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If you’re planning a trip to San Pedro, Belize, you may have heard of Secret Beach. It’s a popular beach on the island. I ended up going with my family and had mixed feelings about it, so I want you to have all the information you need to determine if it’s worth it for your trip.
I spent a week in San Pedro with my family and didn’t plan much ahead of time. When we were there, we ended up talking to a guy who has owned a suite at our hotel for years. He recommended Secret Beach, so we took our golf cart over there early in the trip.
The short answer: the clear, shallow blue water is stunning, and lunch at a table in the water was fun. Just know it’s more of a party scene than a quiet beach, and it felt a bit overrated to me.
This post covers where Secret Beach is, how to get there, what it’s really like, and my tips.
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Secret Beach Belize at a Glance
If you just want the basics, here’s the quick version.
- Where: The west (lagoon) side of Ambergris Caye, a golf cart ride from San Pedro town
- How to get there: Golf cart, which is how nearly every tourist gets around
- Drive time: About 20 to 25 minutes by golf cart from our hotel, Grand Caribe
- Best part: Super clear, shallow blue water and wooden tables with umbrellas right in the water
- Heads up: Very drink-focused, a few pushy people trying to get you into their bar, and it’s not a luxury spot
- My verdict: Worth a couple hours, but a little overrated
If you love a lively beach bar scene, you’ll probably have a blast. If you want a quiet, pristine beach, go in with lower expectations.
Where Is Secret Beach on Ambergris Caye?
Secret Beach is on the lagoon side of Ambergris Caye, and you’ll need a golf cart to get there from most San Pedro hotels.
The name is a little funny, because it’s not a secret at all. It’s definitely popular, and there were a lot of tourists when we went. We went to the very end of the beach where it was definitely quieter, but it still felt quite touristy.
One thing I didn’t expect about San Pedro overall is how small the beaches are. San Pedro sits on a caye rather than a big island, so there just isn’t much land or sand to work with.
The beach at our hotel was right out front, so you could walk straight onto it. But it had a lot of seaweed the last week of March, and the smell was pretty strong even though the hotel did a good job cleaning it up.
Because of that, we only spent a couple of hours on our hotel beach. Secret Beach felt much more like a classic beach day.
In terms of timing, where you stay changes how long the drive is. We stayed at Grand Caribe, one of the nicer hotels in San Pedro, and I break down the options in my guide on the best areas and hotels in San Pedro.
📍Compare hotels with pools in San Pedro→
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How to Get to Secret Beach
Getting to Secret Beach is easy once you’re on the island. If you’re still figuring out the logistics of getting to San Pedro, I cover that in my post on how to get to San Pedro, Belize.
By Golf Cart (What We Did)
A golf cart is the classic way to go, and it’s how we got there. It took us about 20 to 25 minutes from Grand Caribe.
There’s basically one main road through San Pedro, so it’s hard to get lost. Locals ride bikes and motorbikes, and pretty much every tourist is in a golf cart.
I loved the golf cart lifestyle. It makes the whole place feel beachy and vacation-y, and the drive over is part of the fun!
A quick heads up: you’ll pass lots of signs for bars, drinks, and a waterpark on the way. I’ll be real, those signs made me nervous that it would feel tacky.
Golf Cart Rental Costs
Rental rates change by season and by shop, so ask your hotel concierge or a rental company for current prices before you go.
If you’re planning more than one outing, having a cart for a few days makes things easy. We used ours for dinners, coffee runs, and exploring town, not just Secret Beach.
Taxis and Tours
If you’d rather not drive, golf cart taxis and organized Secret Beach tours are popular options. I didn’t use either, so I can’t say how they compare.
Having someone else drive can be nice if you plan to have a few drinks. This is 100% worth considering if nobody in your group wants to be the designated driver.
🎟️Compare Secret Beach tours from San Pedro→
What Secret Beach Is Really Like
Here’s what I found once we got there. It’s a mix of great and a little underwhelming.
The Water Is the Highlight
The water was beautiful. It’s very clear, very shallow, and that bright blue you imagine when you think of the Caribbean.
The water alone made the trip worth it for me. It felt like a real beach day, which we didn’t get near the hotel.
Tables in the Water
The most unique part is the setup. The bars and restaurants have outdoor seating, plus wooden tables with umbrellas placed right in the shallow water.
You sit in the water and order drinks and food right there. I’d never seen that before, and it was fun and different.
The Bar and Party Scene
There are a few different spots you can walk along, and a couple of the bars were very much on the party side. It felt like a spring break place where everyone was encouraged to drink all day.
