations across the island, particularly at the popular Secret Beach on the northwest coast of Ambergris Caye.

On Wednesday, July 24th, a search team composed of the San Pedro Police Formation, the Belize Coast Guard, Rickilee Response and Rescue (RRR), and other volunteers headed to Secret Beach just after 8PM following reports of a missing Belizean couple who had been on a jet ski. They were last seen on the jet ski around 4:45PM. Against the odds of darkness, the rescue team was able to locate the couple and bring them to safety. Both were taken for medical evaluation and were reported to be in good health.

Secret Beach is one of the most visited areas on the island by tourists and locals who travel to the popular location for relaxation while enjoying the water, sun, drinks, and food offered at cool restaurants and bars. The area is trafficked by business and property owners who also commute daily. To renovate the only road that accesses this area, the San Pedro Town Council (SPTC), in collaboration with the Belize Tourism Board (BTB), partnered to gather resources to rehabilitate the road, providing proper infrastructure for a less bumpy ride, reducing travel time and improving comfort. The project began in April of this year and includes reconstructing a portion of the street with cement and pavement.