How to Visit Secret Beach & Blue Bayou from San Pedro
A guide to visiting Belize’s Secret Beach from San Pedro, including the iconic Blue Bayou Bar.
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Belize’s Secret Beach isn’t much of a secret anymore. Known for its sprawling white sands and crystal-clear waters, visiting this spot on Ambergris Caye’s west coast is one of the best things to do in San Pedro. There’s plenty to do here, from bar hopping and jet skiing to sunbathing and eating in the famous Blue Bayou Bar and Restaurant with its in-water dining tables. In this post, we’ve included everything you need to know about Secret Beach and Blue Bayou, from how to get there to whether it’s even worth visiting.
Secret Beach at a glance
More from Ambergris Caye
About Secret Beach
Once a relaxed local spot, Secret Beach is now a popular attraction for vacationers seeking to spread out in the sun. The area is mainly lined with beach clubs and bars, covered in multi-coloured sun loungers, and known for its unique in-water dining tables and photo props such as swings and signs.
Unlike the eastern side of Ambergris Caye, which faces the Belize Barrier Reef, the western side, where Secret Beach is located, has little wind, calm waters, and no seaweed.
Where is Secret Beach
Secret Beach is located on the west coast of Ambergris Caye, Belize, approximately 4 to 8 miles (6.5 to 13 km) northwest of San Pedro Town. The distance varies depending on the specific starting point in San Pedro and the route taken to reach the main access road.
Secret Beach Map
We’ve pinned Secret Beach and Blue Bayou on our interactive San Pedro and Ambergris Caye map.
Things to do at Secret Beach
Besides bars and beach clubs, there are plenty of activities on offer at Secret Beach, including:
Nearby, the Secret Beach Waterpark, the first floating water park in Belize, has challenges for all ages.
Blue Bayou
For many, a visit to Secret Beach earns a place on their Belize itinerary because of Blue Bayou. A unique bar and restaurant, Blue Bayou is famous for its in-water dining tables, which are actually in the sea. Servers wade out in waist-deep waters to serve food and drinks at your table, which is slightly elevated from the surface of the ocean.
How to get to Blue Bayou
To get to Blue Bayou, you need to first follow the directions to Secret Beach. One block before you reach the Secret Beach sign, turn left down the road in front of Roadside Delight. Follow this down the (bumpy) dirt track past Secret Sunset Villa, and Blue Bayou will be on your right. There’s a large parking lot where you can leave your golf cart.
How to get to Secret Beach
Secret Beach is reachable by one unpaved road that crosses from the east to the west coast of Ambergris Caye. There are a variety of ways to reach it.
By golf cart
Renting a golf cart in San Pedro and driving is the easiest way to get to Secret Beach. The drive takes around 45 minutes and is a little bumpy. The road is full of potholes, which are worse after rain, so it’s important to drive carefully. The road can be slippery when wet too, and we were warned to be especially careful on corners as someone had come off the road the week before our visit.
To reach Secret Beach from San Pedro, drive north past the Truck Stop. You’ll pass some of the northern Ambergris Caye hotels, including Grande Caribe, Belizean Shores, and Coco Beach. At approximately 4.5 miles north, take a left turn at the fork in the road, following signs for Secret Beach. This is the unpaved road and is about 2-3 miles long.
By boat
A Secret Beach Boat Shuttle operates daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, running from Dream Catcher Pier in San Pedro. Advance reservations are recommended, as trips require a minimum number of passengers to run, and can be arranged through the website, at the ticket offices at Dream Catcher Pier, or at Secret Beach. Tickets cost $20 USD one-way and $30 USD for a round trip for adults.
An alternative if you’re looking to make a day of it would be to hire a charter, go snorkelling in Hol Chan Marine Reserve and enjoy the best of the Belize Barrier Reef before stopping off at Secret Beach.
By taxi
Taxis are a convenient option, but expensive. A taxi ride to Secret Beach from San Pedro costs about $50 USD each way.
By bike
It’s easy to rent a bike (many accommodations may even include one with your stay) and cycle to Secret Beach. It’s not the easiest or shortest journey, but it is a good option for those on a budget who are active and will enjoy the adventure.
On foot
If you’re staying in a hotel near Secret Beach, it’s an easy walk to the main attractions, bars, and restaurants.
A few people have reported walking to Secret Beach from San Pedro, and, while it’s possible, it’s not advisable. It’s a long hike along the roads, where you’ll be constantly exposed to the sun.
Is Secret Beach worth it?
To some, Secret Beach is one of the best things to do in Belize, and to others, it’s a bit of a tourist trap. It is lined with restaurants and bars offering everything from meals and drinks to water sports and jet skiing. There are salespeople walking around trying to tempt you into their bar, which can put some people off. It’s easy to feel like it’s a bit of a money grab.