You’re offered drinks constantly. This wasn’t really my vibe and felt like a college spring break location.
A couple of people were also pretty pushy about getting you into their bar. Just be ready to say no thanks and keep walking.
We walked a little further down and found a quieter spot. The locals there were super nice.
The Food
The food was great and felt authentic. Expect the same menu you’ll see all over the island: fresh fish, ceviche, tacos, and fish and chips.
Eating lunch in that water was a highlight.
It’s Not a Luxury Beach
Secret Beach is casual. One of the bars felt a little nicer, but a lot of the lounge chairs were pretty rundown.
I usually love something higher-end or authentically local. The party signs and drink push made it feel more touristy than my usual vibe, which is fine as long as you know that going in.
Is Secret Beach Belize Worth It?
Overall, yes, I’m glad we went because of the beautiful water. But the vibe is a little overrated in my opinion.
Go If You Want
- Clear, shallow water that feels more like a classic beach than the hotel strips
- A fun, social day with drinks and music
- Lunch at a table in the water, which is a cool experience
- A good excuse to take the golf cart out and see more of the island
You Might Skip It If You Want
- A quiet, relaxing beach
- Wide, pristine, high-end Caribbean beaches
- A polished, luxury beach club experience
If that second list sounds like you, a day at your hotel pool might be more relaxing. We spent plenty of days at the pool and loved them.
What I’d Do Differently
Here’s what I’d do: skip the first cluster of loud bars and walk straight down to a calmer stretch. That’s where we ended up. If you’re looking for a party spot, Secret Beach is great! If I was here with friends, I think I’d be more into the scene. I was just on a very lowkey family vacation instead.
I’d also plan my whole Belize trip around seaweed season. We went in late March and it was heavy at the hotel beach, so check the timing in my guide to the best time to visit Belize.
Tips for Visiting Secret Beach
These are the things I’d want a friend to know before heading over.
- The sun is intense. UV can get up to 10, and I burn easily and definitely got burned, so reapply sunscreen constantly.
- Bring bug spray. I got a few mosquito bites at dinners close to the water.
- Go in knowing there’s a touristy, spring break party culture. Going in accepting that and embracing it makes the trip more fun.
What to Do After Secret Beach
After Secret Beach, we headed back to our hotel to relax for a bit. It was a nice balance after a busy, social few hours.
Watch the Sunset at Sunset Caribe
Sunset Caribe is the sister property of Grand Caribe, and guests can use both. Grand Caribe faces the sunrise, while Sunset Caribe faces the sunset, which is super cool.
The sunset there was so beautiful, and it was one of my favorite moments of the trip! Sunset Caribe also has a more modern pool and better hot tubs (the Grand Caribe hot tubs were tiny and not very hot when I was there).
Dinner at Coconut Café
That night we had dinner at Coconut Café, which was the best meal of the whole trip for me. It’s a little tucked away, close to our hotel on the same block.
It had lights, a small bonfire, music, and a really kind local waiter. I got the fresh fish, and it felt so much more local and authentic than a lot of the island.
It’s close to the water, so this is where I got a few of those mosquito bites. Worth it for the food though!
If you want more ideas for the rest of your trip, including snorkeling and day tours, check out my list of the best things to do in San Pedro, Belize.
FAQs
Where is Secret Beach in Belize?
Secret Beach is on the west, lagoon side of Ambergris Caye. Most visitors reach it by golf cart from their hotel in San Pedro.
How long does it take to get to Secret Beach San Pedro by golf cart?
It took us about 20 to 25 minutes from Grand Caribe. Your time will depend on where you’re staying.
Is Secret Beach Belize worth it?
I think it’s worth a half day for the clear, shallow water and lunch at a table in the water. It’s a bit overrated if you want a quiet or luxury beach, since it’s very drink-focused.
Is Secret Beach fun if you don’t drink much?
Yes. I’m not a big drinker and still enjoyed it, especially once we walked down to a quieter spot away from the party bars.
Is Secret Beach a luxury beach?
No. It’s casual and locally run, with some rundown lounge chairs, though one bar felt a little nicer than the rest.
Final Thoughts
Secret Beach is worth a visit for the beautiful, shallow blue water and great if you’re looking for a social, party spot. Just go in expecting a lively, drink-focused scene rather than a quiet escape.
Pair it with a sunset at Sunset Caribe and dinner at Coconut Café or the Rum Dog, and you’ll have a great day!
I hope you have the best time in San Pedro!
I hope you have the best trip!
Everything here comes from my own time in Belize. Take what’s useful and make the trip your own.
