Welcome to South Water Caye, a pristine 3.5-acre island paradise in Belize, where your Robinson Crusoe dreams come to life. Situated right beside the Belizean Barrier Reef—the second largest in the world—and just 14 miles from the mainland, this untouched haven is home to Pelican Beach Resort. Here, barefoot luxury meets the tranquil beauty of unspoiled nature, offering a unique escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Join me as I explore the serene landscapes, vibrant marine life, and the rustic charm of Pelican Beach Resort on South Water Caye.

Location and How To Get There 

I like to think of the journey to get to South Water Caye as a hop, skip and a jump straight to paradise. Start by flying into Belize International Airport (BZE). From there, you have a couple of options. For the quickest route, hop on a short 15-minute puddle jumper flight with either Maya Air or Tropic Air to Dangriga (DGA). If you prefer a more scenic route, you can take a ground shuttle that, while longer, offers breathtaking views along the Hummingbird Highway.

Once you arrive in Dangriga, it’s just a quick 1-minute drive to the Pelican Beach Resort, the mainland sister property. From here, you’ll embark on a 30-minute boat ride to South Water Caye, where Pelican Resort awaits you with its pristine beaches and laid back atmosphere.

Check in Process 

Upon stepping off the boat onto the island, we were warmly greeted by the staff at Pelican Beach Resort. They guided us to the main house and offered a delicious welcome drink. The staff took care of all our luggage, which arrived at our cottage before we did! Everyone introduced themselves and seemed genuinely excited to welcome us to their piece of Belizean paradise.

After checking in, we took a short tour of the island. We were shown the beach and bar area and learned how mealtimes and drinks worked. The island was truly beautiful, like stepping into a private utopia with all the comforts of home. After the tour, we were led to our cottage to settle in, where a cute welcome pattern of flowers and leaves adorned the bed.

Rooms and Cottages 

The quaint 3.5-acre island boasts a small number of rooms and cottages, ensuring an intimate and personalised experience. Options include Reef Crest rooms above the main building, duplex cottages (including family duplexes), and two private cottages. I was fortunate to stay in one of the standalone cottages, Heron’s Hideaway, perched on stilts above the mangrove waters with a deck facing the ocean, complete with two hammocks and two wooden deck chairs that I used extensively during my stay.

Each room has a private bathroom with hot and cold water showers, coffee-making facilities, electric fans, and a water pitcher replenished daily during maid service. There’s also a large canister of drinking water in the main lodge for refilling your water bottles.

Though there is no air conditioning in the rooms, it didn’t bother us much. Overhead fans keep the bed cool, and there’s often a refreshing breeze at night. Staying in the middle of summer, we left the deck doors open to catch the breeze, which also gave us a front-row seat to an epic thunderstorm over the water one night. There’s no Wi-Fi in the rooms—just in the main lodge and bar area. However, it occasionally reached our cottage since we were close to the main lodge. The goal here is to disconnect completely, which makes for a wonderfully relaxing experience. While I did have some work emails to catch up on, the Wi-Fi speed in the main area was more than adequate for my needs.

Food and Drink 

You won’t go hungry at Pelican Beach South Water Caye! Each meal is carefully curated based on guest preferences, ensuring variety every day. As someone who is gluten-free, I was initially apprehensive, but the resort exceeded my expectations. I contacted them in advance, and they were more than accommodating to my dietary needs. If a meal wasn’t gluten-free, they had an alternative ready for me.

Meals are served at set times daily, with the menu available at the previous mealtime so you can choose in advance. For breakfast, there’s always coffee and fresh juice, followed by a choice of sweet or savoury dishes. During my stay, some options included fry jack tacos (a must-try in Belize!), banana pancakes, breakfast burritos, and oatmeal.

Lunch is a single course served around midday. We enjoyed fresh fish tacos and beef fajitas during our visit. Dinner is a three-course meal with a choice of two entrées, plus an appetizer and dessert. On our last night, we had conch ceviche served in a conch shell, grilled chicken or shrimp fettuccine (with gluten-free rice noodles for me), and caramel flan for dessert. If you’re still hungry, they encourage you to ask for seconds, though I never needed to!

All meals, along with coffee, water, and juice at breakfast, are included in the room rates. Alcoholic drinks are not covered, but the resort offers an extensive cocktail menu and wine selection. I was pleasantly surprised by the variety given our remote location and ended up trying a different cocktail each time—they were all delicious!

Facilities 

Despite its small size, the island offers plenty to keep you entertained (if lounging in a hammock all day isn’t quite enough!). In the middle of the property, there’s a volleyball net and a cornhole game. You’ll also find kayaks and stand-up paddleboards available for exploring the waters around the caye. Snorkelling equipment is readily accessible at the activities shed next to the main lodge, and the marine life just below the surface really is worth checking out!

Guests can also use the yoga mats provided, which we enjoyed during our stay. The overwater decks on the property are perfect spots for a morning vinyasa session. The main lodge features various games and a library with a wide selection of books. Around the property, you’ll find plenty of beach chairs, loungers, and hammocks—so no need to worry about fighting for a sunbed!

Activities 

If you’re looking to explore during your stay, Pelican Beach Resort offers several water-based guided tours. There’s an on-site tour guide who introduced himself upon our arrival and checked in with us every morning to see if we were interested in any excursions. Because our stay was short, we decided to enjoy the island itself, but I’m definitely planning to take advantage of the tours next time. Some of the activities you can choose from include:

• Guided boat trips – price pp in USD at the time of writing
  • Snorkelling $70 – Fore rift drift, Carrie bow patch, Angel Reef / Whale Shoal, Tobacco Cut Snorkel 
  • Island Hop $80
  • Drop Line Fishing $70
  • Tobacco Range $120 – bird and manatee watch, reef cut snorkel 
  • Others – Stargazing $50, Bird/manatee watch $70, sunset cruise $50, night snorkel $60 off boat, $40 off beach 

Service

The service we experienced during my last visit really was exceptional; we were greeted like old friends and no request was too small. Even by the end of our short stay, we were on a first name basis with every member of staff that worked there. It made for a very welcoming environment and I would go back in a heartbeat. 

Closing Remarks 

In closing, my stay at Pelican Beach Resort on South Water Caye was fantastic. The serene location, the friendly staff who welcomed us like family, and the delicious food all made for a memorable experience. I wouldn’t hesitate to come back and recommend it to anyone looking to disconnect and unwind. If you need a peaceful retreat, this beautiful island is the perfect spot.

Ready to book Pelican South Water Caye? Click here!

You can find out more about my stay on my “Belize 5” Highlights on Instagram @chase.the.rainbows.

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