While the quality of food and drink varies, none of the establishments here are particularly authentic – you’d need to head into town for the best restaurants in San Pedro. And, if you’d rather visit somewhere more laid-back and Belizean, we’d recommend skipping San Pedro altogether and heading to Caye Caulker.
However, if you’re looking for a naturally beautiful part of the coast to have a few drinks with stunning views, you can’t go wrong with a trip to Secret Beach. Head south along the beach if you’re seeking quieter spots. Even if you stick to the more popular areas, you’ll meet friendly locals, be able to bathe in crystal-clear waters, and enjoy panoramic views.
When to visit Secret Beach
The best time to visit Secret Beach is earlier in the day if you want to secure an in-water table or a well-positioned sun lounger. The dry season, from December to April, sees more tourists, so Secret Beach is busier during this time. Weekends tend to be much busier than weekdays.
It’s a good idea to leave at least an hour before dusk, as it’s safer to drive the road in the daylight. There’s no lighting along the road (and golf cart headlamps aren’t great).
While its western position puts it in a prime position for watching the sunset, mosquitoes tend to come out at dusk, so be sure to have some eco-friendly insect repellent if you’re planning to stay later.
How long to spend in Secret Beach
A few hours at Secret Beach is plenty of time to soak up the vibe and the views. Some people visit for half a day to enjoy some bar-hopping, while those who want to take advantage of the activities like water sports and enjoy a meal might stay for a whole day.
Where to stay to visit Secret Beach
While there aren’t that many hotels near Secret Beach (yet), there are a variety of accommodation options close by.
Secret Beach Cabanas is a boutique hotel that offers four exclusive vacation rentals nestled near the beach. While Casa Nova Cabanas
is also within walking distance and provides guests with convenient access to the beach and nearby attractions.
If you’d like to stay near the beach and the town, there are several great hotels in northern Ambergris Caye. We loved our stay in Belizean Shores Resort, which is conveniently located near the turnoff to Secret Beach and is only 15 minutes from the town.
Secret Beach Development
Over recent years, Secret Beach has transformed from a secluded bay to a popular beach destination, featuring a variety of bars, restaurants, and water activities.
Some major developments and infrastructure projects have been carried out near Secret Beach, including ongoing road improvements (paving the road) and building a gas station near the turnoff.
A new gated entrance has been built, while new subdivisions and planned communities are emerging in the area.
With more investment in the area, it will become more developed, with paved roads making it easier to access and more hotels and attractions being built in the area.
Secret Beach Sustainability
San Pedro and Ambergris Caye are the most popular places in Belize with American vacationers and expats. Many foreigners have settled here to enjoy the slower-paced lifestyle, tropical temperatures, and stunning natural landscapes.
We were really saddened to see development projects razing the mangroves along the road to the beach. Mangroves are crucial ecosystems for shoreline stability, carbon sequestration, and marine life nurseries. Their loss increases coastal erosion, worsens storm impacts, and reduces biodiversity.
We also saw countless real estate signs on the drive to Secret Beach, where plots of land had been sold to foreigners via American brokers (known as Land Grabbing). As property prices and tourism rise, local Belizeans are often priced out of land ownership or pushed to less desirable areas, contributing to gentrification and exacerbating wealth inequality. This is a problem island and country-wide.
To protect the important ecosystems here and to preserve Belize’s natural areas, it’s really important that responsible tourism is prioritised in Belize.
What to pack for Secret Beach
Here’s a practical packing list for a day at Secret Beach:
Secret Beach FAQs
To help you plan your visit, here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Secret Beach and Blue Bayou on Ambergris Caye.
How far is Secret Beach from San Pedro?
Secret Beach is located approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 km) northwest of San Pedro Town on the island of Ambergris Caye. The journey typically takes about 35 to 45 minutes by golf cart, depending on road conditions and traffic. The route includes both paved and unpaved roads, offering scenic views of mangroves and lagoons along the way.
How do I get to Secret Beach, Ambergris Caye?
The most common and convenient way to reach Secret Beach is by golf cart. Alternatively, you could take the boat shuttle or a taxi. It’s not recommended to walk, and taking a bike is possible, but a long journey.
Is there good snorkelling at Secret Beach, Belize?
While Secret Beach offers clear, shallow waters ideal for swimming and relaxation, it isn’t the best snorkelling in Belize. The area lacks the coral reefs and diverse marine life that you’d find on the Belize Barrier Reef in places like Hol Chan Marine Reserve.
How to get to Blue Bayou, Belize
To reach Blue Bayou, follow the directions for Secret Beach, turning left one block before the Secret Beach sign and car park, and continuing on to Blue Bayou.
Read next:
30 Best Things to Do in San Pedro & Ambergris Caye
A Traveller’s Guide to San Pedro & Ambergris Caye
14 Best Hotels and Resorts in San Pedro & Ambergris Caye
15 Best Restaurants in San Pedro & Ambergris Caye
